MORE large U.S. companies filed for bankruptcy in 2020 than in any year since the global financial crisis, after the pandemic tipped swaths of the economy into distress.

Energy, retail and consumer services companies led a total of 244 filings, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That was the most since 2009, when 293 U.S. companies sought protection from creditors.

Credit markets have rallied, lifting many borrowers out of distress, but bankruptcy experts predict another wave of filings that could start in the second quarter of 2021 as cash runs out. Energy, retail, consumer and travel companies remain vulnerable, even after vaccines are distributed, following lasting damage inflicted by the virus.

The 27 bankruptcy filings from retailers marked the worst run for that sector since at least 2008. American mainstays like JCPenney and Stein Mart Inc. fell into court protection as the pandemic raged, as did higher-end names like Brooks Brothers Group Inc. and Neiman Marcus Group Inc.

Some 47 energy companies with liabilities of at least US$50 million went bankrupt last year, the most since at least 2008. The turmoil began in earnest in April, when oil prices plunged and futures briefly traded below zero, derailing planned ongoing restructurings and kick-starting new ones.

Health care companies also took a beating, with 22 large firms seeking court protection. Hospital systems including Quorum Health Corp. and Thomas Health System Inc. went bankrupt, as the pandemic punished an already-struggling industry.

The year ended relatively slowly, with just 45 big corporate bankruptcies across all sectors since Oct. 1 — the slowest quarter of 2020. But that still marked the busiest last three months of any year since 2009.

More bankruptcy filings are expected this year as struggling retail firms including gyms and movie theaters finally succumb, according to Andrew Little, research analyst at Global X, a New York-based provider of global exchange-traded funds. Last year’s filings included 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide Inc., Town Sports International Holdings Inc. and VIP Cinema Holdings Inc.

“We are having multiple years of disruption in the retail sector occur within months,” Little said. “E-commerce is here to stay, we will continue to see expansion and continue to see it capture retail sales.”

Real estate showed major cracks, with 22 large firms filing for bankruptcy, the most since 2011. Bankruptcy courts witnessed a double whammy in November when mall landlords CBL & Associates and Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust filed for bankruptcy within hours of each other.

Real estate pain is expected to spread as landlord concessions like rent abatements run out, according to Cynthia Romano, global director of CohnReznick’s restructuring and dispute resolution practice.

The total amount of traded distressed bonds and loans shrank to about US$149 billion as of Dec. 31, down 8.3 percent week on week and a fraction of the US$935 billion peak in March. Troubled bonds and loans declined 7.7 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in the last week of the year.

There were 290 distressed bonds from 154 issuers trading as of Monday, down from 377 and 199, respectively, two weeks ago. That’s significantly less than the 1,896 credits from 892 companies at the March 23 high. (SD-Agencies)