Saturday, November 29, 2014

SOLD 50 DPG at $22.42-Roth IRA/Bought 100 BRG at $12.85-Satellite Taxable Account/MOL Redemption at $10 Par Value and Mueller Bond Call

Big Picture: No Change

Stable Vix Pattern (Bullish):


Recent Developments:

Both personal and disposable income income increased .2% in October. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) also increased by .2%. Real disposable income increased by .01%.  The personal savings rate for October fell slightly to 5%. The PCE price index rose just .1% with the core increasing by .2%. The PCE price index increased just 1.4% Y-O-Y. News Release: Personal Income and Outlays

The ten year treasury yield has been drifting down throughout 2014. The yield started the year at 3% and closed last Wednesday at 2.24%. Daily Treasury Yield Curve Rates There has also been a decline in inflation expectations as reflected in the 10 year TIP pricing. The break-even spread was 2.26% on 1/2/14 and had fallen to 1.82% as of 11/26/14. The break-even spread is widely regarded as the market's prediction of the average annual rate of inflation until maturity. For the ten year TIP, the market's prediction is therefore an annual average CPI rate of 1.82% over the next ten years. The decline in inflation expectations is one reason for the decline in the ten year treasury yield this year.

Platts reported that China's oil demand decreased 2% in October compared to September, and was up only 2% for the first ten months compared to the period in 2013. China "has become exactly balanced in oil products trade over January to October" 2014, and "China could very well be a net exporter of oil products this year". China's oil product imports declined 22.2% Y-O-Y in October while oil product exports increased by 30.3%.

Crude oil prices were crushed last Friday after OPEC left its production limits unchanged at 30 million barrels a day. Several sources estimate that OPEC members have been exceeding that limit by 700,000 barrels per day. Cheating is common among cartel members. With the oil market saturated with supply, and OPEC unwilling to act as the swing producer, it may take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years before WTI and Brent crude can return to $80 per barrel, and the bottom has probably not be seen yet.

Non-OPEC production has increased from 52.76 million barrels per day in 2012 to an estimated 56.03 in 2014, while OPEC production is shrinking. Short-Term Energy Outlook-U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Petroleum consumption in the U.S. has remained relatively steady since 2008 at close to 19 million barrels per day. (click consumption tab: International Energy Statistics - EIA) However, U.S. consumption is well below the peaks hit in 2005 and 2006 prior to the last recession even as oil production has substantially increased in the U.S.

The problem is that non-OPEC production, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, is accelerating when petroleum demand is mostly stagnant, and China's demand is slowing down.

Natural gas consumption is accelerating going from 22,910 (2009) to 26,037 last year (measured in billions of cubic feet)



India's GDP growth slowed to 5.3% in the third quarter, down from 5.7% in the second quarter.

Canada's economy slowed in the third quarter to 2.8% from 3.6% in the second quarter, but that was better than expected. The CAD and Canada's economy will take a hit from the current oil prices.

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1. Sold 50 DPG at 22.42 (see Disclaimer):

Snapshot of Trade:

2014 Roth IRA Sold 50 DPG at $22.42

Snapshot of Profit: This snapshot includes the profit realized from a trade earlier this year. The total profit for 2014 is $528.06.

2014 DPG 50 Shares +$124.99
Item # 2 Bought Roth IRA: 50 DPG at $19.64 (10/20/14 Post)

Snapshot of History:


Company Description: The Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund (DPG) is a leveraged CEF that invests in utility and telecommunication stocks as well as MLPs.

Sponsor's website: Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund — Home

Holdings as of 7/31/14: Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund (unrealized appreciation of $163.998+M)

Last SEC Filed Shareholder Report: Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund

DPG Page at Morningstar


Data as of Date of Trade Friday 11/28/14:
Closing Net Asset Value Per Share: $24.59
Closing Market Price: $22.44
Discount: -8.74%
Average Discounts:
1 Year: -11.61%
3 Years: -8.1%

CEFConnect Page for DPG

When I bought this 50 share lot, the discount to net asset value was then -12.46%. I suspected that the discount had narrowed to below 9% last Friday which was the case.

Prior Trades: As noted in the preceding snapshot, I sold 113+ shares at $21.19 last June. Item # 8 Sold 113+ DPG at $21.19-Roth IRA (8/19/14 Post)(snapshot of profit=$403.07; total return= $662.61 or 38.1%)-Item # 3 Bought 100 DPG at $17.31 (12/12/12 Post)


I currently own 200 shares in a taxable account. 

200 DPG Unrealized Gain +$939.76
Item # 1 Bought 100 of the CEF DPG at $17.3 (12/29/12 Post)Item # 7 Added 100 DPG at $18.58 (2/3/14 Post)


Chart:




Rationale: The primary reason for selling this security is profit taking. There is a strong emphasis on capital preservation in the IRA accounts due to my personal financial circumstances. I am also concerned about the current market price levels of MLP infrastructure companies.


2. Added 100 BRG at $12.85 (Equity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket)(see Disclaimer): This purchase will be part of my Equity REIT Basket that was last updated in October: Stocks, Bonds & Politics: Update for Equity REIT Common and Preferred Stock Basket Strategy/OHI Earnings Report and Dividend Increase (10/27/14 Post)

Snapshot of Trade:

2014 Added 100 BRG at $12.85
Security Description: The Bluerock Residential Growth REIT (BRG) is an externally managed REIT that owns apartment buildings.

I view the external management structure as a negative, though it is understandable for small REITs in their early years as public companies.

