Bonds are debt securities that borrowers issue to raise money from investors. Although they are considered to be less risky than equity investments, junk bonds, in particular, are considered to be highly risky. They have the potential to perform aggressively in the market, with distinctly higher returns than other bonds. This gives an edge to an investor to sweep maximum returns and lock profits.
However, junk bonds also carry a high risk of default. New start-ups and financially unsecured companies issue these bonds to navigate through monetary hurdles. They are issued by companies that have a low credit rating. They are rated below the investment grade by the rating agencies in our country.
If you are an investor with a high risk appetite, here’s everything you need to know about junk bonds before you start investing. Read on!
Junk bonds have a much higher risk of defaulting than other bonds in the market. Companies that are comparatively new in the market issue high-yield bonds to collect funds for their working capital. Usually, such companies are financially struggling or have bad credit ratings due to past defaults.
As these bonds are rated as high-risk grade investments, the companies promise high returns to the investors as their unique selling point. Investors with a high-risk appetite tend to prefer such bonds as there are chances of generating high returns if the companies succeed in their endeavours.
Some Indian companies that have issued junk bonds in India are as follows:
All of these companies have a low credit rating (Category B) when compared to the other stable and well-established companies in their respective sectors.
There are many benefits of investing in junk bonds. First, for a strategic investor, such bonds can improve returns on investment. Other reasons include:
All market instruments, including junk bonds, can be bought and sold via an investment account. All you need to do is have a Demat account and a trading account with a broker or bond trader.
Junk bonds can be purchased in three forms:
You can invest in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that has a portfolio of several high-yielding bonds. Units of ETFs are like stocks and can be traded on the stock markets. This method provides the investor with easy exposure to several junk bonds at once.
These bonds can also be purchased directly, but it requires a larger amount of funds, and the exposure is limited to just one bond. Therefore, it is not a convenient option for most buyers unless you have a monetary surplus parked in your account.
Several thematic mutual funds invest exclusively in high-yield bonds. This gives exposure to multiple bonds at the same time and also allows expert control over your investment. This is a convenient option for new investors who wish to invest in junk bond funds.
As junk bonds are perceived to be riskier than other investment options, companies typically offer them at higher rates of return. On average, the interest rate offered by junk bonds in India hovers around 10-12%. Some Indian junk bonds with their coupon rates have been mentioned below:
Name of the bond | Allotment Date | Maturity Date | Interest Rate |
11% SREI Equipment 16 Mar 2025 | March 16, 2015 | March 16, 2025 | 11% |
10.75% SREI Equipment 13 Aug 2025 | August 13, 2015 | August 13, 2025 | 10.75% |
10.50% SREI Equipment 24 Jan 2024 | January 24, 2019 | January 24, 2024 | 10.50% |
9.80% Future Enterprises 26 Oct 2023 | October 26, 2016 | October 26, 2023 | 9.80% |
9.80% Future Enterprises 05 Dec 2023 | December 05, 2016 | December 05, 2023 | 9.80% |
Bond credit ratings act as a review parameter for investors to understand the risk associated with the bond. All bonds are audited, including junk bonds in India. Credit rating agencies like CRISIL and CIBIL prepare credit reports for the companies that issue junk bonds.
These ratings certify if a bond is investment grade or speculative in terms of returns and default. Any bonds that are rated below investment grade are considered junk bonds or of speculative grade.
High investment-grade bonds are ideal and preferable for low-risk investors; however, they yield lower returns comparatively. As a result, investors with a high-risk appetite often look for low-investment grade junk bonds that have the potential to offer exponential returns.
As these bonds are issued by companies with scarce funds or new start-ups with no prior records, they possess certain risks as an instrument in the market. Some of the associated risks have been discussed below:
Preference for buying a junk bond is very subjective to individual investors. Aggressive investors find high-yielding bonds very attractive as investment options and generate satisfactory returns from those bonds. On the other hand, several investors with a shallow appetite for risk find investing in such speculative bonds challenging.
There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with junk bonds, some of which have been discussed below:
Investing in a high-yield bond can be a strategic move for an investor; it is crucial to consider all aspects before buying a junk bond.
Different investors have different goals; hence, they should choose an investment option that best suits their needs while buying junk bonds.
It is important to understand the positive and negative features of junk bonds; use the cons as an opportunity, and invest wisely.
It is best to invest in junk bonds after assessing the ratings available for each bond. The higher the rating, the lesser the chances of defaulting.
Junk Bonds are rated low by credit rating agencies as they are issued by comparatively new or financially unstable companies posing a high risk of default. These bonds are an attractive opportunity to maximise profits for active investors; however, they have several risks. Investing in these bonds is speculative but profitable and should be closely monitored.
You can also start an SIP of just Rs.10 with Navi Mutual Fund. Just download the Navi App and begin your investment journey today!
Ans: Based on the credit ratings offered by rating agencies, companies with a rating of BBB or lower are generally considered to be junk-rated companies. The bonds issued by them have a moderate to very high default risk.
