Dividend Investing Ideas Center
Critical Facts You Need to Know About Preferred Stocks
Have you ever wished for the safety of bonds, but the return potential...
Name
As of 10/04/2024Price
Aum/Mkt Cap
YIELD
Exp Ratio
Watchlist
YTD Return
23.0%
1 yr return
50.6%
3 Yr Avg Return
7.4%
5 Yr Avg Return
24.0%
Net Assets
$178 M
Holdings in Top 10
87.6%
Expense Ratio 2.26%
Front Load N/A
Deferred Load N/A
Turnover 238.00%
Redemption Fee N/A
Standard (Taxable)
$10,000
IRA
$10,000
Fund Type
Open End Mutual Fund
Name
As of 10/04/2024Price
Aum/Mkt Cap
YIELD
Exp Ratio
Watchlist
The Funds investment adviser, Advisors Preferred, LLC (the Adviser), delegates execution of the Funds investment strategy to the Subadviser, Flexible Plan Investments, Ltd. (FPI or the Subadviser). The Subadviser selects investments for the Fund and provides trade placement for fixed income instruments, including cash equivalents. The Adviser provides trade placement for non-fixed income instruments. The Fund is aggressively managed by the Subadviser, which typically results in high portfolio turnover. FPI seeks to achieve the Funds investment objective primarily by using the Subadvisers proprietary Self-Adjusting Trend Following Strategy (STF Strategy). The STF Strategy assesses market risk and classifies it into four levels and allocates assets accordingly between equity-related and fixed income-related asset classes.
Self-Adjusting Trend Following Strategy
The STF Strategy is used to allocate Fund assets between long and short equity-related and long fixed income-related investments. This strategy monitors the price trends of the NASDAQ 100 Index to assess market conditions. The proprietary price-based rules can involve index prices at daily market close, and moving average values of daily close prices, including but not limited to 3-day, 5-day, 10-day, 50-day and 200-day moving averages, as well as day-to-day changes of one or more of these moving averages, and the slope of the moving averages. The STF Strategy follows easily identifiable market trends, with a proprietary rule set that seeks to take advantage of both up and down market trends. Since the market risk exposure of the STF Strategy is solely based on the price action of the NASDAQ 100 Index, the STF Strategy aims to out-perform the NASDAQ 100 Index over the long term with less downside risk. The NASDAQ 100 Index includes 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. The STF Strategy adjusts overall Fund market risk exposure relative to the NASDAQ 100 Index at four discrete levels, defined by proprietary market trend measures, and according to a NASDAQ 100 Index price-based proprietary rule set:
1. | When the rule set indicates no obvious market trend, as defined by the Subadvisers proprietary indicators, the strategy dictates near-zero exposure to equity market risk (a Flat position), and the two income allocations described below account for nearly all of the allocation of Fund assets. |
2. | When the rule set indicates a regular up trend, as defined by the Subadvisers proprietary indicators, the strategy dictates 100% exposure to the NASDAQ 100 Index (a 1x Long position), through investments in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), futures or swaps contracts. Each of these can be used as substitutes for the NASDAQ 100 Index. The Fund should realize approximately 100% of the NASDAQ 100 Index return, before expenses of the Fund and expenses of the investments used to execute the 1x Long position. To the extent leverage is utilized through leveraged ETFs, futures or swaps, the Fund may have investible funds to include in the two income allocations. |
3. | When the rule set indicates a strong up trend, as defined by the Subadvisers proprietary indicators, the strategy dictates a 200% exposure to the NASDAQ 100 Index (a 2x Long position), through investment in ETFs, ETNs, futures or swaps contracts. Each of these can be used as substitutes for the NASDAQ 100 Index. The Fund should realize approximately 200% of the NASDAQ 100 Index return, before expenses of the Fund and expenses of the investments used to execute the 2x Long position. To the extent leverage is utilized through leveraged ETFs, futures or swaps, the Fund may have investible funds to include in the two income allocations. |
4. | When the rule set indicates a down market trend, as defined by the Subadvisers proprietary indicators, the strategy dictates an inverse or short 100% exposure to the NASDAQ 100 index (a 1x Short position), through investments in inverse or leveraged inverse ETFs or ETNs , futures or swaps. Each of these can be used as substitutes for an inverse NASDAQ 100 Index position. The Fund should realize an approximate negative 100% of the NASDAQ 100 Indexs return, before expenses of the Fund and expenses of the investments used to execute the 1x Short position. To the extent leverage is utilized through ETFs, futures or swaps, the Fund may have investible funds to include in the two income allocations. |
Short to Medium-Term Fixed Income Allocation
The Fund will invest directly in short to medium-term fixed income securities. The portion of the Fund invested in short- to medium-term fixed income securities will be greatest when the STF Strategy finds no obvious market trend (risk level 1 above). The Subadvisers security selection decisions are driven by liquidity, rating and time to maturity. This portion of the Funds portfolio is constructed in order to mitigate interest rate and credit risk while optimizing income and will involve investment in the following securities: cash, cash equivalents, and upper medium investment grade to prime investment grade short-term debt securities and money market instruments.