Bluerock is a new REIT that was formed in 2008 and had its IPO earlier this year, selling 3,448,276 shares at a public offering price of $14.5 per share. The underwriters paid $13.485 per share: Prospectus (risk factors are discussed starting at page 27 and include a long discussion of potential conflicts between the external managers and the shareholders)

It is a small REIT that owned 10 apartment complexes as of 9/30/14 with two under development:


The ownership interest in 9 out of the 10 stabilized complexes was less than 100% as of 9/30/14:



Two of those complexes are located in the Nashville Metropolitan area. I am familiar with 23Hundred At Berry Hill that is a nice complex located in the Berry Hill area of Nashville. A resident could take Franklin Road and arrive in downtown Nashville in about 10 minutes. There is a map at that website. That area of town is in the process of being redeveloped with older structures being torn down.

I am not familiar with the other complex, located in Hendersonville, that is north of downtown Nashville. The Grove at Waterford Crossing - Hendersonville, TN That complex is within a few hundred feet of a Cumberland River tributary. Nashville has several lakes and a river.

I also looked at the Villas at Oak Crest  in Chattanooga, TN; the Estates at Perimeter Apartments in Augusta GA; and the Enders Place at Baldwin Park in Orlando, FL.

Bluerock has two complexes under development at Alexan CityCentre in Houston (340 units) and a complex near the University of Central Florida and the Central Florida Research Park referred to as a "296 unit class A multifamily community in Orlando, Florida".

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, Bluerock acquired a 95% interest in Grande Lakes, a 306 unit complex located in Orlando. SEC Filing

I became aware of this REIT last September after reading an article published at Benzinga. The other two REITs, Independence Realty (IRT) and Preferred Apartment Communities (APTS), mentioned in that article, were already owned, and were consequently included in my Yahoo Finance portfolio for that sector basket strategy. That website includes links to articles that are linked to a portfolio's symbols.

Bluerock recently sold stock in a public offering at $11.9 per share, with the underwriters paying $11.2455. Prospectus

Mortgages Payable as of 9/30/14:

Sourced: 10-Q at page 20

Prior Trade: I nibbled at 50 shares in an IRA a few weeks ago. My discussion of that purchase was deleted by Google's software program when I opened the draft for editing. I did not rewrite that blog but simply reproduced snapshots of the trades that were discussed in that deleted blog. Bought 50 BRG at $11.98-Roth IRA

Snapshot of Prior Trade:

2014 Roth IRA Bought 50 BRG at $11.98

Dividends: Since the IPO was earlier this year, there is not a long dividend history to public shareholders. Bluerock is currently paying a monthly dividend of $.096667 per share. Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Dividend History-NASDAQ.com It remains to be see how long that rate will remain in existence. Assuming that it continues, which is in no way assured, the dividend yield at a total cost of $12.85 is about 9.03%. 

Last Earnings Report: One problem in evaluating this new REIT is that there is a lot of noise in its earnings reports. Acquisition and other one time costs are recurring and distorting the FFO and AFFO numbers.

I took a snapshot of the 2014 third quarter results compared tot he 2013 third quarter:



SEC Filed Press Release

For the 2014 third quarter, AFFO per share was reported at $.22 vs. $.14 per share in FFO.

Same store NOI increased by 5.7% from the same period in 2013.

At the time of my purchase, the consensus number was -.2 per share for 2014 and $1 for 2015.  BRG Analyst Estimates While I am not positive, I believe that the estimate is an AFFO number. If that $1 AFFO per share is achieved in 2015, the P/AFFO would be reasonable at 12.85. The dividend rate is currently $1.16 per share annually, more than that annual estimate for 2015.

10-Q for Q/E 9/30/14

For comparison purposes, I would refer to Associated Estates Realty (AEC) that closed at $22.42 last Friday, creating a forward price to funds from operation of about 16.6 using the current 2015 consensus estimate of $1.35: AEC Analyst Estimates AEC is more seasoned apartment REIT.

Two newer apartment REITs are also owned by me, and I have linked their analyst estimates below:

APTS Analyst Estimates | Preferred Apartment Communities

IRT Analyst Estimates | Independence Realty Trust

Both have similar forward P/Es to BRG. IRT had a forward price to funds from operations of 10.37 based on last Friday's closing price of $9.44 and a 2015 consensus of $.91 per share.

In its press release announcing third quarter results, Bluerock affirmed guidance in the $15 to $.17 AFFO range for the current quarter, based on the higher share count due to the October public stock offering. SEC Filed Press Release

Chart: The stock has drifted down after its IPO price of $14.5: BRG Interactive Stock Chart There was a rally in the shares starting around $11.5 that took the price up to $14+ (early September), but the rally failed as the stock drifted back down to $11.9 before recovering some to its current level.

Rationale: Based on the analyst consensus estimate, this REIT is fairly valued and certainly has a good monthly dividend-though it is far from certain for how long the current rate will be maintained by Bluerock.

I am primarily an income oriented investor. The income generated by a single security is not relevant. I am interested in the total aggregate cash flow generated by all owned income producing securities, and prefer to see a security pay monthly income that can be aggregated quicker for reinvestment into whatever security hopefully provides the best risk/reward for income generation.

Risks: External management structures are disfavored by many REIT investors, including me, and they create a variety of potential conflicts that can work to the detriment of shareholders.

The company has an unusually long discussion of risks in a recent SEC Filing. Those risks include the conflict of interest issues created by the external management structure. I do not summarize that discussion of risks since I view it as incumbent on every investor to read that summary for themselves.

