Wondering about bonds? They're well worth considering when building out your investment portfolio. They come with many potential benefits, including capital preservation, diversification, income, and potential tax advantages.
Ahead, we'll answer the most important questions about bonds. Read through them all or jump around:
A bond is a loan. When you purchase a bond, you provide a loan to an issuer, like a government, municipality, or corporation. In return, the issuer promises to pay back the money it borrowed, with interest. The interest will be received on a predetermined schedule (usually semiannually, but sometimes annually or quarterly).
Here's an example of how a bond works: Let's say the government issues a 10-year bond with a face value (a.k.a. par value) of $10,000 and an annual interest rate of 4%, paid semiannually. When you buy this bond, you're lending the government $10,000. Every year for the next ten years, the government will owe you 4% of that $10,000 ($400 annually or $200 every 6 months) as an interest payment, also known as a coupon payment. In addition to the $400 coupon payment you receive yearly, the government will also have to pay you back the full $10,000 when the bond matures (in this case, at the 10-year mark).
Bonds are generally issued with fixed par values and stated coupon rates. The coupon rate determines the annual interest payments to be paid to the bondholder and are based off of the bond's par value. Interest payments are usually paid every six months.
While the par value of a bond is usually fixed, prices can still fluctuate in the secondary market. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions. When interest rates rise, prices tend to fall, and vice versa. This can affect the market value of a bond if you decide to sell it before it reaches maturity.
A bond term refers to the length of time between the date the bond was issued and when the bond matures. Bonds with terms of less than four years are considered short-term bonds. Bonds with terms of 4 to 10 years are considered intermediate-term bonds. Bonds with terms of more than 10 years are considered long-term bonds.
Major rating agencies like Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) and Standard & Poor's (S&P) issue a credit rating for bonds. Bond ratings represent the rating agencies' opinion of the issuer's creditworthiness and ability to repay its debt, based on its financial position, management, and other factors.
The ratings are the opinion of the agency. They are not a guarantee of credit quality, probability of default, or recommendation to buy or sell. Ratings reflect a current assessment of an issuer's creditworthiness and do not guarantee performance now or in the future. Issuers rated below investment grade are expected to have a greater risk than those with investment grade credit ratings.
Standard & Poor's and Moody's.
Let's look at the different types of bonds, starting with the types of bonds that could make up the core of your bond portfolio. Core bonds can help offer diversification, stability, and a reliable source of income.
Core bonds include:
Sometimes it makes sense to assume more risk in exchange for higher yields—and that's where aggressive income bonds come in. Aggressive income bonds should generally make up only a small portion of your total portfolio to minimize unnecessary risk.
Aggressive income bonds include:
Treasuries are issued by the U.S. government and come in three varieties:
U.S. Treasuries are considered among the safest available investments because of the very low risk of default. Unfortunately, this also means they have among the lowest yields, even if interest income from Treasuries is generally exempt from local and state income taxes.
Municipal bonds, or munis, are issued by states and other local governments to fund public projects and services, such as roads and schools. They generally fall into one of two categories:
Interest earned on most municipal bonds is exempt from federal income tax and may be exempt from state and local taxes (depending on where you live). Because of those tax advantages, municipal bonds typically offer lower yields than investment-grade corporate bonds.
Investment-grade corporate bonds are issued by companies with credit ratings of Baa3 or BBB- or above by Moody's or S&P, respectively, and therefore have a relatively low risk of default. Companies issue corporate bonds to raise capital for a number of reasons, such as expanding operations, purchasing new equipment, building new facilities, or just for general corporate purposes.
The issuing company is responsible for making interest payments (usually semiannually, but sometimes monthly or quarterly) and repaying the principal at maturity. Investment-grade corporates carry a higher risk of default than Treasuries and municipal bonds, and therefore offer a slightly higher yield.
