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What is a Reverse Convertible?
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As a personal finance aficionado for many years, I was surprised to know little about reverse convertibles, an investment vehicle that sounds too good to be true. After reading this warning in Smart Money (and this one from FINRA) about reverse convertibles, and how they did very poorly these last few years because of the economic downturn, I thought I should know more about them, despite having no desire to ever invest in one.
I think it’s always good to be educated, even on things you probably will never use because it helps you understand the environment as a whole.
Reverse Convertible Security
A reverse convertible security is a short term note, usually one year, that linked is to a stock and has a high coupon rate. When the note matures, you get the par value of the note if the stock has appreciated or held steady. If the stock price has fallen below the “knock in level,” you may receive a predetermined number of shares in the stock instead of cash. The maximum you can earn from the investment is the sum total of all the coupon payments. The most you can lose is the entire note’s value minutes the coupon payments.
If you want a more technical explanation, there are two parts to the reverse convertible security – a debt instrument and an underlying put option derivative. The debt instrument is the bond-like portion, the one that has a par value and pays a high coupon rate. There is also a derivative (put option) that gives the issuer the right to pay you back in the underlying asset if it dips below a “knock-in” level (usually around 70-80%).
What Can Happen?
What’s the risk? There’s plenty of risk wrapped up in the reverse convertible and it’s easy to miss them all when you see a nice fat coupon yield that you’re “guaranteed.” The two “really bad” outcomes is if the stock price increases or decreases a lot. If it increases, you don’t get any of that appreciation. If it decreases a lot, you bear the brunt of the loss. The FINRA warning does a great job explaining five scenarios as well as the upsides and downsides (the downside list is much longer).
I personally dislike the instrument because it’s complicated. It’s a bond and a stock (technically a derivative of a stock), which makes it difficult to fit into an asset allocation. If I want a bond, I’ll buy a bond. If I want a particular stock, I’ll buy the stock. I don’t see a need, for me personally, to go the route of a reversible convertible security to get both in one.
I’m eager to hear what you all think about this instrument, especially the options guys out there!
{ 7 comments, please add your thoughts now! }Related Posts
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Sheesh, sounds like a nightmare. you know my answer of course haha, buy and hold index funds for the long term. Keep it simple and stay away from excessive risk like this reverse investment vehicle.
And I also don’t like that it complicates my asset allocation. I like to know exactly where my money is invested. It just sounds like too much pain for very little if any reward. Just my 2 cents!
Again, not surprising. Weren’t we all taught that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is?
I like Warren Buffett’s to just avoid any investment that is overly complicated. I hadn’t heard of this type of investment until now but it wouldn’t really be anything that I’m interested in.
These articles that demystify a mysterious concept or term are so interesting and useful. Good work, Jim!
I have to agree with everyone above. Sounds way too complicated for me. Dollar cost average, keep fees low, blah blah, boring stuff that adds up!!!
chalk me up…another one who would just have to pass. it just seems overly complicated with too much risk for me.
even with my limited experience with options, it is easier for me to grasp hoe they can be used for gain and security.
This doesn’t sound like anything I would want to go near.