Corporate Bonds

Investors buy corporate bonds for various reasons: attractive and predictable returns, dependable income, flexibility, and diversification. Corporate bonds are debt obligations issued by U.S. and foreign companies to raise capital for business growth and general corporate purposes. Most are unsecured promises to repay the principal at a predetermined future date, although some bonds may be secured by a first mortgage or other assets. The issuing company also agrees to pay interest to compensate investors for lending their money. Unlike stocks, which represent ownership in a company, bonds are obligations of the issuer to pay back the borrowed funds. Hence, the bondholders have priority over the stockholders to be paid interest and principal prior to any dividend distributions.

FEATURES OF CORPORATE BONDS

Predictable Income Most corporate bonds offer fixed interest payments for the life of the bond, which may be paid semi-annually, quarterly, monthly or at maturity. Interest rate and payment frequency are set at the time of issuance so investors always know when and how much to expect. This is especially beneficial for retirees and other investors looking to supplement their current incomes.

Competitive Returns Corporate bonds have varying credit ratings from investment grade to non-investment grade (high yield or junk) and within the fixed income world, for example, any corporate bond would be considered riskier versus government-backed Treasury bonds. Therefore they generally offer higher yields versus Treasuries. In addition, yields vary among corporate bond issuers based on different risk factors, including an issuer’s creditworthiness and its industry. Economic factors and changing market conditions may have a greater effect on some industries than others. Corporations and industries perceived to have more risk will have to offer higher yields to gain access to capital markets. Corporate bonds present investment opportunities for many levels of risk tolerance. Therefore, investors should carefully examine each bond’s characteristics to determine if a higher yield is worth the extra risk. Investors willing to accept higher risk may benefit from potentially higher returns. Longer maturity bonds may offer higher rates, but their market prices tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Investment grade corporate bonds, although there are no guarantees, have had a very low percentage of defaults.

Like many other fixed income investments, corporate bonds offer various coupon structures:

Fixed coupon rate is set at the time of issuance and does not change until the bond has matured. The interest payments are predictable and, usually, paid semi-annually or monthly.

Zero coupon rate bonds do not pay any interest during their lifetimes and are issued at a discount from par value. However, income is taxed annually although not received by the investor until maturity. These securities may be suitable for investors who are trying to meet future financial obligations, such as college tuition, because at maturity the issuer will repay the full face value. Since no interest is paid, investors are usually compensated with a higher yield.

Floating coupon rate is tied to a reference benchmark, such as short-term Treasury bills, LIBOR/SOFR or CPI indices, and changes as the corresponding index is reset. The interest rate is quoted as a certain number of basis points over the index – known as the spread. For example: LIBOR + 250 basis points. Spread is determined at the time of issuance and remains fixed until maturity. As the index adjusts, so do the interest payments – this may happen monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Step coupon rate changes at predetermined intervals and usually increases (steps up) in equal increments. The step rate schedule is established at the time of issuance. These securities are generally issued with a call feature. The initial interest rate is paid until the first call date and, if not called, steps to the next level. Step-up bonds may offer lower initial interest rates than comparable fixed rate securities; however, if not called, they will keep stepping up and may result in a higher total return. This can be a defensive strategy if investors anticipate an increase in market interest rates.

Investors can match payment frequencies with the need for cash flow as corporate bonds offer interest payments on monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis. Credit ratings, which define an issuer’s creditworthiness, also vary by company. More on credit ratings is provided below.

Survivor’s Option Some corporate bonds offer an estate protection feature, which allows an estate, upon evidence of death of the bondholder, to redeem bonds from the issuer at par plus any accrued interest. This feature may be subject to minimum holding periods, individual limits, issuer limits and other rules that vary by issuer.  Terms and conditions are fully described in the prospectus, offering circular or disclosure document.  You should not rely on this feature for immediate liquidity.

Liquidity Although not obligated to do so, many broker/dealers participate in the secondary market for corporate bonds. Investors who need access to cash may sell their bonds prior to maturity, at current market prices. In the secondary market, trading timeliness and prices are subject to market interest rates, issue and position size, credit rating, and other factors. Some bonds trade more often than others and may be easier to sell. The proceeds from a sale may be more or less than the original investment. However, if bonds are held until the final maturity date and barring a default, the investor will receive the full face value of the corporate bond.

To improve market transparency, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) created TRACE – Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine. Investors can access historical data on market transactions for publicly traded securities, including corporate bonds, at investinginbonds.com.

INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Interest Rate Risk Bond prices rise and fall in response to interest rate changes. When interest rates rise, future interest payments of previously issued bonds become less attractive, so investors are willing to pay less for these bonds in the secondary market. Conversely, when interest rates fall, investor demand for higher interest payments drives bond prices up.

An increase in interest rates will have a larger impact on the principal value of longer-maturity bonds than on those with shorter maturities. However, if the securities are callable, a decrease in interest rates will not have as much impact on bond values, given that issuers are more likely to call bonds at par in a decreasing interest rate environment.

Market Risk If bonds are sold prior to maturity, an investor will receive the then current market price which may be more or less than the original cost. At the time of sale, a bond’s price will depend on market interest rates, order size, issuer’s credit rating, and the level of demand for that particular issue, among other factors.

