FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND
To the Shareholders of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund (FFC):
Your Fund performed well during its third fiscal quarter1, delivering +3.5% total return on net asset value2. For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, the Funds return on NAV was an impressive +15.9%. While third quarter market performance was -2.1%, year-to-date market performance was +17.1% at August 31st.
U.S. economic growth appears to be running around 3% currently, after averaging just 1.3% in 2014s first half. Job growth is up, unemployment is down and inflation remains low. The Fed is not filling its monetary punch bowl as quickly as before, but, while its always hard to predict what the Fed will do, it probably wont start to raise short-term interest rates until mid-2015 or later. In contrast, economic growth abroad has slowed, with most developed countries trailing the U.S. recovery and monetary policy in many of those countries is easing further.
Although long-term interest rates in the U.S. will probably rise modestly over coming quarters, we think any upward movement will be limited by moderate GDP growth and strong investor demand for yield. Credit conditions continue to improve for most issuers of preferred securities, as earnings remain healthy and companies continue to build capital. With this backdrop, we believe prospective returns remain attractive for long-term investors.
The Funds portfolio benefited from small declines in intermediate and long-term interest rates during the quarter, as well as on-going demand for higher yields of preferred securities. Supply of new issues remains steadya key measure of market health. From December 2013 through September 2014, U.S. and foreign companies issued 103 new securities in the United States, raising just under $64 billion. Over the same period, issuers redeemed 67 preferred securities totaling $25 billion.
New issue supply was dominated by banks tailoring their capital to meet new regulatory requirements. Large U.S. banks (those deemed to be a systemically important financial institution, or SIFI) have issued traditional non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock. Non-U.S. SIFI banks are utilizing a preferred stock variation termed Contingent Convertible Securities, or CoCos. As you know from prior letters, the Fund has not yet purchased any CoCos, but we continue to evaluate them as potential investments.
With foreign economies lagging recovery in the U.S. and foreign banks issuing securities we have not yet been inclined to buy, the portion of the portfolio invested in foreign securities has drifted lower this fiscal year. Through September 30th, this portion declined from 27.3% of the portfolio to 18.7%. We anticipate this rate could fall further through more issuer redemptions.
As we discussed last quarter, another portfolio trend is a continued shift to fixed-to-float securities. These have coupons that are fixed for an initial period, typically five or ten years. Afterwards, coupons float based on a formula set at issuance. Prices on floating rate issues typically are less sensitive to changes in benchmark interest rates; this effect has spilled over to fixed-to-float preferred securities as well. If long-term
1 | June 1, 2014August 31, 2014 |
2 | Following methodology required by the SEC, total return assumes dividend reinvestment and includes income and principal change, plus the impact of the Funds leverage and expenses. |
interest rates begin to rise, as we expect they will eventually, these securities should tend to outperform
issues with fixed-for-life coupons, all other things being equal. This fiscal year through September 30th, the portion of the portfolio in this structure increased from 47.9% to 54.5%. We continue to look for opportunities to add fixed-to-float holdings. Although these issues yield a bit less than many fixed-for-life securities, and thus may reduce portfolio income at the margin, we believe owning fixed-to-float securities is prudent and consistent with our interest-rate outlook.
As always, we encourage you to visit the Funds website, www.preferredincome.com, for current information on preferred-securities markets, the Fund and the broader economy.
