Mid-Year Outlook: Fixed Income

Fixed income investment performance has been mixed so far this year

Source: Bloomberg. Total returns from 12/31/2023 through 6/3/2024.

Total returns assume reinvestment of interest and capital gains. Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested in directly. Indexes representing the investment types are: Preferreds = ICE BofA Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index; HY corporates = Bloomberg US High Yield Very Liquid (VLI) Index; Bank loans = Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan 100 Index; Long-term US Agg = Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate 10+ Years Bond Index; IG floaters = Bloomberg US Floating Rate Note Index; IG corporates = Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond Index; US Aggregate = Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index; Intermediate-term US Agg = Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate 5-7 Years Bond Index; Municipals = Bloomberg US Municipal Bond Index; Treasuries = Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Index; EM (USD) = Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Aggregate Bond Index; Securitized = Bloomberg US Securitized Index; Agencies = Bloomberg U.S. Agency Bond Total Return Index; TIPS = Bloomberg US Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Index; Short-term US Agg = Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate 1-3Years Bond Index; Int. developed (x-USD) = Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Bond Index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Looking into the second half of the year, we are optimistic that returns will be stronger, but also expect volatility to remain elevated. Finding the right mix of fixed income asset classes will be the key to performance. Treasuries remain a core holding, but with the yield curve inverted, the potential for gains from price appreciation appears limited. Even with the shift in expectations, the market is still discounting rate cuts over the next few years.

We believe investors should focus on a wide range of fixed income investments for returns in the second half of the year. There is an opportunity to capture yields higher than 5% for the intermediate to long term without taking significantly more credit risk. In our view, a diversified portfolio of investment-grade corporate bonds and government agency mortgage-backed securities with durations in the six- to seven-year time frame offer attractive yields for investors looking for income and potential price appreciation.

Federal Reserve policy: We still expect rate cuts this year

We came into 2024 expecting the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates three to four times for a cumulative total of 75 to 100 basis points (or 0.75 to 1 percentage point). With the resilience of the economy, stubbornness of inflation, and guidance from the Fed, we have lowered that to two rate cuts and a total of 50 basis points.

The major factors weighing in favor of rate cuts are our expectations that inflation and economic growth will recede in the second half of the year. Inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditure deflator excluding food and energy (core PCE) has fallen steeply from its peak, but progress stalled in the first quarter. Nonetheless, the major drivers of inflation are showing signs of improvement. Rent increases are easing, job growth is slowing, and consumer spending appears to have shifted lower.

Inflation has fallen sharply from its peak

Source: Bloomberg. Monthly data as of 4/30/2024.

PCE: Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE DEFY Index), Core PCE: Personal Consumption Expenditures: All Items Less Food & Energy (PCE CYOY Index), percent change, year over year.

Rent increases have slowed

Source: Bloomberg. Quarterly data as of 5/31/2024.

U.S. BLS & Cleveland Fed New Tenant Index Repeat Rent NTRR YoY (CLEVNTRR Index) and U.S. CPI Urban Consumers Owners Equivalent Rent of Residences YoY NSA (CPRHOERY Index).

On the job front, the pace of hiring has slowed down, and wage gains have eased. The unemployment rate is still low, but it has risen to 3.9% from a low of 3.4% last year. Moreover, average hourly earnings growth has declined below 4% for the first time since June 2021.

Average hourly earnings growth has declined

Source: Bloomberg. Data as of 5/31/2024.

US Average Hourly Earnings All Employees Total Private Yearly Percent Change SA (AHE YOY% Index).

One of the strongest signals of easing wage pressure is the "quits rate" taken from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). It's the rate at which workers are voluntarily leaving their jobs and is often a sign of a strong labor market. In recent months, the quits rate has fallen to the lowest level since 2018 if you exclude the early pandemic drop. It's currently consistent with wage growth in the 2% to 3% region compared to the recent trend of 4%, suggesting that the trend is likely to move lower. While the link between wage growth and inflation isn't especially strong, a declining trend suggests that the labor market is cooling off. If the trend continues, it would likely spur the Fed to cut interest rates.

