High-yield Bond (or Junk Bond)
Bonds that are believed to have a higher risk of default and receive low ratings by credit rating agencies, namely bonds rated Ba or below (by Moody's) or BB or below (by S&P and Fitch). These bonds typically are issued at a higher yield (for example, a higher interest rate) than more creditworthy bonds, reflecting the perceived higher risk to investors.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
Bonds that are believed to have a higher risk of default and receive low ratings by credit rating agencies, namely bonds rated Ba or below (by Moody's) or BB or below (by S&P and Fitch). These bonds typically are issued at a higher yield (for example, a higher interest rate) than more creditworthy bonds, reflecting the perceived higher risk to investors. [1]
Source-supported connections
Frequently asked questions
What does High-yield Bond (or Junk Bond) mean in the cited reference?
Bonds that are believed to have a higher risk of default and receive low ratings by credit rating agencies, namely bonds rated Ba or below (by Moody's) or BB or below (by S&P and Fitch). These bonds typically are issued at a higher yield (for example, a higher interest rate) than more creditworthy bonds, reflecting the perceived higher risk to investors. [1]
High-yield Bond (or Junk Bond) connection map
Select a node to inspect the relationship and source.
Links retain their source-specific meaning. Award-time affiliations and links to related reading are not claims about current appointments or economic causation.
Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.