Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 454

Now you can earn 5% on bonds but stay with quality

The recent increase in longer-term interest rates and widening spreads between government and corporate bonds has opened opportunities that investors have not seen since 2014. It’s a chance to earn better returns without taking equity risk but is this simply exchanging one market risk for another?

For more years than they care to remember, conservative retirees have faced a difficult choice to generate income to live on. To meet a 5% drawdown on their pension, they could either take more risk and invest in dividend-paying shares or keep capital safe in term deposits and draw on the principal. Many retirees with little tolerance for capital losses on shares have tightened the purse strings as their income dropped. It is 10 years since the cash rate was above 3%, and the last increase was on 3 November 2010.

The reach for yield

There are many ways to achieve 5% or more depending on risk appetite. Analysts forecast the dividend yield on the S&P/ASX200 for FY22 at a healthy 5.2% plus franking (some are even higher) due to increased payments from large dividend payers such as banks and miners. Investors have received $36 billion in dividends in the past month. Elsewhere, Australian property trusts offer decent yields such as Scentre (ASX:SCG) 4.9% and Charter Hall Long WALE (ASX:CLW) 5.7%. Hybrids are at 3% or more to first call depending on the issuer (see table in our Education Centre) which will increase over the next year. In the unlisted space, there are thousands of funds offering income across a vast choice of asset classes.

For the first time in eight years, the 10-year government bond rate is above 3%, rising further since the Reserve Bank produced its latest update below. When the spreads between government and corporate bonds are factored in, the 5% investment world suddenly has some new inhabitants.

Corporate bonds are back in the 5% game

Anyone who is a client of a fixed interest broker has received offer levels with decent credits and names they know showing a 5% yield.

Here is a selection of Bloomberg screenshots for examples. Without judging the merit of the credit quality of each company, these familiar names are now available in retail sizes, usually around $100,000 but often as low as $10,000.

As these are ‘wholesale’ bonds broken down into smaller parcels, each fixed interest broker has its favourite names and sources of supply. The screenshots show (prices as at 11 April 2022):

  • Aurizon (ASX:AZJ, bond AZJAU) issued with a coupon of 2.9%, maturing in 2030, yielding almost 5.5%, up from around 2.5% in 2021. The price has fallen to below 83 delivering a heavy capital loss to existing holders in less than a year.
  • Lend Lease (ASX:LLC, bond LLCAU) issued with a 3.7% coupon maturing in 2031, yield 5.3%.
  • Pacific National (Australia’s largest private rail freight company, bond PNHAU) with a 3.8% coupon to 2031 yielding 5.5%.
  • Transurban (ASX:TCL, bond TQLAU) with 3.25% coupon priced at about 85.5 yielding 5.25%.

There are many more examples for investors to consider, although these are fixed rate issues and if longer-term interest rates rise further, prices will drop even more. That’s the challenge of investing at fixed rates in an inflationary environment, but any retiree happy with locking away 5%+ for up to a decade now has many choices.

Further down the capital structure but issued by an undoubted name, brokers are currently offering a Commonwealth Bank subordinated issue maturing in 2027 and yielding 4.65%.

Lessons from Privium and others

What can go wrong on the credit side, besides the risk of further rises in rates? These are bonds, and all the investor needs is for the company to be solvent and liquid on maturity.

Not so easy. Unlike equities, where risk may be rewarded with unlimited upside, the most an investor in bonds can achieve is a return of 100 on maturity and the regular coupons. If a bond is offering 5% at purchase, that’s as good as it gets. If rates rise 1%, for example on the Transurban bond above with a modified duration of 7.75 years, the price will fall 7.75%. Nobody offers the extra 1% to an existing holder.

It is in the unrated or sub-investment grade bond market where retail or so-called wholesale investors can come unstuck. These bonds are marketed by fixed income brokers (some, not all) to investors who are not sophisticated enough to assess the credit quality. In fact, some of these issuers would be forced to pay more in the genuine wholesale professional market but they go to the retail market to save costs.

The small extra margin is not sufficient reward for a credit the investor cannot assess.

Let’s look at a case study of Privium, a Queensland building company with a $45 million face value issue paying 6.5% which was due to mature 12 August 2022. On 14 October 2021, it was offered for sale in the secondary market to ‘wholesale’ retail clients at a 'discounted price' of $95.25. It was called a senior secured credit with residential property security, amortised (repaid) to 49% to date. It was marked 'green' (for go) on the broker's credit tracker, plus:

"A small allocation to this sub investment grade bond issued by a QLD based home builder may be warranted for those looking for high returns, and who understand the risks involved in this investment. To reiterate, at a yield offering over 15%, this is certainly a higher risk credit and I encourage you to please review the attached documents for full credit strength and risks.

