4.) High yield isn’t as volatile as it used to be. While the bonds’ yields have fallen in recent years, their volatility has also dropped. In fact, the volatility of a high yield bond is roughly half of what it was last summer.
To be sure, the asset class is not without its risks. These include higher default rates than traditionally safer fixed income classes, a potential reduction in liquidity when the Fed begins to wind down its asset purchase program, and potential sensitivity to rising interest rates. Also, if the economy turns south, high yield will likely be hurt more than other fixed income sectors.
As such, high yield is not for everyone. For speculative grade exposure that may help to insulate a portfolio in the event that rates continue to rise, I prefer floating-rate notes and bank loans over high yield. In addition, while high yield should be a key holding for more aggressive investors, I advocate that risk-adverse investors hold relatively small allocations. One way to access high yield is the iShares High Yield Corporate Bond Fund (NYSEArca: HYG).
The chart above shows the Barclays US Corporate High Yield Average OAS through 3/13/2013. OAS stands for Option-Adjusted Spread, or the amount by which a bond’s yield exceeds the yield of a similar duration Treasury when accounting for any optionality embedded in the bond.
Russ Koesterich, CFA, is the iShares Global Chief Investment Strategist.
The author is long HYG.