SEC Yield (2024)

A standardized yield computation used by funds that fall under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Written byCFI Team

Updated March 21, 2023

What is SEC Yield?

The SEC yield, also referred to as the standardized yield, is a computation that allows comparison of bond funds that fall under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It assumes that an investor holds each bond in a portfolio to maturity, the SEC yield is used to estimate the yield an investor can expect to receive based on historical returns. Moreover, the yield follows an assumption that the income made will be reinvested, and it also accounts for expenses and fees.

SEC Yield (1)

It is argued that the SEC yield provides more accurate results in comparison to the distribution yield, and the calculation is more consistent month-to-month. Both calculations show past performance – not future performance – and the calculations both follow assumptions that may skew results.

However, the SEC yield is consistent and allows investors to make comparisons between funds easily. It is not a measure of the returns to be expected from a fund, but rather a benchmark for yield performance comparison. It does not account for the fact that most funds do not mature, nor do they always hold bonds until maturity, but rather trade them actively.

A majority of funds tend to compute a 30-Day SEC yield on the last day of every month; however, a 7-day SEC yield is also computed and reported by funds in the United States. The 7-Day SEC yield would indicate the potential yield of a fund if it paid an income similar to the preceding seven days for an entire year.

Summary

  • The SEC yield is a standardized yield computation that allows a comparative measure for bond funds that fall under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
  • The SEC yield is not a measure of returns to be expected from a fund, but rather a benchmark for yield performance comparison. It does not account for the fact that most funds do not mature, nor do they always hold bonds until maturity, but rather trade them actively.
  • A majority of funds tend to compute a 30-Day SEC yield on the last day of every month; however, a 7-day SEC yield is also computed and reported by funds in the United States. The 7-Day SEC yield indicates the potential yield of a fund, had it paid an income similar to the preceding 7 days for an entire year.

Calculating the SEC Yield

The SEC yield can be found by finding the quotient of net investment income earned (per share) and the maximum offering price (per share). The calculation follows a 30-day period that ends on the last day of the preceding month, meaning the SEC yield is a month behind – i.e., one-month lag. The 30-day yield of a fund can be accessed in the “Statement of Additional Information (SAI)” section of the fund’s prospectus.

The formula for the 30-Day SEC yield can be seen below:

SEC Yield (2)

Consider the following example:

Assume that Sammie (an analyst contracted by an investor looking for fund recommendations) is currently analyzing Investment Fund ABC.

Sammie is given the following information about Fund ABC:

  • Dividend earnings: $15,000
  • Interest earnings: $3,800
  • Accrued expenses: $8,900
  • Outstanding shares that are entitled to receiving distributions: 100,000
  • Maximum share price: $90

Sammie can calculate the 30-day SEC yield using the second formula above.

To derive a, b, c, and d, as seen below:

  • a = $15,000 + $3,800 = $18,800
  • b = $8,900
  • c = 100,000
  • d = $90

The figures can be inserted into the formula to obtain:

30-day yield = 2 x ((($18,800 – $8,900) / (100,000 x $90) + 1) ^ 6 – 1)

30-day yield = 2 x (0.00661) = 1.32%

Distribution Yield

A distribution yield is defined as a way of measuring the annual income payments made to unitholders by an A-REIT or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) as a percentage or portion of its unit price. Distribution yield is used as a measure of income relative to the size of an investment.

Distributions are similar to dividends. They are commonly received by individuals or those with investments in ETFs and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

A distribution can be defined as a portion of the profits generated by a trust or a fund, which is distributed to unitholders or investors, and an income payment. It is one method of making money from the investment classes (ETFs and REITs). The capital gains and distributions made from the investments ideally make up an investor’s total return.

Related Readings

CFI offers the Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA)™ certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following resources will be helpful:

SEC Yield (2024)

FAQs

Is SEC yield accurate? ›

The SEC yield is used to compare bond funds because it captures the effective rate of interest an investor may receive in the future. It is widely considered a good way to compare mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because this yield measure is generally very consistent from month to month.