Ans: Junk bonds are high risk investments that yield high returns and are legally regulated schemes under SEBI and AMFI. The bond issuers can easily default and declare bankruptcy in a low market; however, they are comparatively safer than stocks.
Ans: High-yield bond schemes have approximately a 3.5- 5% median default rate which may vary in different market situations based on several parameters and investor behaviours.
Ans: In case of a default, a junk bond issuing entity either files for bankruptcy or is forced into bankruptcy by the investors. Therefore, the investors or bondholders have a serious chance of losing their principal amount if a bond defaults.
Ans: Some of the renowned rating agencies of India are:
• Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL),
• Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited (ICRA),
• Credit Analysis & Research (CARE)
• Onida Individual Credit Rating Agency of India (ONICRA)
Want to put your savings into action and kick-start your investment journey 💸 But don’t have time to do research? Invest now with Navi Nifty 50 Index Fund, sit back, and earn from the top 50 companies. Disclaimer: Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully. This article has been prepared on the basis of internal data, publicly available information and other sources believed to be reliable. The information contained in this article is for general purposes only and not a complete disclosure of every material fact. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. The article does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Readers shall be fully liable/responsible for any decision taken on the basis of this article.
Mutual Funds
10 Best International Mutual Funds in India (February 2023)
International mutual funds are a type of mutual fund that invest in companies that are not listed o... Read More »Mutual Funds
20 Best Infrastructure Mutual Funds to Invest in India 2023 – Taxation and Benefits
Infrastructure mutual funds are sectoral mutual funds that primarily invest their corpus in stocks ... Read More »Mutual Funds
15 Best Hybrid Mutual Funds to Invest in India 2023 – Returns and Taxation
Hybrid mutual funds are mutual fund schemes that invest in multiple asset classes, including debt a... Read More »Mutual Funds
10 Best Gold ETFs to Invest in India 2023 – Returns and Taxation
Gold ETFs or Gold Exchange Traded Funds are passively managed funds that track the price of physica... Read More »Mutual Funds
15 Best Direct Mutual Funds in India 2023 – Top Direct Mutual Funds
Direct mutual funds or direct mutual fund plans are mutual fund schemes that are sold directly from... Read More »Mutual Funds
20 Best Debt Mutual Funds to Invest in India 2023 – Top Performing Debt Funds
Debt mutual funds are mutual funds that invest in fixed-income securities such as corporate bonds, ... Read More »Mutual Funds
10 Best Conservative Hybrid Mutual Funds in India 2023 – Benefits and Returns Calculator
A conservative hybrid fund is a type of hybrid mutual fund that invests 75%-90% of its overall asse... Read More »Mutual Funds
10 Best Blue Chip Funds to Invest in India 2023 – Calculator and Returns
Blue-chip funds are basically large-cap funds that invest a major portion of their assets in stocks... Read More »Mutual Funds
List of Best Flexi Cap Mutual Funds to Invest in India 2023
Flexi-cap funds are mutual fund schemes that invest in stocks of companies across market capitalisa... Read More »Mutual Funds
Index Fund – Types, Benefits, How does It Work and How to Invest in 2023
What is Index Fund? An index fund is a passively-managed mutual fund with a portfolio built to t... Read More »Mutual Funds
10 Best FMCG Mutual Funds to Invest in India 2023
Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) mutual funds are a type of mutual funds that invest in companies ... Read More »Mutual Funds
10 Best Gold Mutual Funds to Invest in India – With Returns (2023)
Gold Mutual Funds are funds that invest in gold and gold-related assets such as bullion, coin... Read More »Mutual Funds
Top 10 Chit Fund Schemes in India in 2023
Chit funds are one of the most popular return-generating saving schemes in India. It is a financial... Read More »Personal Loans
₹15,000 Personal Loan: Features, Benefits, EMI and Interest Rate
Financial emergencies can be short term and you might not always require a large amount to handle t... Read More »Personal Loans
Personal Loan Interest Rates in India – Charges and Processing Fee
Applying for a personal loan? Have you compared the personal interest rates and processing fees? ... Read More »Mutual Funds
10 Best Gold ETFs to Invest in India 2023 – Returns and Taxation
Gold ETFs or Gold Exchange Traded Funds are passively managed funds that track the price of physica... Read More »Health Insurance
TPA in Health Insurance – Full Form, Functions and Roles
TPA (full form – Third Party Administrator) is a licensed intermediary between health insurance p... Read More »Banking
ATM Card AMC (Annual Maintenance Charge): Explained
ATM Card AMC (Annual Maintenance Charge) is a maintenance fee levied by banks every year. This debi... Read More »Mutual Funds
Top 10 Demat Accounts in India [Lowest Brokerage Charges]
A Demat account was created to eliminate the time-consuming and inconvenient procedure of purchasin... Read More »Mutual Funds
20 Best Index Funds in India to Invest in 2023 (27th Jan)
What is an Index Fund? An index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that... Read More »All information is subject to specific conditions | © 2023 Navi Technologies Ltd. All rights are reserved.
Start Small. Dream Big.
Start your Investment Journey with just ₹10