Understanding High Yield Bonds | PIMCO (2024)

FAQs

Are high-yield bonds a good investment? ›

Yes, high-yield corporate bonds are more volatile and, therefore, riskier than investment-grade and government-issued bonds. However, these securities can also provide significant advantages when analyzed in-depth. It all comes down to money.

The low-yield bond is better for the investor who wants a virtually risk-free asset, or one who is hedging a mixed portfolio by keeping a portion of it in a low-risk asset. The high-yield bond is better for the investor who is willing to accept a degree of risk in return for a higher return.

A high-yield corporate bond is a type of corporate bond that offers a higher rate of interest because of its higher risk of default. When companies with a greater estimated default risk issue bonds, they may be unable to obtain an investment-grade bond credit rating.

You can capitalize on higher rates by purchasing real estate and selling off unneeded assets. Short-term and floating-rate bonds are also suitable investments during rising rates as they reduce portfolio volatility. Hedge your bets by investing in inflation-proof investments and instruments with credit-based yields.

While high-yield bonds do offer the potential for more gains compared to investment-grade bonds, they also carry a number of risks, like default risk, higher volatility, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk.

The Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund (VWEHX) takes the top spot on our list of the best high-yield bond funds for June 2024 thanks, largely, to its low expense ratio.

If bond yields rise, existing bonds lose value. The change in bond values only relates to a bond's price on the open market, meaning if the bond is sold before maturity, the seller will obtain a higher or lower price for the bond compared to its face value, depending on current interest rates.

The bond market is inversely correlated with the federal funds rate and short term interest rates. When interest rates drop during a recession, bond prices increase, and bond yields decrease. During periods of economic growth that follow a recession, interest rates start to increase.

Interest rates and bonds often move in opposite directions. When rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. Learn the impact this relationship can have on a portfolio. As an investor, it's important to understand the relationship between bonds and interest rates.

What percentage of a portfolio should be in high-yield bonds? ›

Meketa Investment Group recommends that most diversified long-term pools consider allocating to high yield bonds, and if they do so, between five and ten percent of total assets in favorable markets, and maintaining a toehold investment even in adverse environments to permit rapid re-allocation should valuations shift.

The coupon yield, or the coupon rate, is part of the bond offering. A $1,000 bond with a coupon yield of 4 percent is going to pay $40 a year. A $1,000 bond with a coupon yield of 6 percent is going to pay $60 a year. Usually, the $40 or $60 or whatever is split in half and paid out twice a year on an individual bond.

As they sell some holdings (likely at a loss), they'll generally be reinvesting in new bonds with higher yields. That means higher income payments for bond fund investors—a benefit that individual bondholders don't usually get since most coupon payments are fixed.

In 2024, we expect the U.S. economy to slow, which could spark some volatility in the equity market. As a way to help investors manage portfolio risk while earning income, high yield bonds merit a look.

Meketa Investment Group recommends that most diversified long-term pools consider allocating to high yield bonds, and if they do so, between five and ten percent of total assets in favorable markets, and maintaining a toehold investment even in adverse environments to permit rapid re-allocation should valuations shift.