What is a bond? and their specific standard for bond

hello friends, in today’s, article, we see the specific standard for bond investment from chapter 8 of the security analysis book and also what is a bond, how we invest in them, and what are the problems come while investing in bonds.

Previous Chapter 7

What is a bond
Principle 4: Definite standard of safety must be applied:-What is a bond

In principle 4, we talk about those states, they have their own laws and rules on those that are saving banks that can invest in specific areas.

or

they have to satisfy their criteria of states

So the author (Benjamin graham and David dodd’s) use the New York Status, because, he thinks it’s a good point to start.

After that, whatever its criteria, the author criticism them and if need to neglect them or reject them also and they modified them if required.

So there are 7 criteria prescribed by New York Statutes:

In the Coming 4 chapters we explain the 7 criteria in this, we see only two criteria.

So firstly the author explains, what the new york statute says, and what author explains his own view if they are right or wrong

General criteria prescribed by New York Statute:-(what is a bond)

  1. Nature and location of business or government business
  2. Size of enterprise, or the Issues
  3. Terms of the issues
  4. Record of solvency and dividend payments
  5. Relation of earnings to interest requirement
  6. Relation of the value of property to funded debt
  7. Relation of stock capitalization to funded debt.

Criteria 1: Nature and Location

1 ) New York Statute says, ”  You can invest in U.S. government bond, state bonds, municipal bond”

but You can not invest in foreign government and foreign corporation bonds.

2) You can invest in Railroad, gas, and telephone industry, b

but you can not invest in street railway and water companies and also in debentures of public utilities.

3) You can invest in the first mortgage on a real estate bond,

but you can not invest in all industrial bonds and also financial companies’ bonds, investment trust, and credit concern companies also.

so for this author give some problems with New York statutes

Problems with New York Statute on Criteria 1:

1 ) In any industry, we can’t invest, so this is not talking about practically way because, in the industry also, there are some companies that perform well in bad times also and we can select them.

If we neglect whole industry segment then, what remain only railroads and public utility and government bond according to the New York Statutes.

So it’s happening,  if we can’t find good then don’t go for bad.

so this is like we are doing narrow and it’s not right, so we can include the industrial also.

2) Water companies neglect the public utility by the New York Statutes and don’t give a good reason and other states include the water company and we also include them.

3) In 1938, One commitment that happens in the banking sector is in that they do the consortium of banks can waive as many rules as it sees fit, and they decide which criteria can remain and eliminate and also do modifications according to them by doing a simple variation.

so for this, the author says, ” Until now there is not any problem of consortium bank, but happen problem in future.”

so we don’t have to take tension because, nowadays, no consortium bank, that told us to do this or that.

4) Foreign government restriction is a good restriction according to the author, because, the foreign government pays or does not pay. If they don’t pay you, so you can’t force them to pay and you can’t take their asset, and revenue source,

the author gives examples of some countries that full fill the obligation and some more countries that don’t fulfill the obligations.

like those fulfill obligation country are Canada, Holland, and Switzerland, etc.

after that, the author talks about foreign company bond investment.

So many cases, present there, those fulfill the obligation by a foreign company but not that time government doesn’t fulfill it.

but sometimes the company is able to pay but the government restricts them.

So sometimes exchange is restricted on the company by the government.

so the foreign company has the ability to pay but they can’t pay, because the government does not allow it.

Criteria 2: Size of company

The author says those are a small company that is very much vulnerable at unexpected changes.

so those are big companies, they can go easily and unexpected harsh condition goes easily. means, they can pass easily in dangerous situations also.

Because, they have good relation with bank and they have lots of resources, that deals with that situation.

so New York statute, what say, about this criterion is

In railroad, in that much amount of mine is spread over the area, and in municipal bonds, that much amount of population is required and in public utility, they say different types of criteria, but in this point that much is not important, if you want to know about them then, buy a book by clicking above image of book.

So come here directly and what author reconnects

The author says, ” buy municipality bonds when the population is 10 thousand or by public utility when gross revenue is about $2 million and on the railroad, the gross revenue is $3 million

and lastly, in the industrial, the gross revenue is $5 million.

Industrial is not included in New York statute, because they don’t say, to b buy or avoid them

and author says, ” invest in industrial also.”

So large size does not mean to have safety

so it’s may happen those are the largest companies that are the weakest company.

if they have maximum debt.

So large size criteria are not affected in this municipality, railroad, and public utility,

so small and large both are the same.

but in industrial, have an effect, those are large size, they are more stable than small size.

