Glossary Background

Convertible Arbitrage

Convertible arbitrage is a trading strategy where investors buy convertible securities (like bonds or preferred stock) and short the underlying stock. The goal is to profit from price inefficiencies between the convertible security and the underlying stock. The convertible security offers potential upside with downside protection, while the short position in the stock hedges risk. The strategy is market-neutral, as the long and short positions balance out market exposure. Profits come from discrepancies in pricing, making it a popular strategy among hedge funds and institutional investors. It's complex but seeks to capitalize on mispricings.