Tag: Learn

Definition:

The yield curve is an instrument that enables investors to understand bond markets, interest rates, and the status of the economy in the United States. It allows investors to easily view and compare the profits from both short- and long-term bonds.

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What is the yield curve?
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The yield curve may be built for any bond kind, from corporate to municipal. However, when we speak of the yield curve, we normally refer to the yield curve of US Treasury securities.

When investors purchase Treasury securities, they are effectively lending money to the government. In exchange, the Treasury agrees to repay their principal investments within a specified time period and to pay them a preset interest rate on the loan, often known as a coupon payment. Coupons on US Treasury bonds typically do not vary over their maturity, but their yield does, because the yield takes into account the continually fluctuating values of treasury bonds in the secondary trade market. The yield is derived by dividing the coupon rate of interest by the current secondary market price of the bond:

Annual Coupon / Bond Price = Yield
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On the X/Y axis, the yield curve is displayed. In the case of the yield curve of US Treasury bonds, the horizontal X-axis begins on the left with short-term Treasury bills with maturities ranging from several days to one year, then moves on to Treasury bonds with maturities ranging from two years to three, five, seven, and ten years, and comes to an end on the right with bonds with maturities ranging from 20 to 30 years. The current yield obtained for each maturity is shown on the vertical Y axis.

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How does the yield curve work?
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The yield curve provides a simple graphic representation of a certain bond market at a given point in time. It typically displays the average yield of bonds with a short, medium, or long maturity for a certain trading day or week.

Interest rates on bonds offered by the same issuer with different maturities behave quite differently, depending on how investors perceive risk, market movements, and the overall performance of the economy. On the yield curve, you may see various rates for different maturities on the same chart.

When investors compare bonds from the same issuer with different maturities, they can design the best investing plan. Investing in a long-term bond carries the risk of increasing interest rates over the security’s life, and the yield curve can assist investors comprehend this risk.
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The yield curve may be used by investors to determine if long-term bonds generate adequate returns to cover the higher risk of investing in long-term bonds vs short-term bonds. The steeper the curve, the bigger the disparity in profitability and the greater the likelihood that the investor is ready to take this risk. Investors receive less benefit for investing in long-term bonds relative to short-term bonds when the curve flattens, and they are less inclined to do so.

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Yield curve types
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Yield curves adopt various shapes based on the state of the specific bond market and the overall economy. Each form represents a distinct possible bond prospect and is characterized as regular, steep, inverted, flat, or humped.
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– Normal yield curve

As the yield matures, the normal yield curve trends up and to the right. This means that market conditions and the economy as a whole are in good shape and operating properly. Returns are often dispersed in this manner because, in a perfect world, investors would want to be better paid for having their money locked up in the long run. This implies that issuers must pay a liquidity premium, which guarantees higher returns on longer-term bonds.

This motivates buyers to purchase them rather than more liquid short-term bonds.

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– Steep yield curve

A steep yield curve is similar to a normal yield curve but has a higher gradient. The market conditions for normal and steep yield curves are identical. However, a steeper curve indicates that investors anticipate stronger market conditions in the long run, which increases the gap between short- and long- term returns.

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– Inverted yield curve

An inverted yield curve tends to happen when short-term repayment rates are greater than long-term repayment rates. In this scenario, the yield curve slopes to the right rather than up. This might suggest a recession or a bear market, when bond prices and yields fall for an extended period of time.

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– Flat yield curve

A flat yield curve is formed once the yields on both short- and long-term maturities are just about equal. Flat yield curves frequently include a raised portion in the center, when medium-term bonds yield more than short-term or long-term bonds. This is known as a twisted yield curve.

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If the curve straightens out, confidence about the economy’s future declines. A flat or humped yield curve may also be a forerunner to an inverted yield curve, however this is not always the regular practice.

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What the yield curve depends on?
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Yield curves are influenced by a variety of variables. The interest rate on every maturity bond is determined by a number of factors, including the risk-free rate, predicted inflation, default risk, maturity, and liquidity.

Because these individual elements change based on how they relate to a particular loan instrument, the interest rate on that debt instrument will likewise change. Each of these elements has a different effect on the yield curve, but they all function together.

Interest rates in general can have an impact on the yield curve since they help determine the projected interest rates for all bond maturities. Interest rates respond to economic development and inflation via changing yield curve research.

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Conclusion
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Yield curves are frequently employed as an economic standard, which can be perplexing and alarming to the typical investor. So when the press says that the sky is falling because of flat or inverted yield curves, or that the economy is crumbling because of a steep yield curve, it is critical to remember that this metric is only a snap.

Just keep in mind that the yield curve is an indication, not a prediction. Understanding the yield curve as a single piece of information rather than a perfect forecast of the economy as a whole can assist investors in making the best investing decisions.

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Definition:

A repurchase agreement (repo) is a type of short-term borrowing instrument that an entity, usually the government, can use to raise funds.

