An investment grade bond is one rated BBB- or higher by a credit rating agency. Bonds rated BB+ or lower are below investment grade, also called speculative or high-yield.
The line matters because many investors may only hold investment grade bonds under their own rules: most debt mutual fund schemes, insurance companies, pension and provident funds. When a bond is downgraded from BBB- to BB+, these investors may have to sell or cannot buy, so the bond can become hard to sell at a fair price.
Investment grade covers AAA, AA, A and BBB, each with + and -. It does not mean the bond is safe: it means the agency judges the risk of default to be moderate or lower at the time of the rating.
Issuers by rating grade
Issuers on Bond Interpretation with a current rating shown on their page: 637 investment grade (BBB- or better) and 77 below investment grade.
Data as of 6 Nov 2026 (snapshot 20261106-2030). Methodology and sources
Related
Related terms: Credit rating · BBB rating · BB rating · Rating downgrade
Before investing, look up the issuer: all its outstanding bonds, rating history and disclosure documents.
This page is for information only. It is not investment advice, a credit rating or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Facts are taken from the issuer's own documents and the sources linked on this page; check them with the source before investing.
