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First Republic Prices Preferred Stock

The previously announced new preferred issue from private banker First Republic (FRC) has been priced.

The company will sell 14 million shares (with another 2 million available for overallotments) with a fixed rate coupon of 4.70%.

The issue will be non cumulative and qualified.

The issue is investment grade with a BBB- rating from Standand and Poors and Baa3 from Moodys.

The new issue will trade under permanent ticker FRC-J when it begins to trade on the permanent exchange.

The new issue will trade on the OTC Grey market starting immediately under the ticker FRCJL.

The company’s press release with the pricing can be found here.

Thanks to Jerry for having the coupon 1st–very early.

Private Banker First Republic to Sell Investment Grade Preferred

Private banker and investment firm First Republic (FRC) has announced the issuance of a new series of non cumulative preferred stock.

The coupon on this one will be low–5% or below–and will be qualified. The issue should be rated BBB- by Standard and Poors and Baa3 by Moodys

NOTE–for due diligence you should go to the company’s investor relations page here. Alternatively you can go to the FDIC website here and search for First Republic. The company is NOT under supervision of the SEC so filings will not be found there.

The preliminary paperwork can be found here.

Thanks to mcg for being on this one.

Monday Morning Kickoff

The Standard and Poors 500 moved in a range of 3091 to 3127, about a 1% range, before closing the week at 3110–around a 1/2% loss for the week.

Interest rates, as measured by the 10 year treasury, stayed pretty tame last week, moving in a range of 1.73% to 1.85 before closing the week at 1.77%.

The Fed balance sheet actually fell last week by $17 billion–this is the first fall in the balance sheet since 8/28/2019.

Last week we had the following new income issues announced.

Morgan Stanley (MS) announced a new preferred stock with a coupon of 4.875%. The issue is trading under OTC Ticker MSLQL and last traded at $24.98. Further details are here.

QVC Inc. sold a new issue of baby bonds that while investment grade rated carry a coupon of 6.25%. The issue will trade under ticker QVCC, but it is not yet trading on public exchanges. Further details are here.

Insurance company AXA Equitable (EQH) sold a new perpetual preferred with a coupon of 5.25%–not toop bad for a split rate investment grade issue. The shares are trading on the OTC Grey market under ticker AXQEL and last traded at $24.85. Further details are here.

REIT Global Net Lease (GNL) sold a new preferred with a 6.875% coupon. This is an unrated issue which is now trading under the OTC Grey market ticker of GBLNP–last trading at $24.64. Further details can be found here.

Insurer American Financial Group (AFG) priced an investment grade baby bond with a coupon of 5.125%. There is no OTC Grey market trading in the issue, but the issue will trade soon on the NYSE under ticker AFGC. Further details are here.

Lastly partnership Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure (FTAI) sold a fixed to floating rate preferred with an initial coupon of 8%. Being a partnership the shares will bring a K-1 at tax time and the issue, while cumulative, will not be a qualified distribution. Shares will trade today (Monday) on the OTC Grey market under ticker FTABP. Further details can be seen here.

Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Prices Preferred

Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure (FTAI) priced their previously announced fixed to floating preferred stock with an initial fixed rate of 8%. The issue will float starting in 2024.

The company is a partnership and as such it will issue a K-1 at tax time. As a partnership it will not pay a qualified distribution.

The pricing term sheet can be read here.

Investment Grade Preferreds and Baby Bonds Now Callable-REPLAY

About 2 weeks ago I posted this spreadsheet which is Investment Grade Preferreds and Baby Bonds Now Callable.

I am reposting–I did not update the dates as little changes over a 2 week period (although since the original post 6 issues have been called for redemption), BUT prices do change and I see a couple I don’t own that are in the list which I may pick up.

Currently I own the following off the list–

Axis 5.50% preferred (AXS-D)

WR Berkley 5.625% baby bond (WRB-B).

Vornado Realty Trust 5.40% Preferred (VNO-L)

So I now see a couple others that I will look closer at for potential purchase.

1st is the DTE Energy 5.25% baby bond (DTQ).

2ndly is the Kimco Realty 5.50% preferred (KIM-J)

The idea is that if interest rates don’t move too violently up or down these issues should stay relatively closely tied to liquidation preference ($25) while providing high levels of safety. I don’t really want to deal with any issues under 5%, because the redemption likelihood is small thus exposing the issue to bigger share price moves (down).

Here is the list again.

Note that the yield to worst DOES NOT include accrued dividends so the actual yield to worst is slightly better than that listed.

For those wanting the full investment grade list of baby bonds and preferred stocks you can click here. You can toggle on the bottom for investment grade.