Build America Bonds Are Still Relevant, And 5 Funds Where You Can Get Them [View article]
GlobalTrekker, you are correct, GBAB's weighted avg. duration is 9.59 years not 6.49.
Edgar does provide portfolio holdings per the SEC however those documents can be up to 3 months old. I prefer to base my research off what each fund has on it's public website since this should be the most current. If a $100+ million fund can't be bothered to update their one major outreach to potential & current investors...well...
And since we're on the subject, PowerShares in my opinion has the best website, it offers holdings as a .cvs, historical NAVs, charting, and publications.
With Treasuries, It's Not About The Interest Rate [View article]
Even in a future of rising interest rates, bonds should still have a place in conservative portfolios. I do disagree with you, however, on choosing not to hold TLT. Since TLT (and most bond ETFs) pay a dividend equal to their underlying bond yields, the minimum 25 year holding actually forces the fund to sell older, lower yielding bonds and buy newer, higher yielding ones. While yes, this generates a sort of bond-rate-contango where the fund loses money, eventually the higher yielding bonds will be reflected in the fund's dividend. See this article for more info: seekingalpha.com/artic...
BABs' resistance to sequestration, despite the collapse of their Gov't backing, is most likely attributible to the fact that thier municipalities still have to make good on their rate. Really it's the municipalities who are getting the short end of sequestration, BABs holders are fine...though they should probably feel guilty.
Sizing Up Today's Dividend Paying Exploration & Production Companies [View article]
Vigilant article! I've just started exploring the energy arena this year with VNR and find many of the tax aspects regarding exploration puzzling. However it's quite clear, moreso with this article, when oil/gas companies stop drilling, they pay tax. Thanks!
The Coming Crash In The Bond Market [View article]
Lot of great information here Mr. Conrad, well researched! However I may provide the contrairian view in that I can't understand why investors are constantly trying to make the short play in bonds? Bonds pay a coupon, they're that simple. If that rate isn't high enough, move elsewhere. Only TIPS make the promise of keeping pace with inflation, all others will pay what they pay. For bond ETFs, so long as they turnover their assets and minimize transaction losses, rising intererst rates means investors are buying higher yielding bonds!
Bond Play: A Look At Federal Furloughs [View article]
Indeed, I believe there's a lot of confusion out there as to how a bond's value is calculated. Unlike the two bubbles you mentioned there's nothing about bond funds that can be "inflated". Bonds have a set value, and set earnings, and investors would be foolish to pay anything different.
Bond Play: A Look At Federal Furloughs [View article]
You bring up a trove of good points! In my first article on SA I spoke to how even *if* interest rates rise the beauty of bond funds like BND is they turnover their assets. So where there are some initial capital losses, bond funds always have an upside.
The Sequester - Why No Wall Street Panic? [View article]
As a current federal employee I strongly believe the mid and long term effects of furloughs haven't been price in by the market. I believe the majority of us G-men didn't think sequestration was going to happen and are just NOW thinking about updating our home budgets. For me this 22 day furlough will essentially wipe out my investment budget for the year. Multiply that the Gov't over, you're talking HUGE negative impacts.
5 Closed-End Funds With Gold Exposure [View article]
I did come across some investor speculation on dividend cuts for those two, however 1) if they even happen or 2) whether they would be specific to just GAMCO or the market as a whole, will have to be seen. I barely mentioned NAV in this article just to keep from rambling but you're absolutely right, buying at discount just makes sense no matter what fund we're dealing with.
VIX: What Is It, What Does It Mean, And How To Use It [View article]
Good read, I learned things about the VIX I hadn't known. Only recommend adding the VIX ticker to your first mention and perhaps include a chart when talking about the 2008 madness.
Wonderfully presented, good article and great debunking. As brought up by many commenters the 4th Myth should be Dividend Stocks Are Boring. I'd be curious to see how you'd chart that!
Build America Bonds Are Still Relevant, And 5 Funds Where You Can Get Them [View article]
Edgar does provide portfolio holdings per the SEC however those documents can be up to 3 months old. I prefer to base my research off what each fund has on it's public website since this should be the most current. If a $100+ million fund can't be bothered to update their one major outreach to potential & current investors...well...
And since we're on the subject, PowerShares in my opinion has the best website, it offers holdings as a .cvs, historical NAVs, charting, and publications.
Build America Bonds Are Still Relevant, And 5 Funds Where You Can Get Them [View article]
Dividend Growth Investing: Myths 11-15 [View article]
With Treasuries, It's Not About The Interest Rate [View article]
Fixed Income: Fewer Places To Hide [View article]
Sizing Up Today's Dividend Paying Exploration & Production Companies [View article]
The Coming Crash In The Bond Market [View article]
Bond Play: A Look At Federal Furloughs [View article]
Bond Play: A Look At Federal Furloughs [View article]
5 Closed-End Funds With Gold Exposure [View article]
The Sequester - Why No Wall Street Panic? [View article]
5 Closed-End Funds With Gold Exposure [View article]
VIX: What Is It, What Does It Mean, And How To Use It [View article]
3 Charts, 3 Busted Dividend Myths [View article]
BlackRock Cautious On Muni Bond ETFs [View article]