The Complexities of Investing in Convertibles: What Every Advisor Should Know

We know lots of financial advisors who use convertibles as part of a core allocation. At this point late in the market cycle, we’re also seeing heightened interest from investment professionals aware of convertible securities’ tactical value—to diversify fixed income especially now that volatility is picking up and rates are rising.

oct31 webcast

Below we check in with Joe Wysocki, Calamos Senior Vice President, Co-Portfolio Manager, including of Calamos Convertible Fund (CICVX), to hear more about the convertible bond market and the opportunities and risks he sees.

Q. Joe, you’ve been optimistic about convertibles all year. Are the performance drivers you identified in our May post (see The Drivers of Convertible Bonds’ Short and Long-Term Performance) still intact?

We think so. Individual companies ebb and flow over time but overall corporate fundamentals remain strong, balance sheets are in good shape. Many of the longer term growth drivers remain intact.

Volatility has returned this month, serving as a reminder that there are always risks to investing. But the key is not to avoid all risk, it is to be able to identify it and invest where the risk/reward tradeoff is in our favor.

We continue to find many convertible opportunities that enable us to build portfolios with good risk/reward profiles. We’re still finding ways to help us capture upside in the equity market while protecting on the downside.

Q. Convertibles’ strong performance through 9/30 attracted new advisors to the asset class. What do you want them to know? What can they expect?

We’re happy to see advisors discover the asset class, and we want it to perform in their clients’ portfolios as they’d expect.

Q. Sounds like there’s a “But…” coming?

We encourage advisors to use convertibles to focus on providing capital appreciation without jeopardizing capital preservation. Combining the capital appreciation potential of equities with the capital preservation characteristics of bonds can deliver benefits that each in isolation may not.

This is what’s at the core of Calamos’ 40-plus years of advocacy and enthusiasm for convertibles. However, combining equity and bond characteristics into one security creates some unique complexities. We know from experience the importance of active management in order to fully capitalize on convertibles’ advantages.

Q. What do advisors using passive strategies miss out on?

A. There’s less risk management—ironically, the very reason to consider convertibles.

It begins with portfolio composition. A passive strategy is based on a list of securities in an index, capital is not being allocated based on company fundamentals.

joe wysocki quote

But more important is that the asset allocation decision is being effectively ignored. What happens when equities’ market value increases? The convertible equity sensitivity increases and equity-sensitive convertibles would potentially be larger positions in a passive strategy.

In the absence of rebalancing, investors could be holding an equity portfolio (such as in 2000) or, conversely, could be holding a straight bond portfolio (as in 2008) at the exact wrong time.

convertibles change over time

I was asked recently whether convertibles have moved too far, too fast.

The discipline in our process involves constantly monitoring these relationships and making adjustments to align with our top-down and bottom-up analysis.

Let’s use technology as an example. Tech is an area where a number of the underlying equities have been quite strong this year and the equity sensitivity of the convertibles has increased—this exposes an investor to downside risk if the equity reverses. (Also see Using Convertibles to Manage Technology Risk.)

We have been very active in monitoring these risks and rebalancing back toward more balanced profiles where we think the risk/reward tradeoff is again tilted in our favor. This continuous rebalancing helps us participate in the capital appreciation of the equity while moving up our bond floor to preserve capital should the equity correct.

Q. The S&P 500 fell almost 5.5% at the start of the month only to climb back. What happens, Joe, when a market downturn is more long-lived and severe?

A. Due in part to their hybrid nature, convertibles—and CICVX in particular—have historically performed well relative to an all-equity portfolio during equity market corrections.

relative performance during down markets

A recent example was earlier this year when the S&P plunged 10% late January through early February, and our risk-managed approach and active management helped us cushion the downside and be exposed to just 60% of the decline.

risk management active management cushion

At the same time, convertibles have done quite well in periods of rising rates, which tend to be difficult for straight bond portfolios. This is due to the equity component that enables convertibles to participate in equity upside, which has historically happened later in economic cycles when the Fed is raising rates. (Also see How Equity Alternatives Have Performed When Rates Rose.)

Convertibles Have Outperformed Traditional Bonds When Interest Rates Rise
Returns in Rising Rate Environments

convertibles historically bonds

But I do like to remind advisors that the short-term drivers of convertibles primarily depend on the performance of the underlying companies. Therefore, each market correction can be different based on the composition of the market and the source of the decline.

Understanding these exposures and having the expertise to analyze both equity and credit fundamentals is vital. Further, when you step back and view convertibles over the long term through full market cycles you can see that—despite all the short-term ups and downs in the market over the past 20 years—they have delivered equity market returns with lower downside volatility. That’s what makes them a valuable addition to any asset allocation.

Q. Last month was the 10-year anniversary of the Great Financial Crisis. Can we ask you to reminisce about that period? What did you take away from that experience?

A. I don’t think there is any substitute for the first-hand experience one gains from investing through turbulent markets such as 2008-2009.

While the drawdowns were steep, our approach to convertibles held up significantly better than the equity market with a peak-to-trough decline of -30% vs. -55% for the S&P, and bested the overall convert market of -42% for the ICE BofAML All U.S. Convertibles Index (VXA0).

great financial crisis recover

By holding up better and rebalancing risk, Calamos Convertible Fund was able to fully recover by early 2010. That was two years ahead of the broader equity market.

