Ashford Hospitality Trust From The Perspective Of A Preferred Investor

As a cumulative preferred investor, I am most concerned with a company existentially rather than its day-to-day or quarterly price fluctuation. In most instances, I'm certain that the only way I can be hurt holding such preferreds is if the company goes bankrupt. Of course, because most preferred shares are perpetual, there are instances when their value might fall and remain so for many years. However, I'm okay with that if they continue to keep paying the dividends those shares call for. Another way to lose is when the preferred dividend is suspended and the price falls dramatically and remains at a low level for a long period of time. When this happens, most often, the company goes bankrupt and you lose your investment. Alternatively, I have preferred shares in FCH and BEE and made a killing when these companies recovered and repaid all the missed preferred dividend payments.

Consequently, I rely heavily on the common stock performance of any company I'm interested in making a preferred investment in. Toward that end, I usually like to see how the company common shares performed over the past 5-years. Companies do not go bankrupt overnight or because of a bad quarter, they usually exhibit a long slide that might or might not end in bankruptcy.

Ashford Hospitality Trust, AHT, commons, over the past 5-years have not performed well as demonstrated in the following chart supplied by Yahoo Finance:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Bottom line 

As far as this preferred investor is concerned, existentially, this company is a risky investment. However, for some, the reward might be worth the risk. This is a decision that I leave for you to make after you've done sufficient due diligence. Therefore, the only thing that remains to be determined is which of the preferred shares it offers is the best buy at the current prices.  

Symbol Callable Yearly Dividend Price Dividend/Price Yield % Best
AHT-F 7/15/21 1.84375 22.39 1.84375/22.39 8.23  
AHT-G 10/18/21 1.84375 21.51 1.84375/21.51 8.57 Best
AHT-H 8/25/22 1.875 22.20 1.875/22.20 8.45  
AHT-I 11/17/22 1.875 21.99 1.875/21.99 7.53  

Frankly, I like the B best it offers the highest yield at the lowest current price. I like it for several reasons:

  1. Because I consider a preferred in this company a relatively risky bet, therefore, you are risking pennies yet gaining a higher yield than the I-series, the next lowest priced preferred.
  2. If and when called, the B offers, the largest upside capital gain of 25.00 - 21.51 = 3.49/share called.

Disclosure: I hold AHT-I shares.

How did you like this article? Let us know so we can better customize your reading experience.

Comments

Leave a comment to automatically be entered into our contest to win a free Echo Show.
Alexis Renault 4 years ago Member's comment

I'm not very familiar with the concept of preferred stock. Where can I learn more?

Norman Roberts 4 years ago Contributor's comment

Alexis, My book should answer any questions you might ever have. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/669667

Dan Jackson 4 years ago Member's comment

What other stocks are on your watchlist?

Norman Roberts 4 years ago Contributor's comment

The preferreds of $DCP, $NS. It's tough to find decent yields currently because of the inordinately high preferred prices across the boards. I recommend patience.

Dan Jackson 4 years ago Member's comment

Thanks, Norman!

Norman Roberts 4 years ago Contributor's comment

My pleasure, Dan.

Barry Hochhauser 4 years ago Member's comment

$AHT is the kind of risky bet I like.

Norman Roberts 4 years ago Contributor's comment

Consequently, Barry, you have the numbers for which preferred is the best buy at the prices as of last night. Figure which is best currently and place your bet.