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The Daily Insight

How are corporate bonds and government bonds different?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Feb 15, 2026

Corporate bonds are more volatile than government bonds. Government bonds are also called treasury bonds. Interest from government bonds is exempt from state and local taxes, while interest from corporate bonds is not. Treasury bonds offer a reliably lower correlation to equities than corporate bonds.

How do bonds compare with different maturities?

To compare different fixed-income securities, you’ll need to calculate the ‘yield to maturity’. This brings together the purchase price of the bond and the coupon rate, and reflects the true underlying interest rate of return for the investor.

What are bonds different types of bonds?

Following are the types of bonds:

  • Fixed Rate Bonds. In Fixed Rate Bonds, the interest remains fixed through out the tenure of the bond.
  • Floating Rate Bonds.
  • Zero Interest Rate Bonds.
  • Inflation Linked Bonds.
  • Perpetual Bonds.
  • Subordinated Bonds.
  • Bearer Bonds.
  • War Bonds.

What are three aspects you can use to compare bonds?

The most important aspects are the bond’s price, its interest rate and yield, its date to maturity, and its redemption features. Analyzing these key components allows you to determine whether a bond is an appropriate investment.

Why is yield to maturity lower than current yield?

If YTM is less than current yield, the bond is selling at a premium, or a price above the par value. If YTM equals current yield, the bond is selling at par value.

What are the four types of bonding?

The properties of a solid can usually be predicted from the valence and bonding preferences of its constituent atoms. Four main bonding types are discussed here: ionic, covalent, metallic, and molecular.

Are current yield and yield to maturity the same?

Yield to maturity is similar to current yield, which divides annual cash inflows from a bond by the market price of that bond to determine how much money one would make by buying a bond and holding it for one year. Yet, unlike current yield, YTM accounts for the present value of a bond’s future coupon payments.

What’s the difference between yield to maturity and current yield?

The Yield to Maturity is the yield when a bond becomes mature, while the Current yield is the yield of a bond at the present moment. The Current Yield is the actual yield an investor would get. The YTM can be called as the rate of return a person will receive for the bond until its maturity.

What is the average return on corporate bonds?

Since 1926, large stocks have returned an average of 10 % per year; long-term government bonds have returned between 5% and 6%, according to investment researcher Morningstar.