Until I see several more earnings results, and concrete proof that its recent acquisitions are beneficial to shareholders, I will maintain a light exposure to this stock.

The company may continue to issue more stock to fund expansion that will generally cause downside pressure on the price. I view further stock offerings as likely.

Future Buys/Sells: I do not have a target price. A rise to $14-$15 within twelve to eighteen months would cause me to consider selling this small lot. I would have to evaluate the then existing conditions.

I bought this security in a satellite brokerage account where my default option is to reinvest the dividends to buy more shares. Until further notice, I will be reinvesting the dividend.


3. MOL Matured: Redeemed at $10 Par Value: This is my last Citigroup Funding principal protected note. To simply greatly, MOL was an unsecured senior exchange traded bond, with a $10 par value, that paid a coupon at the greater of 2% or up to 19% based on the price of gold.

Some of these notes worked better than others. The best ones were probably those linked to the Russell 2000, such as MOU, that had several good coupons before maturing earlier this year: Received MOU Redemption Proceeds This Afternoon-28.4% Annual Coupon ConfirmedMOU-Received 27.93% coupon (3/3/11 Post); MOU-Received 10.48% coupon (3/15/13 Post). Another one that worked was tied to a commodity index. (formerly traded under the symbol MKN=25.53% and 18+%, snapshots at Item 5 MKN Redemption at $10 Par Value Plus Interest)

Snapshot of Redemptions:


I received a total of $40 in annual interest payments with the redemption proceeds.

Item # 1 Added 100 MOL at $9.78 (8/29/12 Post)Bought 200 MOL at $9.95 (8/27/10 Post)-Sold 100 MOL @ $10.3 (11/5/2010 Post)


4. Mueller Water Products Bond Call: The prospectus permitted the issuer to redeem this bond at 101.229% on or after 6/1/14 and prior to 6/1/15. Page 44 Form S-4 Registration Statement




Bought Back 1 Mueller Water 7.375% Senior Subordinated Bond Maturing on 6/1/2017 at 94.5 (6/9/2011 Post)

When I bought this subordinated "senior bond", it was rated CCC+ by S & P and at B3 by Moodys. At the time of redemption, Moodys still had the bond rated at B3, while S & P had upgraded this bond to B in 2013.

Prior Trade: Sold 1 Mueller Water Sen Sub Bond at 100.625-Bought 1 Mueller Water Bond

I have bought the common shares several times as part of the Lottery Ticket Basket strategy, but do not currently have a position.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Added 200 of the Canadian REIT DIR_UN:CA at C$9.03/Sold 50 PBF at $29.81

Big Picture: No Change

Stable Vix Pattern (Bullish):


Recent Developments:

The third quarter real GDP growth was revised up to 3.8% from 3.5%. News Release: Gross Domestic Product The consensus expectation was for a downward revision to 3.3%. The "current dollar" GDP, the non-inflation adjusted number, increased at an estimated 5.3% annualized rate.

Singapore's economy grew at 3.1% annualized in the third quarter. The consensus estimate was for 1.3%. The previous growth estimate for the third quarter was 1.2%. Bloomberg


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1. Sold 50 PBF at $29.81 (see Disclaimer): This one turned into a quickie trade, take the money and run. I will do both short term trading and long term investing at the same time. I am not likely to hold a stock like PBF long term given the nature of its business.


Snapshot of Trade:


Yesterday's Closing Price (11/25/14): $29.8 +3.36%

Snapshot of Profit:


2014 PBF 100 Shares +$194.06


Item # 6 Bought Taxable Account: 50 PBF at $25.61 (9/20/14)

Snapshot of One Dividend Received:


Total Return Calculation: $209.06 (or 16.23% with a 2+ month holding period)

Security Description: PBF Energy Inc (PBF) is a company that owns refineries and has an interest, described below, in a publicly traded LP known as PBF Logistics.

Refinery specific information can be found at page 48-49 of the 2013 Annual Report, PBF-2013.12.31.10-K.

PBF Energy Profile Page at Reuters
PBF Energy Key Developments Page at Reuters
PBF Key Statistics Page at Yahoo Finance
PBF Analyst Estimates Page at Yahoo Finance

PBF-Bloomberg Data as of Date of Trade:
Based on $25.82 Closing Price and Then Current Estimates
Current TTM P/E 10.81
Estimated P/E 2014: 9.68
P/B: 1.46
P/S: .064

PBF Energy announced earlier this year that its Board approved the purchase of up to $200M in shares.

PBF Energy has an interest in another firm known as PBF Logistics that was recently spun out from PBF: PBF Logistics L.P. (PBFX) Announces Second Quarter 2014 Earnings Results and Declares Initial Quarterly Distribution

PBF Energy owns indirectly the PBFX general partner and 51.1% of the limited partnership units as of 9/30/14.  PBF Energy-2014/9/30.10-Q at page 12 PBFX currently owns some infrastructure assets associated with the refineries owned by PBF Energy, including a Delaware City rail terminal and a truck terminal at the Toledo refinery. Apparently, the intention is to expand into terminals, pipelines, storage facilities and similar logistic assets. PBF Logistics LP Website The PBFX second quarter earnings release refers to owning "modest" amount of infrastructure assets. Some would quibble with the use of the word "modest".

PBF Logistics LP Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering

PBFX Quote

Rationale: The last earnings report was good and explains the recent pop in the stock price.