So this is all about the two criteria for specific standards for bond investment.

Investment bonds from security analysis chapter 6

Hello friends, in today’s, article we see the investment bond from chapter 6 of the security analysis book is The Selection of Fixed-value Investment. In this chapter, the authors give the perfect theory of The selection of investment bonds ( Fixed-value).

In the previous chapter, we see the classification of securities, so there are three classes of Securities. let’s recap, Class I, has the safety on principle money and has a steady income. Class II,  they are divided into two types.

Type A: is have principle safety and has the conversion feature to make the possibility of profit.

Type B: In this, you can lose principle and you get lots of profits on Principles.

Class III, is about Common stocks.

so from this Part-2 of this book is begin, in this part-2 also have the five chapter so let’s start

Investment bond from securities analysis book
So Part-2 is whole about the Class I securities ( fixed-value investment)

The Selection of Fixed-Value Investment: (Investment bonds)

So we talked about in the previous chapter is that we should classify securities on the basis of characters rather than on the basis of title.

In Fixed-Value type Include: (Investment bonds)

1) High-Grade straight bonds and Preferred stocks

2) High-Grade Privileged Issues.

3) Common Stocks having guarantee or Preferred status.

So It’s not fixed is that the fixed value type is only investment bonds as financial instruments.

This whole thing depends on its characteristic for they qualify for Fixed-Value Issues.

So most of the bonds are frequently associated with safety by the peoples, but they have to say like that Instead of safety is Associated with Limited return.

there was safe or not is the whole thing depends on company strength and earning power.

So let’s see what difference between bonds and preferred stocks.

  • Bondholders have the first claim on companies earnings and company make them promises of payment in regular interval of time. (Investment bonds)
  • So Preferred stocks also have claims but don’t have any promised with regular interest payments. So director decides to give dividends or not to the preferred stocks. there is neither priority nor Promise is assurance that of the safety of Principles.
  • this depends on the company’s strength to fulfill the company obligation., so this thing is only known from the Balance sheet of companies previous year records and his execution plan and future perspective about the company.
  • so from them, you know your issue is safe or not.

so the bond selection is just not like search and acceptance, it’s like a process of exclusion and rejection.

The author gives the four Principles of Selection of Fixed Value-type Securities (Investment bonds)

4 principles for selection of Fixed-Value Types Securities:

1) Safety does not depend on how many senior issues, means not by Specific lien, so lien like are the seniority of bond-like 1,2,3,4, preferred stocks and lastly common stocks.

So just like that those who hire high seniority, they have a maximum priority claim on companies asset.

The author here, try to say, ” Safety does not depend on seniority (whatever their rank) but they depend on those companies ae issue this bonds, that company have the strength to defeat their obligation.”

 

2) This Ability of the company to pay the interest payment. for checking this, we have to consider depression time, instead of that good time(prosperity time).

Because any mediocre company do well in prosperity time and fulfill the obligation of the company

3) If there is no safety of bonds, then given them a high coupon rate and compensation is not possible (worth it)

4) The selection of all bonds for investment purposes should be subject to rules of Exclusion and to specific quantitative tests corresponding to those prescribed by status to govern investment of saving bonds.

means the bond selection is like the government make the investment like that we have to make and our purpose is simply to make the interval of time regular income. (Investment bonds)

So in this chapter, we see only Principle 1

Principle I: Safety is not Measured by Lien, but by the ability to Pay.

So in these, there are two views on safety points.

Two views:

1) character and supposed value of the property on which bonds hold a lien,( First people think like safety

is measure by how much asset is a mortgage against that issue. so depends on seniority, so those who have the first lien against him, keep mortgage of asset means if the company is not paying their interest of first-lien seniority bond, this first lien seniority bondholder take the asset of the company under him.

so whatever is property value on that we have to buy,

So this type of people thinking on bond or senior lien

2) Strength and Soundness of obligor Enterprises ( means the safety depends on enterprises strength, so the company can pay their bills not depends on asset value.)

So in the first view, we think, they are claiming against on property.

In the Second view bond is a claim against the business. (Investment bonds)

So in this which is right,

Now you think, if the company can’t pay, then bondholders take over the companies assets and sell them and pay for themselves.

but this is not happening, so in this, there are three types of problems.