Sincerely,
The Flaherty & Crumrine Portfolio Management Team:
R. Eric Chadwick
Donald F. Crumrine
Robert M. Ettinger
Bradford S. Stone
October 1, 2014
2
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
% of Net Assets*** |
||||
Holdings Generating Qualified Dividend Income (QDI) for Individuals | 55% | |||
Holdings Generating Income Eligible for the Corporate Dividend Received Deduction (DRD) | 38% |
*** | This does not reflect year-end results or actual tax categorization of Fund distributions. These percentages can, and do, change, perhaps significantly, depending on market conditions. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding their personal situation. |
| Net Assets includes assets attributable to the use of leverage. |
3
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Shares/$ Par | Value | |||||||||
|
Preferred Securities 93.9% |
|||||||||
Banking 43.8% |
||||||||||
4,500 | Astoria Financial Corp., 6.50% Pfd., Series C |
$ | 110,391 | * | ||||||
2,046,320 | Banco Santander, 10.50% Pfd., Series 10 |
52,593,493 | **(3) | |||||||
Barclays Bank PLC: |
||||||||||
390,600 | Barclays Bank PLC, 7.10% Pfd. |
10,026,702 | **(3) | |||||||
23,000 | Barclays Bank PLC, 7.75% Pfd., Series 4 |
593,860 | **(3) | |||||||
522,100 | Barclays Bank PLC, 8.125% Pfd., Series 5 |
13,532,832 | **(1)(3) | |||||||
48,000 | BB&T Corporation, 5.625% Pfd., Series E |
1,153,032 | *(1) | |||||||
Citigroup: |
||||||||||
631,500 | Citigroup, Inc., 6.875% Pfd., Series K |
17,096,284 | *(1)(2) | |||||||
526,657 | Citigroup, Inc., 7.125% Pfd., Series J |
14,662,131 | *(1)(2) | |||||||
56,900 | City National Corporation, 6.75% Pfd., Series D |
1,594,338 | * | |||||||
CoBank ACB: |
||||||||||
53,520 | CoBank ACB, 6.125% Pfd., Series G, 144A**** |
4,892,065 | * | |||||||
60,000 | CoBank ACB, 6.25% Pfd., 144A**** |
6,245,628 | *(1) | |||||||
$ | 35,100,000 | Colonial BancGroup, 7.114%, 144A**** |
52,650 | (4)(5) | ||||||
38,100 | Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., 5.375% Pfd., Series A |
928,687 | * | |||||||
1,667,391 | Fifth Third Bancorp, 6.625% Pfd., Series I |
45,772,384 | *(1)(2) | |||||||
First Horizon: |
||||||||||
3,730 | First Tennessee Bank, Adj. Rate Pfd., 3.75%(6), 144A**** |
2,763,347 | * | |||||||
8 | FT Real Estate Securities Company, 9.50% Pfd., 144A**** |
10,820,000 | ||||||||
642,800 | First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., 8.625% Pfd. |
18,295,052 | *(1) | |||||||
99,000 | First Republic Bank, 6.70% Pfd. |
2,598,998 | *(1) | |||||||
Goldman Sachs Group: |
||||||||||
$ | 390,000 | Goldman Sachs, 5.70%, Series L |
404,585 | * | ||||||
100,000 | Goldman Sachs, 6.375% Pfd., Series K |
2,599,000 | * | |||||||
HSBC PLC: |
||||||||||
$ | 4,400,000 | HSBC Capital Funding LP, 10.176%, 144A**** |
6,622,000 | (1)(2)(3) | ||||||
776,000 | HSBC Holdings PLC, 8.00% Pfd., Series 2 |
20,876,340 | **(1)(3) | |||||||
$ | 850,000 | HSBC USA Capital Trust I, 7.808% 12/15/26, 144A**** |
860,497 | |||||||
$ | 580,000 | HSBC USA Capital Trust II, 8.38% 05/15/27, 144A**** |
587,723 | (1)(2) | ||||||
516,426 | HSBC USA, Inc., 6.50% Pfd., Series H |
13,201,140 | *(1) | |||||||
ING Groep NV: |
||||||||||
355,000 | ING Groep NV, 6.375% Pfd. |
9,002,800 | **(3) | |||||||
125,000 | ING Groep NV, 7.05% Pfd. |
3,212,688 | **(3) | |||||||
116,054 | ING Groep NV, 7.20% Pfd. |
2,994,367 | **(3) | |||||||
230,000 | ING Groep NV, 7.375% Pfd. |
5,968,500 | **(1)(3) |
4
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Shares/$ Par | Value | |||||||||
|
Preferred Securities (Continued) |
|||||||||
Banking (Continued) |
||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase: |
||||||||||
56,600 | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 5.50% Pfd. |
$ | 1,309,724 | * | ||||||
$ | 5,450,000 | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.00%, Series R |
5,616,225 | *(1) | ||||||
198,000 | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.70% Pfd., Series T |
5,110,380 | *(1)(2) | |||||||
$ | 11,789,000 | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.75%, Series S |
