Convertible Bonds Today
Convertible securities are an opportunity for investors who want to participate in equities but are willing to exchange the maximum possible upside for protection against the downside of equities. The asset class was pioneered by Calamos Founder, Chairman and Global CIO John P. Calamos, Sr., more than 40 years ago.
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Why Convertibles?
Actively managed convertible securities can be deployed strategically and tactically in an asset allocation, as Calamos Founder, Chairman and Global CIO John Calamos, Sr. and Eli Pars, Co-CIO, Head of Alternative Strategies and Co-Head of Convertible Strategies, and Senior Co-Portfolio Manager discuss in this video.
What do convertibles contribute to an overall portfolio?
Why is active management critical when investing in convertible securities?
Maximizing the Opportunity in Convertible Securities
This guide provides a brief overview of Calamos’ history in the asset class, how convertibles can be used in strategic asset allocation, and the attractive conditions we see in the market today. Included is an overview of the Calamos funds that use convertible securities in varied ways to achieve compelling short and long-term performance.
The Case for Strategic Convertible Allocations
The March 2021 Case for Strategic Convertible Allocations, written by John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global CIO, and Eli Pars, CFA Co-CIO and Senior Co-Portfolio Manager, argues that the structural characteristics of convertibles can serve investors well, given Calamos’ expectations for advancing but volatile equity markets and economic recovery.
All About Convertible Securities
Our Convertible Securities: Structures, Valuation, Market Environment and Asset Allocation guide is a resource on how convertible bonds work. It’s written by Calamos Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer John P. Calamos, Sr.
Convertibles Bonds Have Been Consistent Top Performers
The top-performing fixed income asset class? While fixed income asset classes may trade places year after year, there has been no asset class that can rival convertible bonds in terms of performance consistency.
Convertible bonds have been the top performing asset class for five of the last 10 years.
Source: Bloomberg and Morningstar. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
- Convertible bonds are represented by the ICE BofA All U.S. Convertibles Index (VXA0), a gauge of the performance of the U.S. convertible market.
- U.S. aggregate bonds are represented by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, covers the U.S.-denominated, investment grade, fixed rate, taxable bond market of SEC-registered securities.
- High yield bonds are represented by the Credit Suisse U.S. High Yield Index, an unmanaged index of high yield debt securities.
- U.S. government bonds are represented by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government Index, an unmanaged index considered representative of fixed income obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury, government agencies and quasi-federal corporations.
- Treasury bills are represented by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury Bill 1-3 Month Index, is a component of the Short Treasury Index and includes aged U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds with a remaining maturity from 1 up to (but not including) 12 months.
- U.S. investment grade bonds are represented by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Index, consists of publicly issued, fixed rate, nonconvertible, investment grade debt securities.
- U.S. Securitized, represented by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Securitized MBS/ABS/CMBS Index, includes the MBS, ABS, and CMBS sectors. The index does not reflect fees, brokerage commissions, taxes or other expenses of investing.
- Government bonds ex. U.S. are represented by the ICE BofA Global Government Bond Index, excluding U.S., tracks the performance of investment grade sovereign debt publicly issued and denominated in the issuer's own domestic market and currency.
- Preferreds are represented by the ICE BofA Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index, comprised of investment grade fixed rate U.S. dollar denominated preferred securities issued in the U.S. domestic market.
The Latest on Convertibles
Investment Ideas Blog: Converts
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Have it your way: Calamos’ six actively managed open-end funds use convertibles to support a variety of asset allocation goals.
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Positive but decelerating growth marks the transition from early to mid-cycle and favors higher quality growth, says John Hillenbrand, CPA, Co-CIO, Head of Multi-Asset Strategies and Co-Head of Convertible Strategies, Senior Co-Portfolio Manager of the Calamos Growth and Income Fund (CGIIX).
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And, for those using convertibles to pursue equity gains, the convert market looks more "growth-y" from a sales perspective versus the broader market than it has in the past 20 years, according to the Calamos Convertible Fund (CICVX) portfolio management team.
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Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX), managed as a replacement for intermediate fixed income in terms of risk and return, employs convertible arbitrage, hedged equity and now SPACs strategies, as explained by Co-CIO, Head of Alternative Strategies and Co-Head of Convertible Strategies, Senior Co-Portfolio Manager Eli Pars.
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Here’s why we call the market neutral fund category leader both consistent and resilient.
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Today’s convertible market has rarely been as “growthy” as it is today. To the Calamos Convertible Fund (CICVX) team, excess sales growth is a key indicator of the intrinsic value of the issuers—and reason for their optimism about what’s ahead.
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You think peanut butter and chocolate are an appealing combination? Try mixing Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX) and Calamos Convertible Fund (CICVX).
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Converts were “almost tailor-made for the circumstances of spring 2020,” and it’s easy to “imagine future economic dislocations on the horizon,” according to The Economist on July 10. The coverage focuses on convertible bonds as a “flexible source of capital,” offering advantages over straight debt or equity for both issuers and investors.
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To reduce vulnerability to rising rates but also to build in some equity upside, retirement benefits consultants are gravitating toward Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX) to fund cash balance plans.
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Recent declines in the stocks underlying convertibles—resulting in “throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” in some cases—have provided an opportunity for the Calamos team.