Three problems with the first view:

1 ) When businesses fail, then properties values also shrink. so companies value depends on companies earning power. If a company fails then fixed asset value also goes down.

so understanding this point the author gives the examples

Cardboard all Florida railway company, this company first mortgage is going down from 25 million to 250K dollar when the company is failing.

so the value of companies is going down when businesses fail.

the second problem is

2) You(bondholder) get the legal right with bonds, legal like You can sell the property of company, but you can’t enforce them when the company failed.

Because Court does not allow you for this.

So those are a junior lien, what they get if first lien holder sells the property and distribute themself because, the business value goes down, that why only first-lien can get money, so no money for second or third lien holder, so that’s why the court does not allow for this. (Investment bonds)

the third problem is

3) If you are allowed to take over the property by the court, so in this situation also take the lots of time and spend much money for advocate and other expense, and takes lots of delays occurred to solve the problem.

Bondholders’ motive is to avoid trouble not to found in trouble and how to goes from that troubles.

So from these principles what we learn

the first thing we learn is

Corollaries from Principle-I:

1) So there is no difference between senior or junior lien: If a company is strong then its debentures(unsecured debt) also strongs.

This debenture is a junior form of debt.

If the company strong then, their debenture also wonderful as like a first-lien bond.

So the author says, ” Strong companies debenture is better than the weak companies first lien.”

The second thing we learn is

2) Buy the highest yield: means those are a sound company or strong company, this type of company bonds, we can buy the junior bond for highest yield and you get the highest yield on that bond.

so regarding safety is all of them, not only for the first-lien bond and not for the last one lien.

This thinking present only in theory but not in practice mode, people only buy the low yield bond with the first-lien category.

The author tries to say, ” If companies junior bond is not safe then, their senior bond is also not safe so we don’t need to buy their first-lien bond.”

If a company is weak so its high-grade bond is also not safe, means if their high-grade bond is also like the low-grade bond value. (Investment bonds)

The third thing we learn is

3) If junior bonds yield and senior bond yield have the maximum difference then buy the Junior bond, If there is no difference in senior bond and junior bond, this type buy the senior bond, without taking any risk.

So buying senior bonds, they have to the protection but the yield is same, just use common sense.

What to buy in any situation, for this author give the examples

Suppose a junior lien of company X and the First mortgage bond of Company Y.

So in these two cases come forward, if we prefer the junior lien bond than the senior lien mortgage bond.

  1. Company X has adequate protection of total debt and the yield of junior lien bond is substantially higher than that of company Y senior lien bond.
  2. Buy junior lien not a senior lien, If suppose, there is not any difference between junior yield and senior yield, but the total debt protection company is more than company Y, so we can buy the junior lien.

so protection is more than those are fixed charged on bonds, which means, the Interest coverage ratio of Company X is more than the Company Y.

We can prefer the junior lien of Company X whatever not have the maximum difference between in yield.

so lastly the author says for the understanding bond. so this is the exception to the above-mentioned rules)

lastly, says the author, “Investors are not involved in this issues because they are far beyond the competence of investors and investors have to stick with this rules is the strong company has strong bonds.”

whatever we learn and use common sense to buy the junior and senior bond.

 

So this is all about the Investment bond from chapter 6 of security analysis.

Classification of Securities: Chapter 5

Hello friends, in today’s article we see the classification of securities from chapter 5 of the Security Analysis book. In this chapter, the author explains how people classify securities and how they wrong and the author gives the specific reason and accurate classification.

The Previous chapter 4

Classification of Securities from chapter 5 of Security Analysis book:

Classification of Securities

In this, the author gives the how the grouping of securities is mention by people

let’s see

Conventional Grouping of Securities:

So these securities grouped in two parts i.e. Bond and Stocks

In stocks contain two stocks one is preferred stocks and the other are common stocks.
Classification of Securities

So we all know those are bonds and the bondholder has the first claim on the company.

If they don’t get the interest on that bond then they have the first claim on the company Asset.

But those are stocks holders they assume that whatever the profits go on that basis they get the maximum profits on shares. (Classification of Securities)

If the shares go down or the company files for bankrupt then they lose the all money because those are bondholders who take the first claim on the company asset.

So the author says, this conventional grouping of securities is not in the right way.

So for the above conventional groups, the author gives the three objections.

  1. Preferred Stocks is grouped with common stocks (diagram image) instead that they have to group with bond.

Because Preferred stocks get the fixed income, so they one side they are a technical legal partner of a company but actually, they are like bondholder, then that type of results they got also.

