High-Yield Corporate Bonds: High-Yield Returns Boosted by Duration

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

High-yield returns are strong to start the year despite ongoing volatility. We remain defensive and are staying up in quality in our portfolios, but as we explained in the second quarter High-Yield and Bank Loan Outlook, the expression of this theme does not always translate into a preference for higher credit ratings. The rating agencies have been cutting credit ratings at a faster pace than they are raising them, which makes current ratings less reliable. Proprietary credit views are crucial in this environment. We are focusing on debt seniority, cash flow stability, strong interest coverage, and business profile, among a variety of other metrics, all of which can make a B-rated credit more attractive than a BB-rated credit in this environment. A continued lack of primary issuance should provide a technical tailwind.

Attention has turned to the Fed’s quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices, which asks if banks are tightening or easing underwriting standards on loans made to a variety of borrowers. This survey already showed before the banking crisis in March that a net 45 percent of banks have tightened underwriting standards for large/medium commercial and industrial loans, the most since the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Tighter lending standards historically lead a rise in the default rate among high-yield corporate bond issuers, so while credit spreads are 21 basis points tighter from the start of the year at 448 basis points, they had widened to as much as 535 basis points over the back half of March.

We share concerns over the default outlook as we move toward recession, which we expect to begin in the second half of 2023, but it is important to balance these views against market expectations. At current spread levels, we believe the implied default rate of the high-yield index is 4.3 percent. Since the market tends to overshoot, spreads could widen further as liquidity conditions worsen and as other calendar events, such as the debt ceiling debate, increase implied volatility in options markets across rates and equities. However, an acceleration in default volumes is priced in already, and some issuers and sectors may be oversold.

The sector is likely to continue to benefit from duration in a risk-off environment. Despite growing concerns over the default outlook at the start of 2023, the ICE BofA U.S. High-Yield Index gained 4.2 percent through April 24 as curve changes boosted returns by 1.2 percent on top of returns attributable to coupon, amortization, and spread tightening. Given our view that duration will benefit the sector while coupons continue to help cushion returns, we believe high-yield corporate bonds are attractive to income seekers with yields remaining near 8.5–9 percent.

—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, including the possible loss of principal. Investments in fixed-income instruments are subject to the possibility that interest rates could rise, causing their values to decline. High yield and unrated debt securities are at a greater risk of default than investment grade bonds and may be less liquid, which may increase volatility. Investors in asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), generally receive payments that are part interest and part return of principal. These payments may vary based on the rate loans are repaid. Some asset-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 and valuation risk. CLOs bear similar risks to investing in loans directly, such as credit, interest rate, counterparty, prepayment, liquidity, and valuation risks. Loans are often below investment grade, may be unrated, and typically offer a fixed or floating interest rate.

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.

©2023, Guggenheim Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means without the express written consent of Guggenheim Partners, LLC.

GPIM 57387

VIDEOS AND PODCASTS

 

Are Fixed-Income Investors Being Compensated for the Risks They Are Taking?

Maria Giraldo, Investment Strategist for Guggenheim Investments, joins Asset TV’s Fixed Income Masterclass.

×

Are Fixed-Income Investors Being Compensated for the Risks They Are Taking?

 

Macro Markets Podcast Episode 51: What's Holding Up Inflation…And Other Macro Themes

Matt Bush and Maria Giraldo join the Macro Markets podcast to discuss our newly published Quarterly Macro Themes for 1Q 2024.

×

Macro Markets Podcast: Episode #51