iShares Cdn Corp Bond ETF (XCB-T)

First, make a distinction between individual bonds and bond funds, because the former have a fixed maturity date so regardless of rates, as that bond approaches maturity the price will go to par. In the latter, the fund or ETF those bonds within those products will mature and go out and buy other bonds. If you have good corporate bonds with a staggered maturity, keep them. 

When Covid hit, and bond yields were super-low, bonds did not protect client portfolios because yields were starting to rise. If inflation is going to be more persistent, and bond yields are going to be where they are now or slightly higher for the next 6-12 months, then bonds are not a safe part of your portfolio from a total return perspective. 

If you're 70 years old and in 100% equities, then yes you probably should have some fixed income in your portfolio. Look at an XCB or something like that that's shorter term. There are some ETFs that are income-oriented for older folks.

As a DIY investor, it's really hard to get access to the best-quality bonds. Generally if you buy them on the secondary market, you're buying at a premium. He'd be comfortable owning bond funds through ETF structures such as XCB or XLB on the TSX. 

Problem with corporate bonds is that they also went down 25% in March, so you're not getting the diversification you think. Replace this with a sovereign bond ETF. If you're worried rates will go up, go with inflation-protected bonds. If you think rates will go down, HTB will give a better balance to the rest of your equity portfolio.

Better than XBB? He's using the US investment-grade bond index from BMO (can't remember the ticker) rather than XCB. He owns the unhedged version. Buy the hedged one if you don't want to take the currency risk.

How will this and XGB be affected by a possible interest rate hike? He is not sure that if the Bank of Canada raises short rates, it will have a huge impact in Canada. The bigger question is what the Federal Reserve is going to do with their bond portfolio. If they start to focus on the longer part of the yield curve, that is going to be a negative for Canada. He would prefer corporates over governments and would hang on to this one, using XGB to go into another part of the market, such as a preferred share ETF, or look into the US market.

The average maturity of a corporate bond index would probably be 6-7 years. Doesn’t like the iShares product line, and prefers the laddered ETF’s to the street corporate bond ones. Nevertheless, corporate bond yields have widened out so far from government bonds, that he thinks there is going to be a very good compounding effect by owning corporate bonds from this point on, especially in the low inflation environment.

Corporate bond ETF’s. Corporate bonds are somewhat interest rate sensitive, so you want to watch where interest rates are going. When you look at long-term treasury yields, they are going to stay low for longer and he doesn’t see a substantial move in interest rates.

Duration of this fund is just under 6 years. The risk is that it drops 6-12% over the next 2 years if rates rise.

Thinks interest rates on a 10 year bond will probably be close to 3% by year-end. He is not a believer that interest rates are going to explode at the back end and rise dramatically. Feels the demographics in the marketplace have put us into a position where people are starved for yield and are buying any kind of income instrument they can, including bonds. That huge demand for these kinds of products may actually suppress interest rates. Higher interest rates are good for banks and that is why he is in banks. He would switch from the XCB to iShares 1-5 yr laddered corporate bond fund (CBO-T). You are still in corporate bonds, but they are bonds that are callable within 5 years, so you are getting a very good yield, equal to what you are getting on the XCB and theoretically you are having a lower duration.

They are relatively active with managing these things. They have managed the problem of bonds having to be bought at premium prices and then they mature at a loss. Likes this one. XSB-T is also good. They also had very little capital losses from maturing bonds.

What is the basic difference between the Horizons Active Corporation Bond (HAB-T) and iShares DEX All Corporate Bond (XCB-T) ETFs? He is more familiar with the XCB. He knows they are both fine. Doesn’t know enough about HAB to give you a real contrast. This one is Corporate bonds in Canada, so it is very broadly diversified. Reasonably low cost. He would feel that the one with a lower cost is the better product.

This has had a great year and the units are up about 10%. Moving forward, you have to be ready for a different rate of return. Double-digit rates of return are not a realistic expectation for 2013. Feels corporate bonds will outperform treasury bonds but that would be 2%-3% in 2013.