Learn how bond valuation works by discounting future coupon payments
Bond valuation is the process of estimating a bond’s fair price by discounting its future coupon payments and principal repayment at a required rate of return. The required yield reflects market rates, credit risk, and maturity.
The key intuition is that a bond is worth the present value of its promised cash flows. If market yields rise, those fixed future cash flows become less attractive, so the bond’s price falls. If yields fall, the same cash flows become more valuable and the price rises.
An investor values a bond by estimating the present value of all coupon payments plus the face value paid at maturity. Changing the discount rate immediately changes the valuation.
A student says, “As long as I know the coupon rate, I already know the bond’s correct market price.”
Answer: No. Price depends on the relationship between the coupon and the market yield required for that risk and maturity.