As low-cost EV manufacturers lead the transition to electrified transport, and with lithium (the key component of electric vehicle batteries) prices down 85% in the last three years, the lithium mining industry has become one of the most beaten down in the stock market. That has created the ultimate contrarian opportunity we introduce in this issue.
The Wall Street Journal has reported today that Verizon is in advanced talks to buy Frontier Communications (Nasdaq: FYBR) in an all-cash transaction. As a reminder, in a change of control Frontier must pay $1,010 for our 5.875% bonds maturing November 1, 2029. The bonds rose over $80 on the news and are currently trading
Within the junk heap of distressed debt are bonds of companies that turn themselves around and get out of distress. Those bonds re-enter the non-distressed ranks, rewarding holders with big price gains on top of the super-high yields earned along the way.
We recommend selling the iHeart Media (Nasdaq: IHRT) 6.375% bonds because of concerns about the poor performance of the company’s radio stations. iHeart reported operating results for the quarter ending June 30 that were in line with the company’s lowered expectations. Revenue was $929 million, up 1% in the same quarter last year. Operating profit
When the King of Bankruptcy Wilbur Ross and Donald Trump negotiated the terms of a distressed-bond settlement, Ross’ knowledge of the casino operator’s ability to pay helped him win the deal.
Artificial intelligence has caused this company’s revenues to plummet – the price of its bonds to fall. Now, it’s fighting back, by flipping the story and using AI to create a better product. Whether or not it succeeds, investors will very likely get paid anyway.
Financial distress persists even when the S&P 500 and other indications seem to be emphatically signaling prosperity – and why this could mean more opportunities to earn excellent returns in coming months.
The company we recommend this month has unmatched brand loyalty. However, it’s had its share of stumbles. We believe its near-fanatic customer loyalty is why it will ultimately thrive, despite some recent and very public missteps.
The distressed-bond universe exhibits a rare market condition that in the past has produced an average annual return of 73%. On the face of it, as we discuss in this issue, this condition could prove to be an excellent time to be buying distressed debt.
Non-bank direct lenders, which normally concentrate on small-to-medium enterprises, are now playing in the big leagues. A big question is whether these non-traditional lenders will continue to keep a lid on defaults when the U.S. economy eventually hits a rough patch.