This 11.1% Dividend is a Sucker’s Bet

Closed-end funds (CEFs) are ready to climb after a two-month decline. In preparation for this pop, select vanilla investors are buying this 11.1% dividend with its 14% downside. Wait, what?! Everyone hates bonds today. Yet, somehow, these bonds are selling for $1.14 on the dollar. I sure wouldn’t do it. I’d favor the fixed income that everyone hates . (More on these discounted dividends in a moment.) Who is this “I’ll pay a premium” belle of the basic income ball? Convertible bonds. Convertibles pay regular interest. In this way, they act like bonds. You buy them and “lock in” regular coupon payments.… Read more