P2P Lending / NFT Lending Forum

Lending Club Discussion => Investors - LC => Topic started by: dompazz on April 09, 2016, 11:00:00 PM

Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: dompazz on April 09, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
I was chatting with a friend that works as an institutional investor.  He was curious about P2P Lending and Lending Club specifically.  During our discussion, he mentioned how he wouldn't invest in the stock as it has been a dog and I mentioned the huge short interest.  Later we talked about the lack of a bankruptcy remote vehicle and how a LC bankruptcy could really hose retail investors.  In passing he said, "I would just hedge that by shorting the stock." 

That's when it hit me.  The huge short interest in LC stock could very well be hedges by the institutional crowd.

Thoughts?

Anyone out there that is willing to fess up that they, too, already thought of this and are short LC stock?
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: lender90530 on April 09, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
My understanding is that the institutional crowd and high rollers that invest through LC Advisors, a subsidiary of Lending Club, already have a BRV; LC Advisors provides them with one. Lending Club refuses to provide retail investors with the same protection. Seeing as Prosper is able to provide retail investors with a BRV, I wonder why.
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: Fred93 on April 09, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
I believe LC's stock is down simply because at IPO time it was overhyped and came out at a price that was just too high.  It has subsequently corrected.  My thinking is that it is the hype that has come down, not the value of the company.
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: yojoakak on April 09, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
For anyone interested in the short interest:

http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/lc/short-interest
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: TravelingPennies on April 09, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
from: yojoakak on April 10, 2016, 08:44:33 PM
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: Fred on April 10, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if those institutional investors are doing some form of "capital structure arbitrage" -- long on LC notes, short on LC equities.  If LC is doing well, the notes will produce the returns; if LC tanks, the short on equity will compensate of the loss from notes.

Either way, with a volatile stock like LC, those guys must prepare enough cash for margin calls.
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: Jim G on April 10, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
from: dompazz on April 10, 2016, 04:21:47 PM
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: TravelingPennies on April 10, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
from: Jim G on April 11, 2016, 07:02:23 PM
Title: Link between LC Stock price and the lack of BRV?
Post by: TravelingPennies on April 11, 2016, 11:00:00 PM
The only correlation is that the notes could possibly go to zero and the stock goes to zero and if you hedged the same dollar amount than yes you are covered. But if the other scenario is true and the stock goes up 500% in a year and the notes only make 7% than you are losing big time.  Not much of a hedge.  In a convertible bond scenario as I mentioned it doesn't matter if the stock goes up and against your short because the bonds you own can be converted at a certain strike price thus limiting your loss if the stock goes up but still allowing you to make money by collecting interest on the bonds plus affording you full payback on the principal loan amount through a conversion.  So if you were to hedge by shorting the stock, you are opening up your self to unlimited losses.  Tow separate bets in my opinion.