Prices are likely to rise as fears abate, and longer-term prospects are historically sanguine, given the likelihood of overall equity market growth by next year. Data from preferred-fund manager Cohen & Steers, shows that preferred stocks have risen an average of 29.7% over the six-month periods after market troughs since 2009.
Moreover, the federal government isn't likely to let banks fail, and least of all in the year before a presidential election year. In the case of the two regional banks, a strengthened federal safety net came into play, with broadened guarantees on deposits and a new Federal Reserve program that lets banks borrow against bond holdings at par.
Though preferred shares have bond-like characteristics, they're not a true form of corporate debt. Banks like to issue them because unlike bonds, they don't count as debt toward required capital ratios. They don't appreciate as much as common shares, and their owners rank behind bondholders for claims on assets if an issuer goes belly-up.Stick with funds when possible.