This bond has a benefit that most other corporate bonds do not have, which is a guaranteed from a group of companies with significant residential property holdings (Property Alt Group Pty Ltd, Alternative Aus Pty Ltd, Property Alternative Developments Pty Ltd, and Property Alternative Aus Pty Ltd), and a personal guarantee from the person who is CEO and major shareholder of Privium.”

The accompanying material talked of 1H21 results “well ahead of expectations” as “evidence of the strong housing market in Australia, with a commitment for new loans at historical highs” and “we believe the operating environment will remain positive for Privium over the near-to-medium term”

Six weeks later, on 29 November 2021, The Australia Financial Review reported:

Privium failure hits more than 2000 home buyers

“More than 2000 individual home-buying customers across Queensland, Victoria and NSW have been hit by the collapse of builder Privium, which went into administration last week owing secured and unsecured creditors close to $43 million.

The company went under with liabilities of $23 million in secured notes and $17 million in unsecured liabilities – equally split between subcontractors and suppliers – with close to $3 million owed to other creditors across the nine entities in the group, creditors heard.

But while the company with a $200 million annual turnover was badly affected by delays in supplies of building materials that showed production even as overheads remained, there were still outflows of money – such as to the evangelical church Hillsong, of which chief executive Rob Harder was a senior member – that administrators were trying to track, Mr Park said.”

And what is the outcome for bond investors, those who somehow were able to gain comfort from "review the attached documents for full credit strength and risks."?

Privium is in liquidation and holders are advised there is only one likely buyer, who recently reduced the offer price, and “any attempt to enforce the original transaction would likely cost in excess of the difference (and no certainty of a positive outcome in any event)”. The note trustee advises that the recovery estimate is 23% to 43% (36% mid-point) after fees are taken out and the process could take two years to finalise.

That is, only six weeks after the broker offer, rising costs sent this company into liquidation and the other claimed protections are not worth enforcing on a $45 million transaction. It's not only equity IPOs which can collapse quickly.

But not to worry, it was only marketed to qualifying ‘sophisticated investors’. 

This is not an isolated example. When Axsesstoday, a provider of equipment finance to SMEs, was placed into liquidation in April 2019, retail investors in its July 2018 bond issue paying BBSW+4.9% were left with a security which might be worth around 5% of its face value when investors are eventually paid out. The company faced higher loan arrears and inadequate capital. Perhaps even worse than Privium, these notes were listed on the exchange (ASX:AXLHA) and Axsesstoday itself was a listed company (ASX:AXL) but was delisted in October 2019. For a short time in its listed life, as part of the boom in up-and-coming financial companies, Axsesstoday was a market darling with a rapidly-rising share price, but in the end, even the bond investors were buried.

And investors in Mackay Sugar bonds, issued with a coupon of 7.75% in 2013 as a ‘wholesale corporate bond’ and expected to mature in 2018, were offered half the face value on their notes when the sugar refiner hit financial problems. Again, the flattering description of the issuer did little to protect ‘retail’ investors.

Buyer beware. Each of Privium, Axsesstoday and Mackay Sugar came to market with an investment rationale sufficient to convince retail investors to pile in with millions of their retirement savings.

Easy qualification as wholesale

We have covered the problem of retail investors qualifying as wholesale previously, including the relatively easy criteria which were designed 20 years ago. The test allows millions of Australians to qualify as if they have a special ability to value securities. We noted:

“Modelling by Australian National University Associate Professor Ben Phillips, commissioned by Coolabah Investments, and reported by The Australian Financial Review, suggests the wholesale investor test is met by 16% of Australians, or over one million households and 3.25 million consumers. It was only 100,000 in 2002.”

In addition, research company Investment Trends defines the category of High Net Worths as those with investible assets over $1 million outside the family home. At the end of 2021, they reported an annual rise of 31% to 635,000 in the number of millionaires in Australia, with investible assets up 37%.

Bonds listed on the ASX

It is not only investors who have access to fixed income brokers who can lock in better returns in the listed arena. Government bonds are listed but their rates are below the corporate deals. We have also written about fixed rate convertible notes which are backed by portfolios of equities.