However, refiners are benefiting from what may be a temporary condition, representing the increased spreads between the cost of crude and the price of refined products precipitated by the abrupt and significant decline in crude prices since June and the slower decline in refined product prices.

Refining is an inherently volatile business subject to massive swings in profitability. I would note that there is no rush to build large new refineries built in the U.S. anytime soon. The Energy Department shows 150 U.S. refineries in 2009 and 142 now. U.S. Number and Capacity of Petroleum Refineries The existing ones are running near their capacity limits. U.S. Percent Utilization of Refinery Operable Capacity (Percent)

PBF is a relatively new company. To highlight historic earnings volatility, I would refer to Valero, which I have owned in the past but have no position currently. I looked at the 2010 VLO Annual Report showing net income of $4.866B in 2006, a loss of $1.154B in 2008, a loss of $373M in 2009 and a profit of $923M in 2010, Page 22 10-K. That kind of earnings volatility creates risks, as well as significant problems in establishing a fair value for the company.

Refiners face numerous risks, as described by PBF in its last SEC filed Annual Report, PBF-2013.12.31.10K, starting at page 19 and continuing to page 35. I would highlight the environmental and regulatory risks (e.g. pages 26-29).

I will trade the refiners and have owned at various times, as discussed in this blog, Valero, Delek, and Alon. I have also owned Alon and Valero bonds. I view all of the foregoing as trades.

The one year price charts suggest to me at least that these companies are trades only and possibly trades that most individual investors may want to avoid.

DK Interactive Stock Chart

ALJ Interactive Stock Chart

VLO Interactive Stock Chart

2. Added 200 DIR_UN:CA at C$9.03 (see Disclaimer): This security was bought on the Toronto exchange using my existing CAD stash. This purchase was an average down.

With 500 shares currently owned, I am at my current risk limit for this security. A sector basket strategy will generally have a $5,000 limit for each component and a $1,000 minimum.

Snapshot of Trade (Toronto Exchange/Paid for in CADs): 


Closing Price Yesterday (11/25/14): DIR-UN.TO: C$9.10 +0.05 (+0.55%)

Ordinary Shares Priced In USDs-U.S. Grey Market

These units also trade on the U.S. Grey Market and can be bought with USDs in that dark market. DREUF Dream Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (DREUF) When the symbol ends in "F", the investor is buying the ordinary shares rather than an ADR. The DREUF shares closed yesterday at $8.0581.

I try to avoid the Grey Market, since bids and ask prices are not displayed and volume is usually skimpy or non-existent. If I had no choice but to trade in that market, I would find out the current ordinary share price in its local currency and then do a currency conversion to determine the USD equivalent number. Currency Converter I would then decide on the bid price using only a limit order, probably an AON one.

If an investor elects to buy the ordinary shares traded in USDs, the dividends will be paid in USDs after being converted from CADs and after Canada's withholding tax. While there is a tax treaty between Canada and the U.S. that exempts "dividends" from Canadian tax withholding when paid into a U.S. investor's retirement account,  a REIT distribution is not viewed as a dividend subject to that exemption. While many brokerage firms will secure a 15% tax rate for their customers, some will not file the appropriate documents with the Canadian tax authority which results in a 25% tax rate. "New Canadian Withholding Tax Documentation Requirements": Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting

Prior Trade: I bought 300 shares earlier this year. Item # 5 Bought: 300 DIR_UN:CA at C$9.53(6/7/14 Post)

Company Description: Dream Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (DIR.UN:TOR) is a Canadian REIT that owns light industrial properties across Canada totaling approximately 17M square feet of gross leasable space. As of 9/30/14, the company owned 220 light industrial properties. A list of those properties can be found at Dream Industrial Properties.

Occupancy stood at 95.5% as of 9/30/14.

Company Website: Dream Industrial REIT

Investor Presentation October 2014.pdf (includes pictures of some properties)

Distribution History: This REIT is currently paying a monthly distribution of C$.05833 per share. Investors-Dream Industrial REIT That penny rate was last raised from C$.05625 per share effective for the April 2013 monthly distribution. The company went public in 2012, and its first monthly dividend payment was at $.05081. So, at least there have been increases and no decreases yet, though I would have to admit that the raises so far are not going to pay for my nursing home expenses.

At the current penny rate, and assuming a total cost of C$9.03, the current distribution yield would be about 7.75%.

While it is immaterial, this security went ex distribution the day after my purchase, so I will be receiving that monthly payment on the entire 500 shares.

I received a comment yesterday that my total cost per share was not the purchase price. Instead, I was informed that the total cost number included the brokerage commission. I am still more or less compos mentis and somehow, possibly through divine intervention, recognize that the total cost number includes the commission cost, at least I was so aware earlier this morning when writing this post.

Since I started to write a blog back in October 2008, I have expressed dividend yield at the purchase price when discussing a stock, exactly what you would see when looking at a brokerage quote or at a financial website which does not factor in a commission rate. When I take a snapshot of the profit or loss, then that number will include the impact of the round trip commission cost.

Last Earnings Report: All amounts are in Canadian Dollars. Q3-Press Release.pdf

FFO Per Diluted Share: $.233
AFFO Per Diluted Share: $.196
Distributions During Quarter: $.196
FFO Payout Ratio: 73.2%
AFFO Payout Ratio: 89.3%

For the first nine months, the AFFO number was $.592 and the FFO number was reported at $.704 on a diluted basis.

