William Scapell, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income and Preferred Securities
33 years of experience
William Scapell, CFA, Executive Vice President, is a senior portfolio manager for the firm’s preferred securities portfolios. Prior to joining Cohen & Steers in 2003, Mr. Scapell worked in the fixed income research department at Merrill Lynch, where he was their chief strategist for preferred securities for three years, and a vice president in corporate finance and treasury department for two years. Previously, he held bank supervision and monetary policy roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for five years. Mr. Scapell holds a BA from Vassar College and an MA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is based in New York.
Investments managed
STRATEGIES
FUNDS
Insights by William Scapell, CFA
Understanding quality, ratings and long-term compensation of preferred securities
Preferreds provide attractive income and total returns from high-quality securities; despite added risks, default rates can be lower than credit ratings suggest.
Yields, regulations reinforce a positive preferred securities outlook
We see scope for good relative performance, given appealing valuations and structures that can benefit from high interest rates. Solid issuer fundamentals today and tighter bank regulations to come may provide a credit tailwind.
Preferred securities: Resetting for a new cycle
Recent bank turbulence and the end of the Fed’s rate-hiking cycle create what we believe may be an exceptional buying opportunity for preferreds.