3 reasons to consider convertible bonds
Author: David Stonehouse
August 3, 2018
The rise in bond yields over the past two years has been a difficult environment to navigate for fixed income investors, but those who have properly balanced their weighting in traditional government bonds with more alternative sources of yield have likely done better over this time.
To that end, we believe convertible bonds are a valuable component of a well-rounded portfolio that may help investors mitigate the risk of potentially higher rates.
1. Strong historical protection in a rising rate environment
Convertibles have historically provided a strong hedge in rising rate environments and significantly outperformed traditional bonds in each of the past five bond bear markets in the U.S. (i.e. when U.S. Treasury yields have risen). This has also been the case in the current bond bear market, which started in July 2016, and we expect this trend to continue if rates move up from here.
2. Low correlation to other fixed income asset classes
Convertibles tend to have a low correlation with other fixed income asset classes, which provides an extra layer of diversification within a portfolio. A less-than-perfect correlation with equities and even lower correlation with traditional bonds can dampen the overall volatility of a portfolio. Inclusion of convertibles can also potentially lower the volatility of an investor’s overall portfolio, including equities, while enhancing returns, as it has done historically.
3. Enhanced returns vs conventional bonds and downside protection vs equities
The embedded call option within a convertible bond provides potential for upside participation with the underlying equity, while the fixed income component of a convertible bond provides investors with downside protection. The downside protection is partly a function of a convertible bondholder’s ranking in the capital structure of a firm that would have them paid out before common equity holders in the case of a bankruptcy. Further, the intrinsic value of the bond also acts as a “floor” for the convertible price. The price of a convertible will also tend to outperform traditional bonds in an upward trending stock market, while protecting on the downside versus equities in a declining stock market.
Convertible bonds aren’t without risks, of course. If a company’s stock trades well below the conversion price, for example, they may act more like a traditional bond and be susceptible to interest rates, inflation and company repayment risks. And if the stock meaningfully exceeds the conversion price, the converted shares could be exposed to greater equity market volatility.
Still, we believe their potential benefits make them an essential tool in an investor’s portfolio that can help manage risk and provide potentially enhanced returns should interest rates continue to move higher.
David Stonehouse is a vice president and portfolio manager at AGF Investments Inc. He is a regular contributor to AGF Perspectives.
About AGF Management Limited
Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGF’s suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.
For further information, please visit AGF.com.
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Written by
David Stonehouse, MBA, CFA®
Senior Vice-President and North American and Specialty Investments
AGF Investments Inc.