When there is that much difference between the FFO and AFFO number, I will use the lower number in calculating dividend coverage and the price to funds from operations. For ease of calculation, I will use in the P/AFFO calculation an assumed $.20 AFFO number for the current quarter, bringing the yearly number up to $.792. At a C$9.03 price, the P/AFFO is reasonable in my opinion at 11.4.

There has been some growth in AFFO per share over the first nine months compared to the same period in 2013:

2014: $.592
2013: $.551
Up 7.44% which I view favorably

As of 9/30/14, leverage was at 52.8% "with interest coverage of 3 times and a weighted average term to maturity on debt of 4.1 years". The weighted average "face" rate on all debt was 4.11%, with an effective weighted average rate of 3.86%.

REITs have benefited from the abnormally low interest rates when refinancing their mortgage obligations or their debt at the corporate level. Commercial mortgages tend to be around 5 years so the worm will turn the other way down the line.

Canadian REITs will release a comprehensive quarterly report that will be filled with information. This is Dream Industrial's detailed report for the third quarter: Q3-Report.pdf

I took a snapshot of page 31 that shows the adjustments made in FFO to arrive at the lower AFFO number:


One important deduction is the amount set aside for recurring capital expenditures. I would not want to see a REIT funding a dividend out of that money.

Rationale: I have raised my Canadian cash stash to over C$30,000 after harvesting profits on a number of Canadian securities earlier this year, including some Canadian REITs. Those funds earn nothing until I invest them. One purpose in my Canadian Dollar Strategy is to increase my CAD stash through dividends paid in CADs and profits realized in CADs. I am also diversifying my assets some out of USD priced securities for diversification purposes.  I do not want to incur another 1% fee for converting USDs into CADs so I am building up my CAD position through profits realized in CADs and in dividends paid in CADS.

Since I am a long term owner of CADs, I am not concerned about the currency risk. If and when 1 CAD buys $1.25+ USDs, then I will consider transferring some of those CADs back into USDs. Until that time happens, and it may never happen in my lifetime, I am concerned about generating a return on my Canadian Dollar position rather than how many USDs can be bought with those CADs at a particular point in time.

Dream Industrial seems like a well run REIT to me. The dividend yield is good at close to 7.75%, even without any additional raises. The P/FFO is reasonable in my opinion. I have some rational prospect for a capital gain in addition to the dividend stream.

In the following risk discussion, I mention the currency risk issue. Many investors may prefer to avoid that risk altogether and focus solely on U.S. REITs. While currency exposure adds a layer of risk, without question, there is also a potential benefit. The CAD may rise against the USD above where it was yesterday, and consequently contribute to the total return. If one CAD bought 1 USD, a level exceeded slightly back in January 2013, CAD/USD, then the value of the USD price DREUF would be about 12% higher than now with no change in the ordinary share price of C$9.1 as of 11/25/14.

Generally, and it usually depends on a variety of factors, I will become more interested in buying foreign securities when both of the following conditions coalesce: (1) a significant rise in the value of the USD against the foreign currency which makes the foreign asset cheaper to me (assuming I am using USDs to buy the security); and (2) a decline in the value of the foreign security in its local currency for non-fundamental reasons. Stocks, Bonds & Politics: Strong U.S. Dollar + Weak Market=Time to Start Looking Overseas (6/1/2010 Post); Stocks, Bonds & Politics: International Trading and Currency Risks (7/11/10 Post)

I described in 2010 how the purchase of AXA's ADR met both of those conditions. The ordinary shares priced in Euros had declined 27.2% and the Euro had declined in value against the USD, creating an overall 43.33% decline for the period measured in that post.  Stocks, Bonds & Politics: Bought 100 AXAHY at $14.69. If you look at a five year chart of the EUR/USD, then you will see what I saw in the 2010 summer. The Euro had declined from around 1.49 in November 2009 to approximately 1.22 in late May/early June 2010.

Since currency trends can last for awhile, hard to say when there will be a reversal in favor of the foreign currency, I will generally slowly accumulate those foreign securities, possibly averaging down when I view it to be both rational and prudent.



Risks: 

Risks Highlighted by the Chart : The stock has been weak for several weeks and has never really recovered from the downdraft in REIT stocks that occurred last year when interest rates started to rise.

The stock was selling below its 200 and 50 day SMA lines when I purchased shares, though the 50 day SMA line was just slightly above the closing price on the day of purchase. (C$9.16 vs. C$9.10 close on 11/25).

Currency Risks: For anyone buying the USD priced DREUF, currency exchange risk is always an issue. The CAD has been weak against the USD over the past year or so. That negative currency conversion flows into the price of DREUF which has consequently underperformed the ordinary shares priced in CADs by about 11% over the past 52 weeks:


That risk would also apply to an investor who exchanges USDs to buy CADs in order to complete a purchase in Toronto, unless there was the intent and the wherewithal to convert back when there was a profit to be made on the exchange after fees.

Normal Risks for Stocks: Needless to say, the potential for a 10% annualized return, achieved mostly with a 7.75% distribution yield, is not a risk free endeavor. I could lose money on the stock even after holding for a long period of time. The dividend could be cut during a recession or even eliminated during a Depression. Generally, though, I believe that it is probable, though not certain of course, that I can achieve that bogey by simply waiting for the stock to pop after collecting several dividend payments, assuming that I wish to harvest the gain at such a propitious time. Prior to last year's downdraft in the REIT sector, Dream Industrial did hit C$11.6 back in January 2013 or 28.46% above my last purchase price. If I harvested say 3 years of dividends and then could sell anywhere between C$11 to C$11.6, that would be a satisfactory outcome.