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What a Repo is?
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Repos serve the same purpose as payday loans. Financial institutions frequently do so on behalf of other businesses (such as the federal government). They are a type of money market instrument that typically matures overnight. The seller promises to repurchase the securities with interest the next day after the investor purchases it. Due to their quick maturity, repurchase agreements frequently have interest rates that are higher than those of other investment possibilities. When a company needs to raise quick cash, they may employ these agreements. On a short-term loan, the security they sell the investor serves as the security.

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How do repurchase agreements operate?
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A secured short-term loan with a repurchase agreement is sold by one party to another (typically a financial institution). The transaction involves the selling of securities that serve as the loan’s collateral.

The seller promises to repurchase the securities after a brief period of time when they sell the repurchase agreement to the buyer. Repurchase agreements frequently mature in a single day, but they may continue longer. Due to the short duration, repurchase agreements have higher interest rates than other securities transactions. The cost of a short-term loan is this interest, which the seller pays to the buyer.

Both parties benefit from these contracts. They first enable the seller to raise the urgently required short-term financing. The buyer will benefit from them as well because they will allow them to quickly turn a profit.

The securities that are exchanged as part of repurchase agreements, which are a component of the money market, are frequently securities with a government guarantee, like U.S. Treasury bills or bonds.

Repurchase agreements are frequently used by institutions to obtain short-term capital, but they can also be used by the Federal Reserve (commonly known as the Fed) to control the amount of money available. They might carry out this action to raise the available currency for borrowing.

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Repo market operation principle
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The repurchase agreement market is the financial system in which repurchase agreements are bought and sold. Every day, the repo market sells more than $3 trillion in debt securities.

Repurchase agreement lenders are frequently hedge funds and broker-dealers who manage large sums of money. The buyers of these agreements are frequently money market funds — so you could be involved in the repo market without even knowing it.

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Repo Rate
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The current rate of return available to investors for overnight repurchase agreements is known as the repo rate. The New York Fed and the U.S. Office of Financial Research jointly publish the rate. In an effort to increase the repo market’s openness, they publicize these rates.

Three distinct rates are released by the New York Fed:

 1. Overnight secured financing rate: This rate serves as a benchmark for the price of overnight securities.

 2. Broad general collateral rate: This rate gauges the cost of overnight Treasury repo transactions involving broad collateral.

 3. Tri-party general collateral rate: This rate serves as a benchmark for repurchase agreement rates between three parties. It is based on information gathered by the Bank of New York Mellon.

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Types of repurchase agreements
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Repurchase agreements often fall into one of three categories: third-party repo, held-in-custody repo, or specialized delivery repo.
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• Third-party repo

A third party assists the transaction in a third-party repo (also known as a tri-party repo), which serves to safeguard the interests of both the buyer and the seller. The majority of buyback agreements are of this kind. In this kind of arrangement, the third party is frequently a bank; JPMorgan Chase and Bank of New York Mellon are two of the main financial institutions that support these repo transactions. They frequently keep the securities and make sure that both parties receive the money that was promised to them.
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• Held-in-custody repo

In a held-in-custody repo, the securities are not delivered to the buyer of the securities. The seller keeps the securities in a custodial account at a financial institution while the buyer transfers the necessary funds for the transaction. Repurchase agreements of this kind are uncommon.

Since the seller retains ownership of both the securities and the funds for the transaction, there is a significant amount of risk for the buyer. With minimal guarantees on their end, the buyer must have faith that the vendor will fulfill their obligations.
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• Specified delivery repo

Specified delivery repos are the last kind of repurchase arrangement. This form of repo is not very frequent, much like the held-in-custody repo. A bond guarantee is used in this kind of transaction when a third party agrees to guarantee the bond’s interest and principal payments. This guarantee applies to both the initial sale and the agreement’s maturity.

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Repurchase agreement VS reverse repurchase agreement
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A reverse repurchase agreement is the exact opposite of a repurchase agreement, in which one party sells a security with the intent to buy it back later. When one party purchases a security with the intent to resell it at a later date for a greater price, this is known as a reverse repurchase agreement (reverse repo).

It all boils down to whose party you’re referring to when you compare the terms. From the perspective of the first seller, the contract is a buyback agreement. The deal, as seen by the original buyer, is a reverse repurchase agreement.

A reverse repurchase agreement commits the party to lending money to another for a brief period of time (often a financial institution).

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Repurchase agreement’s near and far legs
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Repurchase agreements are frequently referred to as “legs”. When one party sells the other party the security, that is the beginning of the near leg of the trade. The maturity date, when the seller repurchases the security, is the far leg of the transaction. The near and far legs are other names for the start and close legs.

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Definition:

Collateral is a borrower-owned asset that the borrower undertakes to transfer to his credit institution in cases of loan default.

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What is the collateral?
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For a financial organization lending money is always a risk. Many creditors need guarantees that the borrower will be able to recover his money if he fails to make loan payments. A secured loan is just a loan accompanied by a collateral (because it offers security for the lender). Some loans include embedded collateral. If you borrow money to buy a vehicle or a house, this asset serves as collateral for the loan. In other cases, such as with a personal loan, the lender may need you to make a deposit in order to be approved or to receive reduced interest rates.