12,717,384 | *(1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 32,000,000 | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 7.90%, Series I |
35,560,000 | *(1) | ||||||
$ | 17,800,000 | Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 6.657%, 144A**** |
19,535,500 | **(1)(2)(3) | ||||||
M&T Bank Corporation: |
||||||||||
$ | 16,750,000 | M&T Bank Corporation, 6.450%, Series E |
18,090,000 | *(1) | ||||||
$ | 29,323,000 | M&T Bank Corporation, 6.875%, Series D, 144A**** |
30,083,844 | *(1)(2) | ||||||
Morgan Stanley: |
||||||||||
$ | 1,400,000 | Morgan Stanley, 5.45%, Series H |
1,426,250 | * | ||||||
193,400 | Morgan Stanley, 6.875% Pfd., Series F |
5,223,734 | *(1)(2) | |||||||
298,300 | Morgan Stanley, 7.125% Pfd., Series E |
8,340,915 | *(1)(2) | |||||||
1,007,360 | PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., 6.125% Pfd., Series P |
27,922,810 | *(1) | |||||||
$ | 7,885,000 | RaboBank Nederland, 11.00%, 144A**** |
10,467,338 | (1)(3) | ||||||
27,213 | Regions Financial Corporation, 6.375% Pfd., Series B |
689,850 | * | |||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland: |
||||||||||
12,500 | Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, 6.40% Pfd., Series M |
311,125 | **(3) | |||||||
25,000 | Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, 6.60% Pfd., Series S |
625,750 | **(3) | |||||||
309,500 | Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, 7.25% Pfd., Series T |
7,947,960 | **(1)(3) | |||||||
Sovereign Bancorp: |
||||||||||
$ | 1,000,000 | Sovereign Capital Trust VI, 7.908% 06/13/36 |
1,072,228 | |||||||
8,641 | Sovereign REIT, 12.00% Pfd., Series A, 144A**** |
11,607,317 | ||||||||
454,500 | State Street Corporation, 5.90% Pfd., Series D |
11,854,496 | *(1) | |||||||
107,166 | SunTrust Banks, Inc., 5.875% Pfd. |
2,558,588 | * | |||||||
216,000 | US Bancorp, 6.50% Pfd., Series F |
6,311,844 | * | |||||||
Wells Fargo: |
||||||||||
339,095 | Wells Fargo & Company, 5.85% Pfd. |
8,858,857 | * | |||||||
402,925 | Wells Fargo & Company, 6.625% Pfd., Series R |
11,338,310 | * | |||||||
$ | 6,314,000 | Wells Fargo & Company, 7.98%, Series K |
7,166,390 | * | ||||||
646,500 | Wells Fargo & Company, 8.00% Pfd., Series J |
19,071,750 | *(1) | |||||||
Zions Bancorporation: |
||||||||||
20,000 | Zions Bancorporation, 6.30% Pfd., Series G |
518,750 | * | |||||||
$ | 9,000,000 | Zions Bancorporation, 7.20%, Series J |
9,537,300 | *(1)(2) | ||||||
519,842 | Zions Bancorporation, 7.90% Pfd., Series F |
14,555,576 | *(1) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||
565,491,709 | ||||||||||
|
|
5
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Shares/$ Par | Value | |||||||||
|
Preferred Securities (Continued) |
|||||||||
Financial Services 1.3% |
||||||||||
$ | 7,900,000 | General Electric Capital Corp., 7.125%, Series A |
$ | 9,326,400 | *(1) | |||||
HSBC PLC: |
||||||||||
315,808 | HSBC Finance Corporation, 6.36% Pfd., Series B |
7,939,887 | *(1) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||
17,266,287 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Insurance 26.2% |
||||||||||
Ace Ltd.: |
||||||||||
$ | 4,566,000 | Ace Capital Trust II, 9.70% 04/01/30 |
6,734,850 | (1)(2)(3) | ||||||
200,000 | Allstate Corp., 6.625% Pfd., Series E |
5,240,300 | * | |||||||
$ | 1,053,000 | Aon Corporation, 8.205% 01/01/27 |
1,355,500 | (1) | ||||||
615,000 | Arch Capital Group, Ltd., 6.75% Pfd., Series C |
16,551,187 | **(1)(3) | |||||||
71,206 | Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd., 5.95% Pfd. |
1,843,523 | **(3) | |||||||
AXA SA: |
||||||||||
$ | 3,315,000 | AXA SA, 6.379%, 144A**** |
3,613,350 | **(1)(2)(3) | ||||||
$ | 2,750,000 | AXA SA, 8.60% 12/15/30 |
3,724,545 | (3) | ||||||
1,375,718 | Axis Capital Holdings Ltd., 6.875% Pfd., Series C |
37,230,368 | **(1)(3) | |||||||
560,250 | Delphi Financial Group, 7.376% Pfd., 05/15/37 |
14,041,266 | (1)(2) | |||||||
140,902 | Endurance Specialty Holdings, 7.50% Pfd., Series B |
3,707,484 | **(3) | |||||||