Reinvestment Risk Some corporate bonds are issued with a call feature, which allows an issuer, at its option, to pay back the principal before the stated maturity date. Several call options exist depending on specific stipulations set in the prospectus. The most common call options are: American call – bonds become callable at par anytime after the original non-call period; Bermuda call – bonds are callable at par on interest payment date after the original non-call period; and Make Whole call – bonds are callable at a spread to a comparable Treasury security. Call schedules are determined at the time of issuance and vary by offering. Generally, an issuer is more likely to call bonds when interest rates decline so it can offer new bonds with lower coupon rates. If called, the bonds will stop paying interest. Click here for more information on callable bonds.

Returns Corporate bonds may trade at par (usually $1,000 per bond) or a market premium or discount from par. Bond yields should be evaluated on a worst-case-scenario basis. The two yields are:

Yield-To-Maturity (YTM) is the return anticipated on a bond held to its maturity. It is expressed as an annual rate.

Yield-To-Call (YTC ) is the return anticipated on a bond held to a call date which is a date prior to its maturity date.  An issuer is more likely to call a security prior to maturity when market interest rates decline, giving the company an opportunity to offer new bonds at lower rates. The prices of callable bonds will not rise as much as those of non-callable securities due to the risk of an early redemption. 

Credit Ratings Corporate bonds are rated by independent rating agencies, such as Moody’s Investors Service, Standard and Poor’s Financial Services, LLC and/or Fitch Ratings Ltd. Ratings are appraisals of the issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold. Credit ratings are subject to reviews, changes or withdrawal at any time.

Bonds carrying a credit rating of Baa3/BBB- or higher are considered investment grade. Most offerings are unsecured debt and backed only by the issuer’s promise to pay. Therefore, a bond’s value may decrease if the issuer’s credit rating deteriorates or conversely increase if an issuer's credit rating improves. Bonds with a credit rating below Baa3/BBB- are called “junk bonds” and should only be purchased by investors with a high tolerance for risk as there may be a possibility of significant price volatility and a potential loss of the entire investment. More information about credit ratings is available at moodys.com, standardandpoors.com and fitchratings.com.

 

 

It is important to note that, in some situations, the credit rating may not fully represent an issuer’s true creditworthiness. Investors’ perception of a company’s financial health may greatly affect the market value of its bonds without an official change in credit rating. Bonds should be compared on a yield basis, as it can be a reflection of risk. If an investment-grade bond is trading at a yield usually seen on a “junk bond,” then the amount of risk associated with this bond and its issuer is perceived to be much higher than what is shown by the credit rating. In other words, in some instances, “Yield speaks louder than ratings.”

PRIORITY OF CLAIMS
Senior Secured Debt Holders
Senior Unsecured Debt Holders
Subordinated Debt Holders
Preferred Stockholders
Common Stockholders

Taxation Interest income from corporate bonds is generally subject to federal, state and/or local taxes. Investors who decide to sell bonds before the final maturity date may incur capital or ordinary gains or losses and are advised to consult a tax advisor to ensure proper tax reporting.

Issuance Form Corporate bonds purchased through Raymond James are generally issued in book-entry form. This means that no physical certificates are issued to clients. Most corporate bonds have one master certificate, which is kept at a securities depository. An investor’s interest ownership in the certificate is recorded in his or her brokerage account.

Commission and other Fees Bonds are traded on either a principal or agency basis. A trade done directly with an investor’s own firm is considered a principal trade and a markup/markdown may be included in a bond’s price. If using the firm as an agent to facilitate a trade with a different firm, an investor may pay a commission or a fee in addition to a bond’s price. Commission rates and markups vary among offerings and depend on the type of bond, the time remaining until maturity and size of the trade.

DIVERSIFICATION

Diversification is a time-tested strategy to help stabilize portfolio returns and meet specific investment objectives. However, diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Corporate bonds come in a wide range of maturities, payment frequencies, coupon structures, credit ratings and other features, such as calls and survivor’s option. Bonds are issued by companies in many industries – from finance to healthcare to transportation. Choosing investments from different industries and issuers is important as they may behave differently in changing economic and market environments. Bond investors should monitor rating agency updates as well as company and industry news, and adjust their portfolios accordingly.

Corporate bonds are most suitable for investors who are interested in a fixed rate of return and relative safety of principal, subject to the creditworthiness of the issuer. Various bond structures are available in the market and not all offerings may be suitable for every investor. To learn more about risks and benefits of corporate bonds and how you can utilize them to enhance your portfolio’s performance, speak with your Raymond James financial advisor and visit  http://www.raymondjames.com/wealth-management/fixed-income, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's http://www.investinginbonds.com/ and/or FINRA’s site http://www.finra.org/.

Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or a loss. The value of fixed income securities fluctuates and investors may receive more or less than their original investments if sold prior to maturity. Bonds are subject to price change and availability. Investments in debt securities involve a variety of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. Investments in debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) may be subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity risk than investments in investment grade securities. Investors who own fixed income securities should be aware of the relationship between interest rates and the price of those securities. As a general rule, the price of a bond moves inversely to changes in interest rates. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

Bonds may receive credit ratings from a number of agencies however, Standard & Poor's ratings range from AAA to D, with any bond with a rating BBB or higher considered to be investment grade. Securities rated below investment grade generally provide a higher yield but carry a higher risk of default which could result on a loss of the principal investment. Because high-yield bonds have greater credit and default risk they may not be appropriate for all investors. While bonds rated investment grade have lower credit and default risk, there is no guarantee securing the principal investment. Past performance is no assurance of future results.

The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (RJA) and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data, nor is it to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any securities referred to herein. Additional information is available upon request.

Investment products are: not deposits, not FDIC/NCUA insured, not insured by any government agency, not bank guaranteed, subject to risk and may lose value.

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