Corporate Debt: Are Juicier Yields Worth the Extra Risk?
Corporations sell bonds to finance operating cash flow and capital investment. Corporate bonds usually offer higher interest rates—and are subject to more risk—than U.S. Treasury securities with comparable maturities. Investors who rely on corporate bonds for retirement income, or to help temper the effects of stock market volatility, should consider the degree of risk they are willing to accept in their bond portfolios.