Investopedia

Yield

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Yield'

The income return on an investment. This refers to the interest or dividends received from a security and is usually expressed annually as a percentage based on the investment's cost, its current market value or its face value.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Yield'

This seemingly simple term, without a qualifier, can be rather confusing to investors.

For example, there are two stock dividend yields. If you buy a stock for $30 (cost basis) and its current price and annual dividend is $33 and $1, respectively, the "cost yield" will be 3.3% ($1/$30) and the "current yield" will be 3% ($1/$33).

Bonds have four yields: coupon (the bond interest rate fixed at issuance), current (the bond interest rate as a percentage of the current price of the bond), and yield to maturity (an estimate of what an investor will receive if the bond is held to its maturity date). Non-taxable municipal bonds will have a tax-equivalent (TE) yield determined by the investor's tax bracket.

Mutual fund yields are an annual percentage measure of income (dividends and interest) earned by the fund's portfolio, net of the fund's expenses. In addition, the "SEC yield" is an indicator of the percentage yield on a fund based on a 30-day period.

Articles Of Interest

  1. Are High-Yield Bonds Too Risky?

    Despite their reputation, the debt securities known as "junk bonds" may actually reduce risk in your portfolio.
  2. Consider Prime Rate Funds For More Income

    These funds may give you the reliable stream of income you need when you're retired.
  3. Get Acquainted With Bond Price/Yield Duo

    Understanding this relationship can help an investor in any market.
  4. Lending Clubs: Better Than Banks?

    If you need to borrow money and your credit is making it tough, this new option may be just what you're looking for.
  5. What is the difference between yields and interest rates?

    The main difference between yields and interest rates is that each term refers to different financial instruments. Yield commonly refers to the dividend, interest or return the investor receives ...
  6. If the price of the bond falls, does that mean the company won't pay me the par value?

    When you buy a bond, you are loaning money to the issuer. Because a bond is a loan, the interest paid to the bondholder is payment for lending the money. The interest payable is stated as a percentage ...
  7. Why do commercial bills have higher yields than T-bills?

    The reason that commercial bills have higher yields than T-bills is due to the varying credit quality of each bill type. The credit rating of the entity issuing the bill gives investors an idea ...
  8. Are high-yield bonds better investments than low-yield bonds?

    Most bonds typically make periodic payments, known as coupon payments, to the bondholder. A bond's indenture, which will be known when the purchaser buys the bond, will specify the coupon payments ...
  9. Can a bond have a negative yield?

    The return a bond provides to an investor is measured by its yield, which is quoted as a percentage. Current yield is a commonly quoted yield calculation, used to evaluate the return on a bond ...
  10. Bond Basics Tutorial

    Investing in bonds - What are they, and do they belong in your portfolio?
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Glocalization

    A combination of the words "globalization" and "localization" used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market.
  2. Disaster Loss

    A special type of tax-deductible loss, similar to a casualty loss, where a loss has been incurred by taxpayers who reside in an area that has been designated as a federal disaster area by the President.
  3. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.
  4. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
  5. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
  6. Happiness Economics

    The formal academic study of the relationship between individual satisfaction and economic issues, such as employment and wealth.
Trading Center
Array ( )
taggroups(for debug only):
Array ( [0] => Bonds And Fixed Income [1] => SEG (Investors) [2] => Investing [3] => Mutual Funds [5] => SEG (Investors:Instrument-MutualFund) [6] => Investing-Basics ) time:15ms