Yield spread measures the gap between the yields of two debt instruments, usually a non-government bond and a benchmark government bond of the same maturity. It is typically quoted in basis points (1 basis point = 0.01 percentage point). The spread reflects compensation for factors beyond the pass-through of time, including credit risk, liquidity, and market expectations.
Investors and analysts compare spreads to gauge relative value across issuers, sectors, and credit quality. A wider spread implies more compensation for additional risk or lower liquidity, while a narrower spread indicates a smaller risk premium or stronger liquidity. Spreads are commonly quoted for corporate bonds versus a government benchmark (credit spread) or for differences between maturities to illustrate the term structure of risk. Changes in spreads can result from shifts in issuer credit quality, overall market liquidity, supply and demand dynamics, or changes in the economic outlook. When evaluating bonds, the spread is considered alongside yield, duration, and other risk measures to understand sensitivity to rate moves.
Spreads are expressed in basis points. Spread levels vary by credit quality, sector, and liquidity; they can widen during stress and narrow in calmer conditions.
If a corporate bond yields 5.20% and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield is 3.20%, the yield spread is 200 basis points.
Yield to Maturity (YTM) · Credit Spread · Benchmark Government Bond · Basis Point (bp) · Term Structure of Interest Rates · Liquidity Premium