US Treasury Bond Price Calculator
Calculation Summary
Estimated Market Price:
Current Yield:
Total Coupon Payments:
Bond Status:
Understanding US Bond Valuations
A US Bond Calculator is an essential tool for fixed-income investors to determine the fair market value of Treasury securities. In the world of finance, bond prices and yields share an inverse relationship: when market yields rise, the price of existing bonds falls, and vice-versa.
Key Variables in Bond Calculation
- Face Value (Par): This is the amount the US Treasury promises to pay back to the bondholder at the end of the term. Most US Treasuries have a par value of $1,000.
- Coupon Rate: The fixed annual interest rate the bond pays. For example, a 5% coupon on a $1,000 bond pays $50 annually.
- Yield to Maturity (YTM): This is the total return anticipated on a bond if it is held until it matures. It is considered the market's required rate of return.
- Payment Frequency: While some international bonds pay annually, most US Treasury Notes and Bonds pay semi-annually (twice a year).
How to Interpret Results
If the Market Price is higher than the Face Value, the bond is trading at a Premium. This happens when the bond's coupon rate is higher than the current market yield. Conversely, if the price is lower than the face value, it is trading at a Discount, typically because the coupon rate is lower than what the market currently demands.
Practical Example
Imagine you are looking at a 10-year US Treasury Note with a 4.0% coupon. If the current market Yield to Maturity (YTM) is 3.5%, the bond is more attractive than the market average. Using the calculator, you would see that the price rises above $1,000 (roughly $1,041.50). If the YTM jumped to 4.5%, the price would drop below par (roughly $960.44), as investors demand a discount to buy a bond with a lower-than-market coupon.