The title is ominous enough. Credit quality peaking is not a good thing as we experienced in the lead up to the GFC (Global Financial Crisis). But is there argument to quality peaking and if so what is it? What should our concerns be for our portfolios? In this subscriber only article we try to address these questions:
Corporate Bonds: Shareholder Rewards Outweigh Prudence Amid Tight Valuations
In 2022, as the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates at the fastest pace in decades, many blue-chip U.S. companies pledged to reduce their debt loads. Fast forward to today, and those pledges appear to be unraveling.
Companies with BBB ratings have shifted gears, boosting share buybacks for the first time since early 2023 and accelerating capital expenditures after five quarters of deceleration, according to Barclays Plc strategists. Dividend growth also gained pace, even as interest expenses rise faster than key earnings measures.
This shift sugge ...
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