STRC slips below par as Strategys (MSTR) cash reserves face growing scrutiny
Strategys perpetual preferred security, Stretch (STRC), fell as low as $97.11 on Thursday as bitcoin slipped to the $73,000 mark. STRC tends to face selling pressure during bitcoin drawdowns and in the days immediately following its ex-dividend date, as seen on Nov. 20 and Feb. 5. The ex-dividend effect typically results in a price adjustment reflecting the value of the dividend, while periods of bitcoin weakness can reduce investor appetite for Strategy-related securities. Together, these factors have historically created short-term pressure on STRCs market price. The company has structured STRC to trade near its $100 par value, as maintaining that level enables Strategy to continue issuing shares through its at-the-market (ATM) program and raise additional capital efficiently. Strategy repurchased $1.5 billion of its 0% convertible senior notes due 2029 recently, reducing its overall debt burden. However, the buyback was funded using cash from the company‘s U.S. dollar reserve. Strategy’s cash balance declined from approximately $2.25 billion to $871 million as a result. Based on the companys current annual preferred dividend obligations of roughly $1.7 billion, the remaining cash reserve now provides only about six months of coverage but was initially implemented to cover the dividend obligations for 24 months. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor discussed several