This means they can not participate in the profits of the company (dividends), which means they get what is fixed, on that preferred stocks, that much amount only get them. (Classification of Securities)

2. Another problem is people compare the Bond with safety, but this is a big mistake.

So you can say, bond as a whole instrument because they have the first claim on company asset.

Safety does not depend on because they are bonds, it depends on this  the comapanies asset that defeats the obligation of the company ( means beat the bond interest payment and other companies problems)

so this point includes the real safety not on this to buy the bond and stay safe is not happen.

Because, if companies don’t have earnings and their asset not capable to pay the bond interest so without that bond is not a safe investment.

3. Title is not used rightly for accuracy purposes, saying anything to any securities just like the following example.

Preferred stocks look like stocks but actually, they work like bond and other deviation also present in financial instrument list like Convertible bond, purchase margin, Warrant, Participant preferred stocks, Non Voting stocks. so this all deviation and also other no voting stocks not we are put in this list that above mentions image, and they put in common stocks but they don’t work like that. (Classification of Securities)

Participant preferred stocks, so these are preferred stocks but we can’t put in preferred stocks, because they are participants.

So the author says, ” this all above classification is not the right way.”

So whatever the characteristics of financial instruments, they are not divided on their characterists.

then the author gives their own Classification.

So they divide them into three classes:

1. Class I (Fixed-value type)

2. Class II (Variable-Value type)

3. Class III ( Common Stock type)

 

  1. Class I ( Fixed-Value type): In this class, include the high-grade bond and preferred stocks.
  2. Class II ( Variable-Value type): In this class includes two types A) Well Protected issues with profit possibilities B) Inadequately protected issues.

A) Well Protected issues with profit possibilities: in this, the issue is well protected but has profit possibilities.

so that’s why they are variable values, e.g. High-Grade bond, Convertable bond.

B) Inadequately Protected Issues: In this have the profit, but they are not fully protected they have Inadequately protection issues, for example, lower-grade bonds or preferred stocks. (Classification of Securities)

So they have the profits chance because they are very cheap in price.

3. Common Stocks type: In this include share (stocks) that we talk about almost every time.

So now let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of these all classes.

  • Class I, in this the owner’s main purpose is the principle of safety and interest safety and we want steady income from these securities.
  • In Class II, the principle value changes regularly, so that why they have significance. so let’s see type A: in this, you get the safety and you have another possibility is conversion so that you can make a profit in that. let’s see type B: In this, your loss may be happening, in lots of forms and you also get lots of gain on principle.
  • In class III, In this compare with Class 2 type B

so in this difference is those are class II type B have the priority as compare to Class III and they have some protection in class II type B.

Another difference is those are Class II and type B have the profit possibilities, and in this, you get the substantial profit, so but class II type B have the limits so but in Class III in common stocks there is no limit on profits as compare to the class II type B.

So other says, ” those securities that have the characteristics of the common stock, they include in class three, whatever they name are, whatever those are like, common stocks or bonds or convertible bonds or any other financial instruments. (Classification of Securities)

lastly, the author says,” Do not classify securities on the basis of the title of the issue, but the practical significance of its specific terms, and status to the owner.”

So this is all about the classification of securities from chapter 5 of the security analysis book.

Difference between Investment and Speculation

Hello friends, in today’s article we see the difference between Investment and Speculation from chapter 4 of the security analysis book. so let’s see the Benjamin Graham point of view.

The Previous Chapter 3: Sources of Information

Difference between Investment and Speculation
What People think about It:-Difference between Investment and Speculation

Difference Investment and speculation

Bonds and stocks

so people say, ” Invest in bonds is an investment, and invest in stocks is called speculation.”

Outright purchase and purchase on margin( taking loan and buy security)

Some people say, ” We buy the outright purchases that investment and speculation when you purchase on margin ( means taking borrowed money and buy the stocks).

People say, ” Investment is permanent holdings and Speculation is for a quick return.”

other people say, ” Investment is for income and speculation is for profits”

Investment is in safe securities and speculation in risky issues. (Difference between Investment and Speculation)

so authors say, ” this all is bullshit whatever above peoples think.”

So Author starts with the first point and say,

” If you buy bonds that secure but companies earning is not sufficient, so those interest payment not fully paid by the companies, so this is also the speculation.”

so go on to the second point from the above table i.e. Outright Purchases and purchases on Margin

If you want to purchase security and this security is shit, so then this is not a good opportunity so whatever you buy on outright purchases, this also speculation.

or

If you get the wonderful stocks and you get the maximum discount and margin of safety but you buy on purchase on margin this is also Investment and this maybe becomes a good investment.