Company Discussion of Risk: Corporations will generally describe the risks incident to their operations in an Annual Report. The Dream Industrial 2013 Annual Report has a section, starting at page 32, titled "Risks and Our Strategy to Manage Them".

Tax Risk Issues For Lack of a Better Description: I only know what I have been told by my broker and by those who appear to know the answers. I am buying a Canadian security on the Toronto Exchange using CADs to buy the shares and receiving CADs when I sell the shares. My dividends are paid in CADs. I am a U.S. citizen and taxpayer. The I.R.S. is not interested in reporting profits and income in CADs. Instead, the broker converts the value of the CAD into USDs when I buy and sell. If the value of the CAD declines between those periods, I will have a greater profit in CADs than what is reportable on my tax return, or possibly more of a loss, or somewhere in between including a profit in CADs and a loss for U.S. tax reporting purposes. The CAD dividend is likewise converted into USDs.

The practical implications are shown when I sold two Canadian REITs recently. SOLD: 300 HLP-UN:CA at C$14.17 and 300 AX-UN:CA at C$15.71 In both cases, my reportable tax profit was less than the profit actually realized in CADs. That is just one nit. I also apparently create a tax event when I sell CADs, which now have differing USD costs, to buy a security on the Toronto exchange. So I am creating some issues by electing to buy securities using a foreign currency: 1. the commission rate is higher, 2. there are several tax issues, and 3. fees are normally charged for the initial conversion of USDs into the foreign currency. 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Bought 80 PMOIY at $3.7 -Lottery Ticket Basket/Bought 50 SLRC at $18.38-Flyer's Basket/Bought 50 of the ETF ENY at $13.55

Big Picture: No Change

Stable Vix Pattern (Bullish):


Recent Developments:

Sources told Reuters that China is prepared to cut rates against due to concerns about deflation accelerating debt defaults. 

Markit reported its flash service PMI at 56.3 for November.

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1. Bought 80 PMOIY at $3.7 (Lottery Ticket Basket Strategy)(see Disclaimer): 

Some pundits are predicting that there is a 60% chance that OPEC will cut production during its meeting later this week. I have no idea, and everyone appears to be guessing in my opinion. My guess would be 50/50.

In case there is a production cut, and Brent Crude spikes to over $80, I wanted to have a few Lottery Tickets that might benefit significantly with a change in perception about energy prices.

The share price of Premier Oil has already been smashed in response to the precipitous oil price decline starting in June. The same would be true for my buy last week of 300 WFREF: Bought 300 WFREF at $2.6932

The crude oil price decline was significant, swift, and unexpected, and caused a bone crushing share price decline in energy stocks.



Graph: Crude Oil Prices: West Texas Intermediate (WTI)-St. Louis Fed

When looking at a longer term WTI chart, the most recent decline looks similar to price corrections in 2011 and 2012, and nowhere near as bad as what happened in 2008:


I try to keep things in perspective.

Snapshot of Trade: 

2014 Bought 80 PMOIY at $3.7
1 ADR=1 Ordinary PMOIY Premier Oil plc 

The ordinary shares are priced in U.K. pence: Premier Oil PLC-Bloomberg

100 Pence=1 British Pound

I made the following snapshot of a Bloomberg quote for the U.K. ordinary shares shortly before entering my limit order for PMOIY:


I then used the Bloomberg currency converter to calculate the USD value of 2.38 GBP.


Investor Presentation Made in November_2014.pdf

Reserves in MMBOE (Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent):


Premier Oil Key Developments Page at Reuters

Last week, Premier announced that it was reducing the Falkland Islands' Sea Lion project due to low oil prices. Bloomberg

Dividends: Premier has paid an annual 5 pence per ordinary share during 2013 and 2014. Shareholder Information | Premier Oil At the time of my purchase, 5 pence was worth about USD$.0785. The dividend yield at that conversion rate would be about 2.12% at a total cost of $3.7 per share. The low dividend yield is one reason for the LT classification. 

Chart: In June 2014, this stock traded at over $6. The recent downdraft qualifies this purchase as a "falling knife", a standard criteria for Lottery Ticket selections: 


That is not pretty.  

Recent Earnings Report: This company reports in USDs. Premier Oil reports every six months. The last report was for the six month period ending 6/30/14: Press Release2014-Half-Year-PR.pdf

For the first six months, Premier reported diluted E.P.S. of $.313 per share, up from $.291 per share during the first six months of 2013. The 2013 diluted E.P.S. was $.432



At the time of my purchase, the consensus 2014 E.P.S. was for $.55. PMOIY Analyst Estimates 

Rationale and Risks: According to Bloomberg, the P/E based on estimated 2014 earnings is less than 7, with a price to book of less than 1 using the current estimates and market price per share. The estimated P.E.G. is about .33.

I will frequently make Lottery Ticket purchases based on that type of statistical data that is accompanied by a smashed stock price without thinking too much.

Since the ordinary share are ultimately priced in British Pounds, the decline in GBP will flow through into the USD priced ordinary shares. GBP/USD Interactive Stock Chart The recent decline in the GBP has resulted in the USD priced ordinary shares underperforming the ordinary shares priced in Pence by close to 5% over the past 3 months.

See, generally: Stocks, Bonds & Politics: International Trading and Currency Risks (7/11/2010 Post); Stocks, Bonds & Politics: Strong U.S. Dollar + Weak Market=Time to Start Looking Overseas (6/1/2010 Post)

Future Buys/Sells: I am not likely to buy more shares. I do not have a price target. I would consider selling this 80 share lot when and if the shares return to the $5 to $6 range or after a material deterioration in its operations.

