Enhancing investment returns in a low interest rate environment

The upheaval seen in global and local markets since March has raised many questions about the role of money market investments as well as hybrid and other investments in the market.

Glen Copans, Chief Investment Officer at Investec Specialist Investments (ISI), explains some of the investment instruments and vehicles available, the key risks involved and their performance since the market crash in March.

Preference shares are hybrid securities with aspects of fixed income and equity, explains Copans. Redeemable preference shares are more aligned in their performance with fixed income, due to it having a defined term and being linked to an underlying rate, such as Prime. Redeemable preference shares tend to be less volatile, with a steady return profile over time.

Perpetual preference shares are more like equities, however. They tend to exhibit similar volatility to that of the equity market overall, while their poor liquidity also contributes to higher volatility, especially during the spike in global volatility in March. While perpetual preference shares have delivered marginally positive returns over time, they have not beaten inflation.

Most of these instruments tend to move in line with the level of overall rates, meaning that, in effect, the interest rate risk component of the preference share is automatically hedged out. For example, the yield on preference shares have all moved in line with the 275bps cut in official rates in the year to June and now 300bps after the July cut.

When it comes to credit risk, Copans notes that this refers to the debt obligations of the underlying businesses of the issuers and the likelihood of default. Copans says there have been big dislocations in performance since March, based on the underlying creditworthiness of issuers, with some issuers doing better than others.

“Banks, the main issuers, are well-capitalised, liquid and well-regulated, so pose less of a credit risk, but this is different as you move to other issuers, so you need to be more selective,” he says.

Many preference shares are not heavily traded, so investors need to take into account the liquidity risk when looking at potentially selling out of a position or taking a position. “To manage the liquidity risk, investors should stick to the basic principles of diversification strategies. This means that lack of liquidity can be managed,” explains Copans.

Investors should keep an eye on changes in the law or regulation that might have an impact on the tax treatment of specific asset classes. “While we haven’t seen any changes of late, tax risk is something investors should be aware of,” he notes.

A company may choose to cancel, defer or reduce a dividend in times of stress when it needs to shore up its capital base, as we have seen of late, with listed real estate firms in particular not declaring dividends in the light of the lockdowns.

Furthermore, the Reserve Bank earlier this year issued a directive to banks to prudently manage their balance sheets, which has led them to defer dividends in order to preserve capital.

This raises the question of dividend risk in the context of preference shares. Copans explains: “A company’s preference shares form a different component of its capital structure from its ordinary shares, so we don’t believe preference shares will be impacted for now. So far, it’s the equity holders that have been affected.”

In order to manage for sectors that have stopped or reduced dividends, such as retail, investors may look to substitute sectors, such as by investing in commodity or technology companies, but should be more selective. As always, investors should remember to remain well-diversified. “You shouldn’t put all of your money into one investment thesis so that you can account for all of these risks,” says Copans.

Interest income funds now make up about 40% of Collective Investment Scheme funds, with income funds specifically enjoying popularity among conservative investors in the current market. They tend to be more volatile (as was the case in the recent market upheaval) than money market funds, though they have retraced many of their losses since March.

Dividend income funds are an alternative to money market and income funds, offering high levels of liquidity alongside consistent, predictable returns – something that has largely held up in the current market. Investors have seen absolute levels fall, but this has been largely linked to lower interest rates. 

With interest rates in SA (and globally) at record lows, the returns on dividend income funds look less attractive. However, Copans points out, this should be seen in the context of inflation being under control and the fact that cash still offers a real return.

“Again, the important thing is to have the right portfolio construction in place,” says Copans. “You need exposure to different asset classes, to ensure you are well diversified.” Copans explains that, in times of high volatility, as we have seen in recent months, there is a tendency for investors to retreat from the market and hold higher levels of cash than they otherwise would.

However finding the right opportunity to re-enter the market is difficult and, as a result, investors end up holding cash (at low) rates for longer, and their returns are eroded. “Holdings in cash that were intended to be held for a short period, end up being held for much longer.”

In these scenarios, it might be worthwhile to look at other alternative assets. “Any investment where you get an enhanced return relative to after-tax money market rates, without the commensurate level of risk being taken, is a strategy worth looking at,” Copans points out. “Remember too, that as rates move up, so these investments should too.”