In addition, XTBs are traded on the exchange in the same way as any share and offer a range of fixed and floating bonds. The fee on XTBs is 0.4% of the face value multiplied by the number of years to the maturity date. The yield in the table is before the fee is deducted and only one of these issues achieves the 5% threshold.

Floating rate investments will protect investors from duration risk. The most liquid listed examples are hybrids, which will yield over 5% if current market expectations of increases in rates are realised.

100% downside, 5% upside

The higher yields available on corporate bonds open the opportunity for investors to construct portfolios of bonds capable of delivering 5% or more for many years.

Of course, building diversified portfolios under strict credit quality rules is what expert bond managers do every day, including long experience assessing credit, terms and conditions and thousands of alternatives. For most investors, it is better to leave it to the experts rather than hope to avoid a Privium.

The most important point if you must do it yourself is to stick to investment-grade quality and do not go into unrated names where the broker requires you to do your own credit assessment. When there is 100% downside for a 5% return, there’s little to be gained by reading a broker note and hoping you find some magically-reassuring insight.

 

Graham Hand is Editor-at-Large for Firstlinks. This article is general information and does not consider the circumstances of any investor. Prices are correct at the time of writing. There is no attempt to analyse the credit quality of any companies mentioned in this article and credit assessment is probably beyond the competence of most financial advisers.

Disclosure: Graham invested $50,000 in Privium at issue which has since amortised to about $24,000 with regular capital repayments. About $8,000 is now expected after the liquidation process. That was an expensive lesson in credit analysis and the meaningless value of some credit enhancements.

 

10 Comments
Acton
May 01, 2022

"Now you can earn 5% on bonds but stay with quality"
Does quality mean security of capital?
The XTBs in the table are fixed rate bonds and come with an Interest Rate Risk warning: "The value of Fixed Rate Bonds may be adversely affected by movements in market interest rates".
How true.
Looking at todays prices of the +4% closing yield XTBs from the above table shows they all have had significant, even equity like price falls in less than a year since mid 2021:
YTMAS2: Down 7% now suspended
YTMDO2: Down 11%
YTMDX3: Down 19%
YTMIP1: Down 11%
YTMMQ1: Down 9%
YTMORG: Down 12%
YTMQF4: Down 17%
YTMVC1: Down 14%

With interest rates expected to rise, it would seem far safer to look for floating note bonds, where your bond income is pegged to the rising interest rate (bank bill swap rate).
I hope a future article can analyse floating note opportunities, looking at XTBs, hybrids and bond ETFs.
I am unsure why these XTBs are left off the ASX list of fixed corporate bonds:
https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/trade-our-cash-market/equity-market-prices/bonds

AlanB
April 19, 2022

I have held NFNG since buying in at $80 in 2014 and it has never missed an interest payment. It is a floating note that has given a 5-7.5%pa yield. It trades in the $80-$90 range and is a perpetual. Another +5% hybrid is CWNHB, but it may soon be redeemed.

Leon
April 17, 2022

Could this useful survey be extended to cover the managed offerings that provide a high degree of diversification? Products offered by Neuberger Berman and Metrics do carry market risk, but in compensation there is a track record of monthly yield between 4 - 7% approximately, paid monthly…..and, as I say, the investment is in a wide spread of credit assets.

Leon
April 17, 2022

Correction: I should have written “…..annual yield between 4% - 7% paid monthly…..”

Stan
April 16, 2022

As with an equity portfolio,a corporate bond portfolio should be truly diverse with different types (fixed,floating rate, residential mortgage backed ,indexed annuity etc.) with varying maturity dates and across different industries.If,post G.F.C., you have total faith in rating agencies you may stick to investment grade bonds only or,as I do, sometimes take on slightly more risk if the issuing company is sound.My individual bond returns range from 3 to 9.5 % and last year the total portfolio returned 6.3%.Anticipating interest rates rising I have been shifting away from the the fixed element and adjusting the pattern of maturities and may get less this year.For someone whose experience has only been in equities, managing a bond portfolio does require some new learning but wasn't that the case when they first looked at shares ?

Richard
April 16, 2022

Where do investments in Latrobe fit in.

