VRP ETF

VRP tracks the ICE Variable Rate Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index, offering a 5.33% yield at a 0.50% expense ratio. It has outperformed a lot of its peers, but in a generally low-interest-rate environment, other ETFs can offer equally good returns with better consistency and less risk. Also, VRP carries significant sector concentration risk, with nearly two-thirds of the funds in financials, and includes a lot of below-investment-grade preferred stocks.

I've been long on the Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF since 2022, and have increased my position in recent months in expectation of higher monthly distributions. VRP recently declared an October distribution of $0.1428, a sequential increase of 30%, and the highest so far in 2024. I see continued blue skies for VRP in the next half-year, on the basis of the reset structure, the ETF's duration, and Fed Funds expectations.

The Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF has outperformed in a rising rate environment due to its low duration and floating rate nature. VRP is weighted heavily towards the financial sector - investors should be keenly aware of this. Despite anticipated interest rate cuts, VRP's preferred stock holdings may continue to reset at higher dividends until at least 2025. This means I will continue to rate VRP a Buy.

VRP is an ETF that focuses on preferred equity from financial institutions, but with a twist - its collateral has to be at least 90% invested in floating rate securities. VRP has outperformed its fixed rate peer PFF since the beginning of the Fed tightening cycle due to its low duration of 1.93 years. PFF is expected to record an additional 9% gain versus VRP as rates move lower given historic correlations and duration impact.