What is the par value of a zero-coupon bond?
Mia Ramsey
Published Feb 16, 2026
When the bond matures, the bondholder is repaid an amount equal to the face value of the bond. The par or face value of a corporate bond is typically stated as $1,000.
What is coupon and zero-coupon bond?
A bond’s coupon rate is the percentage of its face value payable as interest each year. A bond with a coupon rate of zero, therefore, is one that pays no interest. Instead, a zero coupon bond generates a return at maturity.
How do you calculate the rate on a zero-coupon bond?
The spot rate is calculated by finding the discount rate that makes the present value (PV) of a zero-coupon bond equal to its price. These are based on future interest rate assumptions. So, spot rates can use different interest rates for different years until maturity.
Can a zero coupon bond sell for more than its par value?
Unlike a coupon bond, a zero-coupon bond does not have a periodic cash flow with one lump-sum payment of the face value at its maturity. Consequently, a zero-coupon bond will be always selling at a price less than its face value and can never sell at par with its face value.
Are zero coupon bonds worth it?
Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bonds can move up significantly when the Fed cuts rates aggressively. 1 These gains can more than offset stock related losses, so Treasury zeros are often an excellent hedge for stock investors. They also have solid long-run returns, similar to long-term Treasuries.
What is the duration of a zero coupon bond?
Because zero coupon bonds make no coupon payments, a zero coupon bond’s duration will be equal to its maturity. The longer a bond’s maturity, the longer its duration, because it takes more time to receive full payment.
What is a coupon rate of a bond?
The coupon rate, or coupon payment, is the nominal yield the bond is stated to pay on its issue date. A bond’s coupon rate can be calculated by dividing the sum of the security’s annual coupon payments and dividing them by the bond’s par value.
What is the main disadvantage of issuing a zero-coupon bond for a company?
No regular income: The Zero Coupon bond provides in a lump sum; therefore, it prevents a regular cash flow. This bond will not benefit investors with the requirement of regular cash. Interest Rate Risk: Interest rates of this bond can decline over time due to fluctuation in the market.
What is the purpose of zero coupon bond?
A zero-coupon bond is a discounted investment that can help you save for a specific future goal. A zero-coupon bond doesn’t pay periodic interest, but instead sells at a deep discount, paying its full face value at maturity. Zeros-coupon bonds are ideal for long-term, targeted financial needs at a foreseeable time.
Do zero-coupon bonds pay interest at maturity?
Because zero coupon bonds pay no interest until maturity, their prices fluctuate more than other types of bonds in the secondary market.
Can you sell zero-coupon bonds before maturity?
Like virtually all bonds, zero-coupon bonds are subject to interest-rate risk if you sell before maturity. If interest rates rise, the value of your zero-coupon bond on the secondary market will likely fall.
What is the intrinsic value of A $1000 face value zero-coupon bond that matures in 20 years if an investor’s required rate of return for the bond is 8 %? Assume annual discounting?
What is the intrinsic value of a $1,000 face value, zero-coupon bond that matures in 20 years if an investor’s required rate of return for the bond is 8%? (Assume annual discounting.) Your Answer: $1,373.87 Correct Answer: $214.55 Value = $1,000 / (1.08) 20 = $1,000 / 4.6610 = $214.55.
What is the advantage of zero coupon bond?
Do zero coupon bonds have more interest rate risk?
Zero coupon bonds are more sensitive to interest rate swings than bonds which pay interest semiannually because all the interest payments of zero coupon bonds are accumulated and paid at maturity. The longer the maturity of a bond, the greater the volatility.
How to calculate the yield to maturity on a zero coupon bond?
The formula for calculating the yield to maturity on a zero-coupon bond is: Consider a $1,000 zero-coupon bond that has two years until maturity. The bond is currently valued at $925 (the price at which it could be purchased today).
What is the face value of a zero coupon bond?
Since they are paid fully upon maturity, the price of a zero-coupon bond can be more volatile than that of a coupon bond. Upon the bond’s maturity, the bondholder receives payment in an amount equivalent to the bond’s face value. A corporate bond’s face value is usually denoted as $1,000.
Which is more volatile zero coupon or coupon bond?
Zero-coupons bonds are either originally zero-coupon instruments or converted into such as their coupons are removed by financial institutions before being repackaged as zero coupons bonds. Since they are paid fully upon maturity, the price of a zero-coupon bond can be more volatile than that of a coupon bond.
When to buy a zero coupon municipal bond?
Zero-coupon bonds essentially lock the investor into a guaranteed reinvestment rate. This arrangement can be most advantageous when interest rates are high and when placed in tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Some investors also avoid paying taxes on imputed interest by buying zero-coupon municipal bonds.