Mortgage-backed securities are created by pooling mortgages purchased from the original lenders. Investors receive monthly interest and principal payments from the underlying mortgages. These securities differ from traditional bonds in that there isn't necessarily a predetermined amount that gets redeemed at a scheduled maturity date.
Bondholders receive monthly payments that are made up of both interest and part of the principal as borrowers pay back their loans. These payments can vary from month to month and create irregular cash flows. Additionally, prepayment of mortgages can cause mortgage-backed securities to mature early, cutting short an investor's income stream.
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are a type of Treasury security whose principal value is indexed to inflation. When inflation rises, the TIPS' principal value is adjusted up. If there's deflation, then the principal value is adjusted lower. Like U.S. Treasuries, TIPS are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Interest is paid based on the adjusted principal every six months, and at maturity, investors receive either the original or adjusted principal—whichever is greater.
U.S. agency bonds are issued by government-sponsored enterprises (GSE), and the bonds are guaranteed by the issuing agency, not the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Since they get implicit support from the U.S. government, they are considered to be of high credit quality. Issuers of agency bonds include the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).
High-yield corporates are issued by companies with credit ratings of Ba1 or BB+ or below by Moody's and S&P, respectively, and therefore have a relatively higher risk of default. They are also called "junk bonds." To compensate for that added risk, they tend to pay higher rates of interest than those of their higher-quality peers.
International developed market bonds, also known as foreign bonds, are issued by either a foreign government or foreign corporation in a foreign currency. Developed market bonds tend to have higher credit ratings than emerging market bonds, but they still have varying degrees of economic, political, and social risks. Additionally, investing internationally carries currency risk.
International emerging market bonds (EM bonds) are issued by a government, agency, municipality, or corporation domiciled in a developing country. These investments typically offer higher yields to reflect the elevated risk of default, which can stem from underlying factors such as political instability, poor corporate governance, and currency fluctuations. The asset class is relatively new compared with other sectors of the bond market. EM bonds may be denominated in local currency, U.S. dollars, or other hard currencies.
Preferred securities are considered a hybrid investment, as they share the characteristics of both stocks and bonds. Like bonds, they generally have fixed par values—often just $25—and make scheduled coupon payments. Preferred securities often have very long maturities, or no maturity date at all, meaning they are "perpetual", but they can generally be redeemed by the issuer after a certain amount of time has passed. Like stocks, however, preferred securities generally rank below an issuer's bonds, and their dividends are often (but not always) discretionary. While a missed payment by a bond generally triggers a default, that's not necessarily the case with preferred securities, although it varies by issue. Given the increased risks and their complex characteristics, preferred securities tend to offer relatively high yields.
Bond investing comes with a number of risks, but interest rate risk and credit risk are two of the main risks. Here's a look at some risks that can come with bond investing.
Interest rate risk is the risk that a bond's value will fall as interest rates rise. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions, so when yields are rising, bond values tend to fall in the secondary market. You risk losing principal if you need to sell your bond before it matures, potentially at a lower price than what you paid for it or for what its par value is.
Credit risk is the risk that a security could default if the issuer fails to make timely interest or principal payments. Downgrade risk is also a form of credit risk, as a downgrade in a bond's credit rating could result in a lower price in the secondary market.
Some bonds are sold with a call provision that gives the issuer the option to redeem, or "call", the security after a specified about of time has passed. The bond can usually be called at a specified price—typically its par value. Callable bonds are more likely to be called when interest rates fall and the issuer can issue new bonds with a lower interest rate. If your bond is called, you will likely have to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate than the original security's rate. This can lead to a reduction in annual interest payments, effectively resulting in less income.
Inflation risk, also known as purchasing power risk, refers to the risk that you could lose purchasing power if inflation picks up. Most bond investments make fixed interest payments, meaning they won't change even if prices elsewhere are rising.
Liquidity risk is the measure of how easily a security can be sold without incurring high transaction costs or a reduction in price. We generally suggest investors plan to hold their bonds to maturity, at which time the bond will pay back full par value (assuming no default).