Fixed Income/Equity Income Allocation
The Fund will also invest in income-producing securities. The portion of the Fund invested in income-producing securities will be greatest when the STF Strategy finds no obvious market trend (risk level 1 above). The Fund does so indirectly through ETFs, other closed-end and open-end investment companies that themselves primarily invest in income-producing securities. The underlying income-producing securities to which the Fund seeks to gain exposure are primarily: U.S. government securities, corporate debt obligations, foreign debt securities (including emerging markets, which the Fund defines, generally, as those with per capita income less than half that of the U.S.), and bonds in the lowest credit rating category, also called junk bonds, convertible bonds, preferred stocks, common stocks, master limited partnerships (MLPs), and real estate investment trusts (REITs).
The Fund invests without restriction as to issuer capitalization, country, credit quality or the maturity of a security. The Adviser selects swap counterparties that it believes are creditworthy based on credit rating and financial strength. In addition, the Subadviser uses the Fund as an asset allocation tool for its other clients, which may lead to purchases and redemptions of Fund shares. Responding to purchase and redemption-related fluctuations in the Funds size will result in portfolio turnover not directly related to the preceding investment strategy analysis.
Period | QSTAX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
YTD | 23.0% | -6.6% | 25.6% | 2.76% |
1 Yr | 50.6% | -4.3% | 50.0% | 0.92% |
3 Yr | 7.4%* | -19.0% | 12.8% | 4.65% |
5 Yr | 24.0%* | -11.7% | 24.7% | 0.98% |
10 Yr | N/A* | -4.5% | 10.0% | N/A |
* Annualized
Period | QSTAX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 60.1% | -18.9% | 60.2% | 0.93% |
2022 | -46.5% | -48.5% | 0.1% | 99.53% |
2021 | 4.6% | -19.0% | 48.3% | 48.13% |
2020 | 45.0% | -16.5% | 52.8% | 1.96% |
2019 | 15.7% | -8.5% | 26.6% | 15.08% |
Period | QSTAX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
YTD | 23.0% | -6.6% | 25.6% | 2.76% |
1 Yr | 50.6% | -4.3% | 50.0% | 0.92% |
3 Yr | 7.4%* | -19.0% | 12.8% | 4.65% |
5 Yr | 24.0%* | -11.7% | 24.7% | 0.98% |
10 Yr | N/A* | -4.5% | 10.0% | N/A |
* Annualized
Period | QSTAX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 60.8% | -11.7% | 61.8% | 0.93% |
2022 | -46.5% | -48.5% | 4.6% | 99.53% |
2021 | 28.2% | -14.2% | 48.3% | 4.67% |
2020 | 76.4% | -11.7% | 77.4% | 0.98% |
2019 | 15.7% | -3.9% | 28.4% | 34.17% |
QSTAX | Category Low | Category High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Net Assets | 178 M | 1.98 M | 12.4 B | 54.84% |
Number of Holdings | 20 | 2 | 2274 | 73.73% |
Net Assets in Top 10 | 219 M | 1.55 M | 9.46 B | 39.63% |
Weighting of Top 10 | 87.60% | 20.8% | 109.8% | 27.65% |
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cash | 97.27% | -33.22% | 99.64% | 1.84% |
Bonds | 2.00% | 0.00% | 106.59% | 37.33% |
Convertible Bonds | 1.18% | 0.00% | 8.92% | 15.67% |
Other | 0.58% | -29.71% | 135.29% | 16.59% |
Stocks | 0.15% | 0.00% | 145.83% | 93.09% |
Preferred Stocks | 0.00% | -0.09% | 5.36% | 34.10% |
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% | 91.12% | 79.18% |
Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% | 85.77% | 1.63% |
Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% | 99.45% | 90.20% |
Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% | 23.85% | 86.53% |
Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% | 38.63% | 86.12% |
Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% | 98.22% | 91.43% |
Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% | 60.89% | 91.43% |
Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% | 21.61% | 4.90% |
Consumer Defense | 0.00% | 0.00% | 37.51% | 64.08% |
Consumer Cyclical | 0.00% | 0.00% | 25.83% | 8.98% |
Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% | 56.73% | 95.10% |
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | 0.15% | 0.00% | 145.83% | 93.09% |
Non US | 0.00% | -1.94% | 38.53% | 41.01% |
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cash & Equivalents | 88.60% | 0.00% | 99.38% | 1.84% |
Corporate | 28.25% | 0.00% | 95.17% | 19.35% |
Government | 1.44% | 0.00% | 99.78% | 77.42% |
Derivative | 0.58% | -15.85% | 135.29% | 14.29% |
Securitized | 0.44% | 0.00% | 52.99% | 43.32% |
Municipal | 0.00% | 0.00% | 19.13% | 53.92% |
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | 2.00% | 0.00% | 92.67% | 37.33% |
Non US | 0.00% | 0.00% | 26.57% | 37.33% |
QSTAX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Expense Ratio | 2.26% | 0.45% | 10.24% | 26.73% |
Management Fee | 1.00% | 0.00% | 1.50% | 70.97% |
12b-1 Fee | 1.00% | 0.00% | 1.00% | 81.94% |
Administrative Fee | N/A | 0.05% | 0.70% | N/A |
QSTAX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Front Load | N/A | 2.50% | 5.75% | N/A |
Deferred Load | N/A | 1.00% | 1.00% | N/A |
QSTAX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Max Redemption Fee | N/A | 0.50% | 2.00% | N/A |
Turnover provides investors a proxy for the trading fees incurred by mutual fund managers who frequently adjust position allocations. Higher turnover means higher trading fees.