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How do collateral loans work?
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When a bank or financial institution loans money to someone, it assumes the risk that the borrower may default on the loan. To mitigate this risk, the lender may require you to submit a deposit in order to secure a loan.

Your lender has rights (also known as a lien) on your asset when you have a secured loan. If you cease making payments on your debt, the lender has the legal authority to seize your asset. Collateral is used by lenders to manage their risks and by borrowers to provide a motivation to continue making payments.

When your lender does not require you to submit collateral, you may receive a better loan if you make an offer. Let’s review unsecured debts, such as personal loans, student loans and small business loans. If the borrower fails to pay them, there is no built-in security in the contract that the lender may seize. So, if you stop making student loan payments, your lender will be unable to get a college diploma.

For loans that do not require security, the lender may give you a lower interest rate, a longer period, or a larger amount if you agree to invest assets equal to the loan’s cost.

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Examples of collaterals
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– There are a variety of loans that are intrinsically secured. A mortgage is an example of this sort of loan; it is nearly always a secured loan. You agree to give the house as collateral when you borrow money to buy a house. If you cease making loan payments, the lender may seize your house during the foreclosure process.

– There are several less typical loans that are also collateralized. Some homeowners opt to obtain a home equity line of credit (HELOC). This enables you to utilize your home’s worth as collateral for a loan. The hitch with HELOC is that if you already have a mortgage on your home, you may only borrow against the equity you have built up in your home.

– Finally, collateral is used in the realm of investment through margin trading. This occurs when an investor borrows money from a broker in order to purchase securities (otherwise buying on margin). To purchase on margin, the investor must have money in his brokerage account to serve as collateral. The benefit of borrowing from a broker is that the investor may purchase more stocks. However, if the stock price falls and the investor loses the money he borrowed, he must find another way to return the loan.

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What can not be used as collateral
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You may use nearly anything of value as collateral for a loan. The collateral for certain loans, such as mortgages, vehicle loans, or real estate loans, has already been determined. However, with other sorts of debt (such as a personal loan), you can invest in something valuable enough to cover the loan’s cost. You might use your home, car, investments (such as stocks and bonds), or even costly jewelry as collateral. Lenders favor liquid collateral, or collateral that can be quickly converted into cash.
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There is, however, one caveat. You can only use your own belongings as collateral. As a result, if you own your automobile outright, you can use it as collateral for a personal loan. However, if you still have a car loan with your vehicle as collateral, you cannot utilize the same vehicle as collateral for another loan. Lenders want to know that even if you don’t pay off all of your loans, they have a fair probability of getting their money back.
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There are also some assets that cannot be used as collateral at all. You cannot use money in your 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account (IRA) as collateral, according to IRS guidelines. This limitation can be overcome by taking out a loan directly via your 401(k) plan. Keep in mind that this is normally not advised, since you may wind up paying exorbitant taxes or fees and being liable for the remainder of the loan if you quit your employment.

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The advantages and disadvantages of collateral
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Unsecured loans sometimes offer cheaper interest rates than secured loans (without collateral). You might anticipate that the greater your interest rate will be, the more risk a lender takes on by lending you money. So, if you supply collateral as a security, they will almost certainly give you a cheaper interest rate.
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Another advantage of collateral loans is that they allow those who would not normally qualify for a traditional loan or credit card to obtain one. One way financial institutions accomplish this is by providing secured credit cards. A secured credit card, as opposed to an unsecured credit card, requires you to deposit money before you can begin debiting cash.
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You pay monthly, just like a conventional credit card, but the corporation retains your money if you don’t return it. You can switch to an unsecured credit card and get your money back after a specific amount of time. A secured credit card is intended to assist people with a poor credit history in improving their creditworthiness so that they may be eligible for other forms of loans in the future.

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Despite the potential savings, secured loans do have certain potential dangers. If you are unable to make payments at any time, you risk losing an item linked with it, such as a vehicle or even a house. Utilizing something as collateral that you cannot afford to lose should be carefully weighed.

Another possible disadvantage of collateral loans is that they are only offered to people who own a valuable asset. Obtaining any type of loan might be difficult for someone with a low income and little property.

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Definition:

A fractional share is a small increase in equity (less than an entire share) in an exchange-traded investment fund (ETF) or stock fund.

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A fraction of a stock is a full stock. Financial choices or corporate activities frequently have an impact on fractional shares. What behaviors might result in fractional shares?

Suppose the investor has an odd number of shares and wants to split them. Or, if the two businesses are united, the shares are frequently mixed using a ratio that has been agreed upon and can result in fractional shares. You can obtain a share of the stock if you reinvest your dividend as part of a dividend reinvestment scheme. A brokerage business can combine numerous shares to produce a full share, sell you a percentage to complete your stock, or split whole shares to sell fractional shares to new investors. Normally, you cannot buy or sell a fractional share of the stock market.

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Let’s use an example where shares of GridCapital are available for $1,000 each. Fractional shares can be offered by a brokerage company to clients who would like to acquire a portion of GridCapital but are unable to pay the expensive price for a single share. For example, a half-share can be purchased for $500, a quarter-share for $250, etc.

