Auction Market Preferred Stock

Auction Market Preferred Stock (AMPS)

A type of Dutch Auction Preferred Stock (A Merrill Lynch product).

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Auction Preferred Stock

A preferred stock with an adjustable dividend that changes every seven weeks according to the results of a Dutch auction. Every preferred stock has a guaranteed dividend; an auction market preferred stock is distinguished by the fact that the amount of its dividends changes from time to time. An auction market preferred stock is beneficial for some investors because the auction reveals the current market yield every seven weeks, which helps in investment decisions on whether to buy, sell, or hold. It is also called an auction rate preferred stock or a Dutch auction preferred stock.