Currency risk, also known as exchange rate risk, is present with bonds that are denominated in foreign currencies. Currency fluctuations can impact bond payments when they are converted to U.S. dollars. If a foreign currency weakens after the bond is purchased, the value of the bond and the income payments may decline, negatively impact your return.
There are several ways to purchase bonds outlined below. (Check out our Guide to How to Buy Bonds to find out what to consider before buying a bond.)
You can purchase bonds through from a bank or broker (like Charles Schwab) over the phone or via your online brokerage account.
If you're buying government bonds, you can purchase them directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Both mutual funds and ETFs pool money from many investors to purchase a broad range of investments, which include bonds.
Find bonds that are right for you.High-yield bonds have been one of the best-performing bond investments so far this year, but there may be better entry points down the road.
Markets were recently rattled by concerns the U.S. may slip into recession, but it's not clear that those fears are justified.
Investors should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. You can request a prospectus by calling 800-435-4000. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.
All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.
Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.
Diversification strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.
Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income investments are subject to various other risks, including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors. Lower-rated securities are subject to greater credit risk, default risk, and liquidity risk.
Tax-exempt bonds are not necessarily a suitable investment for all persons. Information related to a security's tax-exempt status (federal and in-state) is obtained from third parties, and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. does not guarantee its accuracy. Tax-exempt income may be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Capital appreciation from bond funds and discounted bonds may be subject to state or local taxes. Capital gains are not exempt from federal income tax.
Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) may be more sensitive to interest rate changes than other fixed income investments. They are subject to extension risk, where borrowers extend the duration of their mortgages as interest rates rise, and prepayment risk, where borrowers pay off their mortgages earlier as interest rates fall. These risks may reduce returns.
Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) are inflation-linked securities issued by the US Government whose principal value is adjusted periodically in accordance with the rise and fall in the inflation rate. Thus, the dividend amount payable is also impacted by variations in the inflation rate, as it is based upon the principal value of the bond. It may fluctuate up or down. Repayment at maturity is guaranteed by the US Government and may be adjusted for inflation to become the greater of the original face amount at issuance or that face amount plus an adjustment for inflation. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities are guaranteed by the US Government, but inflation-protected bond funds do not provide such a guarantee.
Preferred securities are a type of hybrid investment that share characteristics of both stock and bonds. They are often callable, meaning the issuing company may redeem the security at a certain price after a certain date. Such call features, and the timing of a call, may affect the security's yield. Preferred securities generally have lower credit ratings and a lower claim to assets than the issuer's individual bonds. Like bonds, prices of preferred securities tend to move inversely with interest rates, so their prices may fall during periods of rising interest rates. Investment value will fluctuate, and preferred securities, when sold before maturity, may be worth more or less than original cost. Preferred securities are subject to various other risks including changes in interest rates and credit quality, default risks, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, deferral risk, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors.
International investments involve additional risks, which include differences in financial accounting standards, currency fluctuations, geopolitical risk, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. Investing in emerging markets may accentuate these risks.
In the bond market, there is no centralized exchange or quotation service for most fixed income securities. Prices in the secondary market generally reflect activity by market participants or dealers linked to various trading systems. Bonds available through Schwab may be available through other dealers at superior or inferior prices compared to those available at Schwab. All prices are subject to change without prior notice.
Schwab reserves the right to act as principal on any fixed income transaction. When Schwab acts as principal in a secondary market transaction, the bond price includes our transaction fee (as outlined in the Charles Schwab Pricing Guide), and may also include a markup that reflects the bid-ask spread and is not subject to a minimum or maximum. When trading as principal, Schwab may also be holding the security in its own account prior to selling it to you and, therefore, may make (or lose) money depending on whether the price of the security has risen or fallen while Schwab has held it. When Schwab acts as agent, a commission will be charged on the transaction.
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