Collateralized Mortgage Obligation - CMO

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Collateralized Mortgage Obligation - CMO'

A type of mortgage-backed security that creates separate pools of pass-through rates for different classes of bondholders with varying maturities, called tranches. The repayments from the pool of pass-through securities are used to retire the bonds in the order specified by the bonds' prospectus.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Collateralized Mortgage Obligation - CMO'

Here is an example how a very simple CMO works: The investors in the CMO are divided up into three classes. They are called either class A, B or C investors. Each class differs in the order they receive principal payments, but receives interest payments as long as it is not completely paid off. Class A investors are paid out first with prepayments and repayments until they are paid off. Then class B investors are paid off, followed by class C investors. In a situation like this, class A investors bear most of the prepayment risk, while class C investors bear the least.

Video Definition


Related Definitions

  • Collateralized Debt Obligation - CDO

    An investment-grade security backed by a pool of bonds, loans and other assets. CDOs do not specialize in one type of debt but are often non-mortgage loans or bonds.
    Read More »
  • Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS)

    A type of mortgage-backed security that is secured by the loan on a commercial property. A CMBS can provide liquidity to real estate investors and to commercial lenders. As with other ...
    Read More »
  • Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS)

    A type of asset-backed security that is secured by a mortgage or collection of mortgages. These securities must also be grouped in one of the top two ratings as determined by a ...
    Read More »
    • Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit - REMIC

      A special purpose vehicle (SPV) that is used to pool mortgage loans and issue mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMIC) hold commercial and ...
      Read More »
    • Z-Tranche

      A special type of bond class in a sequential pay collateralized mortgage obligation. This class of bond does not receive any interest or principal payments until all other tranches have ...
      Read More »
    • Companion Tranche

      A class of tranche found in planned amortization class (PAC) and targeted amortization class (TAC) collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) that absorbs variable prepayment rates. The ...
      Read More »
    • Sequential Pay CMO

      A type of collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) in which there are several tranches. Each tranche's holder receives interest payments as long as the tranche's principal amount has not ...
      Read More »
    • Sequential Growth

      A measure of a company's short-term financial performance that compares the results achieved in a recent period to those of the period immediately preceding it. In financial reporting, ...
      Read More »
    • Planned Amortization Class (PAC) Tranche

      A class of tranche in a planned amortization class (PAC) bond that receives a primary payment schedule. As long as the actual prepayment rate is between a designated range of prepayment ...
      Read More »
    • Dodd-Frank Financial Regulatory Reform Bill

      A piece of legislation that increased government oversight of trading in complex financial instruments such as derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Financial Regulatory Reform Bill was named ...
      Read More »

Articles Of Interest

Partner Links