$ | 20,869,000 | Everest Re Holdings, 6.60% 05/15/37 |
22,042,881 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 35,418,000 | Liberty Mutual Group, 10.75% 06/15/58, 144A**** |
55,252,080 | (1)(2) | ||||||
MetLife: |
||||||||||
$ | 16,612,000 | MetLife, Inc., 10.75% 08/01/39 |
26,994,500 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 2,250,000 | MetLife Capital Trust IV, 7.875% 12/15/37, 144A**** |
2,885,625 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 18,250,000 | MetLife Capital Trust X, 9.25% 04/08/38, 144A**** |
26,599,375 | (1)(2) | ||||||
150,299 | PartnerRe Ltd., 7.25% Pfd., Series E |
4,035,528 | **(1)(3) | |||||||
438,500 | Principal Financial Group, 6.518% Pfd., Series B |
11,428,406 | *(1) | |||||||
Prudential Financial: |
||||||||||
$ | 4,906,000 | Prudential Financial, Inc., 5.625% 06/15/43 |
5,286,215 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 3,900,000 | Prudential Financial, Inc., 5.875% 09/15/42 |
4,199,910 | (1)(2) | ||||||
QBE Insurance: |
||||||||||
$ | 12,140,000 | QBE Capital Funding III Ltd., 7.25% 05/24/41, 144A**** |
13,219,926 | (1)(3) | ||||||
The Travelers Companies: |
||||||||||
$ | 4,877,500 | USF&G Capital, 8.312% 07/01/46, 144A**** |
6,703,651 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 9,000,000 | USF&G Capital I, 8.50% 12/15/45, 144A**** |
12,451,104 | (1)(2) | ||||||
Unum Group: |
||||||||||
$ | 15,240,000 | Provident Financing Trust I, 7.405% 03/15/38 |
17,977,394 | (1)(2) |
6
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Shares/$ Par | Value | |||||||||
|
Preferred Securities (Continued) |
|||||||||
Insurance (Continued) |
||||||||||
XL Group PLC: |
||||||||||
$ | 36,150,000 | XL Capital Ltd., 6.50%, Series E |
$ | 35,020,312 | (1)(3) | |||||
|
|
|||||||||
338,139,280 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Utilities 15.3% |
||||||||||
56,025 | Alabama Power Company, 6.45% Pfd. |
1,505,672 | *(1) | |||||||
Baltimore Gas & Electric: |
||||||||||
10,000 | Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, 6.70% Pfd., Series 1993 |
1,015,625 | *(1) | |||||||
15,000 | Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, 7.125% Pfd., Series 1993 |
1,524,844 | * | |||||||
Commonwealth Edison: |
||||||||||
$ | 15,828,000 | COMED Financing III, 6.35% 03/15/33 |
16,342,410 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 13,662,000 | Dominion Resources, Inc., 7.50% 06/30/66 |
14,816,439 | (1)(2) | ||||||
279,975 | Entergy Arkansas, Inc., 6.45% Pfd. |
7,113,129 | *(1) | |||||||
110,000 | Entergy Louisiana, Inc., 6.95% Pfd. |
11,017,193 | *(1) | |||||||
164,400 | Georgia Power Company, 6.50% Pfd., Series 2007A |
17,955,571 | *(1) | |||||||
98,800 | Indianapolis Power & Light Company, 5.65% Pfd. |
10,361,650 | * | |||||||
225,000 | Integrys Energy Group, Inc., 6.00% Pfd. |
5,927,063 | (1)(2) | |||||||
Nextera Energy: |
||||||||||
$ | 16,970,000 | FPL Group Capital, Inc., 6.65% 06/15/67 |
17,362,754 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 3,100,000 | FPL Group Capital, Inc., 7.30% 09/01/67, Series D |
3,427,819 | (1)(2) | ||||||
PECO Energy: |
||||||||||
$ | 2,386,000 | PECO Energy Capital Trust III, 7.38% 04/06/28, Series D |
2,857,106 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 22,900,000 | PECO Energy Capital Trust IV, 5.75% 06/15/33 |
22,777,256 | (1)(2) | ||||||
PPL Corp: |
||||||||||
$ | 17,680,000 | PPL Capital Funding, Inc., 6.70% 03/30/67, Series A |
18,042,210 | (1)(2) | ||||||
$ | 23,500,000 | Puget Sound Energy, Inc., 6.974% 06/01/67 |
24,732,669 | (1)(2) | ||||||
197,500 | Southern California Edison, 6.50% Pfd., Series D |
20,990,557 | *(1) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||
197,769,967 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Energy 2.7% |
||||||||||
$ | 2,510,000 | DCP Midstream LLC, 5.85% 05/21/43, 144A**** |
2,447,250 | |||||||
$ | 28,500,000 | Enbridge Energy Partners LP, 8.05% 10/01/37 |
32,205,000 | (1)(2) | ||||||
|
|
|||||||||
34,652,250 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) 3.8% |
