17 New Preferred Stocks Offer 6.65% And More Diversification [View article]
Another interesting article. A chart comparing the average interest rates of rated vs non-rated new issues would be revealing. I would like to see you do an article on default/dividend suspensions comparing rated with non-rated preferreds over the last 20 or so years. I know you already have done an analysis on dividend suspensions on investment grade cumulative preferreds, but a broader analysis would be most welcome in today's environment. The 6.65% average is that high only because of non-rated mortgage RET preferred issuance.
Grab 60% Over The Next 9 Years On This Preferred [View article]
The issue in question, in which I have a small position, is NOT a preferred stock but an Exchange Traded Debt Security--almost but not quite the same thing. That is why it rates a BBB rating from S&P.
Don't Close The Door On Closed-End Funds [View article]
Per CEF Connect DPG does NOT have a managed disribution policy. Since I hold my CEFs in IRA accounts the intricacies of the tax treatment of CEF distributions do not concern me. I suspect your initial suspicion that the large share of DPG distributions characterized as ROC (without examining the reasons why) may well account for some of the discount form NAV at which DPG is selling. I would never knowingly buy a CEF with a managed distribution policy.
It's an interesting security since it doesn't fit neatly into any category being a combination of utilities, telecoms, and MLPs and global to boot!
Don't Close The Door On Closed-End Funds [View article]
Per the 10/31/12 Annual Report 35.2% of FGB's Net Assets were invested in MLPs. That accounts for a good bit if not all of their ROC distributions, I believe.
Moody's And Preferred Stock Investors View Same Market But See Very Different Risks [View article]
Would that you or someone else could do a substantive article on all the Non-Rated Mortgage REIT and BDC cumulative preferreds available. That is where decent yields are available today in new issues, but it is hard for someone like me to judge the risk assocated with most non-rated securities.
I think current interest rates on new investment grade preferreds are most unattractive considering the basic structure in which you have no fixed maturity date and only 5 years call protection. That really loads the structure in favor of the issuer especially for buy and hold investors like me: if rates go up you can hold or sell below par; if rates go down your preferred will be called.
Never Buy A Closed-End Fund On The IPO? Patience Proves A Better Outcome For Investors [View article]
Interesting article--I wish you had commented on any distortions that may or may not have been present given overall market trends (up, down, or sideways) in the 2 year periods under examination. Unless there was an even distribution of CEF IPOs examined over the varying 2 year periods, could there not be some hidden distrortions?
Thank you for paying attention to an unduly neglected fund type. There are significant advantages as well as disadvantages to the CEF structure.
Desperately Seeking Yield Through Equities Redux: Part 11 - Wrap Up [View article]
Another MLP CEF to consider: CLEARBRIDGE ENERGY MLP TOTAL RETURN FD CTR I have a small position in this one. Barron's reported on Clearbridge's MLP CEFs a few weeks ago.
Investment Grade Preferred Stocks Still Available For Less Than $25: Q1 2013 Update [View article]
Perhaps one of the reasons for relatively light volume in the first quarter for PFDs is an appreciation that PFDs with high coupons and an investment grade or near investment grade rating are likely to be called as soon as they can if interest rates remain low and thus yields to call may be unattractive while those with lower coupons and thus more likely to sell below $25 may be likely to be hammered if and when longer term interest rates rise, because when they rise they will be unlikely ever to fall to as low as they are today at least until we have another massive financial crisis. I don't think the risk/reward odds favor new issue investment grade or near investment grade preferreds and I don't know enough to do much with unrated preferreds some of which are coming out paying higher rates.
Doug's service is excellent. I subscribe and value his judgement greatly.
Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
I don't know what a Bloomberg terminal says, but I think this dispute is largely terminologial. PFDs trade "flat" unlike bonds not in default which show accrued interest separately from the basic price of the bond. But PFD prices include a component of anticipated dividends prorated over the normally quarterly dividend period. That is why the price of a PFD drops after the Ex-Dividend date. But I believe most people would not call that increment "accrued interest"--a preferred DIVIDEND is not interest and you have no right to a dividend until it is declared. You have a right to an interest payment under the terms of the bond indenture and that is why you can "accrue it."
Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
S&P habitually rates PFDs a step lower than Moody's, so if you require an investment grade rating from both you are severely limiting your choices. A strong case can be made that an investment grade rating from Moody's is enough for a conservative PFD investor.
Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
I have never found PFD ETF's attractive. Now is a particularly bad time with the premiums over redemption value being paid for most PFDs. For those who are willing to accept at least moderate riskand believe in active management, I believe there are a number of PFD or PFD oriented leveraged CEF's well worth looking at.
In addition to numerous individual preferred's bought below par (for the most part), I have positions in PSF, JPC, and PDT. These disclosures should not be construed as recommendations to purchase.
17 New Preferred Stocks Offer 6.65% And More Diversification [View article]
Grab 60% Over The Next 9 Years On This Preferred [View article]
Don't Close The Door On Closed-End Funds [View article]
It's an interesting security since it doesn't fit neatly into any category being a combination of utilities, telecoms, and MLPs and global to boot!
Don't Close The Door On Closed-End Funds [View article]
Don't Close The Door On Closed-End Funds [View article]
Don't Close The Door On Closed-End Funds [View article]
Moody's And Preferred Stock Investors View Same Market But See Very Different Risks [View article]
I think current interest rates on new investment grade preferreds are most unattractive considering the basic structure in which you have no fixed maturity date and only 5 years call protection. That really loads the structure in favor of the issuer especially for buy and hold investors like me: if rates go up you can hold or sell below par; if rates go down your preferred will be called.
Never Buy A Closed-End Fund On The IPO? Patience Proves A Better Outcome For Investors [View article]
Thank you for paying attention to an unduly neglected fund type. There are significant advantages as well as disadvantages to the CEF structure.
Mortgage REITs: The Good, The Bad And The Maybe? [View article]
Desperately Seeking Yield Through Equities Redux: Part 11 - Wrap Up [View article]
I have a small position in this one. Barron's reported on Clearbridge's MLP CEFs a few weeks ago.
Investment Grade Preferred Stocks Still Available For Less Than $25: Q1 2013 Update [View article]
Investment Grade Preferred Stocks Still Available For Less Than $25: Q1 2013 Update [View article]
Doug's service is excellent. I subscribe and value his judgement greatly.
Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
Danger: Unexploded Bomb In Your Preferred Stock Portfolio [View article]
In addition to numerous individual preferred's bought below par (for the most part), I have positions in PSF, JPC, and PDT. These disclosures should not be construed as recommendations to purchase.