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Glossary

Nominal yield

Category — Analytical Metrics
By Konstantin Vasilev Member of the Board of Directors of Cbonds, Ph.D. in Economics
Updated August 06, 2023

What is meant by nominal yield?

Nominal Yield (NY or NYC/NYP), also known as the coupon rate, represents the rate of return on a fixed-income security, such as bonds, when compounding occurs monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually. This widely adopted calculation method is used in various markets, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, India, France, Switzerland, Portugal, South Africa, Finland, Poland, and others.

To calculate a bond’s nominal yield, expressed as a percentage, you divide the total annual interest paid by the bond’s face value (or par value).

Investing in bonds involves risk, and one of the crucial factors to consider is interest rate risk. Bond prices tend to fall when interest rates rise, affecting the bond yield. On the other hand, when market interest rates drop, bond prices may rise, leading to a decrease in the nominal yield.

It’s essential to note that the nominal yield does not indicate the actual price of the bond. Instead, it reflects the fixed income security’s annual interest payments relative to its face value. Additionally, understanding nominal yield helps bond investors compare different bonds and make informed decisions based on their risk tolerance and investment goals.

Investors should be aware of default risk associated with bonds. Some bonds, such as treasury bonds, are considered safer due to their lower default risk, while others, like junk bonds, carry higher default risk but offer higher yields in return.

As inflation can erode the purchasing power of fixed-income investments, investors should also consider inflation risk. Higher inflation rates may lead to a decrease in the effective yield of bonds, impacting the bond’s current market value and the bond investor’s steady income.

Nominal yield

What is the nominal yield formula?

The nominal yield (NY or NYC/NYP) of a bond is calculated using the following formula:

Nominal Yield (NY) = (Annual Interest Payment / Face Value) * 100

Where:

  • Annual Interest Payment. This is the total interest paid by the bond annually. It can be calculated by multiplying the coupon rate (expressed as a percentage) by the face value of the bond.

  • Face Value. Also known as par value, this represents the bond’s principal amount, which is typically the amount the bondholder will receive at maturity.

How is nominal yield determined?

Bonds serve as financial instruments issued by governments for domestic spending purposes or by corporations to raise funds for research and development as well as capital expenditure (CapEx). During issuance, investment bankers act as intermediaries between the bond issuer, which can be a corporation and potential bond buyers. The nominal yield on a debt instrument is influenced by two key components: the prevailing rate of inflation and the credit risk associated with the issuer.

  • Inflation and Nominal Yield. The nominal rate is composed of the perceived rate of inflation and the real interest rate. When establishing the coupon rate for a bond, the current inflation rate is considered. Consequently, higher annual inflation rates lead to an increase in the nominal yield. An example of this was observed from 1979 until 1981, where double-digit inflation prevailed for three consecutive years. During this period, three-month Treasury bills, backed by the U.S. Treasury and considered risk-free investments, peaked at a yield of 15.49% in December 1980. In contrast, the yield on the same three-month Treasury obligation was 1.5% in December 2019.1 Changes in interest rates impact bond prices inversely, thereby affecting nominal yields accordingly.

  • Credit Rating and Nominal Yield. U.S. government securities, being nearly risk-free, tend to offer lower nominal yields compared to corporate bonds. Corporations are assigned credit ratings by agencies like Moody’s, which assess the financial strength of the issuer. The difference in coupon rates between two bonds with identical maturities is referred to as the credit spread. Investment-grade bonds typically carry lower nominal yields at issuance compared to non-investment grade or high-yield bonds. Higher nominal yields are associated with a higher risk of default, where the corporate issuer may be unable to meet debt obligations, including principal and interest payments. Investors accept higher nominal yields while being aware of the increased risk to their principal due to the issuer’s financial health.

Nominal yield vs. current yield

The main difference between nominal yield and current yield lies in the components used to calculate them and the aspects of the bond they represent:

  1. Nominal Yield (Coupon Yield). Nominal yield, also known as coupon yield, is the ratio of the annual interest earned from a bond to the bond’s face value. It is expressed as a percentage and represents the fixed interest rate paid by the bond to the investor. The nominal yield calculation does not consider changes in the bond’s market price, and it remains constant throughout the bond’s life. Nominal yield is determined at the time of bond issuance and remains the same until maturity.

Formula for Nominal Yield: Nominal Yield = (Annual Interest Payment / Face Value) * 100

  1. Current Yield. Current yield, on the other hand, is the ratio of the annual interest earned from a bond to the bond’s current market price. Like nominal yield, it is expressed as a percentage. However, unlike nominal yield, current yield considers the bond’s current market price, which can fluctuate over time based on changes in interest rates and investor demand. Current yield provides a more updated measure of the bond’s return to the investor, as it takes into account the prevailing market conditions.

Formula for Current Yield: Current Yield = (Annual Interest Payment / Current Market Price) * 100

Nominal yield vs. yield to maturity

  1. Nominal Yield (Coupon Yield). Nominal yield, or coupon yield, is the fixed interest rate specified by the bond indenture at the time of issuance. It represents the annual interest payment as a percentage of the bond’s face value. Once set, the nominal yield remains constant throughout the life of the bond, regardless of changes in the bond’s market price or prevailing interest rates. It is determined by the terms of the bond and does not vary over time.

  2. Yield to Maturity (YTM). On the other hand, yield to maturity is a dynamic measure of the total return an investor can expect to earn on a bond if they hold it until maturity. YTM takes into account not only the bond’s coupon payments but also any capital gains or losses that occur due to changes in the bond’s market price. As bond prices change in the secondary market, the yield to maturity changes inversely. If bond prices increase, the YTM decreases, and vice versa.

The relationship between nominal yield and yield to maturity can be summarized as follows:

  • Nominal yield is the fixed interest rate determined at issuance and remains constant throughout the bond’s life.

  • Yield to maturity takes into account changes in bond prices and reflects the total return an investor would realize if they hold the bond until maturity, considering both coupon payments and potential capital gains or losses due to price fluctuations.

FAQ

  • Does the nominal yield change?

  • What is the nominal yield of a bond?

  • Are bond yields real or nominal?

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