||||||||||
Duke Realty Corp.: |
||||||||||
87,533 | Duke Realty Corp, 6.50% Pfd., Series K |
2,202,549 | ||||||||
99,063 | Duke Realty Corp, 6.60% Pfd., Series L |
2,492,059 |
7
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Shares/$ Par | Value | |||||||||
|
Preferred Securities (Continued) |
|||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) (Continued) |
||||||||||
27,745 | Equity CommonWealth, 7.25% Pfd., Series E |
$ | 704,723 | |||||||
Kimco Realty Corporation: |
||||||||||
7,000 | Kimco Realty Corporation, 5.50% Pfd., Series J |
163,800 | ||||||||
261,000 | Kimco Realty Corporation, 6.90% Pfd., Series H |
6,879,960 | (1)(2) | |||||||
National Retail Properties: |
||||||||||
263,818 | National Retail Properties, Inc., 5.70% Pfd., Series E |
6,224,469 | (1)(2) | |||||||
49,884 | National Retail Properties, Inc., 6.625% Pfd., Series D |
1,321,053 | ||||||||
PS Business Parks: |
||||||||||
22,000 | PS Business Parks, Inc., 5.70% Pfd., Series V |
526,515 | ||||||||
30,000 | PS Business Parks, Inc., 5.75% Pfd., Series U |
718,200 | ||||||||
55,000 | PS Business Parks, Inc., 6.00% Pfd., Series T |
1,365,650 | ||||||||
241,391 | PS Business Parks, Inc., 6.45% Pfd., Series S |
6,199,524 | (1)(2) | |||||||
105,000 | PS Business Parks, Inc., 6.875% Pfd., Series R |
2,751,000 | (1)(2) | |||||||
592,130 | Realty Income Corporation, 6.625% Pfd., Series F |
15,561,176 | (1)(2) | |||||||
28,057 | Regency Centers Corporation, 6.625% Pfd., Series 6 |
752,559 | ||||||||
33,506 | Weingarten Realty Investors, 6.50% Pfd., Series F |
857,502 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
48,720,739 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Miscellaneous Industries 0.8% |
||||||||||
105,400 | Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.25% Pfd., 144A**** |
9,571,638 | * | |||||||
48,000 | Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., 5.75% Pfd., 07/25/52 |
1,203,000 | (1)(2) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||
10,774,638 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Total Preferred Securities |
1,212,814,870 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Corporate Debt Securities 4.7% | |||||||||
Banking 1.7% |
||||||||||
$ | 13,952,000 | Regions Financial Corporation, 7.375% 12/10/37, Sub Notes |
17,966,674 | (1)(2) | ||||||
123,800 | Texas Capital Bancshares Inc., 6.50% 09/21/42, Sub Notes |
3,040,838 | ||||||||
28,000 | Zions Bancorporation, 6.95% 09/15/28, Sub Notes |
749,000 | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
21,756,512 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Financial Services 0.3% |
||||||||||
122,439 | Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., 6.375% 08/15/42 |
3,128,500 | (1)(2) | |||||||
4,726,012 | Lehman Brothers, Guaranteed Note, Variable Rate, 5.843% 12/16/16, 144A**** |
426,286 | (4)(5) |
8
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Shares/$ Par | Value |
|||||||||||
|
Corporate Debt Securities (Continued) |
| ||||||||||
Financial Services (Continued) |
||||||||||||
30,586 | Raymond James Financial, 6.90% 03/15/42 |
$ | 830,792 | (1)(2) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
4,385,578 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Insurance 1.3% |
||||||||||||
$ | 13,500,000 | Liberty Mutual Insurance, 7.697% 10/15/97, 144A**** |
16,338,591 | (1)(2) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
16,338,591 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Energy 0.7% |
||||||||||||
$ | 6,717,000 | Energy Transfer Partners LP, 8.25% 11/15/29 |
9,613,478 | (1) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
9,613,478 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) 0.1% |
||||||||||||
40,000 | Equity CommonWealth, 7.50% 11/15/19 |
822,400 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
822,400 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Communication 0.3% |
||||||||||||
161,060 | Qwest Corporation, 7.375% 06/01/51 |
4,212,122 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
