U.S. Corporate Bond Market - Fundamental Analysis

The podcast segment focuses on fundamental analysis in corporate bond investing, using a hypothetical $1.6 billion bond issuance by Marriott International as a case study. The speaker details the factors an investor would consider, including Marriott's recent credit rating downgrades, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality industry and Marriott's financial health, and the temporary support measures implemented by the Federal Reserve. The analysis highlights the complexities involved in assessing default risk and the need for thorough research before investing in corporate bonds. The segment concludes by mentioning interest rate risk as another factor impacting bond investments, promising to cover it in a future lesson.