What does SEC yield mean for mutual funds? ›

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) developed the 30-Day SEC Yield as a standardized method for comparing bond funds. It reflects the dividends and interest earned by a mutual fund during the most recent 30-day period after deducting expenses.

How do you calculate the SEC yield? ›

A calculation based on a 30-day period ending on the last of the previous month. It is computed by dividing the net investment income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.

How do you interpret 30-day SEC yield? ›

The SEC yield can be found by finding the quotient of net investment income earned (per share) and the maximum offering price (per share). The calculation follows a 30-day period that ends on the last day of the preceding month, meaning the SEC yield is a month behind – i.e., one-month lag.

Should I look at SEC yield or 12 month yield? ›

In general, 12-Month Yield gives a good picture of the current yield investors are receiving from their funds. (SEC Yield, in contrast, is a good measure of the income return currently priced into a fund's bonds.)

What is the 80% rule SEC? ›

The 80% rule states that managers cannot use misleading names for their funds and that 80% of the fund must be invested in the types of investments by the name.

Is a higher SEC yield better? ›

The SEC yield of a stock fund is the dividend yield, minus the expense ratio. A fund with a high SEC yield thus holds high-dividend stocks, which may or may not have higher total returns.

Is SEC yield same as interest rate? ›

Yield is the annual net profit that an investor earns on an investment. The interest rate is the percentage charged by a lender for a loan. The yield on new investments in debt of any kind reflects interest rates at the time they are issued.

Is SEC yield forward looking? ›

It's also a backward-looking measure but can be used for a fairer comparison of mutual funds, such as bond funds and ETFs, and is mandatory for funds reporting yield information to the SEC. The calculation is based on income received (dividends and interest) net of fund expenses over the previous 30 days.

Why is SEC yield negative? ›

If a bond has a negative yield, it means the bondholder loses money on the investment, although this is an uncommon occurrence.

What does average 7-day SEC yield mean? ›

The Standardized 7-Day Current Yield is the average income return over the previous seven days. It is the Fund's total income net of expenses, divided by the total number of outstanding shares.

What is the difference between SEC yield and return? ›

Yield is the amount an investment earns during a time period, usually reflected as a percentage. Return is how much an investment earns or loses over time, reflected as the difference in the holding's dollar value.

Is 60% yield good? ›

Think of percent yield as a grade for the experiment: 90 is great, 70-80 very good, 50-70 good, 40-50 acceptable, 20-40 poor, 5-20 very poor, etc.

What yield percentage is good? ›

"Yields above about 90% are called excellent, yields above 80% very good, yields above about 70% are called good, yields below about 50% are called fair, yields below about 40% are called poor."

What is the yield to worst of a mutual fund? ›

Key Takeaways. Yield to worst is a measure of the lowest possible yield that can be received on a bond with an early retirement provision. Yield to worst is often the same as yield to call. Yield to worst must always be less than yield to maturity because it represents a return for a shortened investment period.

Is 20% yield bad? ›

Think of percent yield as a grade for the experiment: 90 is great, 70-80 good, 40-70 fair, 20-40 poor, 0-20 very poor.

Is 7 day SEC yield same as interest rate? ›

The 7-day SEC Yield is a measure of performance in the interest rates of money market mutual funds offered by US mutual fund companies. It is also referred to as the 7-day Annualized Yield.

Are high yields good for investors? ›

High yield bonds are not intrinsically good or bad investments. Generally, a high yield bond is defined as a bond with a credit rating below investment grade; for example, below S&P's BBB. The bonds' higher yield is compensation for the greater risk associated with a lower credit rating.

What is the 80 20 retirement rule? ›

What is an 80/20 Retirement Plan? An 80/20 retirement plan is a type of retirement plan where you split your retirement savings/ investment in a ratio of 80 to 20 percent, with 80% accounting for low-risk investments and 20% accounting for high-growth stocks.

What is SEC Rule 30? ›

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) supports modernized and enhanced investor disclosures and so adopted SEC Rule 30e-3, which, as of January 1, 2021, allows fund companies to mail a short notice of internet availability of shareholder reports instead of full shareholder reports.

