Short-term bonds: A compelling option in the face of Fed cuts

Quick takes on capital markets

March 15, 2024 | 2 min read
Mark Cernicky, CFA
Senior Product Specialist, Fixed Income

In the face of impending Federal Reserve rate cuts, investors may want to consider extending duration from Treasury bills to short-term bonds. Surprisingly, the coupon on short-term bonds does not fall after the Fed begins cutting rates, whereas the yield on 3-month U.S. Treasury bills drops significantly.

Change in 3-month T-bill yield versus short term bond average coupon following first rate cut
Average per month following Fed rate cut, since 1982

Change in 3-month T-bill yield versus short term bond average coupon following first rate cut
Source: Bloomberg, Principal Asset Management. Short term bond data represented by the Bloomberg 1-3 Yr Credit Total Return Index. Data as of February 29, 2024.

With Federal Reserve policy rate reductions on the horizon, an intriguing divergence is emerging between money market funds and short-term bonds. While anticipated rate cuts suggest a downward trajectory for money market yields, short-term bonds present a contrasting scenario—an expected increase in coupons.

During the previous six Fed rate reduction cycles, the average coupon on short-term bonds saw a marginal increase of 1 basis point (bp) twelve months post-cut. This starkly contrasts the 3-month U.S. Treasury bills, which experienced a substantial drop of 119 bps in yield over the same period. The counterintuitive movement in short-term bonds becomes more pronounced when their average dollar price is below par, a situation last observed in 1984. Following the Fed's cut that year, the average coupon on short-term bonds increased by 22 bps, whereas the yield on 3-month T-bills plummeted by 318 bps.

At the end of February, the average dollar price on the U.S. Credit 1-3 Year Index stood at $96.46. As short-term bonds pull-to-par and mature, new bonds will be issued with higher coupons than those maturing, increasing the average coupon on the portfolio— even if the Fed is cutting rates.

Despite the downward trajectory of T-bill yields following Fed cuts, the coupon rates on short-term bond funds hold upward potential, offering a compelling case for extending duration to short-term bonds during the volatile period ahead.

Fixed income
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