Strategy's perpetual preferred stocks may be front running S&P 500 inclusion

Strategy's (MSTR) perpetual preferred shares may be anticipating the bitcoin-accumulation company's inclusion in the S&P 500 index after the largest cryptocurrency posted a record-high monthly close at a price some analysts calculate lifted quarterly earnings to a level that qualifies it for the U.S. equity benchmark.

That may not be the only reason for their popularity, however. The stocks all offer yields above the Federal Reserve's target rate of 4.25%-4.5% at levels that may be enough to attract investor interest, especially given President Donald Trump's calls for U.S. interest rates to be lowered.

While the official announcement regarding S&P 500 inclusion is not due until September. Still, on Monday, MSTR rose 5%, pushing the stock above $400, its highest since May 22. More notable gains came from the perpetual preferred shares, STRK, which climbed 15% and STRF, which added 7.5%. The STRD shares rose 3%.

Bitcoin (BTC) ended June at $107,750, a level that translates into a positive earnings impact of about $11 billion for Tyson Corner, Virgina-based Strategy, and boosts earnings per share to around $39.50, according to MSTR analyst Jeff Walton. That's enough for it to post a net positive figure from the most recent four quarters, the last barrier it faced to be added to the S&P 500.

Shares often rise when they join, or are expected to join, the benchmark because membership opens up greater demand from institutions who are not allowed to invest in companies that haven't made the cut.

STRK's advance pushed the price to $121 with an effective yield of 6.6%. Since its Feb. 6 launch, STRK has delivered a 42% return, outperforming both bitcoin's 11% jump and the S&P 500's 2%. The figures exclude dividend payments associated with these products. STRF now offers an effective yield of 8.8% and STRD 11.1%.

Altogether, these developments raise the question of whether recent market moves represent front running ahead of a possible inclusion of MSTR in the S&P 500 alone.