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Meet 'Stretch'—Michael Saylor's New Tool for Using Bitcoin to Pay a Big Dividend. Here's What to Know.
Investopedia· 2026-03-11 00:00
Core Insights - Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, has introduced a new financial product called "preferred issues," which combines features of both stocks and bonds, appealing to a wide range of investors [1] - The preferred issues, including the most notable "Stretch," offer a current yield of 11.5%, attracting both retail and institutional investors despite the underlying risks associated with cryptocurrency [1] - Strategy's preferred issues have raised $2.5 billion in July and continue to generate significant capital, allowing the company to maintain its bitcoin acquisition strategy [1] Company Overview - Strategy's preferred issues are hybrid securities that pay regular dividends, resembling bonds, while holders rank below creditors in the capital structure, making them attractive to income-seeking investors [1] - The preferred issues are backed by Strategy's assets, including 738,731 bitcoins valued at approximately $53 billion and over $2 billion in cash reserves [1] - Institutional investors, including Fidelity, Vanguard, and BlackRock's iShares, have shown interest in these preferred issues, indicating a shift in investment strategies towards income-generating assets [1] Market Context - The introduction of preferred issues comes at a time when Strategy's common stock has seen a significant decline, losing half its value over the past year due to adverse conditions in the cryptocurrency market [1] - The current yield of 11.5% on the preferred issues is higher than many investment-grade alternatives, which typically yield between 6% to 7% [1] - The potential for changes in the payout rate and the ability to maintain the preferred issues at a $100 trading price are critical factors that investors need to consider [1]