QSTAX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Turnover | 238.00% | 1.75% | 441.00% | 90.80% |
QSTAX | Category Low | Category High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dividend Yield | 0.37% | 0.00% | 24.95% | 75.58% |
QSTAX | Category Low | Category High | Category Mod | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dividend Distribution Frequency | None | Annual | Quarterly | Quarterly |
QSTAX | Category Low | Category High | QSTAX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Net Income Ratio | -1.74% | -2.01% | 13.72% | 98.62% |
QSTAX | Category Low | Category High | Capital Mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Capital Gain Distribution Frequency | Annually | Annually | Annually | Annually |
Date | Amount | Type |
---|---|---|
Dec 26, 2023 | $0.061 | OrdinaryDividend |
Dec 28, 2021 | $1.899 | CapitalGainShortTerm |
Dec 28, 2021 | $1.773 | CapitalGainLongTerm |
Dec 28, 2020 | $1.604 | CapitalGainShortTerm |
Dec 28, 2020 | $1.676 | CapitalGainLongTerm |
Dec 24, 2018 | $0.060 | CapitalGainShortTerm |
Dec 24, 2018 | $0.161 | CapitalGainLongTerm |
Dec 26, 2017 | $1.615 | CapitalGainShortTerm |
Dec 26, 2017 | $2.382 | CapitalGainLongTerm |
Dec 27, 2016 | $0.008 | OrdinaryDividend |
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
Nov 13, 2015
6.55
6.6%
Jerry C. Wagner, JD is President and Chief Investment Officer of Flexible Plan Investments, Ltd. Mr. Wagner was born on May 7, 1947. He holds the degree of Juris Doctor awarded by the University of Michigan in 1973 and degrees of Masters in Labor & Industrial Relations (1970) and Bachelor of Arts (1969) from Michigan State University. Mr. Wagner has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 1973. He has been the principal investment adviser representative for Flexible Plan Investments, Ltd. since 1981. Mr. Wagner has a Series 65. His business experience for the last 5 years is as follows: Flexible Plan Investments, Ltd. Investment Adviser
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
Mar 12, 2018
4.22
4.2%
Jason Teed, CFA, MFS, Director of Research and Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr Teed was born May 21, 1984. He holds a Masters in Finance degree from the Walsh College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Mr. Teed joined Flexible Plan Investments, Ltd. as an Investment Associate in February 2011. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Flexible Plan Investments, Ltd. Investment Adviser Director of Research
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
Oct 31, 2019
2.58
2.6%
Timothy Hanna, has served as the Subadviser’s Senior Portfolio Manager since January 2014. Before joining the Subadviser, he was an institutional fixed-income manager at Multi-Bank Securities and previously a derivatives trader. Mr. Hanna is responsible for performing applied economic and quantitative research for the Subadviser’s strategies and mutual funds. He reviews new and existing strategies, ensuring that algorithms perform within expectations, providing modifications to achieve best execution and efficient implementation. Mr. Hanna has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wayne State University and a master’s degree in finance from Walsh College. He holds the designations of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Fixed-Income Practitioner (CFIP).
Category Low | Category High | Category Average | Category Mode |
---|---|---|---|
0.07 | 33.83 | 6.67 | 13.0 |
Dividend Investing Ideas Center
Have you ever wished for the safety of bonds, but the return potential...
Dividend Investing Ideas Center
If you are reaching retirement age, there is a good chance that you...
Dividend Investing Ideas Center
If you are reaching retirement age, there is a good chance that you...