Financial Economics

Bond Equivalent Yield (BEY)

Published Aug 4, 2023

Definition of Bond Equivalent Yield (BEY)

Bond Equivalent Yield (BEY) is a measure of the return on a bond or other fixed-income security. It is calculated by dividing the annual coupon payment by the bond’s purchase price. The BEY is expressed as a percentage and is used to compare the yields of different bonds.

Example

To illustrate this, let’s look at a bond with a face value of $1,000 and a coupon rate of 5%. That means the bond pays an annual coupon payment of $50. Now assume the bond is purchased at a price of $950. In this case, the BEY can be calculated as follows:

BEY = (50/950) x 100 = 5.26%

Thus, the BEY of this bond is 5.26%.

Why Bond Equivalent Yield Matters

Bond Equivalent Yield (BEY) is an important measure for investors who are looking to compare the yields of different bonds. It allows them to compare the returns of bonds with different coupon rates, maturities, and purchase prices. This is especially useful for investors who are looking to diversify their portfolios and want to compare the returns of different bonds.

Furthermore, the BEY is also used by financial analysts to compare the yields of different bonds and to determine the current market value of a bond.