Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Preferred Stock ETF

PFF - iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index

I recommend starting a long term position in PFF. This ETF has performed miserably over the last year or so due to it's high allocation in the financial services sector (see top holdings below). Although I don't believe financials have bottomed, I don't think they will go too much lower from here. PFF currently pays an annualized dividend of about 14% and has an expense ratio of less than .50%.

Go easy, we're still in a bear market that will probably last for most of 2009 if not longer. All I'm suggesting is that you start a small position of about 25% of whatever you consider a full position.

Top 10 Holdings
BAC (Bank of America Corporation) Cap Tr Ii Pfd
Citigroup Cap Viii Pfd
Freeport-Mcmoran Copper & Gold
J P Morgan Chase Cap Xi Pfd
Metlife Pfd
Natl City Cap Tr Ii Pfd
Public Storage Pfd
Schering Plough Cv
Usb Cap Xi Pfd
Wells Fargo Cap Iv Pfd

Profile
Todays Close: 22.92
Category: Large Cap Blend
Fund Family: iShares Trust
Net Assets: 1.02B
Fund Inception Date: 26-Mar-07
52wk Range: 14.10 - 46.10
YTD Return: -23.83%
Yield: 14.27%
Expense Ratio: 0.48%
Turnover Rate: 24%

What is a Preferred Stock?
A preferred stock is a class of ownership in a corporation that has a higher claim on the assets and earnings than a common stock. Preferred stocks generally have a higher dividend that must be paid out before dividends to common stockholders. The best way to think of preferred stock is that it's a financial instrument that has characteristics of both a bond and an equity.

Pros: Priority over common stockholders on earnings and assets in the event of liquidation. Higher, fixed dividend that's paid before common stockholders.

Cons: No voting rights, less potential for share price appreciation.

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Friday, June 13, 2008

Kiplinger’s High Yield Investments

Kiplinger’s July 2008 Issue highlights opportunities to earn high yields on tankers, pipelines and real estate stocks.

Closed-End Income Funds:
First Trust Strategic High Income (FHI) - bank loans, mortgage-related securities and junk bonds. 14.6% yield.
Denali Fund (DNY) - Currently trades at a 9.5% discount to Net Asset Value and is converting from REIT fund to general leveraged fund. 12% yield

Junk Bond Funds - 8% yields:
Metropolitan West High Yield Bond (MWHYX)
Payden High Income (PYHRX)
TCW High Yield Bond I (TGHYX)

Energy Income Trusts:
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) 11% yield
San Juan Basin (SJT) 7.7% yield
Cross Timbers (CRT) 9.9% yield
Enerplus (ERF) 10.5% yield
Harvest Energy (HTE) 14.7% yield

Ocean-Shipping Fleets:
Seaspan (SSW) 7.3% yield
Genco Shipping & Trading (GNK) 5.7% yield

High Yield Property REITS - Focus on Real Estate Investment Trusts that own hospitals, medical office buildings and other health-care facilities:
Codell Spencer (CSA) 7.5% yield
Medical Properties Trust (MPW) 8.4%
First Industrial Realty Trust (FR) 9%

Pipelines:
Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) 6.6% yield
Kinder Morgan Energy (KMP) 6.4% yield
Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP) 7% yield
Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) 7% yield

Emerging-Market Bonds:
Fidelity New Markets Income (FNMIX) 5.6% yield
Pimco Emerging Markets Bond D (PEMDX) 5.6% yield

I'm not prepared to jump on any of these yet. Keep your powder dry.

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