As a result, fractional share resembles a diamond. Not everybody can afford an entire diamond, but it can be divided into multiple pieces.

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The fundamentals of how fractional shares work
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A fractional stock is exactly what it sounds like—it represents a portion of a share rather than the complete share. The fractional share allows those interested in fractional investment to purchase in smaller monetary increments because it is smaller than the complete share.

A brokerage company can help you buy a fractional share of a large company if you’re a start-up investor interested in investing in a huge company with a high stock value but unable to afford an entire investment. Not all brokerage houses provide this choice.

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Positive aspects of fractional shares
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Even if a full share of a company’s stock is out of your price range due to its share price, you can still participate in it through fractional shares. Additionally, it might give you more flexibility, enabling you to diversify your portfolio and lower risk (though it’s important to keep in mind that it can’t guarantee protection against market falls).

Acquiring and disposing of fractional shares:

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• Some brokerage companies enable the purchase of fractional shares. There are numerous ways that companies can carry out fractional orders. One illustration would be if the company bought or sold all of the shares of a particular share, then kept track of which client owned which share of each share.
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• The only way to complete fractional shares is not to purchase them. Financial strategies used by businesses, including stock splitting, frequently produce fractional stocks as a result.
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• A dividend reinvestment plan may also produce fractional shares when dividends are used to purchase additional shares right away, but there may not be enough money left over to acquire an entire stock. A profitable business may choose to distribute a portion of its profits to investors in the form of dividend payments, which may be made once or more each year and are calculated according to the number of shares that each owner owns. The company’s shares, frequently in the form of fractional shares, may then be purchased with the dividend payment. This transaction is established to take place periodically and automatically via the dividend reinvestment plan.
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• Because businesses can combine new common shares depending on a specified ratio, mergers and acquisitions can also result in fractional shares. This would function similarly to a stock split by generating a specific number of new shares from older shares.

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Do ETF shares come in fractional sizes?
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Yes, it is the answer. You can purchase fractional shares of some exchange-traded funds, just like you may purchase fractional shares of one share (ETFs).

Fractional shares in ETFs can help you diversify your stock portfolio, which may help lower risk. This is similar to fractional shares in a company’s stock. Fractional ETF shares function according to the same rules for buying and selling: At both ends of the transaction, a brokerage company is involved. However, keep in mind that all investments directly include dangers and be careful of the expenses.

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Definition:

The bond yield is the amount of income earned by an investor each year, represented as a proportion of the bond price.

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What is a Bond Yield?
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When you purchase a bond, the amount of money you will get in the form of interest is a percentage of the bond issue price. This sum is constant. Bonds’ market value might fluctuate when they are exchanged. When their market worth fluctuates, the quantity of money to be paid to you varies as well. This is the bond’s yield.

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Current yield = annual coupon payment / bond’s current market price

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How does Bond Yield work?
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A bond is a loan arrangement between a corporation and a government agency. The borrower commits to pay the original loan amount (also known as the “principal amount”) plus periodical interest payments on a future date (the bond maturity date) by issuing the bond. Interest payments, sometimes known as coupons, are often made on a yearly, semi-annual, or other regular basis.

A bond’s yield is often calculated as a percentage of the upfront investment or as a percentage of the bond’s current market value (current yield).

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To trade at a premium – what does it mean?
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Trading at a premium occurs when investors sell their bonds for a higher price than they paid for them. A bond’s price might grow or fall based on a variety of circumstances. As an example – the shift in interest rates.

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To trade at a discount – what does it mean?
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Trading at a discount is the inverse of trading at a premium; this happens when investors sell their bonds at a lower price than they initially purchased.

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Coupon rate vs. current yield
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Bond yields are frequently represented in one of two ways:

• The coupon rate is the interest payment on a bond expressed as a proportion of the initial investment. This interest rate is set at the time of bond issuance and remains constant during the bond’s life.

• The current yield, also known as the interest payment based on the bond’s current market price. Unlike the coupon rate, the current yield of a bond can change over time based on the bond’s market price, which fluctuates based on market conditions, changes in federal interest rates and other variables.

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Why is the bond yield going up/down?
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Bond price changes tend to follow a simple rule: when interest rates fall, bond prices rise, and when interest rates rise, bond prices fall. This is due to the fact that higher interest rates frequently imply that an investor might get bigger interest payments on a freshly issued bond. Existing bonds with lower interest rates become less appealing as a result (this is why their prices may fall).

