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B Riley Shares Getting Hammered

The common shares of B Riley Financial (RILY) are getting smacked hard today. Shares are down $3.40/share now at $32.08.

I don’t see new news for them, but Core Scientific–a crypto company which owes RILY $42 million did file for bankruptcy yesterday. That filing is here.

There doesn’t appear to be any reaction in the baby bonds at least thus far. Be careful out there.

Will Santa Keep Visiting?

We now have had a couple up days in the S&P500–and just 30 minutes ago equity futures were green by a bit, but now (7:30 a.m.) the index is red–so maybe Santa is running out of gas.

The final read on GDP for the 3rd quarter has just been released at a surprising 3.2% which is an upward adjustment from 2.9%. Initial jobless claims rose just 2,000 – neither number indicates the softness that the Fed needs to change interest rate increases ahead. We are on the runway now for the 1/31/2023 FOMC meeting–so the initial data points indicate another 50 basis point hike–lots more data to come.

The 10 year treasury yield is fairly flat at this time at 3.68%–we had a couple days of 10 basis point moves which was plenty detrimental to income investors- so flat is good at this point–just give us stability.

PS Business Parks, which is owned by a Blackstone company, announced their results of their tender for preferred shares. A really quick look at the numbers shows that more than 25-30% of the shares will remain outstanding after the delisting of the shares. The last day of trading of the shares will be on or around 1/13/2023. The article is here.

I did nothing yesterday–barely looked at our accounts, but with a tiny amount of money available now I am looking for 1 more regional/community bank–with a current yield of 7-8% to buy today or tomorrow.

Headlines of Interest

Below are some press releases from company’s which have preferred stock or baby bonds outstanding–or other news of general interest.

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Saratoga Investment Corp. to Report Fiscal Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Hold Conference Call


PS Business Parks, Inc. Announces Expiration and Results of Tender Offers to Purchase for Cash Any and All of its Outstanding Preferred Securities Described Below

Global Net Lease, Inc. Announces Series B Preferred Stock Dividends

Global Net Lease, Inc. Announces Series B Preferred Stock Dividend

The Necessity Retail REIT Announces Series A Preferred Stock Dividends

The Necessity Retail REIT Announces Series A Preferred Stock Dividends

US Consumer Confidence Bounced Back in December

US Consumer Confidence Bounced Back in December

HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED TO ANNOUNCE 2022 FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS AND HOLD EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL JANUARY 20, 2023

HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED TO ANNOUNCE 2022 FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS AND HOLD EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL JANUARY 20, 2023

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SL Green Realty Corp. to Release Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results After Market Close on January 25, 2023

Just a ‘Heads Up’ on American Equity Investment

This is just a note for those that don’t read my ‘headlines of interest’–more particular headlines last night.

Annuity provider American Equity Investment (AEL) rejected an unsolicited buy out offer from Elliot Management. The article is here. I don’t know Elliot Management, but I don’t trust any of them to have MY interest in mine (I have no investment in these–but I have pondered it).

My only point in highlighting this is because ‘where there is smoke there may be fire’.

AEL has 2 issues of fixed to floating rate perpetual preferreds outstanding which are here.

THERE ARE NO PROTECTIONS FOR PREFERRED HOLDERS ON EITHER OF THESE ISSUES. Be aware of what you own.

Weather Is Cold But Markets are Warm This Morning

Equity futures are up darned near 1% this morning–maybe we will get a little Santa Claus rally going into the end of the year. The last few weeks have been a little tough for stocks so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to get a little retracement for the next couple of days.

The 10 year treasury yield is off 3 basis points this morning after taking another too large of a jump of 10 basis points yesterday—that is 2 days in a row of 10 basis point jumps and it has put a cap on any gains for preferreds and baby bonds–I know my accounts have been red each day.

Yesterday I nibbled a bit on Merchants Bancorp 6.0% perpetual fixed-to-floating rate preferred (MBINO). Current yield is 7.26% with yield to 1st call of 17%. So this is my second regional/community bank in the portfolio–I have some CUBI fixed to floating and some of their baby bonds (CUBB). This is an area (smaller banks) where I decided I want some more exposure while I can get between 7-8% current yields. It is highly likely I will nibble another issue or two yet this week. You can see all banking and insurance preferred issues here–sorted alphabetically or by current yield.

Well it is -5 degrees outside – fortunately no wind yet. The forecast us for 5-10 inches of snow by this time tomorrow, but adding in high winds I suppose it will be -20 to -40 with the wind chill. This is Minnesota so anyone who is unprepared for the snow and the cold is just kind of foolish–the older I get the more I dislike the weather, but at least I am prepared. My brother was in Walmart yesterday and he said it felt like the ‘state fair’ with throngs of people stocking up–what silliness.