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Junk bond ETFs have been suffering lately as investors in the United States have been escaping the high-risk segments of the domestic debt markets. Moreover, recent fund flows show the shift in sentiment among investors and how they are adapting to changing circumstances.
What’s Driving the ETFs?
U.S. markets recently suffered a sell-off owing to fears of rising rates. The S&P 500 entered correction territory, as it declined more than 10% from the record high set in January. Strong wage growth and jobs data introduced fears that inflationary pressures will cause bond yields to creep up and force policymakers to hike rates.
Per the latest inflation data, consumer prices increased 2.1% year over year in January, unchanged from the previous month but above economists’ forecast of 1.9%. Moreover, President Donald Trump’s tax reform and spending deal might add further pressure to prices. In the long term, Trump’s potential $1 trillion infrastructure bill and the economy reaching full employment might lead to a change in the newly elected Jerome Powell’s plans to a more aggressive stance (read: Are TIPS ETFs the New Safe Haven?).
Following the release, U.S. 10-year treasury yields edged up to a four-year high of 2.92%, as latest trends in the U.S. economic space drove investor sentiment. Moving on to monetary policy, the Fed is expected to hike interest rates multiple times this year to tame inflation. Given this, markets are betting on the Fed to hike rates more than the three times suggested earlier. Per the CME Fed Watch tool, there is a 71.9% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike in March.
Changing Circumstances
The recent turmoil in the markets has been strongly weighing on investors’ risk appetite and making them reallocate their portfolios. “It’s hard to think of elevated volatility in both rates and equity not eventually seeping into credit,” Henry Peabody of Eaton Vance Corp said, per a Bloomberg article. He added “Investors are waiting for the markets to settle down.”
Per a Bloomberg article, investors withdrew money from high yield bond funds to the tune of $6.3 billion last week. Moreover, it marked the fifth consecutive week of outflows from junk bonds, totaling more than $15 billion in the period (read: 5 ETF Ways to Trade Surging Inflation).
iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG - Free Report)
This fund has AUM of $14.8 billion and seeks to provide exposure to high-yield bonds. It charges 49 basis points as fees per year and holds 1034 junk bonds in its portfolio. From a sector look, Communications, Consumer Non-Cyclical and Energy are the top three allocations of this fund, with 24.1%, 13.9% and 13.5% exposure, respectively (as of Feb 14, 2018). The fund targets the short-to-intermediate end of the yield curve as it has a weighted average maturity of 4.86 years and an effective duration of 3.93 years. The fund has lost 0.9% year to date but returned 3.2% in a year. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #4 (Sell) with a High risk outlook.
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK - Free Report)
This fund has AUM of $8.6 billion and seeks to provide exposure to high-yield bonds. It charges 40 basis points as fees per year and holds 950 junk bonds in its portfolio. From a sector look, Industrial, Finance and Utility are the top three allocations of this fund, with 86.9%, 9.2% and 3.1% exposure, respectively (as of Feb 14, 2018). The fund targets the short-to-intermediate end of the yield curve as it has an average maturity of 6.18 years and option-adjusted duration of 4.13 years. The fund has lost 1.2% year to date but returned 3.3%in a year. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #4 with a High risk outlook.
PIMCO 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund (HYS - Free Report)
This fund has AUM of $1.5 billion and seeks to provide exposure to high-yield bonds. It charges 55 basis points as fees per year and holds 399 junk bonds in its portfolio. From a sector look, High Yield Credit, U.S. Government-Related Investment and Grade Credit are the top three allocations of this fund, with 96.1%, 3.2% and 1.4% exposure, respectively, and 1.4% short exposure to other short duration investments (as of Jan 31, 2018). The fund targets the short end of the yield curve as it has a weighted average maturity of 3.20 years and an effective duration of 2.16 years. The fund has lost 0.04% year to date but returned 4.0% in a year. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #4 with a High risk outlook.
