Analysis  |  January 27, 2022

US High Yield – Current Market Considerations

Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the full amount invested.

We believe a recent rise in volatility presents an interesting opportunity for investors in US high yield.

The US HY market performed relatively well through January 20th with spreads for the ICE BofA ML US Cash Pay High Yield (J0A0) and the ICE BofA ML BB B US Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index (JUC4) only widening 1 and 2 basis points (bps), respectively, despite the indices declining1.14% and 1.24%, respectively.

Essentially, this indicates to us that the year-to-date decline through this date was related to the increase in Treasury rates surrounding US Federal Reserve (Fed) policy and inflationary fears.

The high yield market was not, in our view, exhibiting any leadership to the downside (i.e., a potential increase in credit risk and default expectations), rather the reset in sovereign yields was readjusting yield levels across fixed income and terminal Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) valuations for equities.

However, over the two trading sessions of 20th and 24th January high yield spreads have come under pressure due to the risk-off environment led by the equity selloff.

The J0A0 and JUC4 index spreads widened by 33bps and 32bps, respectively, while returns lagged by -0.78% and -0.77%, respectively, as the 10-year Treasury yield tightened slightly by 3bps. The spread widening coincided with the VIX1 spiking from the moderately elevated mid-20s level on January 20th to an intraday high of 37 on January 24th. It is clear to us that high yield is taking a cue from equities.

Fig. 1 – Volatility has Increased

Source: Bloomberg, as of 26 January 2022. Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index. For illustrative purposes only.

The VIX can be a reasonable predictor of short-term spread moves in high yield. Since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), the VIX has tended to trade within a range of 10-20 during periods of stability; during these times high yield spreads have tended to tighten or remain stable.

Over the last 5 years, high yield spreads have typically traded in the 310-400bps range when the VIX has been below 20. However, high yield spreads tend to widen when the VIX elevates above the mid-20s, as we have seen over the past week.

The correlations are not perfect, as demonstrated by high yield spreads widening materially in late-2015 into early-2016 around the energy default crisis which was largely an issue of the high yield market’s making, but they typically hold up well over time. The converse also occurs when the VIX declines precipitously as crises are resolved; high yield spreads tighten quickly and materially.

Over the long-term, high yield returns are a function of coupon income, rate and spread changes, and default losses. Earnings and equity volatility don’t impact high yield returns, and cash flow generated for debt repayment is the primary source of high yield returns over time. Our current view of high yield fundamentals is still forward leaning.

We believe high yield fundamentals continue to improve. Leverage has declined precipitously from Q1 2020, interest coverage is over 4x, and cash remains elevated at levels last seen after the GFC. These indicators are positive for credit.

The asset class has elevated BB rated credits and trough CCC rated credits. These rating classes are both around 20-year best levels, in our view.2

In our view, rising stars should accelerate in 2022 as we move two-years beyond the Falling Angel events of H1 2020. High yield managers will sell the upgraded names and reinvest in high yield bonds as Rising Stars are announced.

The maturity wall is manageable and can be serviced by coupons through 2024, if necessary. Meanwhile, distress in high yield is minimal. The market has not experienced a default in six months and ended 2021 with a 0.29% default rate.3 We expect below average defaults in 2022 and 2023 at this point.

It is difficult to call market bottoms, but high yield investors don’t need to do this to make positive returns since coupon is the largest contributor to total return over time.

As of January 24, 2022, the J0A0 has a spread of 356bps over Treasuries; a level above the July 1, 2021 low of 310bps, but inside the recent November 30, 2021 peak of 379 bps and the 400-450 bps levels experienced during a choppy 2019.4 The J0A0 has a current yield of 5.56% and we expect investors to achieve that bulk of this as defaults remain low.5 This will also result in minimal default losses going forward in our opinion.

Investors need to assess the prospects of future rate changes coupled with spread movement to determine total return expectations from current levels.  These expectations are clearly improved from recent levels given the increase in Treasury yields, the widening of spreads, and stable fundamentals.

We believe further spread widening will only improve the total return prospects of the asset class, and we believe that longer-term investors should begin to assess entry points and be prepared to act if spreads hit their targets.

The VIX will not remain elevated forever and spreads will compress quickly when equity volatility subsides. Buying before a clear buy signal and before we reach the bottom will be required to capture outsized returns.

1. Source Bloomberg, as of 26th January 2021. Chicago Board Options Exchange’s CBOE Volatility Index
2. ICE Platform, as of January 24th 2022
3. JP Morgan Default Monitor, High Yield and Leveraged Loan Research, January 3rd, 2022.
4. ICE Platform, as of January 24th 2022
5. IBID

This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research, or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed by Muzinich & Co are as of September 2021

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Index Descriptions

J0A0 – The ICE BofA ML US Cash Pay High Yield Index tracks the performance of US dollar denominated below investment grade corporate debt.

JUC4 - The ICE BofA ML BB B US Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index contains all securities in the ICE BofA ML US Cash Pay High Yield Index (J0A0) rated BB1 through B3, based on an average of Moody's, S&P and Fitch, but caps issuer exposure at 2%.

VIX – Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index – The VIX Index is a financial benchmark designed to be an up-to-the-minute market estimate of the expected volatility of the S&P 500 Index and is calculated by using the midpoint of real-time S&P 500 Index option bid/ask quotes.

Risk: Index performance mentioned in this material is for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in the index.

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