4,212,122 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Miscellaneous Industries 0.3% |
||||||||||||
Pulte Group Inc.: |
||||||||||||
$ | 3,550,000 | Pulte Homes, Inc., 7.875% 06/15/32 |
4,020,375 | (1)(2) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
4,020,375 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total Corporate Debt Securities |
61,149,056 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Common Stock 0.2% |
| ||||||||||
Banking 0.1% |
||||||||||||
54,740 | CIT Group, Inc. |
2,625,330 | * | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
2,625,330 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Insurance 0.1% |
||||||||||||
240,577 | WMI Holdings Corporation, 144A**** |
661,587 | * | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
661,587 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Total Common Stock |
3,286,917 | |||||||||||
|
|
9
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Shares/$ Par | Value | |||||||||
|
Money Market Fund 0.1% | |||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds: |
||||||||||
747,635 | T-Fund, Institutional Class |
$ | 747,635 | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Total Money Market Fund |
747,635 | |||||||||
|
|
Total Investments (Cost $1,222,831,394***) |
98.9% | 1,277,998,478 | ||||||
Other Assets And Liabilities (Net) |
1.1% | 13,741,143 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Managed Assets |
100.0% | | $ | 1,291,739,621 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Loan Principal Balance |
|
(426,375,000 | ) | |||||
|
|
|||||||
Total Net Assets Available To Common Stock |
|
$ | 865,364,621 | |||||
|
|
* | Securities eligible for the Dividends Received Deduction and distributing Qualified Dividend Income. |
** | Securities distributing Qualified Dividend Income only. |
*** | Aggregate cost of securities held. |
**** | Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional buyers. At August 31, 2014, these securities amounted to $254,708,372 or 19.7% of total managed assets. |
(1) | All or a portion of this security is pledged as collateral for the Funds loan. The total value of such securities was $751,747,065 at August 31, 2014. |
(2) | All or a portion of this security has been rehypothecated. The total value of such securities was $396,953,722 at August 31, 2014. |
(3) | Foreign Issuer. |
(4) | Illiquid security (designation is unaudited). |
(5) | Valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Directors as of August 31, 2014. |
(6) | Represents the rate in effect as of the reporting date. |
| Non-income producing. |
| The issuer has filed for bankruptcy protection. As a result, the Fund may not be able to recover the principal invested and also does not expect to receive income on this security going forward. |
| The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of total managed assets. |
ABBREVIATIONS: | ||||
Pfd. |
| Preferred Securities | ||
REIT |
| Real Estate Investment Trust |
10
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK(1)
For the period from December 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Value | ||||
OPERATIONS: |
||||
Net investment income |
$ | 53,090,753 | ||
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments sold during the period |
29,434,124 | |||
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments |
39,575,616 | |||
|
|
|||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
122,100,493 | |||
DISTRIBUTIONS: |
||||
Dividends paid from net investment income to Common Stock Shareholders(2) |
(55,156,728 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Total Distributions to Common Stock Shareholders |
(55,156,728 | ) | ||
FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
||||
Increase from shares issued under the Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan |
1,172,932 | |||
|
|
|||
Net increase in net assets available to Common Stock resulting from Fund Share Transactions |
1,172,932 | |||
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK |
