If your 2026 plan still feels like guesswork, it’s time for a structured playbook to position your portfolio strategically and confidently. CreditSights covers 63 subsectors in over 85 curated outlooks, translating macro noise and sector nuance into actionable positioning to help bring strategy to the forefront. Turn research into real portfolio moves with details such as sector insights, name-level ideas, and scenario analyses.
U.S. Credit: Volatility, Divergence, and Restructuring Maps
Policy uncertainty and uneven macro trends in 2025 pushed investors to focus on quality and we saw weaker balance sheets punished because of it. Our U.S. Post-Petition Outlook shows how volatility and sector divergence have widened the gap between resilient credits and stressed capital structures, and where default risk is clustering across Media, Consumer Goods, Telecom, Basics, and Technology. It’s the map you need to decide where to be paid for risk and where to stay patient. We also lay out how the legal landscape is moving. Liability management is increasingly becoming the path of least resistance, with precedents tilting negotiations toward out-of-court solutions over traditional Chapter 11. The special situations roster was growing in 2025 with names such as AMC, DISH, Hertz, Liberty Puerto Rico, Sabre. In the U.S. Special Sits Outlook you first get a look at which sectors outperformed, which faced steep losses, and what these shifts signal for the coming year.
Emerging Markets: Growth, Supply, and Selectivity
As U.S. credit works through dispersion, Emerging Markets are picking up, at least in the headline numbers. Growth is running near 3.9% with Asia in the lead, while Latin America is subdued amid tariff frictions and fiscal consolidation. Our Emerging Markets 2026 Outlook flags where sovereign spreads look uncomfortably tight across IG and HY, even as buffers improve: FX reserves now cover roughly 135% of short-term debt, meaning balance-of-payments stress is less likely. We also look at how record Eurobond supply (around $260 billion) adds a practical constraint on issuance and refinancing needs.
Chemicals and Transmission Risk: Separating Noise from Catalysts
Local shocks can alter sector economics quickly, and chemicals sit at the intersection of energy, currencies, and supply chains. In U.S. Chemicals: Venezuela—Noise or Real Risk?, we separate headline risk from drivers that actually move spreads. The analysis traces how developments in Venezuela could ripple through oil balances and feedstock economics across ethane- and naphtha-based systems. Learn which Latin America–focused transmission channels matter for chemical companies, including currency, funding, and operating footprint considerations—and how to think about company-specific exposure. Notably, crop science is one to watch regarding shifts in distributor behavior, demand timing, and working capital needs, as input costs can quickly turn pricing into pitfalls if you’re not tracking the right indicators. We also break down where company portfolios and geographic mixes may influence risk or resilience, and what “monitor levels” imply for attention and follow-up.
Private Credit: Where to Be Selective
Private markets round out the picture. Despite syndicated markets clawing back share with about $48 billion in takeouts, private credit still posted ~$140 billion of deal flow in 2025. The competitive dynamics for 2026 will be sharper, and spreads are already telling you to be selective: direct lending yields fell below 10% for the first time in three years. Our U.S. Private Credit 2026 Outlook frames return expectations under tighter spreads and prospective Fed cuts, and it highlights where documentation is converging toward BSL standards. Get a look into high-profile LMTs like Pluralsight and First Brands to see how covenant protections can erode; we flag the terms that matter and the negotiating levers that preserve recoveries. The regulatory backdrop has shifted too. With leveraged lending guidelines withdrawn in December 2025, banks can compete more aggressively at higher leverage levels although good for issuers, it’s challenging for private credit’s edge. That’s exactly when systemic transmission risks deserve attention. We monitor five stress channels from bank exposure to NDFIs (11.2% of loans) and insurance–PE partnerships to rising PIK usage and sector concentration in technology and healthcare so you can adjust sizing before cracks widen.
From Insight to Action: How to Use These Outlooks
Across these outlooks, the thread is consistent: translate analysis into action. You’ll find explicit sector recommendations, high-conviction picks and pans, relative value maps across capital structures, issuance expectations, and scenario analyses that flag the inflection points most likely to change our stance. Use them to position early where fundamentals are strong, focus on clear catalysts, and avoid areas with hidden risk.
These are only a few of the 85+ outlooks available on CreditSights, for access to all outlooks on our platform, get started by requesting a demo today.
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