Shorting Puerto Rico Muni Bonds

As we all know, PR has been in crisis for past 2 years. Approximate chance on Default on those bonds have risen to 86%. Any cost effective idea on how to short them? It has been a struggle for lot of traders on the STREET and worldwide. Lets figure it out WSO!

7 Comments
 

Train has just arrived and there are few who have recognized impact on GO and Revenue debts. We still have time to find an instrument to use it. Credit default Swaps are easy way to do it but transaction cost on it is expensive.

Looking at PR Economy- Majority is based upon Manufacturing ( ~45%) and Finance (~20%)

Service Sector has been allocating to mainland steadily for new jobs. State Tax close to 11% and Public debt is close to 65%.

Hit it where it hurts the hardest, it safe to assume Regional banks such as Ticker: FBP, First BanCorp would be good starting point.

Please add your logic as well so we can come up with most efficient solution!

Thank You!

 
Best Response
"AndreusCento01"

Train has just arrived and there are few who have recognized impact on GO and Revenue debts. We still have time to find an instrument to use it. Credit default Swaps are easy way to do it but transaction cost on it is expensive.

Looking at PR Economy- Majority is based upon Manufacturing ( ~45%) and Finance (~20%)

Service Sector has been allocating to mainland steadily for new jobs. State Tax close to 11% and Public debt is close to 65%.

Hit it where it hurts the hardest, it safe to assume Regional banks such as Ticker: FBP, First BanCorp would be good starting point.

Please add your logic as well so we can come up with most efficient solution!

Thank You!

The muni bond insurer's equities are also somewhat correlated with Puerto Rico's fortunes as some of them are quite heavily exposed.

 

Molestias aut eos assumenda id et. At laudantium tenetur quasi eos aperiam. Voluptas eum rerum hic tempore atque. Ut iusto nulla consectetur ipsam eligendi quo corrupti.

Vitae quo illo ut veritatis eius ipsam perferendis. Natus deserunt doloremque quia praesentium est dolore autem debitis. Rerum in veritatis libero aut. Id quia numquam non qui.

26 Broadway where's your sense of humor?

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”