The Roundup: Top Takeaways from Oaktree’s Quarterly Letters – September 2023 Edition
Sep 26, 2023
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Portfolio managers discuss the challenges of predicting interest rate moves and their impact on speculative grade credit. They also explore the effects of government spending on energy and infrastructure investments and the potential for attractive investments in Chinese equity markets. Plus, the importance of observing actions of governments and companies in emerging markets.
19:22
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Quick takeaways
Rigorous credit analysis, rather than inexpensive debt, will be vital for generating superior returns in the face of higher borrowing costs.
The quality in the loan market has deteriorated, leading to increased default rates and creating investment opportunities for skilled investors.
Deep dives
Global Credit Ahead of the Curve
The US yield curve has exhibited considerable volatility in 2023, reflecting the fickle nature of investors' macroeconomic expectations and the challenge of predicting interest rate moves. The high volatility has led to increased concerns about a recession and a softer landing for the US economy. However, despite the volatility in the rates market, average yields for US high-yield bonds have remained relatively range-bound, reflecting the resilience of the underlying US economy. Proper underwriting and the ability to dynamically allocate between asset classes are crucial for credit investors in this uncertain environment.
Opportunistic Credit Beneath the Surface
Despite many US companies weathering the impact of rising interest rates well, storm clouds are beginning to emerge as elevated rates make it more challenging for companies to service their floating rate debt. The pace of defaults and distressed exchanges has increased in the last nine months, particularly among leveraged loans and private debt, asset classes that typically feature floating rates. The quality in the loan market has declined significantly, and companies that issued debt based on aggressive earnings assumptions are now more highly leveraged than they appear. These vulnerabilities are likely to push up default rates in the coming years, creating opportunities for skilled investors.
European Liquid Credit, Quality Control
European credit markets have shown resilience, and most companies with impending maturities have successfully refinanced their debt. The quality in European below investment-grade markets is higher than in the US, as European borrowers have been more conservative in their borrowing practices. While the near-term economic outlook for Europe has weakened, the higher quality and conservative approach of European companies should provide a significant cushion against rising borrowing costs and shrinking margins. This makes European markets a favorable investment opportunity, especially compared to the situation in the US leveraged loan and private debt markets.
We may be in the first act of what could be a long drama unfolding across markets, as companies face the prospect of higher-for-longer borrowing costs and investors adjust to a new environment in which rigorous credit analysis, not inexpensive debt, will likely be the key to generating superior returns. In the current installment of The Roundup, Oaktree portfolio managers look beyond headline numbers and economic noise to identify the trends reshaping opportunity sets today.
You can read The Roundup here (https://www.oaktreecapital.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/september-2023-edition-roundup.pdf).
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