FYI: Last month, I wrote that investors can substitute for high-yield bonds by owning a mix of 1) investment-grade bonds and 2) large-value stocks. As that statement was a side point, I did not provide evidence for the claim. Today's article does just that.
Practically speaking, high-yield bonds are hybrid securities. As with investment-grade bonds, high-yield bonds pay income while also offering some default protection (albeit not as much as investment-grade bonds). However, they resemble stocks in being economically sensitive. Companies that issue high-yield bonds are generally not the healthiest. (If they were otherwise, their bonds wouldn't yield so much!) They are particularly vulnerable to recessions.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.morningstar.com/articles/933349/are-highyield-bonds-necessary.html