At the same time, interest rates are not the only factor that may affect bond prices (and, consequently, its yield). Here you can find some of other causes:

• Changes in bond demand or supply
• Changes in the bond issuer’s creditworthiness as a result of its financial state, economic market conditions, or other reasons.
• If the bond is withdrawn by the issuer (repays the bond before its maturity)

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Can investing in bonds be detrimental?
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Bonds are thought to be less hazardous than other forms of assets, such as stocks. Bonds, like all kinds of investing, carry the risk. Bond investors might lose money in a variety of ways:

• You sell your bond at a lower price than you bought for it (at cut-rate). Investors that hold the bond to maturity must presumably refund their initial investment in addition to the periodic coupon payments received over the bond’s existence. This, however, is not always the case. You may suffer losses if you have to sell your bond before it matures.
• The issuer may decide to stop paying interest on your bond. For example, if the corporation that issued the bond runs into financial difficulties, it may fail to pay interest or default.
• Not all bonds reach maturity; sometimes the bond’s issuer may retain the authority to redeem the bond before it matures. (These are known as revocable bonds.) As with any investment, it is critical to undertake preliminary research to understand the dangers and strategies to mitigate them.

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What is the bond’s rating?
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Many bonds and bond issuers, like individual borrowers, are awarded ratings based on their general creditworthiness (a measure of the borrower’s capacity to repay their loan). The bond rating informs investors about the possibility of the issuer repaying the debt in full. For this purpose, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has designated specific credit rating organizations called Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSRO).

These organizations examine the overall financial situation of many (but not all) bond issuers. Then the agency gives a bond rating or letter rating ranging from AAA or Aaa to D or without a rating. Bonds are often classified into two types:

• Bonds with ratings of BBB, bbb, Baa, or above are included in this category. They are often regarded as having a low or moderate risk.
• Non-investment grade bonds, commonly known as junk bonds or high yield bonds, have a substantially higher chance of default.

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Remember that each NRSRO agency has its own set of standards, therefore the bond rating may differ in various agencies.

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The impact of inflation
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In general, inflation has the same impact on bond yields as interest rates. It’s important to keep in mind that when interest rates fall, bond prices increase; when interest rates rise, bond prices fall. When interest rates rise in response to rising inflation, bond prices fall, lowering the current return on bonds.

Bonds with longer maturities (those that will mature in the future) are more likely to lose value since there is more time for inflation to climb substantially. It’s one of explanations why certain bonds with longer maturities pay a greater interest rate than others.

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Definition:

Yield is the amount of revenue earned through investments over a period of time. As a rule, the yield is expressed in percent, and the possibility of a negative yield value is also not excluded.

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Understanding yield

It is crucial for investors to understand whether their investments are worthwhile, so it is best to comprehend how profitability is calculated. This figure displays the amount of interest income an investor might anticipate receiving over a specific time period (most often per year). The yields on stocks, bonds, properties, savings accounts, and other assets can all be calculated by investors. The most profitable alternative investment possibilities are selected by comparing them using this indicator. Each sort of investment’s return is determined using a slightly different formula. If we use generalizations, it is often computed as the proportion of investment income to investment cost.

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Types of yield

The formulas used to determine the yields on stocks, bonds, real estate, and other investments might vary. The most frequently employed are:

– Dividend yield, often known as return on equity investments, allows you to contrast the dividends a firm pays with the share price.

– Bond yield is a measure of the revenue generated for investors through the sale and redemption of bonds.

– Real estate yield is a measure of the potential returns on real estate investments as compared to its market value.

A general formula for a typical investment is a percentage return.

Such a measure is known as “anticipated yield” since it is not guaranteed if the yield calculation method involves non-constant information (for example, the stock price). This measure is characterized as “known yield” because the formula is based on stable values because the data in the formula is predefined.

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How is yield calculated?

 1. Dividend yields (shares). Which stocks may pay the highest dividends? The dividend yield formula makes this clear:

Annual dividends per share / Stock price

In general, a greater dividend yield is a sign of a firm’s financial health, but occasionally declining share prices can unnaturally raise returns, making them seem high even when the company may be in trouble.

 2. Bond yields. You can use the following formula to compare the yield of several bonds:

Annual coupon payment / Bond’s nominal value

The interest a bondholder receives from the issuer each year is known as the yearly coupon payment. The cost of a bond at the moment it was issued is known as face value. Bond yields can occasionally be negative. If this occurs, bond buyers pay in cash or the equivalent instead of earning interest on their investments, while debt issuers are compensated for borrowing.‍

 3. Real estate yields. You can contrast the profit from investing in one piece of real estate with another by comparing the profitability of real estate, also known as net rental income:

Real Estate Value / Net Rental Income

The difference between annual expenses and rent is your net rental income (such as taxes or utility bills). Real estate’s value, not its value at the time of acquisition, is an indicator of its current value.

 4. Percentage yields. A general formula for figuring out return on investment is the percentage return:

Revenue / Cost

These formulas can also have a lot more variables, though. They typically consider complex interest (interest that accrues on interest), such as APY, etc.

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Difference between current and maturity yields

An alternative method for estimating the returns on bond investments is to use the current yield and yield-to-maturity.

– The annual coupon payment on a bond and the current bond price form the basis of the very straightforward formula known as current yield (or coupon yield):

Annual Coupon Payment / Bond Price = Current Yield

– If you hold a bond until it matures, you can expect a total return using a more reliable method called yield to maturity (when the final payment is due). The computation makes the supposition that you purchase the bond at its current value and make all required payments on schedule. The rate is expressed in annual terms even though the calculation considers the long term. Here is the equation:

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Revenue vs. Yield

Gains or losses from an investment or venture capital project are stated in dollars as returns. Revenue and returns are terms used to describe the money an investor has made or lost on investments over the course of a given time period.

