Par Value

Par value

Also called the maturity value or face value; the amount that an issuer agrees to pay at the maturity date.

---

Face Value

The amount of money stated on a bond or (rarely) a stock certificate. For example, if a bond certificate says $1,000, the face value is $1000. Bonds pay the face value at maturity, and calculate coupons as a percentage of the face value. Many bonds are issued at their face value, though discount bonds are not. The face value is also called the par value or simply par.

---

par value

1. The stated value of a security as it appears on its certificate. A bond's par value is the dollar amount on which interest is calculated and the amount paid to holders at maturity. Par value of preferred stock is used in a similar way in calculating the annual dividend. Also called face value, par.

2. The minimum contribution made by investors to purchase a share of common stock at the time of issue. Par value is of no real consequence to investors; in fact, many new common stock issues have no stated par value. Also called par. See also no par.

---

Par value. Par value is the face value, or named value, of a stock or bond.

With stocks, the par value, which is frequently set at $1, is used as an accounting device but has no relationship to the actual market value of the stock.

But with bonds, par value, usually $1,000, is the amount you pay to purchase at issue and the amount you receive when the bond is redeemed at maturity.

Par is also the basis on which the interest you earn on a bond is figured. For example, if you are earning 6% annual interest on a bond with a par value of $1,000, that means you receive 6% of $1,000, or $60.

While the par value of a bond typically remains constant for its term, its market value does not. That is, a bond may trade at a premium, or more than par, or at a discount, which is less than par, in the secondary market.

The market price is based on changes in the interest rate, the bond's rating, or other factors.

---

Par Value

What Does Par Value Mean?

(1) The face value of a bond.

(2) A dollar amount that is assigned to a security in the process of representing the value contributed for each share in cash or goods.

Investopedia explains Par Value

(1) The par values for different fixed-income products vary. Bonds generally have a par value of $1,000, whereas most money market instruments have higher par values.

(2) Stocks will have a par value of $0.01 or no par value.

Related Terms:
• Face Value
• Corporate Bond
• Fair Value
• Market Value
• Yield to Maturity—YTM