Average hourly earnings and the quits rate

Source: Bloomberg. Monthly data as of 4/30/2024.

U.S. Average Hourly Earnings (AHE TOTL Index), JOLTS U.S. Quits Rate (JOLTQUIS Index), from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report. Note: Y axis is capped at 8% on the upside and 0% on the downside as there were large outliers in 2020s when the 6-month annualized change in AHE rose as high 12% and fell as much as 3%.

Longer-term yields: Room to decline, but volatility likely to continue

Based on the likelihood of slower growth, easing inflation, and Fed rate cuts, we see room for longer-term yields to decline. However, the path to lower rates is likely to remain slow and bumpy. An important consideration is why the Fed would cut interest rates. If rate cuts are a response to declining inflation, then 10-year yields would likely drop to around 4% in the second half of the year. Since the market has already discounted rate cuts, it isn't likely to drive down long-term rates by much. However, if the Fed cuts rates in response to a weaker job market and slowing economy, then there would be room for 10-year yields to move even lower.

In addition to watching the inflation and labor market data, we are watching the trend in the term premium. Longer-term Treasury yields are the sum of expectations about the path of the fed funds rate plus a risk premium that compensates investors for committing funds for an extended time. Recently that risk premium, also known as the "term" premium, rose sharply but has since retreated.

Nonetheless, it is still well above pre-pandemic levels. After the recent bout of inflation, investors are likely to require a higher risk premium going forward, keeping yields higher than they might otherwise be and higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Term premia have been a factor in driving yields

Source: Bloomberg. Daily data as of 6/7/2024.

Adrian Crump & Moench 10-year Treasury Term Premium (ACMTP10 Index), U.S. Term Premium on 10-year Zero Coupon Bond (KIMWTP10 Index).

Concerns about the federal budget deficit could also contribute to a higher risk premium, especially heading into the presidential election where the direction of fiscal policy is unclear.

Over the long run however, there hasn't been a significant correlation between U.S. Treasury yields and the federal debt or deficit. Despite concerns, demand for Treasuries has remained strong, particularly given the wide yield advantage the U.S. has over the yields in other major developed markets.

The U.S. has a yield advantage versus other developed market countries

Source: Bloomberg. Daily data as of 6/3/2024.

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Total Return Index (LBUSTRUU Index) and Bloomberg Global Aggregate (LG38TRUU Index). Yield to worst is the lowest possible yield that can be received on a bond with an early-call provision. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs and expenses and cannot be invested in directly.

Opportunities in fixed income: Look beyond Treasuries

For fixed income investors, the prospects of positive returns look good in the second half of 2024. One of the main reasons is that coupon rates—the current income paid on the bond—are at high levels. Higher coupon rates can offset price declines, because the total return an investor receives is a combination of the income stream plus or minus the price change. The higher the current income, the less significant the price fluctuation will be to the investor's total return. The chart below shows how large a change in yield would need to be for different maturities of Treasury securities to produce a negative total return over the next 12 months.

Yield change needed to produce zero total return

Source: Bloomberg. Data as of 6/7/2024. For illustrative purposes only.

US Treasury Actives Curve (YCGT0025 Index).

Second, the Fed is signaling it will be reducing the fed funds rate as inflation and the economy slow. The direction of Fed policy is the major driver of returns in the bond market. Over the past few months, the message from the Fed has been that it is waiting for the right time to reduce interest rates. A rate hike hasn't been ruled out, but it is not the Fed's expectation. More than once, Fed Chair Jerome Powell has indicated that the fed funds rate has likely peaked, and the next move will be a cut. Given the outsized influence that Fed policy has on bond yields, that is one explanation for why long-term rates are lower than short-term. It reflects expectations about the direction of interest rates over time.

Long-term yields are lower than short-term yields

Source: Market matrix U.S. sell 3-month and buy U.S. 10-year bond yield spread (USYC3M10 Index). Daily data as of 6/7/2024.

