- Investment Strategy Analyst
Skip to main content
- Funds
- Insights
- Capabilities
- About Us
- My Account
United States, Institutional
Changechevron_rightThe views expressed are those of the authors at the time of writing. Other teams may hold different views and make different investment decisions. The value of your investment may become worth more or less than at the time of original investment. While any third-party data used is considered reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. For professional, institutional, or accredited investors only.
If income were auditioning for a role in a portfolio, it might be considered a triple threat. No, not in its ability to act, sing or dance, but in its potential to deliver three key benefits: a regular cash flow, tax advantages and return consistency.
The last of these is often underappreciated, especially by investors focused on capital appreciation. Our research suggests, however, that income can contribute more than half the returns for a standard 60% equity/40% bond portfolio over a five-year investment horizon. This percentage increases for asset classes with a higher income profile1.
The case for income is particularly pertinent now. With cash rates at around 5%, the world of income has changed, and relatively high levels of income can be achieved without taking as much risk as in the past. This should prompt investors to take a fresh look across asset classes to see where potential opportunities lie. For example, should investors look to increase the income target in their equity allocation or in their credit allocation?
To determine the right answer for their portfolios, we believe investors need to understand how much potential income a given asset class can generate relative to the level of risk introduced. We suggest that investors use a framework, such as our cross-asset risk and relative yield or CARRY landscape (Figure 1).
The CARRY landscape uses the primary risks of each asset class in order to plot the current income level in exchange for taking low risk (green), medium risk (yellow) and high risk (red). This can help investors weigh opportunities against risks.
Sources: Wellington Management, Refinitiv, Factset, Cliffwater. Data as at 31 October 2023. Private credit data as at 30 September 2023. Private credit data reprinted by permission of Bank of American Corporation (BAC). See additional disclosure at end of the article. Global equity data provided by Factset. For illustrative purposes only. PAST RESULTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Each asset class differs in its potential to generate income and will also have a different primary risk associated with it. Within equities, stocks that pay higher dividends tend to cluster in specific industries such as oil and gas, financial services and telecoms. Targeting these stocks can shrink the opportunity set, introducing concentration risk. For fixed income, both government bonds and credit can offer attractive levels of income, which may also be accompanied by duration risk and credit risk, respectively.
As Figure 1 shows, seeking higher income within an asset class tends to shift risks into the yellow and red medium- and high-risk regions of the chart, and investors need to assess whether they are likely to be compensated for taking this risk.
For example, an investor seeking very high income from equities may be able to attain yields of up to 6%, but this level of income is only available by investing in a very concentrated part of the market and may therefore be deemed “high risk”. Alternatively, the same investor could access the same return potential by investing in lower-risk US or European credit. All other factors aside, investors only focused on income would likely opt for the less risky credit option. Having said that, we think it makes sense to diversify income sources across several asset classes given that they each offer unique characteristics that can help portfolios, for example, the potential for significant capital growth in equities. Of course, income opportunities and risks will change over time, so investors may benefit from a somewhat dynamic investment process.
Looking across asset classes can help investors understand the most effective sources of income for their portfolios. However, income opportunities can evolve quickly, so being dynamic across multiple asset classes makes sense, to navigate opportunities as they arise.
To access the full whitepaper, please visit it here: Income investing in multi-asset portfolios: tipping the balance in your favour.
BAC data in Figure 1 — The use of the data in no way implies that BAC or any of its affiliates endorses the views or interpretation or the use of such information or acts as any endorsement of the use of such information. The information is provided “as is” and neither BAC nor any of its affiliates warrants the accuracy or completeness of the information.
1 Source: Wellington Management, “Income investing in multi-asset portfolios: tipping the balance in your favour”, September 2023,
Experts
Time for bond investors to take the wheel?
Continue readingSecuritized credit: Normalizing, decelerating, or falling off a cliff?
Continue readingMultiple authors
Diving into the new world of credit
Continue readingChart in Focus: Four key areas of opportunities in bonds amid Fed uncertainty
Continue readingBond Market Outlook
Continue readingMultiple authors
Capitalizing on rate shifts: Parsing opportunities in the second half
Continue readingReframing fixed income portfolios: why bond maths makes the difference
Continue readingURL References
Related Insights
Stay up to date with the latest market insights and our point of view.
You've been subscribed
Thank you for subscribing. You can manage your subscription using the links provided in any of our subscription emails.
Time for bond investors to take the wheel?
Volatility makes bond investing less straightforward, but it can also create opportunities, provided investors are in a position to "take the wheel" in order to capitalise on them.
Securitized credit: Normalizing, decelerating, or falling off a cliff?
Our experts offer their views on the current conditions and outlook for the securitized credit market.
Multiple authors
Diving into the new world of credit
Now that spreads have tightened, some investors think it's too late to invest in credit. But this assumption could be standing in the way of earning an attractive income.
Chart in Focus: Four key areas of opportunities in bonds amid Fed uncertainty
We discuss four key areas of opportunities in fixed income amid Fed uncertainty in the second half of the year.
Bond Market Outlook
Our fixed income experts assess how to capitalize on market volatility with a flexible and dynamic approach that leverages diverse high-yielding opportunities and manages risks carefully.
Multiple authors
Capitalizing on rate shifts: Parsing opportunities in the second half
Fixed Income Portfolio Manager Campe Goodman and Fixed Income Strategist Amar Reganti discuss how to capitalize on potential rate shifts in the second half of the year
Reframing fixed income portfolios: why bond maths makes the difference
It is easy to understand why fixed income investors tend to focus on yields. But investors who focus too much on yield may run the risk of overpaying for income and underestimating the impact of price volatility.
Has the European credit cycle been extended?
2024 has kept fixed income investors busy. Yet, despite lingering inflation and rate volatility, European credit markets have remained strong. Are we looking at an extended credit cycle? And if so, what does this mean for investors?
Looking beyond yield: Rethinking the approach of fixed income investing
Investors face a new regime, challenging traditional assumptions about returns and volatility. With central bank interventions impacting credit markets, it’s time to rethink income allocations. Rather than fixating solely on yield, consider a dynamic approach, presented by Connor Fitzgerald.
New era demands a nimble approach to credit
Our expert explains why deep research and an active approach are effective ways for fixed income investors to uncover credit opportunities in today's market.
Is there opportunity for high yield in today’s new economic era?
Is there opportunity for high yield in today’s new economic era? Portfolio Manager Konstantin Leidman explores.
URL References
Related Insights
© Copyright 2024 Wellington Management Company LLP. All rights reserved. WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT ® is a registered service mark of Wellington Group Holdings LLP. For institutional or professional investors only.