Closing Price 11/24/14: PMOIY: $3.72 -0.03 (-0.80%) 

2. Bought 50 SLRC at $18.38 ($500 to $1,000 Flyer's Basket Strategy With Snapshots of Round Trip Trades)(see Disclaimer): 

I noticed when researching material for my recent post discussing BDCL that Solar Capital was selling at an unusually large discount to its last reported net asset value per share. After researching this company, I placed it in the Flyer's Basket risk category due to its declining weighted average net yield on its income producing investments, the current payout in excess of its net interest income per share, the external management, the prior dividend cut, and the usual assortment of risks inherent in BDCs.

Snapshot of Trade:

2014 Bought 50 SLRC at $18.38
Prior Trades: None

Company Description: Solar Capital Ltd. (SLRC) is an externally managed BDC that targets investments in U.S. firms with EBITDA between $20M to $100M.

The managers are paid a base fee calculated at an annual rate of 2% of Solar's gross assets, plus a generous incentive fee. (see pages 7-11, Form 10-K)

A list of investments can be found starting at page 7 of the last SEC filed Form 10-Q.

One reason for placing this stock in the Flyer's category is the history of realized losses (where are the realized gains?):

Historical Financials Page 57 of 2013 Annual Report
Another reason is yield compression, as the weighted average annualized yield drifts down and has continued to do so in 2014. That is a common problem with BDCs now, and many will reach for yield by making riskier loans further down in the capital structure. Solar appears to be sticking mostly to senior secured loans which may result at some point in a dividend cut.

As of 12/31/13, Solar had 17.9% of its total assets invested in another company called Crystal Capital Financial Holdings LLC (page 15, Form 10-K). A 98% interest in Crystal was acquired in December 2012 for $275M in cash (page 61).

On March 31, 2014, Solar "exchanged" $137.500M of its "equity interest" in Crystal for floating rate senior secured notes issued by Crystal bearing interest at LIBOR plus 9.5% and maturing on 3/31/19 (page 29, Form 10-Q).

I was initially perplexed by that last sentence, since the same document shows the investment in Crystal to be worth $300M as an equity investment based on a $275M cost number with no mention of that senior secured note in the debt section (page 7 lists senior secured loans as of 9/30/14, page 8 lists equity investments:Form 10-Q) The treatment has to do with Crystal being consolidated with Solar, as clarified by the CFO in the last conference call during the question and answer session.

As of 9/30/14, Crystal had investments in 25 companies with a total "par value" of approximately $411.042M. All loans were floating rate with the largest being $30M. Crystal had net income of $21.133M for the nine month period ending 9/30/14. Form 10-Q)

Company Website: SOLAR CAPITAL

Solar Capital Filings with the SEC

Solar Capital Page at Bloomberg (ex dividend date 12/16/14)

Net Asset Value History: Sourced from 10-Q Filings

9/30/14: $22.34
9/30/13: $22.25
9/30/12: $22.7
9/30/11: $21.2
3/31/2010: $22.18 (first 10-Q)
Initial Public Offering February 2010:  Prospectus (priced at $18.5 to the public and $17.205 to the underwriters)

2013 Annual Report: Form 10-K

The last public offering of common stock was made in January 2013 and priced to the public at $24.4 per share: Prospectus Supplement

In 2012, Solar sold $100M in 6.75% senior unsecured notes maturing in 2042: Prospectus SupplementSolar Capital Ltd. 6.75% Sr. Notes due 2042 (SLRA) This is an exchange traded baby bond with a $25 par value which hit a low slightly below $20 last December: SLRA Interactive Stock Chart

In September, Solar announced a joint venture with a fund managed by PIMCO to co-invest in senior "secured unitranche loans originated by Solar Capital". The joint venture, referred to by Solar with the acronym SSLP, will initially consist of $300M provided by Solar and $47M by the PIMCO affiliate, with PIMCO committing to an additional $257 million in a sidecar vehicle to co-invest with the SSLP".  Page 1 Q3 2014-Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha

Dividend: The quarterly dividend was cut from $.6 to $.4 per share in 2013. This occurred after received $237M in proceeds after monetizing three investments. News Release The company subsequently announced in July 2013 that the Board had approved up to $100M in stock repurchases. Press Release July 2013 After purchasing approximately $17.5M in stock, the stock repurchase program was extended in December 2013. The share repurchase program expired in July 2014 with approximately $56.6M in shares repurchased out of the $100M authorized by the Board.

The dividend yield at a total cost of $18.38 per share is about 8.7%.

Unless there is an improvement relatively soon in the quarterly net investment income per share, I would view a dividend cut as a possibility. Possibly, the new joint venture with PIMCO will increase the NII per share some.

Chart: SLRC's share price is near the 52 week low set in mid-October, and is trading under its 50 and 200 day SMA lines: SLRC Interactive Stock Chart The 200 day line was at $20.57 according to Yahoo Finance's chart as of last Friday. The historical high prices were hit slightly over $25 in March 2011 and again in January 2013.

Last Earnings Report: For the 2014 third quarter, Solar reported net investment income of $16.4M or $.39 per share. SEC Filed Press Release

Net asset value per share was reported at $22.24 as of 9/30/14. Prospectus Supplement The $18.38 purchase price was a 17.8% discount to that last reported NAV per share.

The fair value weighted average yield of Solar's income producing investments was 10.3% at the quarter's end. This number has been trending down, as noted above.

