Are bonds a good investment right now? | Vanguard (2024)

FAQs

Is it a good time to buy bonds now? ›

Is now a good time to buy bonds? Many investors have been reluctant to hold bonds for years due to the low interest rate environment, but that should no longer be the case, says Collin Martin, fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab.

Investment-grade corporate bonds remain attractive given their lower risk and relatively high yields. Long-term investors who can handle volatility might consider high-yield bonds and preferred securities, but we wouldn't suggest large positions in either.

Should I only buy bonds when interest rates are high? There are advantages to purchasing bonds after interest rates have risen. Along with generating a larger income stream, such bonds may be subject to less interest rate risk, as there may be a reduced chance of rates moving significantly higher from current levels.

Historically, bonds are less volatile than stocks.

Bond prices will fluctuate, but overall these investments are more stable, compared to other investments. “Bonds can bring stability, in part because their market prices have been more stable than stocks over long time periods,” says Alvarado.

If you're holding the bond to maturity, the fluctuations won't matter—your interest payments and face value won't change.

We suggest investors consider high-quality, intermediate- or long-term bond investments rather than sitting in cash or other short-term bond investments. With the Fed likely to cut rates soon, we don't want investors caught off guard when the yields on short-term investments likely decline as well.

The Bottom Line. Interest rates and bond prices have an inverse relationship. When interest rates go up, the prices of bonds go down, and when interest rates go down, the prices of bonds go up.

July 2024 I Bond Fixed Rate is 1.30%!

If you liked having I Bonds and matching inflation then you might love having I Bonds that beat inflation over the next 30 years. The current fixed rate of 1.30% is one of the best fixed rates in the past 21 years.

Rising interest rates directly caused stock and bond prices to fall in 2022. Interest rates affect a company's capital and earnings in many ways, says Damian Pardo, a certified financial planner and city commissioner in Miami, Florida.

Are T bills a good investment now? ›

T-bills are short-term U.S. debt securities. They are currently paying around 5% and are considered a risk-free investment if held to maturity. Alieza Durana joined NerdWallet as an investing basics writer in 2022.

The table on the right shows that bond prices often recover within 8 to 12 months. Unnerved investors that are selling their bond funds risk missing out when bond returns recover. It is important to acknowledge that some of those strong recoveries were helped by bond yields that were higher than they are today.

These are the risks of holding bonds: Risk #1: When interest rates fall, bond prices rise. Risk #2: Having to reinvest proceeds at a lower rate than what the funds were previously earning. Risk #3: When inflation increases dramatically, bonds can have a negative rate of return.

Junk Bonds

Junk bonds are high-yield corporate bonds issued by companies with lower credit ratings. Because of their higher risk of default, they offer higher interest rates, potentially providing returns over 10%. During economic growth periods, the risk of default decreases, making junk bonds particularly attractive.

Sitting in cash also presents an opportunity cost as it forgoes potentially better investments. Bonds provide interest income that often meets or exceeds the rate of inflation, and with the potential for capital gains if bought at a discount.

At an initial rate of 4.28%, buying an I bond today gets roughly . 7% less compared to the 4.87% 12-month Treasury Bill rate (July 11, 2024). You could say that buying an I Bond right now is a 'fair deal' historically compared to 2021 & 2022 when I Bond rates were much higher than comparable interest rate products.

Historically, when stock prices rise and more people are buying to capitalize on that growth, bond prices typically fall on lower demand. Conversely, when stock prices fall, investors want to turn to traditionally lower-risk, lower-return investments such as bonds, and their demand and price tend to increase.

Depending on the interest rate of your bond and your own financial needs, it's generally beneficial to wait until full maturity to redeem them.