Are preferred stocks better than bonds?
Most shareholders are attracted to preferred stocks because they offer more consistent dividends than common shares and higher payments than bonds. However, these dividend payments can be deferred by the company if it falls into a period of tight cash flow or other financial hardship.
Stocks have historically delivered higher returns than bonds because there is a greater risk that, if the company fails, all of the stockholders' investment will be lost (unlike bondholders who might recoup fully or partially the principal of their lending).
What Are the Advantages of a Preferred Stock? A preferred stock is a class of stock that is granted certain rights that differ from common stock. Namely, preferred stock often possesses higher dividend payments, and a higher claim to assets in the event of liquidation.
Broadly speaking, preferred stock is less risky than common stock because payments of interest or dividends on preferred stock are required to be paid before any payments to common shareholders. This means that preferred stock is senior to common stock.
Preferred stock resembles bonds even more and is considered a fixed-income investment that's generally riskier than bonds but less risky than common stock. Preferred stocks pay out dividends that are often higher than both the dividends from common stock and the interest payments from bonds.
Since they rank low in the capital structure, preferred securities generally don't provide the same guarantees of income payments or payment at maturity as bonds. Income payments on preferred securities are often discretionary, like a traditional stock dividend.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can offer a stream of income | Exposes investors to credit and default risk |
| Can help diversify an investment portfolio and mitigate investment risk | Typically generate lower returns than other investments |
Bonds have outperformed stocks and cash 23 times (24% of the time). And cash has outperformed stocks and bonds 14 times (15% of the time). Stocks win most of the time but not always. One of the reasons bonds have had such a rough go at it over the previous 10 years is because yields were so low.
- Advantages: Safety and low risk, thanks to backing of U.S. government.
- Disadvantages: Limited growth potential and prices will fall if rates rise.
Pros and cons of preferred stocks
On the downside, there is a limit on how much the investment can appreciate because of its call feature. Issuers often call preferred bonds in low-interest rate environments so they can reissue a stock that pays a lower dividend.
What is a major disadvantage of preferred stock?
The main disadvantage of owning preference shares is that the investors in these vehicles don't enjoy the same voting rights as common shareholders. 1 This means that the company is not beholden to preferred shareholders the way it is to traditional equity shareholders.
Preferred securities count toward regulatory capital requirements so banks issue preferreds to help them maintain their required capital ratio. Preferreds can also offer issuers structural benefits, lower capital costs and improved agency ratings.
Issuing preferred shares allows companies to diversify their capital structure, access additional funding sources and cater to investors with specific preferences for steady income and reduced risk. That tends to be a different group of investors than those who gravitate toward common shares.
Key Takeaways. The main difference between preferred and common stock is that preferred stock gives no voting rights to shareholders while common stock does. Preferred shareholders have priority over a company's income, meaning they are paid dividends before common shareholders.
As with all investments, the answer depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals. Preferred stock works well for those who want higher yields than bonds and the potential for more dividends compared to common shares. In short, preferred stock is riskier than bonds, but safer than common stock.
- High-yield savings accounts.
- Money market funds.
- Short-term certificates of deposit.
- Series I savings bonds.
- Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
- Corporate bonds.
- Dividend-paying stocks.
- Preferred stocks.
Preferred stocks rise in price when interest rates fall and fall in price when interest rates rise. The yield generated by a preferred stock's dividend payments becomes more attractive as interest rates fall, which causes investors to demand more of the stock and bid up its market value.
Preferred stocks are particularly attractive investments after major dislocations such as the great financial crisis or the Pandemic. This occurs because the asset class usually becomes oversold with most securities trading well below par value.
Safe assets such as U.S. Treasury securities, high-yield savings accounts, money market funds, and certain types of bonds and annuities offer a lower risk investment option for those prioritizing capital preservation and steady, albeit generally lower, returns.
Government bonds (aka "Treasurys") are generally considered the safest investments because they're backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Other types of bonds include corporate bonds and municipal bonds (earnings on the latter are exempt from federal taxes).
What are cons of bonds?
- Historically, bonds have provided lower long-term returns than stocks.
- Bond prices fall when interest rates go up. Long-term bonds, especially, suffer from price fluctuations as interest rates rise and fall.
Stocks offer ownership and dividends, volatile short-term but driven by long-term earnings growth. Bonds provide stable income, crucial for wealth protection, especially as financial goals approach, balancing diversified portfolios.
Cash is the most liquid asset possible as it is already in the form of money. This includes physical cash, savings account balances, and checking account balances. It also includes cash from foreign countries, though some foreign currency may be difficult to convert to a more local currency.
The bond market is inversely correlated with the federal funds rate and short term interest rates. When interest rates drop during a recession, bond prices increase, and bond yields decrease. During periods of economic growth that follow a recession, interest rates start to increase.
High-yield or junk bonds typically carry the highest risk among all types of bonds. These bonds are issued by companies or entities with lower credit ratings or creditworthiness, making them more prone to default.