Between revenue and return, the rate of return expresses net income or loss as a proportion of the original cost of an investment. The formula is used to compute it:

‍100 * (Current Price – Starting Price ) / Starting Price

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Definition:

A fixed income investment (also known as an asset bought to be held as an investment) pays investors a constant interest rate until it matures. The original investment principal is repaid when it matures.

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What it is?
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Fixed income investments are intended to provide investors with a consistent income. This is accomplished through regular fixed interest payments. Fixed income securities appeal to investors seeking low-risk investments with consistent income streams. When these securities mature, the issuers (also known as borrowers) are required to repay the investor the principal amount invested. This is yet another reason why risk-averse investors may prefer fixed income securities to stocks. Government and corporate bonds are the most frequent type of fixed income investment securities.

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Types of fixed income investment securities
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Fixed income securities are divided into two types: short-term and long-term securities. Here’s a quick rundown of them.

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Short-term fixed-income securities:

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• Treasury bills are federal government-issued short-term fixed-income securities. They mature in a year and do not pay interest on a regular basis. Typically, investors purchase Treasury bills at a lower price than the face value (‘discount’) and profit when the bill matures.
• A Treasury note, also known as a T-note, has a maturity period of two to ten years. Investors receive semi-annual coupon payments as well as the principal amount invested at maturity.
• A certificate of deposit (CD) is a fixed-income security issued by banks. CDs typically mature in less than five years and pay a higher interest rate than a standard savings account.

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Medium-term and Long-term fixed income securities:

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• Treasury bonds are also fixed income securities issued by the federal government with maturities ranging from one to thirty years.
• Investors concerned about inflation should consider Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPs are long-term fixed-income securities whose principal adjusts in response to inflation and deflation.
• Municipal bonds are debt instruments issued by states and local governments. Municipal bond interest is generally exempt from federal taxation in the United States. If the investor lives in the state where the bond is issued, he or she is usually exempt from state income taxes on the interest as well.
• Companies, both public and private, issue corporate bonds. They are usually more risky than government-issued debt securities. Because governments, as issuers of these securities, have higher levels of creditworthiness than individual companies.
• Junk bonds are corporate bonds with low credit ratings. Companies pay a higher coupon than standard corporate bonds due to the increased risk of not being able to pay the principal or all of the interest to investors. Companies typically issue these to fund acquisitions, special projects, and ongoing business operations.
• The assets of a fixed-income mutual fund are invested in a portfolio of bonds and debt instruments. This will be done on behalf of the fund’s investors by a professional management company. For these services, the investor is charged a management fee.
• Fixed-income ETFs function similarly to mutual funds. A professional management team handles these and charges the investor a management fee for investments that target specific credit ratings and durations.

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Fixed income has both advantages and disadvantages. The benefits include consistent income and portfolio diversification. Meanwhile, inflationary risk is one of the most significant risks that investors take when investing in fixed income securities.

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Fixed Income Derivatives
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Derivatives are used by some investors to manage risk. Derivatives are bets on the future direction of a security. The derivative holder does not own the underlying asset. Please keep in mind that the following approaches are extremely risky and are not suitable for the average investor. They are also extremely complex, necessitating extensive education before investing.

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• The owner of an option has the opportunity to buy or sell a certain security at a specific price at a future date, but not the duty to do so.
• Futures contracts obligate both the buyer and the seller to complete the transaction on the contract’s maturity date. Unlike listed options, which are traded on an exchange, forward contracts are exchanged over-the-counter (in a decentralized market). They are similar to futures contracts but are tailored to the requirements of the parties. A price is agreed upon between the buyer and the seller for the sale to take place at a later date.

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What should you think about bonds?

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Bonds are the most popular fixed income investment. We’ve established that bonds work as an IOU (binding legal document outlining a specific debt obligation), where an investor (aka lender) loans money to an issuer (aka borrower) for a predetermined period in exchange for interest payments throughout the investment’s term and the principal at maturity. What aspects should a bond investor take into account?

Whether to invest in individual bonds or bond funds is up to the investor. By aligning the maturity date of a bond to the client’s particular income requirements, individual bonds enable the investor to manage cash flow.

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Bond fund types
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 1. The goal of bond index funds is to replicate the performance of a certain index or market benchmark at a reasonable cost (management costs are lower than those of actively managed bond funds).

 2. A more liquid option to invest in bond indices is through bond ETFs. An exchange-traded fund that invests in bonds is known as a bond ETF.

 3. Another choice is to put money into actively managed bond funds, where an investment manager selects bonds that they think will perform better than the benchmark for the fund. Investors may receive possibly larger returns from this alternative than from bond index funds, but at a higher cost.

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Keep in mind: when interest rates are rising, fixed income instruments are more susceptible to principal loss. Other risks associated with fixed income investments include alterations in credit quality, market values, liquidity, etc.

