CLO Research

CLOs are primarily actively managed, and some commonly used deal metrics—point-in-time indicators—can occasionally be misleading. While these metrics can be useful, they should not be considered in isolation. Additionally, combining multiple metrics does not necessarily provide a clearer picture. For example, the weighted average price (WAP) of a CLO portfolio does not measure return performance over time and can be artificially inflated by trading activity. Though WAP is helpful for quick screening, it is not a reliable indicator of whether one manager has outperformed another. The same applies to annual equity distributions—a higher distribution does not necessarily indicate better manager performance. Therefore, combining these two metrics does not necessarily offer a more accurate assessment of a manager's performance.

All things being equal, lower mezzanine tranche investors typically prefer to own deals with a higher probability of being reset.

The loan index’s moving 4-week average discounted spreads are used as a proxy for the EU CLO portfolios’ discounted spreads....

Please find below the estimated US CLO equity IRRs of a sample of 117 US CLO deals that were redeemed in 2024 year-to-date, categorized by vintage. An issue price of $95 is assumed.

Tracking ‘below 80 price exposure’ for CLO underlying collateral can be valuable in assessing tail risk within the asset pool. However, it is important to account for the impact of trading activity on these exposures, as CLO managers may have built par or traded out of distressed assets to crystallise portfolio losses. While this metric has its limitations, particularly as it does not fully account for the impact of trading, it remains a useful tool for providing a quick overview of tail risk in a manager’s CLO collateral pool. It is also static in nature, meaning it is not a return-based metric.

Our website consistently attracts over 2,000 visitors every month, offering your job postings significant exposure to a targeted CLO audience. Increase your chances of finding the perfect candidate by listing your opportunities on CLOPremium.