Investment instruments that combine the features of pure equities and pure bonds
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What are Hybrid Securities?
Hybrid securities are investment instruments that combine the features of pure equities and pure bonds. These securities tend to offer a higher return than pure fixed income securities such as bonds but a lower return than pure variable income securities such as equities. They are considered less riskier than pure variable income securities such as equities but more risky than pure fixed income securities.
Returns from Hybrid Securities
The return generated by a hybrid security can be divided into two components: The fixed income component (the bond part) and the variable income component (the equity part).
1. Fixed income component
Similar to most fixed income instruments, hybrid securities typically pay a certain proportion of the face value of the security as a return in each time period (usually annually) until the security matures.
2. Variable income component
At maturity, the value of hybrid securities usually depends on the price of some other underlying security or set of securities. Unlike bonds, which return their full face value at maturity, hybrid securities usually return an amount different from their initial face value. This is why hybrid securities are considered riskier than pure fixed income securities.
Examples of Hybrid Securities
1. Preferred stocks
Holders of preferred stocks receive dividends before the holders of common stocks. Also, the dividend received by the holders of preferred stocks is usually different from the dividend received by the holders of common stocks. Preferred stocks are considered safer than common stocks but less safe than bonds.
In case the business faces solvency issues, the holders of preferred stocks are paid before the holders of common stocks. In addition, preferred stocks can sometimes be converted to common stocks at a premium (1 preferred stock for 2 common stocks).
2. In-kind toggle notes
In-kind toggle notes are a form of hybrid security that allows cash-strapped companies to raise additional capital to meet short-term liquidity needs. An in-kind toggle note allows a company to pay interest in the form of additional debt. The company issuing the in-kind toggle note gives the holder of the note more debt in place of interest payment. In-kind toggle notes can be seen as an instrument to delay the payment of interest to debtholders.
3. Convertible bonds
Convertible bonds are fixed income instruments with a call option on some equity. The convertible bonds issued by a company can be converted into a fixed number of stock shares of that company. In some special cases, a convertible bond issued by a company comes with a call option on the stocks of some other company. These special convertible bonds are known as exchangeable bonds.
The interest rates on convertible bonds are usually lower than the interest rates on standard fixed income bonds. The interest rate differential is the “premium” convertible bondholders pay for the equity call option.
More Resources
Thank you for reading CFI’s explanation of hybrid securities. CFI is the official provider of the global Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA®)certification program, designed to help anyone become a world-class financial analyst. To keep advancing your career, the additional resources below will be useful:
