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Over the past decade, historically low bond yields have converted many bond investors into bond traders. Bond traders strategically buy and sell bonds to generate price gains. A bond’s coupon, a primary reason to many investors buy bonds, is nothing more than a bonus for traders.
Trading bonds is ages old and was dominated by institutional investors. Recently, the historically low yield environment and the liquidity and ease of trading ETFs made bond trading more commonplace among retail investors.
With the 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield eclipsing 2%, some bond traders think we are approaching another peak in yields. I know 2% seems low, but bond yields have trended lower for the last 30 years. Each local peak in yield was followed by lower peaks, as shown below.
With poor demographics, weak productivity growth, and a slew of new pandemic-related debt on the federal books, I agree that another lower peak is probable.
For those interested in trading bonds, I present a road less traveled. Closed-end bond mutual funds (CEFs) have a unique structure that can produce larger price gains or losses than bonds and higher yields than traditional bond funds or ETFs. If yields will decline soon, some fixed income CEFs will produce double-digit returns in a relatively short period.
CEFs versus open-end funds and ETFs
CEFs are mutual funds with a fixed number of shares. CEFs trade on exchanges between investors. This unique feature often causes CEFs to trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value (NAV).
Traditional open-end mutual funds are bought and sold through the fund’s management company at the fund’s NAV. As such, the share count on open-end mutual funds fluctuates daily with investor interest, but the daily price is always equal to its NAV.
ETFs can fluctuate slightly from their NAVs, but dealers will arbitrage the difference when it occurs. Through the ETF creation and destruction process, dealers are financially incentivized to make sure the price of the ETF is very close to its NAV. (Some unique instances exist, especially in the case of illiquid underlying assets, where that is not always true.)
CEF return components
Changes in the premium or discount from the NAV are an important differentiator between CEFs and open-end funds and ETFs. The changing premium or discount can detract from or enhance performance.
Given its importance, let’s consider the three biggest factors determining the premium or discount of a CEF.
1. Supply and demand. Strong demand and low supply of the fund may result in a premium, while weak demand and excess supply will often result in a discount.
2. Quality of the fund management team. Investors may be willing to pay a premium for access to a management team that is highly regarded. Conversely, a discount may apply for managers perceived to be below average.
3. The liquidity of the CEF and its underlying fund holdings. Often CEFs with unique or illiquid assets will trade at a premium as investors cannot replicate the fund’s holdings. The more liquid the CEF trades in the market, the less volatile its premium or discount.
The change in the premium or discount to NAV is just one factor determining the total return for CEFs. The table below highlights other factors influencing the total return for CEFs.
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Total Return Factor
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Comment
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Price of underlying bonds
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As yields decrease, prices increase, helping the total return. The opposite occurs when yields increase.
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Dividend (coupon)/yield
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Many CEFs pay dividends monthly, unlike bonds which are often semiannual.
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Discount/premium divergence from NAV
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A declining discount or rising premium versus the NAV result in positive price gains. Conversely, an increasing discount or declining premium reduces the price.
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Leverage
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Leverage used by many CEFs can amplify price changes (gains and losses) and dividends.
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Expense ratio
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The fee that the fund manager extracts from the CEFs return.
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Example of a CEF (NBB)
It is worth exploring a specific CEF to understand its unique structure better. I chose the Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund (NBB). As its name suggests, NBB invests in investment-grade taxable municipal bonds.
As of February 21, 2022, NBB was trading at a 6.8% discount to its NAV. The most recent annualized yield is 6.09%. It employs 41% leverage on the portfolio, which boosts the yield. The leverage implies that each dollar of equity in the fund supports $1.41 of investments.
As shown below, courtesy of CEF Connect-Nuveen Funds, NBB traded at a 1-2% premium to its NAV for the better part of the last year. The recent spike in yields and inflation concerns were primarily responsible for the current shift from premium to discount.
The math behind CEF returns
Let's do some math to understand how changes in the discount or premium affect returns. If the current discount (6.8%) returns to a 1% premium, shareholders will earn about 7.8% in price gains. In addition, they would also receive monthly coupon payments and any NAV price changes over the period.
The fund has an effective duration of 7.60 years. If yields were to change by 1%, we expect the fund’s NAV to change by approximately 7.60%.
If we assume yields fall by 1% and investor concerns about inflation, higher interest rates abate, and NBB trades back to a 1% premium, investors will pocket a double-digit return. Such would be at least twice what a municipal bondholder of the same bonds would earn. But that math works both ways. The discount could fall further, especially if yields continue to climb.
In 2018, NBB returned -6.38% as the Fed raised rates and embarked on quantitative tightening (QT). During that year, the discount to its NAV fell from -4.8% to a low of -9.5%, accounting for a significant portion of its loss. In 2019 rates fell, the Fed reversed course, and the fund returned nearly +20%.
The graph below shows the fund's returns over various periods. The one-year NAV is up .63%, yet the price is down by 3.69%. The difference is a function of the current discount to NAV.
The case for lower yields
IU wrote the following paragraph in 2016. Now, six years later, I believe it is just as pertinent:
Having begun in 1981, the current bull market in bonds is well-seasoned and no doubt much closer to the end than the beginning. At the same time, the velocity of money is still declining in the U.S., the U.S. dollar is strengthening versus other currencies, and global deflationary forces emanating from abroad remain influential. The U.S. economy is more sensitive than ever to the level of interest rates, and economic stress resulting from higher yields can easily halt economic growth and push the economy into recession.
Higher interest rates are starting to depress economic activity, especially in interest rate-sensitive sectors such as housing. As the benefits of fiscal stimulus continue to erode over the coming quarters and the Fed raises interest rates, halts QE, and eventually reduces its balance sheet (QT), the economy will slow, and inflationary impulses will subside.
Such a result will put a lid on rising interest rates. The bond markets will price for such an event in advance. While timing markets is difficult and yields can certainly rise further, yields will peak within the next few months, and CEFs will offer similar opportunities as in the past.
Screening for CEFs
Every Friday, SimpleVisor subscribers receive a brief article with a summary of five stocks that best epitomize a particular investment screening idea. This week’s coming report (2/25/2022) presents fixed income CEFs that should perform well if interest rates and inflation are peaking. For access to this report and a host of investment tools, data, charting, and real-time access to our portfolios, try us out with a 30-day free trial of SimpleVisor.
Summary
There are always opportunities in markets. Sometimes they are obvious and well followed by the public. Other times they lurk in underfollowed markets. We are approaching a period in which bond yields will fall. While a typical investment in bonds, bond funds, or ETFs will prove valuable in such an event, CEFs can do even better.
Steep discounts to NAV and leverage separate CEFs from other fixed-income alternatives. While more volatile and riskier, they can also be more rewarding.
Michael Lebowitz has been involved in trading, portfolio construction, and risk management involving some of the largest and most active portfolios in the world. In addition to broad institutional experience, he also built a successful independent RIA allowing him to further extend his experience into the realm of investment management for individuals and family offices. Grounded in logic and common sense, he blends vast trading and investment expertise with economic viewpoints that delivers pragmatic and actionable thought leadership to clients.
Join our website today for a look behind the data at what is really going on with the markets and your money. www.realinvestmentadvice.com
Contact him at [email protected].
Read more articles by Michael Lebowitz
Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.