Note: This spread is a calculated Bloomberg yield spread replicating selling the current 3-month U.S. Treasury Note and buying the current 10-year U.S. Treasury Note, then factoring the differences by 100. Gray bar represents the February-April 2020 recession.

Third, real yields are high. Real yields—the yield after inflation—are at the highest levels in many years. As inflation trends lower, the Fed will likely lower rates to prevent real yields from moving so high that they hamper economic growth.

Real yields are at the highest levels in years

While our expectation is that inflation will recede, many investors remain concerned about inflation. In that case it might make sense to consider Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) as an alternative or in addition to nominal Treasuries. Yields are roughly 1.5% or more in real terms. That means that an investor who holds to maturity can expect to receive the real rate plus the rate of inflation based on the consumer price index (CPI). Consequently, if inflation does prove more persistent than current trends suggest, TIPS can offer investors a way of mitigating that risk in their bond portfolios.

In sum, we look for returns in the second half of the year to be positive even if Federal Reserve policy stays the same as it has been in the first half. We're just hoping for a lot less volatility along the way.

Source: Bloomberg. Daily data as of 6/7/2024.

US Generic Govt TII 2 Yr (USGGT02Y INDEX), US Generic Govt TII 10 Yr (USGGT10Y Index). Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Look beyond Treasuries when extending duration

With short-term interest rates higher than long-term rates in the Treasury market, many investors are reluctant to extend duration. However, staying in very short-term investments presents reinvestment risk. If short-term yields fall in the future, which is likely with Fed rate cuts on the horizon, then those 5%-plus yields will not be available when it's time to reinvest the funds.

However, there are areas of the fixed income markets that can provide yields as high as short-term Treasuries at longer maturities. As the chart below illustrates, an investor looking to lock in yields above 5% for a longer time frame could choose investment-grade corporate bonds or government agency mortgage-backed securities. Those willing to take more duration and/or credit risk could consider preferred securities as well. In other words, it's possible to build a portfolio that generates yields over 5% for seven to 10 years, barring default.

Various fixed income investments have yields near or above 5%

Source: Bloomberg, as of 6/3/2024.

Indexes represented: Treasury bills = Bloomberg US Treasury Bills TR Index, Intermediate-term Treasuries = Bloomberg US Intermediate Treasury TR Index, U.S. Aggregate Index = Bloomberg US Aggregate TR Index, Agency MBS = Bloomberg US MBS Index, IG Corporates = Bloomberg US Corporate Bond Index, Preferred Securities = ICE BofA Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index. Yields shown are the average yield-to-worst. Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Extra yield comes with more risk when compared to Treasuries, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Nonetheless, we believe the risk of a default in investment-grade corporate bonds or government agency mortgage-backed securities is low in a diversified portfolio.

Key takeaways:

1. We expect interest rates to trend lower in the second half of the year. The inverted Treasury yield curve reflects that expectation. Two-year Treasury yields, which reflect market expectations for the federal funds rate one year in the future, are likely to remain below 5% and could ease back to the 4.25% to 4.40% region as expectations for Fed rate cuts shift. Ten-year Treasury yields have room to move down to the 4.0% to 4.25% region, in our view. That would still likely leave the Treasury yield curve inverted at lower levels.
2. Expect continued volatility. While we are expecting the Fed to cut the federal funds rate this year, the reason for the rate cuts is important to assessing the magnitude of easing. Inflation and employment data are the key indicators to assess the magnitude of Fed rate cuts.
3. Consider extending duration with higher-credit-quality fixed income investments. Given our expectation that interest rates are heading lower, we continue to suggest extending duration. Timing the interest rate cycle is difficult, but current yields look attractive enough to us to warrant increasing duration. A diversified portfolio of fixed income investments with higher credit quality can help investors capture attractive yields with the potential for positive total returns.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income investments are subject to various other risks including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors. Lower rated securities are subject to greater credit risk, default risk, and liquidity risk.

International investments involve additional risks, which include differences in financial accounting standards, currency fluctuations, geopolitical risk, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. Investing in emerging markets may accentuate these risks.

