Yield to maturity

Yield to maturity

The percentage rate of return paid on a bond, note, or other fixed income security if the investor buys and holds it to its maturity date. The calculation for YTM is based on the coupon rate, length of time to maturity, and market price. It assumes that coupon interest paid over the life of the bond will be reinvested at the same rate.

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yield to maturity (YTM)

The annual return on a bond held to maturity when interest payments and price appreciation (if priced below par) or depreciation (if priced above par) are considered. When a bond sells at par, the yield to maturity is the same as the current yield because price appreciation or depreciation is zero if the security is held to maturity. Bond quotations are generally on a yield-to-maturity basis, although an investor who sells a bond before maturity may earn a yield different from the yield to maturity as calculated at the time the security was purchased. See also internal rate of return, maturity basis.

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Yield to maturity (YTM). Yield to maturity is the most precise measure of a bond's anticipated return and determines its current market price.

YTM takes into account the coupon rate and the current interest rate in relation to the price, the purchase or discount price in relation to the par value, and the years remaining until the bond matures.