What is SEC Rule 38a-1? ›

Rule 38a-1 provides investment company complexes with flexibility in determining which of its affiliated Service Providers should be covered by its Compliance Procedures. assesses the adequacy of the Service Provider's compliance controls.

Do investors want higher or lower yields? ›

In turn, rising yields can trigger a short-term drop in the value of your existing bonds. That's because investors will want to buy the bonds that offer a higher yield. As demand drops for the bonds with lower yields, the value of those bonds will likely drop too.

Do you want a higher or lower yield? ›

The low-yield bond is better for the investor who wants a virtually risk-free asset, or one who is hedging a mixed portfolio by keeping a portion of it in a low-risk asset. The high-yield bond is better for the investor who is willing to accept a degree of risk in return for a higher return.

What is the difference between yield to maturity and 30 day SEC yield? ›

In summary, the TTM yield shows yield over the past year, and the 30-day SEC yield shows the most current yield (as of the last 30 days).

Why do bond prices fall when yields rise? ›

When interest rates rise, existing bonds paying lower interest rates become less attractive, causing their price to drop below their initial par value in the secondary market. (The coupon payments remain unaffected.)

Should you buy bonds when interest rates are high? ›

If your objective is to increase total return and "you have some flexibility in either how much you invest or when you can invest, it's better to buy bonds when interest rates are high and peaking." But for long-term bond fund investors, "rising interest rates can actually be a tailwind," Barrickman says.

What is the yield of a 10 year government bond? ›

10 Year Treasury Rate is at 3.61%, compared to 3.64% the previous market day and 2.94% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 4.25%. The 10 Year Treasury Rate is the yield received for investing in a US government issued treasury security that has a maturity of 10 year.

Why is SEC yield so different from distribution yield? ›

While both estimates are estimates of bond returns, they are calculated differently. The SEC yield is an annualized figure based on returns over the most recent 30-day period. As outlined above, distribution yields are calculated taking into account returns over a 12-month period.

How do rate hikes affect treasury yields? ›

The Bottom Line

Longer-term Treasury bond yields move in the direction of short-term rates, but the spread between them tends to shrink as rates rise, because longer-term bonds are more sensitive to expectations of a future slowing in growth and inflation brought about by the higher short-term rates.

What rating are high yield securities? ›

Investment grade and high yield bonds

Investors typically group bond ratings into 2 major categories: Investment-grade refers to bonds rated Baa3/BBB- or better. High-yield (also referred to as "non-investment-grade" or "junk" bonds) pertains to bonds rated Ba1/BB+ and lower.

Why do people buy negative yield? ›

Summary: Negative-yielding bonds are financial instruments that cause purchasers to lose money. They are usually issued by governments in countries with low or negative interest rates and bought by investors who want to keep money safe or avoid worse yields.

What happens if treasury yields go negative? ›

A negative bond yield is when an investor receives less money at the bond's maturity than the original purchase price for the bond. Even when factoring in the coupon rate or interest rate paid by the bond, a negative-yielding bond means the investor lost money at maturity.

Why are tips yields so low? ›

The yield for a TIPS fund is adjusted monthly based on changes in the rate of inflation, and these changes can cause the yield to vary substantially from month to month. Very high or low yields are attributable to the rise and fall in inflation rates and might not be repeated.

Why do money market funds use 7 day yield? ›

The seven-day yield helps investors compare across money market funds. The seven-day yield can help to provide an expectation for the future return on investment. Similar to forward yield, its calculation is a projection that typically includes the average distribution from the fund's most recent payout.

What is the difference between 7 day yield and 7 day effective yield? ›

The effective yield is a measure of return on a money market instrument, assuming the interest payments are reinvested. If payments are reinvested, then this effective yield will be greater than the stated 7-day yield, due to the effect of compounding.

What is average normal yield? ›

Normal yield is an agricultural term referring to the average historic yield established for a particular farm or area. It is also used to describe average yields. Normal production would be the normal crop acreage planted multiplied by the normal yield.

