Discount Margin - DM

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Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Discount Margin - DM'

The return earned in addition to the index underlying the floating rate security.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Discount Margin - DM'

The size of the discount margin depends on the price of the floating rate security. There are three basic situations:

1. If the price of a floater is equal to par, the investor's discount margin would be equal to the reset margin.

2. Due to the tendency for bond prices to converge to par as the bond reaches maturity, the investor can make an additional return over the reset margin if the floating rate bond was priced at a discount. The additional return plus the reset margin equals the discount margin.

3. Should the floating rate bond be priced above par, the discount margin would equal the reference rate less the reduced earnings.

Related Definitions

  • Floater

    A bond or other type of debt whose coupon rate changes with market conditions (short-term interest rates). Also known as "floating-rate debt".
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  • Floating-Rate Note - FRN

    A note with a variable interest rate. The adjustments to the interest rate are usually made every six months and are tied to a certain money-market index.Also known as a "floater".
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  • Par Value

    1. The face value of a bond. 2. A dollar amount that is assigned to a security when representing the value contributed for each share in cash or goods.
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    • Reference Rate

      An interest rate benchmark upon which a floating-rate security or interest rate swap is based. The reference rate will be a moving index such as LIBOR, the prime rate or the rate on ...
      Read More »
    • Reset Margin

      The difference between the interest rate of a security and the index on which the security's interest rate is based. The reset margin will be positive, as it is always added to the ...
      Read More »

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