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The structural benefits of convertibles securities helped convertible funds outperform both the S&P 500 and the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index in the high inflationary period between 1979 and 1981.
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The declining interest rates of the past decade provided a strong tailwind for bond funds. And yet, Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX) managed to add value by delivering a bond-like return with a bond-like standard deviation but without the bond-like risk exposures.
Investment Team Voices Blog: Converts
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Economic recovery, pent-up consumer demand, and corporate profitability provide a favorable backdrop for investors. However, uncertainty surrounding inflation, interest rate hikes, Covid variants and fiscal policy will contribute to choppy markets in the second half of 2021. Senior members of our investment organization share their outlooks and discuss how they are positioning the Calamos funds. With an introduction from John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer.
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The first quarter of 2021 delivered new challenges for investors, including rotational markets, rising interest rates and mounting inflation pressures. Senior members of our investment organization share their outlooks and discuss how they are positioning the Calamos funds to navigate the crosscurrents. With an introduction from John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer.
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After years of artificially low interest rates and inflation, it’s understandable that some investors are disoriented by the current headlines—and worried about what to do next. Drawing on more than 50 years of investment experience, John P. Calamos, Sr. shares his perspective on inflation, rising 10-year U.S. Treasury yields, market volatility and rotation—and the implications for asset allocation.
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Senior members of our investment organization discuss their outlooks, the opportunities and risks they see, and how they are positioning the Calamos funds. With an introduction from John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer.
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Members of our investment team share their perspectives on what they are seeing in the markets, with an introduction from Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer John P. Calamos, Sr.
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In a high volatility, low yield world, Calamos closed-end funds offer multi-asset class approaches designed to provide investors with powerful tools for addressing the search for income, explains. John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer.
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We believe the case for allocations to emerging markets is very compelling, but current conditions heighten the need for risk-aware approaches. The freedom to invest opportunistically in convertible securities, a core capability of Calamos Investments, is a key differentiator of CNWIX’s dynamic approach—and one which has contributed favorably in 2020.
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Convertible security strategies can be an attractive choice for an asset allocation core because they lessen the need to make a timing call about the stock market, interest rates or economic recovery, explains John P. Calamos, Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer of Calamos Investments.
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John P. Calamos, Sr. explains why it makes sense to stay invested through uncertainty. There are variety of ways to potentially reduce the equity exposures in a portfolio without going to cash—for example, by including risk-managed liquid alternative and convertible security strategies.
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For John P. Calamos, Sr., the recent market downturn is reminiscent of conditions in 1987. He explains why conditions point to a V-shaped recovery and why he believes convertible securities are extremely compelling.
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For investors who recognize the importance of global equity market exposure but are concerned about volatility, global convertible securities may be just the ticket.
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Wild market swings. Slowing global growth. Impeachment controversy. Trade tensions. Global political uncertainty. These have not been easy months for investors, but there are still many opportunities, explains John P. Calamos, Sr., the founder and global CIO of Calamos Investments. John shares his ideas about how to position asset allocations in this volatile environment.
@Calamos on #Converts
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August was solid for #convertiblesecurities, based both on performance (up 1.9%) and issuance (up $7 billion globally, includes $6 billion U.S.). We expect an active calendar through the end of 2021. More in our monthly update: bit.ly/3khhbNU #activemanagement
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Read all about our 6 ways to use #convertiblesecurities to potentially manage U.S., non-U.S. equity risk bit.ly/3l8GBwj #activemanagement
Whitepapers
- Convertible Securities Offer Many Benefits, Including as a Hedge Against Inflation
- John P. Calamos, Sr. October 22, 2018 Q&A with Wall Street Transcript
- Convertible Securities: Potential Advantages in Rising Interest Rate Environments
- The Opportunity of Convertible Securities
- The Case for Strategic Convertible Allocations
Accessing the Asset Class
- Calamos Convertible Fund (CICVX)
- Calamos Growth and Income Fund (CGIIX)
- For global exposure: Calamos Global Convertible Fund (CXGCX), the only U.S. based global convertible fund
- Calamos Global Growth and Income Fund (CGCIX)
- In an emerging markets fund: Calamos Evolving World Growth Fund (CNWIX)
- Via a liquid alt: Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX)
FINANCIAL ADVISORS, CONTACT US
Call 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 1-800-582-6959. 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. 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.
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.
The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Growth and Income 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, equity securities risk, growth stock risk, small and midsized company risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, high yield risk, forward foreign currency contract risk and portfolio selection risk.
The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Global Convertible Fund include: equity securities risk consisting of market prices declining in general, growth stock risk consisting of potential increased volatility due to securities trading at higher multiples, foreign securities risk, emerging markets risk, currency risk, geographic concentration risk, American depository receipts, mid-size company risk, small company risk, portfolio turnover risk and portfolio selection risk.
The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Global Opportunities 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, emerging markets risk, equity securities risk, growth stock risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, high yield risk, forward foreign currency contract risk, portfolio selection risk, and liquidity risk.
The principal risks of investing in Calamos Evolving World Growth Fund include: equity securities risk consisting of market prices declining in general, growth stock risk consisting of potential increased volatility due to securities trading at higher multiples, foreign securities risk, emerging markets risk, 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, and portfolio selection risk.
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.
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.
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