|
|
||
FOR THE PERIOD |
$ | 68,116,697 | ||
|
|
|||
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK: |
||||
Beginning of period |
$ | 797,247,924 | ||
Net increase in net assets during the period |
68,116,697 | |||
|
|
|||
End of period |
$ | 865,364,621 | ||
|
|
(1) | These tables summarize the nine months ended August 31, 2014 and should be read in conjunction with the Funds audited financial statements, including footnotes, in its Annual Report dated November 30, 2013. |
(2) | May include income earned, but not paid out, in prior fiscal year. |
11
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(1)
For the period from December 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
For a Common Stock share outstanding throughout the period
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE: |
||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 18.34 | ||
|
|
|||
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||
Net investment income |
1.22 | |||
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments |
1.59 | |||
|
|
|||
Total from investment operations |
2.81 | |||
|
|
|||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||
From net investment income |
(1.27 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Total distributions to Common Stock Shareholders |
(1.27 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 19.88 | ||
|
|
|||
Market value, end of period |
$ | 19.28 | ||
|
|
|||
Common Stock shares outstanding, end of period |
43,534,859 | |||
|
|
|||
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS: |
| |||
Net investment income |
8.52 | %* | ||
Operating expenses including interest expense |
1.39 | %* | ||
Operating expenses excluding interest expense |
0.88 | %* | ||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
19 | %** | ||
Total managed assets, end of period (in 000s) |
$ | 1,291,740 | ||
Ratio of operating expenses including interest expense to total managed assets |
0.92 | %* | ||
Ratio of operating expenses excluding interest expense to total managed assets |
0.59 | %* |
(1) | These tables summarize the nine months ended August 31, 2014 and should be read in conjunction with the Funds audited financial statements, including footnotes, in its Annual Report dated November 30, 2013. |
* | Annualized. |
** | Not annualized. |
| The net investment income ratios reflect income net of operating expenses, including interest expense. |
| Information presented under heading Supplemental Data includes loan principal balance. |
12
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)
Per Share of Common Stock (Unaudited)
Total Dividends Paid |
Net Asset Value |
NYSE Closing Price |
Dividend Reinvestment Price(1) |
|||||||||||||
December 31, 2013 |
$ | 0.1800 | $ | 18.08 | $ | 17.50 | $ | 17.75 | ||||||||
January 31, 2014 |
0.1360 | 18.40 | 17.92 | 18.02 | ||||||||||||
February 28, 2014 |
0.1360 | 18.74 | 18.49 | 18.69 | ||||||||||||
March 31, 2014 |
0.1360 | 18.97 | 19.23 | 18.97 | ||||||||||||
April 30, 2014 |
0.1360 | 19.22 | 19.89 | 19.22 | ||||||||||||
May 30, 2014 |
0.1360 | 19.61 | 20.12 | 19.61 | ||||||||||||
June 30, 2014 |
0.1360 | 19.72 | 19.60 | 19.67 | ||||||||||||
July 31, 2014 |
0.1360 | 19.66 | 19.00 | 18.82 | ||||||||||||
August 29, 2014 |
0.1360 | 19.88 | 19.28 | 19.37 |
(1) | Whenever the net asset value per share of the Funds Common Stock is less than or equal to the market price per share on the reinvestment date, new shares issued will be valued at the higher of net asset value or 95% of the then current market price. Otherwise, the reinvestment shares of Common Stock will be purchased in the open market. |
13
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
1. | Aggregate Information for Federal Income Tax Purposes |
At August 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of securities for federal income tax purposes was $1,254,844,974, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $111,102,338 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $87,948,834.
