Investors who hold structured products (also known as “structured notes”) tied to oil and gas may be at risk of significant losses. This may include structured notes tied to the following stocks, among others:

• Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES)
• Apache Corporation (APA);
• Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP);
• Continental Resources, Inc. (CLR);
• Cenovus Energy Inc. (CVE);
• Occidental Petroleum Corp (OXY);
• Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO);
• Weatherford International PLC (WFTLF);
• Sasol Limited (SSL);
• Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG);
• Parsley Energy Inc. (PE);
• Halliburton Company (HAL);
• Hess Midstream LP (HESM).

Similarly, investors who hold structured notes tied to oil and gas ETFs may be at risk of significant losses. These ETFs may include, among others:

• United States Oil Fund (USO);
• United States Brent Oil Fund (BNO);
• iPath Series B S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index (OIL);
• ProShares K-1 Free Crude Oil Strategy ETF (OILK);
• United States Gasoline Fund (UGA);
• Invesco DB Oil Fund (UNG);
• ETRACS S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index (OILX);
• iPath Series B Bloomberg Energy Subindex Total Return ETN (JJE)

What are structured products (aka “Structured Notes”)?

Structured notes are marketed as bond-like investments that promise a favorable rate of return. Structured notes are typically tied to a sector of equities, or, in some cases, individual stocks. The underlying performance of these equities impact the performance of the structured note. Structured notes often have limited upside, meaning their rate of return is capped at a specified interest rate. Conversely, structured notes can have unlimited downside and can be automatically “called” if the corresponding value of the equities or sector to which it is tied falls by a specified percentage or amount.

How do structured notes work, and how can an investor benefit?

Example: Suppose an investor purchases a structured note tied to oil and gas stocks for $100,000. The note promises an 8% interest rate for one year. The note will continue to pay that 8% interest rate even if the underlying value of the oil and gas securities to which it is tied increases more than 8%. This “caps” the structured note’s return at 8%. Therefore, assuming the underlying value of the oil and gas stocks do not decrease significantly (more on that below), or increase within the course of the one-year period, the investor will receive their promised 8% interest rate and will have their $100,000 investment returned after one year.

Therefore, on the surface, structured notes appear to operate like a bond.

What’s are the risks associated with structured notes?

What if the underlying value of the oil and gas stocks to which the structured note was tied decrease significantly? Regularly, a structured note’s promised rate of return will be contingent on the underlying securities to which it is tied not falling a certain amount or percentage.

Suppose the 8% interest on the hypothetical structured note was contingent upon the oil and gas stocks tied to it not falling more than 30%. If the oil and gas stocks fall 30% or more, the structured note could allow the issuer to automatically “call” the structured note for a fraction of the initial investment. Between March 3, 2020, and March 9, 2020, in less than one week, oil and gas stocks fell approximately 31%.

As of the date of this post, the $100,000 hypothetical investment would have been “called” and the investor would have received only a fraction of their initial investment.

There are numerous variations of structured notes, and the above example is commonly known as an “auto-callable structured note.”

The Bottom Line

Structured notes tied to oil and gas are at risk of significant losses given the recent, dramatic decrease in oil and gas prices. If you think you have incurred losses in connection with such structured notes, you should inquire with reputable legal counsel.