In the years since, declines in the broad equity market have been few, far between and relatively shallow. In the absence of volatility, higher risk strategies have outperformed and maybe memories have dimmed. What I’ll never forget—and hope that people never take for granted—is the value of actively managing risk.

For more on convertibles, register for “Convertibles in Portfolio Construction: A Master Class for Today,” an October 31 Webcast featuring Wysocki along with Calamos Founder, Chairman and Global CIO John P. Calamos, Sr., and Eli Pars, Co-CIO, Head of Alternative Strategies and Co-Head of Convertible Strategies, Senior Co-Portfolio Manager, including of the Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX).

Or talk to a Calamos Investment Consultant at 888-571-2567 or email caminfo@calamos.com.




    Before investing carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information which can be obtained by calling 1-866-363-9219. Read it carefully before investing.

    Opinions and estimates offered constitute our judgment and are subject to change without notice, as are statements of financial market trends, which are based on current market conditions. We believe the information provided here is reliable, but do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. The opinions and views of third parties do not represent the opinions or views of Calamos Investments LLC. Opinions are subject to change due to changes in the market, economic conditions or changes in the legal and/or regulatory environment and may not necessarily come to pass. This information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax, legal, or investment advice. References to specific securities, asset classes and financial markets are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as, recommendations.

    Important Risk Information. An investment in the Fund(s) is subject to risks, and you could lose money on your investment in the Fund(s). There can be no assurance that the Fund(s) will achieve its investment objective. Your investment in the Fund(s) is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund(s) can increase during times of significant market volatility. The Fund(s) also has specific principal risks, which are described below. More detailed information regarding these risks can be found in the Fund’s prospectus.

    Data as of 9/30/18

    average annual returns convertible fund 9-30-18

    The ICE BofAML All U.S. Convertibles Index (VXA0) comprises approximately 700 issues of only convertible bonds and preferreds of all qualities.

    The S&P 500 Index is a market-value weighted index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is widely regarded as the standard for measuring U.S. stock-market performance.

    Morningstar Convertibles Category funds are designed to offer some of the capital appreciation potential of stock portfolios while also supplying some of the safety and yield of bond portfolios. To do so, they focus on convertible bonds and convertible preferred stocks. Convertible bonds allow investors to convert the bonds into shares of stock, usually at a preset price. These securities thus act a bit like stocks and a bit like bonds.

    The Value Line Convertible Index is an equally weighted index of the largest convertibles.

    Important Risk Information. An investment in the Fund(s) is subject to risks, and you could lose money on your investment in the Fund(s). There can be no assurance that the Fund(s) will achieve its investment objective. Your investment in the Fund(s) is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund(s) can increase during times of significant market volatility. The Fund(s) also has specific principal risks, which are described below. More detailed information regarding these risks can be found in the Fund’s prospectus.

    The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Convertible Fund include: convertible securities risk consisting of the potential for a decline in value during periods of rising interest rates and the risk of the borrower to miss payments, synthetic convertible instruments risk consisting of fluctuations inconsistent with a convertible security and the risk of components expiring worthless, foreign securities risk, equity securities risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, high yield risk, portfolio selection risk and liquidity risk. As a result of political or economic instability in foreign countries, there can be special risks associated with investing in foreign securities, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, increased price volatility and difficulty obtaining information. In addition, emerging markets may present additional risk due to potential for greater economic and political instability in less developed countries.

    Convertible Securities Risk: The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also, may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value.

    Convertible Arbitrage Risk: If the market price of the underlying common stock increases above the conversion price on a convertible security, the price of the convertible security will increase. The fund’s increased liability on any outstanding short position would, in whole or in part, reduce this gain.

    The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund include: equity securities risk consisting of market prices declining in general, convertible securities risk consisting of the potential for a decline in value during periods of rising interest rates and the risk of the borrower to miss payments, synthetic convertible instruments risk, convertible hedging risk, covered call writing risk, options risk, short sale risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, high yield risk, liquidity risk, portfolio selection risk, and portfolio turnover risk.

    ©2018 Calamos Investments LLC. All Rights Reserved. Calamos® and Calamos Investments® are registered trademarks of Calamos Investments LLC.

    801336 10/18

    Archived material may contain dated performance, risk and other information. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted in the archived material. For the most recent month-end performance information, please CLICK HERE. Archived material may contain dated opinions and estimates based on our judgment and are subject to change without notice, as are statements of financial market trends, which are based on current market conditions at the time of publishing. We believed the information provided here was reliable, but do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. References to future returns are not promises or even estimates of actual returns a client portfolio may achieve. Any forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon as advice or interpreted as a recommendation.

    Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. The principal value and return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance reflected at NAV does not include the Fund’s maximum front-end sales load. Had it been included, the Fund’s return would have been lower. For the most recent month-end fund performance information visit www.calamos.com.

    Archived material may contain dated performance, risk and other information. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted in the archived material. For the most recent month-end fund performance information visit www.calamos.com. Archived material may contain dated opinions and estimates based on our judgment and are subject to change without notice, as are statements of financial market trends, which are based on current market conditions at the time of publishing. We believed the information provided here was reliable, but do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. References to future returns are not promises or even estimates of actual returns a client portfolio may achieve. Any forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon as advice or interpreted as a recommendation.

    Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. The principal value and return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance reflected at NAV does not include the Fund’s maximum front-end sales load. Had it been included, the Fund’s return would have been lower.

    Archived on October 22, 2019