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Definition:

An asset is money or anything of worth that a business, individual, or other entity holds and can fairly anticipate producing future financial or non-financial advantages from.

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Explanation of assets
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In corporate accounting, an asset is any valuable item that belongs to a company and that an organization lists on its balance sheet. Companies usually retain assets because they expect to benefit from them in the future: this can be improving the efficiency of the company, increasing the value of the company, current cash flow or profit from the sale of the asset. Assets can be tangible (for example, equipment, car, cash) or intangible (for example, trademark, patent, company reputation).

Assets play a significant role in accounting and are generally classified by their liquidity, tangible and usability in business transactions. The assets are also owned by individuals, governments and other organizations.

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What is an asset?
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Assets are resources owned by a company to maintain its day-to-day operations or benefit (often in the form of revenue). All assets of the company have a certain dollar value, which is reflected in the company’s balance sheet.

If you subtract all outstanding liabilities from total assets, the company will receive its own capital – this is the part of the business that belongs to its owners. Companies reflect their assets, liabilities and equity in their balance sheets.

Asset tracking shows the company’s ability to maintain operations, financial condition and overall performance. Investors, analysts, lenders and other stakeholders often use assets in various financial ratios to value a company.

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Examples of assets
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1. Current assets can quickly turn into cash within 12 months. Current assets have high liquidity – they are considered a means of rapid cash flow. Company owners need to pay bills quickly, and current assets such as cash and cash equivalents help owners settle current liabilities on time.

2. Fixed assets: unlike current assets, converting fixed assets into cash takes longer than 12 months. Fixed assets are also called non-current assets.

3. Tangible assets are assets you can touch, feel and see. Tangible assets are also called physical assets.

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Examples of tangible assets:

• Cash
• Cash equivalents
• Real estate
• Equipment
• Stocks
• Investments
• Securities

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Examples of intangible assets:

• Intellectual property
• Software
• Licenses
• Government grants
• Secret formulas

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4. Operating assets are necessary for daily business operations and are necessary to generate income from the company’s core business. McDonald’s, for example, needs to have buns, cheese and patties to make a cheeseburger.

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Examples of operating assets:

• Cash
• Stocks
• Equipment
• Trademarks
• Copyright
• Secret recipes
• Permissions
• Licenses

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5. Non-operational assets are not necessary to complete day-to-day business activities, but can still be a source of income for the company. Companies usually own them because they hope they will bring some kind of benefit in the future.

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Examples of non-operational assets:

• Short-term investments
• Long-term investments
• Market securities
• Undeveloped land

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Difference between total assets and total liabilities
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The main difference between total assets and total liabilities is clear: total assets provide future benefits and total liabilities provide future financial liabilities.

Total assets and total liabilities recorded in the company’s balance sheet help determine the proportion of total assets actually held by the company. Total assets indicate the value of all resources controlled by the company, and total liabilities indicate how much of these resources the company financed from debt.

If you subtract total liabilities from total assets, you get the company’s share capital.

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Total Assets in Balance Sheet: How do I determine?
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The accounting report is one of the important financial documents that is provided by the company to its owners and shareholders. The ability to access a company’s accounting report depends on whether it is private or public. Under the law, only public companies are required to disclose their balance sheet in filed quarterly financial statements (10-Q) and annual reports (10-k).

As a rule, the organization’s balance sheet can be found on the companies’ websites in the “investor relations” section. You can also find the company’s quarterly and annual reports on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website using the EDGAR search feature.

Access to the balance sheets of private companies will need to be requested from the owners or managers of the company.

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How do I calculate total assets?
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The formula for calculating total assets is as follows: Total assets = total current assets – total property, plant and equipment.

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Both total current assets and total non-current assets are recorded in the company’s accounting statement.

Total assets are the total book value of all assets held by the company. To calculate the book value of the company’s assets, you need to remember to subtract all accumulated depreciation associated with the assets. The consolidated balance sheet included in the quarterly or annual statements of the publicly traded company will already deduct accumulated depreciation for your convenience.

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Definition: A dividend is a payment made by a corporation to its shareholders that represents a portion of the firm’s profits. Commonly, dividends are paid quarterly.

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What is a dividend?

If you are going to invest in the stock market you have two ways to earn money: wait until the price of your stocks rises and then sell them or just draw dividends. Nevertheless, dividends are not compulsory to pay by companies – in some cases firms can reinvest this income depending on their investing or financial plans. So, dividends are usually paid by stable businesses rather than by market newcomers.

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How do dividends work?

Dividends are like the direct shareholders’ bonus paid by the company most likely in cash. They are also the mostly common way to receive income for investors. Being a shareholder makes you a part of the business so you can get a percent of the company’s revenue.

However, the process of paying dividends should be approved by the board of directors. It consists of company advisors who act in stockholders’ stead. The time limits of dividend payment are managed by the firm’s leaders while the board of directors makes the final decision of whether it happens or not.

If the board of directors gives the nod to paying the dividends then every stockholder is able to receive them. Generally, your shares in fact are owned by the broker or brokerage company (as the Grid Capital) you hired, so they firstly get the dividends and then transfer them to your account.

