LPL Financial Reduces Stake in First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF

LPL Financial LLC has decreased its holdings in the First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF by 6.3%, according to its recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor now owns 228,692 shares of the ETF after selling 15,303 shares during the first quarter of 2023. This adjustment means LPL Financial holds approximately 7.75% of the ETF, valued at about $17.3 million.

Several other institutional investors have also made notable adjustments to their positions in the First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF. For instance, JPMorgan Chase & Co. significantly increased its stake by 323.6% in the fourth quarter. The firm now owns 3,817 shares, valued at $333,000, after acquiring an additional 2,916 shares.

Additionally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings by 54.1% during the same period, bringing its total to 38,112 shares, worth approximately $3.3 million. Raymond James Financial Inc. entered the ETF with a new position valued at $20.98 million, while Legacy Investment Solutions LLC boosted its stake by 133.8%, now holding 3,224 shares valued at $281,000. Finally, Adams Wealth Management increased its position by 3.8%, owning 25,560 shares worth $2.2 million.

Market Performance and Dividend Announcement

As of the latest trading session, shares of the First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF opened at $96.20. The ETF has experienced a 0.5% decline, with a fifty-day moving average of $94.26 and a two-hundred-day moving average at $85.32. The market capitalization of the ETF stands at $288.6 million, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28.27 and a beta of 1.29. Over the past year, the ETF has seen a low of $59.72 and a high of $100.63.

In addition to the changes in ownership, First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF recently announced a quarterly dividend. The dividend, amounting to $0.1365 per share, was paid on June 30, 2023, to stockholders of record as of June 26, 2023. This increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.03 results in an annualized dividend of $0.55, reflecting a dividend yield of 0.6%.

The First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the Nasdaq US Smart Semiconductor Index, which focuses on the most liquid semiconductor companies in the United States, assessed based on value, volatility, and growth factors. Launched on September 20, 2016, the ETF is managed by First Trust, a firm known for its expertise in exchange-traded products.