The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt across global financial markets as the economic downturn weighed on corporate profitability, leading to a record number of ratings downgrades and an increase in defaults in 2020.1 In 2021, as global economies recover from the worst of the economic fallout, corporates have returned to profitability. This has led to a reversal in the ratings fortunes of many high yield companies.
We have seen hardly any fallen angels and around US$25bn of rising stars this year – a trend that looks set to continue alongside the expected ongoing positive global macroeconomic momentum.2 How many rising stars could emerge from the high yield universe in the next 12 to 18 months varies, with estimates ranging from US$80bn 3 to over US$200bn.4 This trend is surprising in its magnitude, but perhaps expected given the number of companies who bore the brunt of a pandemic-induced downgrade.
For high yield investors, current spreads appear tight.5 However, we believe they fairly reflect the positive economic situation and are therefore likely to remain tight for some time, in line with the economic backdrop. Fallen angels are not predicted to increase. At the same time net supply is likely to fall with c.US$5bn forecast for 2022, down 90% from 2021.6 As high yield managers sell their bonds following investment grade upgrades, managers may be left with a vast amount of capital they will likely need to redeploy into the high yield market. We believe this will lead to a very strong demand technical of over US$100bn being recycled into the asset class. Increased demand pitched against falling supply normally drives prices higher. For investors in US high yield, this could mean further upside potential, even if spreads remain tight as they often do during economic expansions.
- Credit Suisse, 9 September 2021. Credit Strategy Daily (Rising Stars).
- IBID
- IBID
- JP Morgan, Rising Stars to Burn Brighter, 21 October 2021
