The stock market is an exciting space to earn profit, and many look forward to the thrill of gauging market fluctuations. In addition to making investments in stocks, corporate bonds are also liked by many for their fixed-income nature.
One such bond is Junk Bonds which are fixed-income securities issued by companies or the government as a debt. However, unlike other bonds, junk bonds are prone to more risks, but at the same time, the interest rates paid to investors are also higher.
Let’s understand what is junk bond in detail and how despite being prone to risks, investors continue to put their money in such a bond.
What is Junk Bond in Finance
To begin with, a Junk Bond is a type of high-yield bond that is issued by corporations with low credit ratings or a higher risk of default. This makes junk bonds a high-risk investment, but since the risks are higher, investors are compensated with higher interest rates, as well.
Junk bonds are typically issued by companies that face financial turmoil or are in the early stages of growth with a low credit history. Since the risks are higher, many agencies rate these bonds below investment grade.
Investors are attracted to junk bonds because of their high-yield nature, but the chances of investors losing some or all of their investments are always a threat, which is not the case with other types of corporate bonds.
Junk Bonds as Market Indicator
Junk bonds are crucial for investors not only for potential returns but an indicator of market stability or instability. Investors put their money in Junk Bonds not only with the hope of interest return but also with an expectation to make a profit from potential price increases in the future/financial stability in the market.
Simply put, when investors put their money in Junk Bonds, it is an indicator that the market is going to become stable in the future, and this encourages more investors to put their money in the market. On the opposite, when Junk Bonds are facing a sell-off this indicates that the market is likely to face a downward movement making other investors hold their pockets tight.
Improving Financials Affect Junk Bonds
Junk bonds are issued by companies depending on their financial stability, which makes Junk Bonds a reliable indicator of the company’s financials. The relationship between a company's financials and its Junk Bonds is important to understand.
If the underlying company is performing well, the bonds issued will have improved credit ratings that attract more investors who are willing to pay higher rates for potential returns. A stark opposite movement is seen when the company is underperforming. The company ends up issuing Junk Bonds with higher yields to pool in investors.
Credit Ratings and Junk Bonds
Now that you have a fundamental understanding of Junk Bonds, you might find yourself wondering why and how investors put their money in these bonds despite the high-risk level.
This is where credit ratings come into the picture. Every company is subjected to credit ratings done by independent credit rating agencies. Credit ratings are based on the creditworthiness of the issuer i.e. their likeness to pay off the debt. These ratings are available for investors to monitor and decide whether they want to invest in bonds or not.
Did You Know? Credit ratings are done by a standard-grade rating system. For instance- An “AAA” rating represents the highest level of safety; and a low level of risk, and a “D” rating symbolises that the company is currently in default.
Junk Bond Examples
Before moving ahead, let’s take a simple example to understand Junk Bonds better.
Additional Read: What is Demat Account: Importance, Features and Types
How Are Junk Bonds Useful?
The role of Junk Bonds has evolved over the years. In earlier times, these bonds were taken in its literal sense but with the coming of the corporate bond market, these bonds became more than just junk debt issued by companies. Here’s how Junk Bonds play a vital role in the market:
Junk Bonds are issued by companies or the government to raise funds for implementing development strategies. It works as a debt issued by the investor to the borrower (company or the government).
Junk Bonds are issued by many investors to predict the future movement of the stock market. Growth in the number of Junk Bonds being brought represents a positive future and a vice versa movement in the market if investors are selling off Junk Bonds.
Lastly, Junk Bonds with higher credit ratings is an indicator of financial stability of the underlying company thus helping investors make a better decision. On the contrary, if the credit ratings are below par, it reflects the financial instability and higher risks associated with investments in the underlying company.
Conclusion
Junk Bonds, despite being a risky space, offers a great opportunity for investors to expand their income. These bonds work as a two-headed sword that helps the issuer raise money and the lender gets to benefit from the interest rates. However, before investing in Junk Bonds, it is important to carefully evaluate the credit ratings and overall market conditions to avoid losing the invested money.