Why yield instead of return? ›

Return sends a specified value back to its caller whereas Yield can produce a sequence of values. We should use yield when we want to iterate over a sequence, but don't want to store the entire sequence in memory. Yield are used in Python generators.

How do you explain yield? ›

Yield refers to how much income an investment generates, separate from the principal. It's commonly used to refer to interest payments an investor receives on a bond or dividend payments on a stock. Yield is often expressed as a percentage, based on either the investment's market value or purchase price.

Is 80% a good percent yield? ›

According to the 1996 edition of Vogel's Textbook , yields close to 100% are called quantitative, yields above 90% are called excellent, yields above 80% are very good, yields above 70% are good, yields above 50% are fair, and yields below 40% are called poor.

What does a 100% yield mean? ›

Percent yield is the percent ratio of actual yield to the theoretical yield. It is calculated to be the experimental yield divided by theoretical yield multiplied by 100%. If the actual and theoretical yield ​are the same, the percent yield is 100%.

What if percent yield is over 100? ›

Typically, percent yields are understandably less than 100% because of the reasons indicated earlier. However, percent yields greater than 100% are possible if the measured product of the reaction contains impurities that cause its mass to be greater than it actually would be if the product was pure.

Does percent yield indicate success? ›

Chemists need a measurement that indicates how successful a reaction has been. This measurement is called the percent yield. Percent yield is very important in the manufacture of products.

Why is my percent yield so low? ›

The reasons for this include: incomplete reactions, in which some of the reactants do not react to form the product. practical losses during the experiment, such as during pouring or filtering. side reactions (unwanted reactions that compete with the desired reaction)

Is 75 percent yield good? ›

Now, if you have a percent yield that is equal to or greater than 90% you could call that an excellent yield. If you have amount that's equal to or greater than 80% then that would be very good. If you were good, that means you'd be equal to or greater than 70% and then you have a poor yield.

What is an SEC yield? ›

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) developed the 30-Day SEC Yield as a standardized method for comparing bond funds. It reflects the dividends and interest earned by a mutual fund during the most recent 30-day period after deducting expenses.

What is the 90% rule for mutual funds? ›

The 90/10 rule in investing is a comment made by Warren Buffett regarding asset allocation. The rule stipulates investing 90% of one's investment capital towards low-cost stock-based index funds and the remainder 10% to short-term government bonds.

What is the 80% rule for mutual funds? ›

In general, to comply with the rule, an investment company with a name that suggests that the company focuses on a particular type of investment will either have to adopt a fundamental policy to invest at least 80% of its assets in the type of investment suggested by its name or adopt a policy of notifying its ...

Why is SEC yield lower than distribution yield? ›

These distributions are an important part of the fund's total return. The trailing 12-month distribution yield can also differ from the 30-day SEC yield. Because the 30-day SEC yield always accounts for expenses, it is typically be lower than the trailing 12-month distribution yield.

What is the difference between yield and 30 day SEC yield? ›

"SEC Yield" reflects the interest the fund earned, minus expenses, over the past 30 days. It's fairer and more accurate calculation of what's current and ahead than is the trailing twelve-month (TTM) yield. With the SEC calculation, we're changing our focus from the back of the car mirror to the road ahead.

Can SEC yield be negative? ›

Negative 30-Day SEC Yield results when accrued expenses of the past 30 days exceed the income collected during the past 30 days. Weighted Average Life: The average number of years for which each dollar of unpaid principal on a loan or mortgage remains outstanding.

What is a good dividend yield? ›

What Is a Good Dividend Yield? Yields from 2% to 6% are generally considered to be a good dividend yield, but there are plenty of factors to consider when deciding if a stock's yield makes it a good investment. Your own investment goals should also play a big role in deciding what a good dividend yield is for you.

Do corporate bonds have higher yields than treasury yields? ›

The first difference investors are likely to notice between corporate bonds and U.S. Treasury bonds is corporates yield more. For example, on June 30, 2022 the benchmark Treasury bond maturing in 10 years carried an effective yield of 2.97%.

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