Preferred Return

May 2, 20222 min read
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As with preferred equities, the preferred return gives preference to a class of equity above a common preferred class concerning the overall distribution of profits among shareholders.

For investors, this is typically the benchmark of a certain rate of return. Profits are distributed among shareholders based on the equity percentage each investor holds at the time of distribution.

If a company distributes profits to their shareholder or investors, the disbursement thereof will be conducted until the preferred return has been reached. Some investors find this type of structure a lot more appealing, as it allows them to generate better gains from the returns over time.

Are preferred returns dividends?

In short, preferred returns are not dividends or dividend payouts.

In various instances, publicly traded companies can borrow or take out massive loans to still distribute dividends to shareholders. This is to ensure that dividend payouts are not discontinued or cut in the event the company is not able to make annual dividend payouts.

To combat this, and to ensure publicly traded companies can keep paying dividends, these debts are then added to the company’s balance sheet.

The preferred returns structure allows the investor or potential shareholder to clearly understand how profits are split between shareholders. This means, that when a company issues excess stocks and shares, investors might feel the urgent need to purchase them at lower prices before the market turns bullish.

What are the two types of preferred returns?

  • Cumulative: A return that is ongoing until the security has been sold or the profits have been split between shareholders.
  • Non-cumulative: A non-cumulative return does not roll over into the next year, and is generally not preferred by investors.