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How do companies pay dividends?

Age matters. Newly opened companies have different priorities that’s why they spend money not the same as older ones. Well-qualified firms are more likely to pay dividends whereas young companies refuse this action because they may still be only at the beginning of the gathering race.

Growth stocks: When businesses have chances for expansion, it could make more sense for them to reinvest their profits rather than pay out dividends to shareholders. For instance, a corporation may decide to invest in recruiting additional salesmen rather than paying a dividend to shareholders if its immediate objective is to promote a new innovative software application to new customers.

Mature stocks: Investing in more expansion is less likely when a company has scaled and its days of explosive growth are in the past. These companies are more inclined to reward shareholders with dividends.

Regardless of the company’s age or size, its executives must choose between paying dividends, investing in growth, and paying off debt in order to maximize shareholder value.‍

Record days

Companies that pay cash dividends often do so every quarter or just once for special payouts. Do you want to get the dividend? Check to see if you were a shareholder on the proper occasion — the record date. The important timetable is as follows:

Date of Declaration is a declaration of the amount, record date, and payment date of a dividend made by the board of directors of the firm.

Ex-Dividend Date: Make a note of this day on your calendar. You won’t get the dividend if you haven’t purchased the stock by this time. You’ll have to hold until till the following dividend is announced.

The Record Date is the date on which you must be a shareholder in order to receive the declared dividend. There is usually a delay between placing your order to buy a stock and becoming an official shareholder (it typically takes two days).

Payment Date: The date on which a dividend will be distributed to eligible shareholders (i.e., registered shareholders on the Record Date). The money could appear as cash in your account or be reinvested in the company that issued the dividend, depending on the instructions you left with your brokerage account.

Dividend income

‍The percentage of the share price that is paid out in dividends each year is known as the dividend yield. Because both indicate the amount of cash income investors receive in relation to the price of their investment, this metric is sometimes compared to the coupon rate of a bond.

More cautious stock investors tend to be drawn to companies with greater dividend yields. Stocks having a lower dividend yield or no dividend yield are either unprofitable or could be investing in possibilities in the future. These may provide distinct investing opportunities than dividend-paying equities because they are typically labeled as growth stocks.

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Definition:

An income statement is an essential financial document for any business. Income statement provides clear data about the company’s revenue and loss over a period of time.

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What is an income statement?
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An income statement is a kind of a report which shows if a company has any profit, income or meets a loss during a period. That’s why another name of this statement is a profit-and-loss (P&L) statement (someones call it an earnings statement). It reflects the company’s earrings if there were some sellings of goods or services, financial charges on running the business and remaining profit.

The P&L is not the only one statement to show financial items of the company. There are also statement of retained earnings, balance sheet and cash flow statement.

Income statement may cover different periods. Mostly used is a year-end income statement which gives information about the latest operating year of the company. However, many businesses may also make income statements on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis.

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An example
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The P&L statements usually cover at least two periods to compare a company’s financial dynamics. For instance, a fictitious company Jone’s cupcakes makes an income statement covering January 1 to December 31, 2022. It also will include the statements for the previous year – January 1 to December 31, 2021 in addition to 2022.

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The main parts of an income statement
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Here you can find the key items of an income statement:

Revenue (aka sales) – is the money a business earned from selling goods or services during the period. The revenue includes only money received from primary operations of the company.

Cost of goods sold/cost of sales – the first one is connected with manufacturing companies whereas the second one relies on retailers and wholesalers – is the direct costs of obtaining or producing the company’s products and/or selling its services. It ordinarily includes raw materials and hired labor costs.

Gross profit – (is also named as gross margin or contribution margin) is revenue with the exception of cost of goods sold or cost of sales. It is commonly used to count the gross profit margin. This index is like a sign of a business’ performance.

Operating expenses – (or SG&A) are the indirect costs of managing the business. They consist of marketing, advertising, utilities, rent, insurance, employee benefits etc.

Operating income – is the gross profit and operating expenses difference.

Non-operating items – are profits and inputs from non-primary activities like interest, dividends or one-time items.

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How to analyze an income statement?
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There are different ways of analyzing an income statement:

• Bottom line – First you need to analyze the net income which shows if the company makes a profit and what is the dynamic of the profit from year to year. Calculating and comparing the net profit margin is also allowable.

• Vertical analysis – Calculate as a portion of income every line points beginning from the cost of goods sold or cost of sales. This way you can find the effect of different expenses on your income and identify the direction of improvement.

• Time series analysis – Is based on comparing each index with previous years both in raw dollar terms. Is the right way to understand reasons for your income changes and also find the direction of improvement.

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The uses of an income statement
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Income statement is an essential financial document for running any business and working with investors and other partners.

1. It is necessary for strategic planning, calculating future expenses. Interim and annual p&l statements can show you if the business is running well through the year and at year-end, make out falling areas and compare your financial situation with budgets and projections.

2. t is also used by lenders, investors and other partners with your financial statements to understand if the business is profitable.

3. Annual tax filings assessment is also based on P&L statements.

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