Topic: How To Invest

I’d like to ask about Brookfield Asset Management preferred shares. I know you recommend a handful of bank preferreds, and I was wondering if Brookfield’s preferreds might be a good investment for income and possible capital gains. I was looking particularly at the “M” series. Can I have your thoughts on that one? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Brookfield Asset Management 4.75% Series 17 Preferreds, $14.85, symbol BAM.PR.M on Toronto, are perpetual preferred shares. That is, they have no fixed maturity date, and they have to pay their stated dividend forever, or “in perpetuity,” before they can pay common dividends in any given year. The shares began trading at $25 each in late 2006, and have fallen steadily since. In general, the prices of preferred shares are down lately, in spite of lower interest rates. There are a number of likely reasons for this: Preferred shares behave more like long-term, fixed-income instruments rather than short-term investments. While short-term interest rates are falling, the outlook for long-term rates is less certain. As well, the underlying credit quality of preferred share issuers can be a negative factor. In this case, the common shares of Brookfield Asset Management (symbol BAM.A on Toronto), have fallen and this, in turn, has driven down the price of the preferreds. Brookfield Asset Management (formerly Brascan Corporation) has…