What Is a Junk Bond?

Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Subject Matter Experts

Updated on March 29, 2023

Junk Bond Definition

A bond is a certificate of debt that an investor buys from a company in exchange for interest payments as well as an eventual repayment of the principal.

A junk bond is a bond that carries a high risk of default, or a high risk that the issuing company will not be financially able to pay back its investors.

These could be issued by small start-ups as well as larger companies that are struggling financially. To compensate for the increased risk to investors, these bonds also usually offer higher interest payments.

Because of this they are sometimes referred to as "high-yield bonds".

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Buying Junk Bonds

While buying junk bonds is significantly more risky for investors than buying historically safe bonds (so called "investment grade bonds" ), if the issuing company's financial state improves, investors stand to see good returns.

The interest rate on a bond, also called its coupon rate, doesn't change once issued. If a company issues a junk bond with, say, a 15% coupon rate while the prevailing rate is 5%, and the company survives, then an investor holds a significantly valuable bond.

Junk Bond Interest Rates

Investors who buy junk bonds don't always do so just for the interest payments.

If the issuing company is financially sound, high coupon rate bonds can be sold for well above the price originally paid.

Junk Bond FAQs

About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website, view his author profile on Amazon, or check out his speaker profile on the CFA Institute website.

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