2. | Additional Accounting Standards |
Fair Value Measurements: The Fund has analyzed all existing investments to determine the significance and character of all inputs to their fair value determination. The levels of fair value inputs used to measure the Funds investments are characterized into a fair value hierarchy. Where inputs for an asset or liability fall into more than one level in the fair value hierarchy, the investment is classified in its entirety based on the lowest level input that is significant to that investments valuation. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 |
| quoted prices in active markets for identical securities | ||||
Level 2 |
| other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) | ||||
Level 3 |
| significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. Transfers in and out of levels are recognized at market value at the end of the period. A summary of the inputs used to value the Funds investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows:
Total Value at August 31, 2014 |
Level 1 Quoted Price |
Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs |
Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
|||||||||||||
Preferred Securities |
||||||||||||||||
Banking |
$ | 565,491,709 | $ | 469,879,772 | $ | 95,559,287 | $ | 52,650 | ||||||||
Financial Services |
17,266,287 | 17,266,287 | | | ||||||||||||
Insurance |
338,139,280 | 236,274,813 | 101,864,467 | | ||||||||||||
Utilities |
197,769,967 | 59,576,285 | 138,193,682 | | ||||||||||||
Energy |
34,652,250 | 32,205,000 | 2,447,250 | | ||||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) |
48,720,739 | 48,720,739 | | | ||||||||||||
Miscellaneous Industries |
10,774,638 | 1,203,000 | 9,571,638 | | ||||||||||||
Corporate Debt Securities |
||||||||||||||||
Banking |
21,756,512 | 3,789,838 | 17,966,674 | | ||||||||||||
Financial Services |
4,385,578 | 3,959,292 | | 426,286 | ||||||||||||
Insurance |
16,338,591 | | 16,338,591 | | ||||||||||||
Energy |
9,613,478 | | 9,613,478 | | ||||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) |
822,400 | 822,400 | | | ||||||||||||
Miscellaneous Industries |
4,020,375 | | 4,020,375 | | ||||||||||||
Communication |
4,212,122 | 4,212,122 | | |
14
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
Total Value at August 31, 2014 |
Level 1 Quoted Price |
Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs |
Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
|||||||||||||
Common Stock |
||||||||||||||||
Banking |
$ | 2,625,330 | $ | 2,625,330 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Insurance |
661,587 | 661,587 | | | ||||||||||||
Money Market Fund |
747,635 | 747,635 | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Investments |
$ | 1,277,998,478 | $ | 881,944,100 | $ | 395,575,442 | $ | 478,936 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the reporting period, there were no transfers into Level 1 from Level 2 or into Level 2 from Level 1.
The fair values of the Funds investments are generally based on market information and quotes received from brokers or independent pricing servicesapproved by the Board of Directors and unaffiliated with the Adviser. To assess the continuing appropriateness of security valuations, management, in consultation with the Adviser, regularly compares current prices to prior prices, prices across comparable securities, actual sale prices for securities in the Funds portfolio, and market information obtained by the Adviser as a function of being an active market participant.
Securities with quotes that are based on actual trades or actionable bids and offers with a sufficient level of activity on or near the measurement date are classified as Level 1. Securities that are priced using quotes derived from implied values, indicative bids and offers, or a limited number of actual tradesor the same information for securities that are similar in many respects to those being valuedare classified as Level 2. If market information is not available for securities being valued, or materially-comparable securities, then those securities are classified as Level 3. In considering market information, management evaluates changes in liquidity, willingness of a broker to execute at the quoted price, the depth and consistency of prices from pricing services, and the existence of observable trades in the market.
The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:
Preferred Securities |
Corporate Debt Securities |
|||||||||||
Total Investments | Banking | Financial Services | ||||||||||
Balance as of 11/30/13 |
$ | 535,696 | $ | 52,650 | $ | 483,046 | ||||||
Accrued discounts/premiums |
| | | |||||||||
Realized gain/(loss) |
| | | |||||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) |
(56,760 | ) | | (56,760 | ) | |||||||
Purchases |
| | | |||||||||
Sales |
| | | |||||||||
Transfer in |
| | | |||||||||
Transfer out |
| | | |||||||||
Balance as of 08/31/14 |
$ | 478,936 | $ | 52,650 | $ | 426,286 |
For the nine months ended August 31, 2014 total change in unrealized gain/(loss) on Level 3 securities still held at period-end and included in the change in net assets was $(56,760).
15
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
The following table summarizes the valuation techniques used and unobservable inputs developed to determine the fair value of Level 3 investments:
Category | Fair Value at 08/31/14 |
Valuation Technique | Unobservable Input | Input Range (Wgt Avg) | ||||||
Preferred Securities |
||||||||||
Banking |
$ | 52,650 | Bankruptcy recovery | Credit/Structure-specific recovery |
0.00% - 0.50% (0.15%) | |||||
Corporate Debt |
||||||||||
Securities |
426,286 | Bankruptcy recovery | Credit/Structure-specific recovery |
7% - 11% (9%) |
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement technique for bankruptcy recovery are based on recovery analysis that is specific to the security being valued, including the level of subordination and structural features of the security, and the current status of any bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings. Observable market trades in bankruptcy claims are utilized by management, when available, to assess the appropriateness of valuations, although the frequency of trading depends on the specific credit and seniority of the claim. Expected recoveries in bankruptcy by security type and industry do not tend to deviate much from historical recovery rates, which are very low (sometimes zero) for preferred securities and more moderate for senior debt. Significant changes in these inputs would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement.
16
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