Underlying assets in first mortgages and 12 months notice for repayment
And management company just acquired by Brookfield

Linda Barclay
April 16, 2022

Add Virgin Bonds (2 x), CF Asia Pacific and Ansett Aviation Training to the list of bonds that did not return $100. All recommended buy our friendly bond broker, soon to be ex broker. In fact Virgin still have not paid their 5 cents in the dollar.. Hello Ms CEO

Warren Bird
April 14, 2022

Quality in corporate bonds isn't just about the risk rating of individual names. It's about the quality of portfolio construction. To manage default loss risk properly you have to diversify properly - small exposures to many issuers across uncorrelated industries and markets.
This is where managed funds come into their own. I'd much rather have my credit risk in 3 or 4 funds that each own a hundred or more company's bonds and loans than even ten or twenty individual bond issuers.
I'm glad yields are going up. Fixed Income has become a much less appealing asset class in the low yield world. Maybe now it can be restored to the reliable income-producing role it's traditionally had. But you have to own it in a way in which you both capture and keep the decent income. Default loss risk has to be managed. Not many individual investors can do that.

George
April 13, 2022

Interesting comment (as I read it) on liquidators asking investors to accept the result on a default without pursuing all the guarantees. I was involved as an investor in a liquidation recently where an offer of $150,000 was accepted by the liquidator for a company the creditors thought was far more valuable, and we were 'forced' to accept it because it was quick and the best offer on the table. One of the reasons was the liquidator said it would minimise their future work and fees. I would love to see an article from an administrator explaining how they decide to take these offers and let security in the documents slide despite the fact they were no doubt negotiated and agonised over originally. How is an investor to know what these guarantees are really worth?

Joey
April 13, 2022

The brokers involved in the new issues for unrated and unknown borrowers must know there is no point presenting a retail investor (who they know is not a credit specialist) with a 30 page description of the credit and asking them to study it and make up their minds in a few hours. There is an implicit recommendation from the broker that they have done the credit work to make the borrower worthy of coming to the market. To pretend the investor somehow has the skills to make an informed judgement is naïve.

 

Leave a Comment:

     

RELATED ARTICLES

Focus on quality yield, not near-term income

ASIC's yin and yang design rules need a rebalance

Wealth doesn’t equal wisdom for 'sophisticated' investors

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

An important Foxtel announcement...

News Corp's plans to sell Foxtel are surprising in that streaming assets Kayo, Binge and Hubbl look likely to go with it. This and recent events in the US show the bind that legacy TV businesses find themselves in.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 578 with weekend update

The number of high-net-worth individuals in Australia has increased by almost 9% over the past year, and they now own $3.3 trillion in investable assets. A new report reveals how the wealthy are investing their money.

  • 19 September 2024

The challenges of building a portfolio from scratch

It surprises me how often individual investors and even seasoned financial professionals don’t know the basics of building an investment portfolio. Here is a guide to do just that, as well as the challenges involved.

Creating a bulletproof investment portfolio

Is it possible to build a portfolio that performs well in any economic environment? So-called 'All Weather' portfolios have become more prominent of late, and this looks at what these portfolios are and their pros and cons.

What's left unsaid in Australia's housing bubble

The current difficulties confronting housing policy partially stem from an explosion of mortgage debt. We've engineered a price for housing that will cause a severe problem for future generations – if it isn't addressed.

Which asset classes are a bargain now?

Many assets have enjoyed a positive year, leaving some of them looking pricey. Here we compare valuations of cash, bonds, stocks, and property, and suggest where investors may be able to find opportunities.

Latest Updates

Retirement

The quirks of retirement planning with an age gap

A big age gap can make it harder to find a solution that works for both partners – financially and otherwise. Having a frank conversation about the future, and having it as early as possible, is essential.

The everything rally brings danger and opportunity

Most market players today seek quick rewards and validation of opinion. Outsiders willing to combine new technology with old-fashioned patience and focused analysis can prosper.

Investment strategies

Portfolio construction in the real world

Building a portfolio is like building a house. This framework can help you move towards your goals without losing sight of reality or leaving yourself vulnerable to market storms.

Shares

Feel the fear and buy anyway

In this extract from his new book, the co-founder of Intelligent Investor reveals how investors can avoid critical mistakes and profit from opportunities in collapsing share prices.

Investment strategies

The risks of market concentration and not staying invested

MFS chief investment officer and CEO elect Ted Maloney talks market risks, similarities between Trump and Harris, and the most important thing investors can do to avoid destroying value.

Gold

Gold's important role as geopolitical tensions rise

Equity markets have traditionally struggled at times of sustained geopoltical tension. Gold, on the other hand, has thrived and can provide investors with protection against "unknown unknowns".

Strategy

The changing face of finals footy and the numbers behind it

A well-meaning AFL rule change in 2016 seems to have had unintended consequences. The top teams might cry foul but AFL bosses are unlikely to be too miffed about the outcome.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.