High-Yield Corporate Bonds: High-Yield Issuers Were Resilient Amid Fed Tightening

This High-Yield Corporate Bonds sector report is excerpted from the First Quarter 2023 Fixed-Income Sector Views.

Despite the poor returns of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High-Yield Index in 2022, the low high-yield default rate—0.8 percent per S&P as of Dec. 31, 2022 (1.5 percent par-weighted per BofA Research)—continues to demonstrate strong corporate fundamental performance and resilience to the Fed’s tightening efforts. A major tailwind has been corporate earnings, with trailing 12-month earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) through the third quarter up 61 percent compared to the prior comparable period, and on track to finish up 33 percent year over year in the fourth quarter. Excluding commodities, cash flows were still strong, tracking up 29 percent year over year.

The fourth quarter of 2022 saw a resurgence in demand for credit risk and a turnaround in high-yield corporate bond prices as a possible end to the Fed hiking cycle came more into focus. This rally extended into the first four weeks of 2023. Credit spreads tightened from 552 basis points to end the year at 469 basis points, and have continued to tighten. Yields fell from a 2022 high of almost 10 percent to 8 percent currently. After dipping to as low as 84 percent of par, high-yield corporate bond prices are now closer to 89 percent of par, offering a little less cushion than at the end of last year.

The elevated risk of recession in 2023 presents a meaningful challenge to leveraged borrowers. Wall Street consensus expects high-yield EBITDA to rise about 15 percent in 2023 for the group of over 350 high-yield companies that we track, including a 21 percent increase for non-commodity companies. These expectations may be too optimistic given the deteriorating economic backdrop, but we think the sector is still poised to weather a downturn better than in previous recessions. In addition to coming off of a strong earnings cycle, high-yield issuers’ leverage is below 2019 levels, and interest coverage stands at over 5.0x.

While the sector’s five-year duration was a drawback in 2022, we think it could be a benefit in 2023 if the emergence of a recession triggers a rally in U.S. Treasurys, thereby boosting returns. With yields still attractive in the current environment, we are positioning in sectors and issuers that we think are higher quality and likely to be more resilient in an economic downturn.

—By Thomas Hauser and Maria Giraldo

Important Notices and Disclosures

This material is distributed or presented for informational or educational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product, or as investing advice of any kind. This material is not provided in a fiduciary capacity, may not be relied upon for or in connection with the making of investment decisions, and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. The content contained herein is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Always consult a financial, tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

This material contains opinions of the authors, but not necessarily those of Guggenheim Partners, LLC or its subsidiaries. The opinions contained herein are subject to change without notice. Forward-looking statements, estimates, and certain information contained herein are based upon proprietary and non-proprietary research and other sources. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but are not assured as to accuracy. Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is neither representation nor warranty as to the current accuracy of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information.

Investing involves risk. In general, the value of fixed-income securities fall when interest rates rise. High-yield securities present more liquidity and credit risk than investment grade bonds and may be subject to greater volatility. Asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities, may have structures that make their reaction to interest rates and other factors difficult to predict, making their prices volatile and they are subject to liquidity risk. Investments in floating rate senior secured syndicated bank loans and other floating rate securities involve special types of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Municipal bonds may be subject to credit, interest, prepayment, liquidity, and valuation risks. In addition, municipal securities can be affected by unfavorable legislative or political developments and adverse changes in the economic and fiscal conditions of state and municipal issuers or the federal government in case it provides financial support to these issuers.

Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, Guggenheim Partners Japan Limited, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, and Guggenheim Partners India Management.

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