Skip to main content Skip to main content
Not investment advice. Educational reading. See Disclaimer.
L.5 · BEGINNER · 2 MIN

Credit Spreads: Pricing Default Risk

A credit spread is the extra yield a corporate bond pays above a Treasury of the same maturity. It compensates you for the risk the company might default.

Quiz · 5 questions ↓
§ 01
RatingCategoryTypical SpreadDefault Risk
AAA-AAInvestment Grade0.3-0.8%Very low (<0.1%/year)
A-BBBInvestment Grade0.8-2.0%Low (0.1-0.5%/year)
BBHigh Yield2.0-4.0%Moderate (1-2%/year)
B-CCCHigh Yield4.0-10%+Elevated (3-15%/year)
§ 02

When spreads widen (increase), it signals rising fear in credit markets. When spreads tighten, it signals confidence. Spread movements are a leading indicator of economic stress.

§ 03
In the **Credit** view, look at bond spreads for different rating categories. Compare investment-grade to high-yield spreads.
§ 04
Two 10-year BBB-rated corporate bonds from the same sector. Bond X has 180bp spread to Treasuries; Bond Y has 280bp spread. Same maturity, same rating. What's the most defensible interpretation?
§ 05

The credit spread is your compensation for taking default risk. If spreads are too tight, you are not being paid enough for the risk. If spreads are very wide, it might be an opportunity or a warning.

Five questions · AI feedback

Sit with the ideas.

A BBB-rated bond yields 6% when 10-year Treasuries yield 4.5%. What is the credit spread?

Why:
See it on a real ticker →