State Street SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF

SPBO

Market cap $1.77B

The SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF offers efficient exposure to US corporate bonds with a low 0.03% expense ratio and medium-to-longer term duration profile. The recent Fed rate cut supports the labor market, but inflation risks persist as consumers may tolerate higher passed-on producer prices, challenging the outlook for duration-sensitive assets like SPBO. SPBO's performance is sensitive to long-term rates, which are influenced by current Fed policy in addition to factors that could contribute to long-term inflation.

SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF offers a diversified investment-grade corporate bond portfolio with a 7-year duration and a 5.2% yield, but credit spreads are historically tight. Potential upside from rate cuts is limited, with only modest capital gains possible if 7-year rates fall to their neutral range. Credit spread risk is skewed to the downside; current spreads are at the bottom of their historical range, leaving significant room for widening in a downturn.

The SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond Index, managing $1.83B at a 0.03% expense ratio, offering a 5.20% yield. Its portfolio includes thousands of investment-grade corporate bonds at various maturities but a short duration. While SPBO's bullish case is strong, investors should know some risks in order to navigate them with a better understanding and hopefully higher confidence.

Institutions prefer intermediate duration bonds in the current high rate environment. The SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF seeks to mimic the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond Index. The fund invests in a diversified portfolio of investment-grade corporate bonds with an average maturity of 7 years. It currently offers a yield of 5.34%.

SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF offers access to high-quality investment-grade corporate bonds with a diverse and broad-based portfolio. SPBO's holdings primarily consist of investment-grade corporate bonds with low default rates, providing a relatively safer investment option. The ETF has a high yield and potential for long-term capital appreciation, making it an attractive choice for income investors.

M&A was almost dormant in 2023. In the US, as a proportion of the market value of the benchmark equity indices, it fell to its lowest level in 20 years, according to McKinsey. Credit investors are not traditionally supposed to be fans of M&A, and it's true we are wary of leveraging M&A, where debt is loaded onto balance sheets to buy competitors. We are seeing a comeback for M&A that we think is likely to continue through 2024.