The company had 67.2M in cash and $490M in unused credit capacity as of 9/30/14.

Q3 2014 Results-Earnings Call Transcript-Seeking Alpha (one position on non-accrual representing 1/2 of 1% of portfolio, at page 2; roughly 80% of investments are in senior secured and floating rate investments, pp. 3-4)

Rational: The primary reason for investing in a BDC will be to harvest the dividend and to hopefully escape with a profit on the shares. The general hoped for goal is an annualized total return of 10%+.

The company has not been a serial issue of stock so far, one of the common complaints that I have about several other BDCs. I was looking at one last night that has had four stock offerings in the past 12 months.

I also like this statement made by the COO during the last conference call: "We think many of our peers are taking inordinate risk, taking on structure with no covenants and much higher leverage capital structure", making clear that Solar was not going to follow their competitors down that path. Q3 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha

Risks: 

1. Company Discussion of Risks: I would recommend that anyone investing in a BDC read the summary of risks found in an SEC filed Annual Report. Solar discusses risks incident to its operations starting at page 23 of its last SEC filed Annual Report: Form 10-K Among those risks, Solar states that there "are significant potential conflicts of interest which could impact our investment returns" (page 44).

2. Risky Portfolio: This risk is common to BDCs. These companies are basically lending money to mostly private firms that would find it difficult to obtain needed capital from banks. Some of the borrowers may be relatively new with little or no track record, heavily indebted companies that have gone private after a leveraged buyout, or older companies that have fallen on hard times. The loans will generally carry high interest rates and will sometimes have an equity kicker such as a stock warrant. One does not need to be a professional loan officer to recognize the risks.

The risk is mitigated somewhat by focusing more on first lien loans. When reading the transcript for the previous quarter, I noted that Solar and Crystal both had investments in a company called Quantum Foods which was being liquidated apparently in a BK. Of the $75M investment, Solar has received liquidation proceeds of $60M and was pursuing a recovery of more, as of the date of that call which was 8/5/14: Q2 2014 Results -Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha

3. Always a Potential for a Dividend Cut:  The main reason for buying this security is the dividend. If the portfolio suffers losses and defaults, a dividend cut is certainly a possibility. A recession would increase the odds of a dividend cut. I am concerned about another dividend cut unless Solar can increase its NII per share. The last quarter had a NII of $.39 and a quarterly dividend of $.4.

4. Unfavorable Chart: The chart indicates some dissatisfaction with Solar. Perceptions are sometimes hard to change. Perhaps, the only way for Solar to return to good graces is by posting both increases in NII and net asset value per share. BDCs are dependent on securing and maintaining favor with individual investors, many of whom pay no attention to net asset value per share numbers and focus solely on dividends.

Solar has a relatively low dividend yield compared to other BDCs, partly due to its decision to hold cash after several investments were redeemed, as noted above, and to use some of that cash surplus to buy back stock.

In an exchange with an analyst from Wells Fargo, Gregory Nelson, who inquired why Solar had not invested the surplus cash, the Chairman and CEO Michael Gross made an interesting comment. The external managers had not received an incentive fee in 2014. If they invested the cash in "liquid loans", then the "incremental investment income will effectively flow to our benefit as the investment manager", apparently due to clearing the hurdle for triggering payment of the incentive fees, Q3 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha.

Future Buys: I am not likely to buy more. I will consider selling when and if I can harvest a 10% annualized return or there is a material adverse change in Solar's operations.

Closing Price 11/24/14: SLRC: $18.47 0.00 (0.00%)

3. Bought 50 ENY at $13.55 (see Disclaimer): I am not classifying this purchase as part of the Flyer's Basket strategy. Instead, I am just being very cautious with my entry points with this ETF having sold 155+ shares at $17.55. Sold 155+ ENY at $17.55 (7/5/14 Post) I realized a $293.37 gain plus the dividends. If I still owned those shares, I would not have a profit but a loss.

By eliminating the position at $17.55, I now have the luxury of buying shares back at a lower price, a typical small ball approach to investing.

Given the uncertainty about what OPEC might do later this week, I decided that caution was prudent. Investors perceive many Canadian oil sands producers as unprofitable or barely profitable at today's crude prices. If the per barrel prices for WTI and Brent continue to slide down into the 60s, the Canadian energy stocks will continue to suffer.

I sold out of ENY on 6/23/14. This ETF had declined $4 per share since then or 22.79%. That is bear market territory and pretty severe for an ETF in 5 months.

So far, as shown by snapshots in the preceding linked post, I now have realized gains of $617.03 after nibbling at this ETF, sometimes flipping 50 or even 30 shares.  

Snapshot of Trade-Satellite Taxable Account:

2014 Bought 50 ENY at $13.55
Security Description: The Guggenheim Canadian Energy Income ETF (ENY) is an ETF that owns Canadian energy companies.

Sponsor's Website: ETF (net expense ratio for an ETF is high at .71%)
ENY Page at Morningstar (rated 2 stars)

The fund has changed its stripes some since I first bought shares several years ago. The fund now has a significant weighting in storage and transportation stocks at 27.42% as of 9/30/14.  Those stocks would include TransCanada, Enbridge, Pembina, and Inter Pipeline.

ENY Holdings
Holdings With Over a 1% Weighting as of 11/21/14
I have occasionally owned one or more of those infrastructure companies (e.g.:  Bought 100 PBA at $29.21 February 2013)

I am going to wait until OPEC acts to decide whether to average up or down or do nothing.