SPHY: My HY Passive Pick, But Watch Out For The OAS
State Street® SPDR® Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF is a US ETF that invests in below-investment-grade corporate bonds. In my opinion, it remains competitive both among the solutions within SPDR and among the most competitive solutions on the market. The risk of repricing, or an increase in the default rate, would accentuate the inversion of the OAS, making SPHY, in my opinion, less convenient.
SPHY: Less Attractive In Risk-Reward
State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF offers broad, low-cost exposure to US dollar-denominated high-yield bonds, closely tracking its benchmark. SPHY's portfolio is diversified, with moderate duration, strong sector replication, and a focus on higher-quality high-yield debt, yielding around 7% annually. Current market conditions—compressed spreads and rising Treasury term premiums—make the risk-return profile less attractive compared to safer alternatives.
SPHY: Historically Tight High-Yield Spread Keeps Me On The Sidelines
I reiterate a hold rating on SPHY, as high-yield spreads are tight and upside appears limited despite a strong macro backdrop. SPHY offers a reasonable yield near 7%, low expenses, and solid liquidity, making it a decent choice for retail investors in tax-sheltered accounts. Technical signals are mixed, with shares stuck below $24 resistance and a flat 200-day moving average, suggesting continued range-bound trading.
SPHY: A Good Choice For Income-Focused Investors
SPHY offers exposure to US high-yield corporate bonds with attractive yields and low call risk, making it suitable for income-focused investors. Current macroeconomic indicators—loose financial conditions, stable bank reserves, and moderate volatility—support a favorable environment for high-yield bonds. Credit spreads remain compressed, reflecting healthy market sentiment; monitoring for spread widening is crucial for risk management.
SPHY: Credit Turmoil Rattles Junk Bonds, Caution Still Warranted
The S&P 500 has plunged 15% since President Trump's tariff announcement, impacting US stocks, global equities, Treasuries, commodities, and crypto. SPHY, a high-yield bond ETF, has seen significant growth but is vulnerable due to its high exposure to Consumer Discretionary and Energy sectors. Despite a high yield to maturity of 9%, SPHY faces risks with a potential 600 basis point junk bond spread, suggesting further price drops.
SPHY: Let's Not Forget That When Yields Go Up, So Do The Risks (For Real)
The HY segment is facing unique challenges, with recession fears outweighing benefits from expected Fed rate cuts, leading to wider spreads and potential default rate increases. SPHY has a competitive expense ratio, offering a better yield than USHY despite being less liquid. Key risks include declining corporate revenues, a wave of debt refinancing in 2025-2026, and capital flight to safer assets, which could further widen spreads.
Trending Funds With High Yield - SPHY Yielding 7.7%
Stock prices are high and concentrated, which implies below-average long term returns, while high starting yields are favorable for bonds. The article recommends a balanced approach to investing in bonds, which may include a portion in high-yielding funds with a history of high risk-adjusted performance. Fourteen funds in High Yield, Loan Participation, and Investment Grade Lipper Categories are analyzed.
SPHY: A Neutral Risk/Reward Today
Interest rates have fallen recently, and despite initial inflation concerns post-election, disappointing economic data has led to softer Treasury rates. SPHY offers a 7.5% yield to maturity with a low expense ratio, but tight credit spreads signal confidence in low-quality issuers meeting obligations. SPHY's performance has been strong, with a bullish technical outlook and historical January gains, but I maintain a hold rating due to compressed yields.
SPHY: Simple, Strong High-Yield Bond ETF, 7.7% Yield
SPHY is a simple high-yield corporate bond ETF. SPHY offers a strong 7.7% yield, low 0.05% expense ratio, and consistent outperformance, making it a compelling high-yield corporate bond ETF. Despite above-average default rates, economic conditions and potential Fed cuts support the stability of non-investment grade bonds.
SPHY: Keep It On A Watch List
Junk bonds offer high yield but come with default risk, which may be mispriced in the current economic cycle. SPDR® Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF provides exposure to diversified high-yield bonds with a low expense ratio. The SPHY fund holds investment-grade corporate bonds with diverse maturities and yields, with a sector composition focused on Consumer Cyclicals, Communications, and Energy.
SPHY: Giving Up High Yields For Investment Grade (Rating Downgrade)
SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF has delivered a decent total return of 17.3% since we initiated our bullish view 18 months ago. However, high-yield bonds are no longer as deeply discounted and attractive enough to generate meaningful alpha in our view. By rotating into investment-grade bonds, we remain well-positioned to benefit from eventual rate cuts by the Fed while avoiding the potential downside risk of high-yield spreads widening.