Preferred securities are a type of hybrid investment that share characteristics of both stock and bonds. They are often callable, meaning the issuing company may redeem the security at a certain price after a certain date. Such call features, and the timing of a call, may affect the security's yield. Preferred securities generally have lower credit ratings and a lower claim to assets than the issuer's individual bonds. Like bonds, prices of preferred securities tend to move inversely with interest rates, so their prices may fall during periods of rising interest rates. Investment value will fluctuate, and preferred securities, when sold before maturity, may be worth more or less than original cost. Preferred securities are subject to various other risks including changes in interest rates and credit quality, default risks, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, deferral risk, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors.

Tax-exempt bonds are not necessarily a suitable investment for all persons. Information related to a security's tax-exempt status (federal and in-state) is obtained from third parties, and the Schwab Center for Financial Research does not guarantee its accuracy. Tax-exempt income may be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Capital appreciation from bond funds and discounted bonds may be subject to state or local taxes. Capital gains are not exempt from federal income tax.

Bank loans typically have below investment-grade credit ratings and may be subject to more credit risk, including the risk of nonpayment of principal or interest. Most bank loans have floating coupon rates that are tied to short-term reference rates like the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), so substantial increases in interest rates may make it more difficult for issuers to service their debt and cause an increase in loan defaults. A rise in short-term references rates typically result in higher income payments for investors, however. Bank loans are typically secured by collateral posted by the issuer, or guarantees of its affiliates, the value of which may decline and be insufficient to cover repayment of the loan. Many loans are relatively illiquid or are subject to restrictions on resales, have delayed settlement periods, and may be difficult to value. Bank loans are also subject to maturity extension risk and prepayment risk.

Diversification strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) may be more sensitive to interest rate changes than other fixed income investments. They are subject to extension risk, where borrowers extend the duration of their mortgages as interest rates rise, and prepayment risk, where borrowers pay off their mortgages earlier as interest rates fall. These risks may reduce returns.

Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) are inflation-linked securities issued by the US Government whose principal value is adjusted periodically in accordance with the rise and fall in the inflation rate. Thus, the dividend amount payable is also impacted by variations in the inflation rate, as it is based upon the principal value of the bond. It may fluctuate up or down. Repayment at maturity is guaranteed by the US Government and may be adjusted for inflation to become the greater of the original face amount at issuance or that face amount plus an adjustment for inflation. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities are guaranteed by the US Government, but inflation-protected bond funds do not provide such a guarantee.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request. 

Schwab does not recommend the use of technical analysis as a sole means of investment research. 

The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please see schwab.com/indexdefinitions.

The US BLS & Cleveland Fed New Tenant Repeat Rent Index tracks average overall rental prices for housing in an economy.

U.S. CPI Urban Consumers Owners Equivalent Rent of Residences measures how much money a property owner would have to pay in rent to be equivalent to their cost of ownership. OER is used to measure the value of real estate markets, where it can help direct individuals to either buy or rent based on the total monthly cost.

Adrian Crump & Moench 10yr Treasury Term Premium: New York Fed economists Tobias Adrian, Richard Crump, and Emanuel Moench (or 'ACM') present Treasury term premia estimates for maturities from one to ten years from 1961 to the present. ACM further estimate fitted yields and the expected average short-term rates for the same set of maturities. The analysis is based on a five-factor, no-arbitrage term structure model.

US Term Premium on 10-year zero coupon bond: Kim and Wright (2005) produced this data by fitting a simple three-factor arbitrage-free term structure model to U.S. Treasury yields since 1990, in order to evaluate the behavior of long-term yields, distant-horizon forward rates, and term premiums.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Source: Bloomberg Index Services Limited. BLOOMBERG® is a trademark and service mark of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates (collectively "Bloomberg"). Bloomberg or 'Bloomberg's licensors own all proprietary rights in the Bloomberg Indices. Neither Bloomberg nor Bloomberg's licensors approves or endorses this material, or guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information herein, or makes any warranty, express or implied, as to the results to be obtained therefrom and, to the maximum extent allowed by law, neither shall have any liability or responsibility for injury or damages arising in connection therewith.

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