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What Investors Are Dumping Junk Bond ETFs
Junk bond ETFs have been suffering lately as investors in the United States have been escaping the high-risk segments of the domestic debt markets. Moreover, recent fund flows show the shift in sentiment among investors and how they are adapting to changing circumstances.
What’s Driving the ETFs?
U.S. markets recently suffered a sell-off owing to fears of rising rates. The S&P 500 entered correction territory, as it declined more than 10% from the record high set in January. Strong wage growth and jobs data introduced fears that inflationary pressures will cause bond yields to creep up and force policymakers to hike rates.
Per the latest inflation data, consumer prices increased 2.1% year over year in January, unchanged from the previous month but above economists’ forecast of 1.9%. Moreover, President Donald Trump’s tax reform and spending deal might add further pressure to prices. In the long term, Trump’s potential $1 trillion infrastructure bill and the economy reaching full employment might lead to a change in the newly elected Jerome Powell’s plans to a more aggressive stance (read: Are TIPS ETFs the New Safe Haven?).
Following the release, U.S. 10-year treasury yields edged up to a four-year high of 2.92%, as latest trends in the U.S. economic space drove investor sentiment. Moving on to monetary policy, the Fed is expected to hike interest rates multiple times this year to tame inflation. Given this, markets are betting on the Fed to hike rates more than the three times suggested earlier. Per the CME Fed Watch tool, there is a 71.9% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike in March.
Changing Circumstances
The recent turmoil in the markets has been strongly weighing on investors’ risk appetite and making them reallocate their portfolios. “It’s hard to think of elevated volatility in both rates and equity not eventually seeping into credit,” Henry Peabody of Eaton Vance Corp said, per a Bloomberg article. He added “Investors are waiting for the markets to settle down.”
Per a Bloomberg article, investors withdrew money from high yield bond funds to the tune of $6.3 billion last week. Moreover, it marked the fifth consecutive week of outflows from junk bonds, totaling more than $15 billion in the period (read: 5 ETF Ways to Trade Surging Inflation).
Below we discuss a few ETFs that seek to provide exposure to the high-yield space (see all High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs here).
iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG - Free Report)
This fund has AUM of $14.8 billion and seeks to provide exposure to high-yield bonds. It charges 49 basis points as fees per year and holds 1034 junk bonds in its portfolio. From a sector look, Communications, Consumer Non-Cyclical and Energy are the top three allocations of this fund, with 24.1%, 13.9% and 13.5% exposure, respectively (as of Feb 14, 2018). The fund targets the short-to-intermediate end of the yield curve as it has a weighted average maturity of 4.86 years and an effective duration of 3.93 years. The fund has lost 0.9% year to date but returned 3.2% in a year. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #4 (Sell) with a High risk outlook.
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK - Free Report)
This fund has AUM of $8.6 billion and seeks to provide exposure to high-yield bonds. It charges 40 basis points as fees per year and holds 950 junk bonds in its portfolio. From a sector look, Industrial, Finance and Utility are the top three allocations of this fund, with 86.9%, 9.2% and 3.1% exposure, respectively (as of Feb 14, 2018). The fund targets the short-to-intermediate end of the yield curve as it has an average maturity of 6.18 years and option-adjusted duration of 4.13 years. The fund has lost 1.2% year to date but returned 3.3%in a year. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #4 with a High risk outlook.
PIMCO 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund (HYS - Free Report)
This fund has AUM of $1.5 billion and seeks to provide exposure to high-yield bonds. It charges 55 basis points as fees per year and holds 399 junk bonds in its portfolio. From a sector look, High Yield Credit, U.S. Government-Related Investment and Grade Credit are the top three allocations of this fund, with 96.1%, 3.2% and 1.4% exposure, respectively, and 1.4% short exposure to other short duration investments (as of Jan 31, 2018). The fund targets the short end of the yield curve as it has a weighted average maturity of 3.20 years and an effective duration of 2.16 years. The fund has lost 0.04% year to date but returned 4.0% in a year. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #4 with a High risk outlook.
Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?
Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>