While "preferred stocks" can be a great income investment option, the word "stock" is often misleading. Although these "stocks" can be traded on major exchanges, they are primarily fixed-income investments, and many investors use Preferred as an alternative to CDs. Preferred stock dividend payments are determined when the stock is issued and generally do not change, with most falling due five years after the issue. If interest rates fall, a company can reclaim the shares and pay you the price they were issued. Many analysts agree that one of Preferred's positives has been its relatively stable share price. This stability...