Investment Analysis

There is a significant difference between bonds and stocks, and they should not be treated the same when evaluating a portfolio. There are a handful of similarities, such as the fact that their value derives from the net present value of expected future cash flows, but the two securities are fundamentally different.

A bond entitles the holder to a cash flow from the issuer. Equity represents a share of ownership in the company. From this arises the first key difference -- the risk. Risk refers to the chance that the expected cash flows will be disrupted. With equity, this means that the earnings could drop, reducing not only the dividend but also the future profit potential as well. The value of the company's cash flows is likely to change if the company's performance suffers a downturn. With a bond, the only risk is the risk of default. Default...
[ View Full Essay]