Investopedia

Investment Grade

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Investment Grade'

A rating that indicates that a municipal or corporate bond has a relatively low risk of default. Bond rating firms, such as Standard & Poor's, use different designations consisting of upper- and lower-case letters 'A' and 'B' to identify a bond's credit quality rating. 'AAA' and 'AA' (high credit quality) and 'A' and 'BBB' (medium credit quality) are considered investment grade. Credit ratings for bonds below these designations ('BB', 'B', 'CCC', etc.) are considered low credit quality, and are commonly referred to as "junk bonds".

Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Investment Grade'

Investors should note that government bonds, or Treasuries, are not subject to credit quality ratings. These securities are considered to be of the very highest credit quality. In the case of municipal and corporate bond funds, fund company literature, such as the fund prospectus and independent investment research reports will report an "average credit quality" for the fund's portfolio as a whole.

Investors should be aware that an agency downgrade of a company's bonds from 'BBB' to 'BB' reclassifies its debt from investment grade to "junk" status with just a one-step drop in quality. The repercussions of such an event can be highly problematic for the issuer and can also adversely affect bond prices for investors. Safety-conscious fund investors should pay attention to a bond fund's portfolio credit quality breakdown.

Articles Of Interest

  1. Are High-Yield Bonds Too Risky?

    Despite their reputation, the debt securities known as "junk bonds" may actually reduce risk in your portfolio.
  2. The Debt Ratings Debate

    Lack of competition and potential conflicts of interest have called the value of these ratings into question.
  3. What does investment grade mean?

    Credit ratings provide a useful measure for comparing fixed-income securities, such as bonds, bills and notes. Most companies are issued a rating based on their financial strength, future prospects ...
  4. Introduction To Fundamental Analysis

    Learn this easy-to-understand technique of analyzing a company's financial statements and reports.
  5. Why Your Pension Plan Has Sovereign Debt In It

    One type of security pensions tend to invest in is sovereign debt, or debt issued by a government.
  6. Women: Invest In Your Financial Literacy

    Learning about money may seem intimidating, but it's not as hard as it looks.
  7. 4 Behavioral Biases And How To Avoid Them

    Here are four common common behavioral biases for traders and how to minimize their effects on your portoflio.
  8. Mutual Fund Ratings: Crucial or Insignificant?

    Mutual fund ratings can help investors, but they have their drawbacks as well.
  9. Multi-Asset Funds Or Your Own Mix?

    The underlying concept of mixed funds is very appealing. Discover if you're better off with professional management or creating a mixed fund of your own.
  10. 6 Popular ETF Types For Your Portfolio

    Exchange traded funds are an extremely popular diversification tool that can protect your portfolio during troubled periods.
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
  2. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
  3. Happiness Economics

    The formal academic study of the relationship between individual satisfaction and economic issues, such as employment and wealth.
  4. Affluenza

    A social condition arising from the desire to be more wealthy, successful or to "keep up with the Joneses." Affluenza is symptomatic of a culture that holds up financial success as one of the highest achievements.
  5. Icarus Factor

    The term Icarus factor describes a situation where managers or executives initiate an overly ambitious project which then fails. Fueled by excitement for the project, the executives are unable to reign in their misguided enthusiasm before it is too late to avoid the failure.
  6. Angelina Jolie Stock Index

    An index made up of a selection of stocks from companies associated with actress Angela Jolie.
Trading Center