Temporary and permanent points

This is only the intention of purchase so If someone says, ” I buy this security and keep it so what is the benefit of that if they keep that security. so you have a purpose in buying that whatever your purpose i.e. Profits or income.

So in this, not any temporary or permanent,  If they reach at purpose in a short time or long term time, this doesn’t matter, the matter is that purpose is accomplished, whatever the time frame.

Income and Profits

Suppose you get the return whatever is 10, 20%

from where it comes, it doesn’t matter

they come in form of income or profits this all depends on your fundamental circumstance, which means you need every month money for maintaining your lifestyle or you need profits for long terms.

So we can’t say, ” income is investment and speculation is profits”

because of the above fundamental circumstances. (Difference between Investment and Speculation)

Safety and risky point

so safety and risky is dependent on the different points of view of people.

So if one man puts money on a racehorse and he thinks they will win the racing then in his point of view they think it’s a good investment and safe money.

so some people think in 1929, investors think to put money stocks is a safe investment and they think this stock has never gone down because now a new era is beginning and the stock goes high.

so whatever they pay the price, they are justifiable for that stocks in 1929.

This depends on the perspective to perspective so we can’t separate the investment and speculation.

So all this statement neglect by the author and they give his own point of view of definition of Investment and Speculation.

Definition of  Investment:

An investment operation is one which upon thorough analysis, promises safety of the principle and a satisfactory return.

If operators not meeting these requirements are speculations.

Thorough Analysis means studying the facts while applying standards of safety and value.

Safety of Principles means, Your principles are not going anywhere in normal circumstances.

Like lite situation happen in the market, except the stream events like recession, depression, etc so then there is no safety in this situation on investment principle, this told by the Benjamin Graham

Satisfactory Returns may be in any form like capital appreciation, dividends returns, or interest payments.

Lastly, investment operation called an investment instead of securities operation as investment operation.

Because any type of securities is an investment or any type of security is speculation. so this only depends on how much price you pay. (Difference between Investment and Speculation)

the author also define another form of Investment

An investment operation is one that can be justified on both qualitative and quantitative grounds.

after this author gives  Examples of Speculation.

In Dec 1934, General Electrics stocks were sold at 12 3/4 dollar and paid 6% on $10 pay.

It has one difficulty was they are callable on any dividend date at $11.

So the author says, ” Buying these preferred stocks at 12 3/4 is speculating and we put the 10% of our principal.

so how this happen explain below

Suppose if the issue is called on the very first date i.e. 15 April 1935, then you will get the $11 as call price plus a Dividend.

so how much dividends? for this
Annual dividend = 6% of $10 = $0.6

so for 4 month dividend = 0.6/3 = 0.2.

 

so, you will get $11 as call price and dividend is 0.2 means $11.02 which could result in a loss of 12%.

so now you think, this is a very simple calculation, so who do like this stupidity.

so, guys, everyone wants to become rich in the stock market and no one wants to do work for that that why we all do stupid things.

So the author says, ” buying these preferred stocks, you are doing speculations.”

You were wagering that issue would not be called for some years to come, therefore it is speculation.

so the author gives the Example of Investment:

In real-time, the same stocks of General Electrics, the issue was called that every month at $11 per share on 15 April 1935. so from this announcement. (Difference between Investment and Speculation)

The price promptly decreased to $11 so the author says, ” this is the investment opportunity.”

So let’s see how?

Now you have the opportunity for profitable short-term investment on margin investors buying.

Suppose, you buy the $11 stocks at on 15 Jan 1935 and you get the $10 per share borrowed money at 2% per annum interest.

so you buy the 1000 shares.

at $11  so net money = $11,000

On April, 15, 1935, you get the $11 plus dividend = $11,150

so this time you have to call the price and get dividends of $150. ( $0.6 per annum and 3 month dividend is 0.15 multiply by 1000 = $150)

so gross profits = $150

so you invest $11,000 and you get the $11,150, but on this, you have to pay borrowed money whatever their interest rates.

so for 3 month interest rat 2% per annum on $10,000 = $50

your net profits were = $100

so you invest $1000 and you take $10,000 as a loan (borrowed money).

The net profit of $100 on $1000 investment, in 3 months is equivalent to = 10% * 4

= 40% Annual return

so this type of return is very much best for an annual year.

Peoples say, that ” investment depends on the past and speculation is depends on the future.”

So after this example, the author gives the four types of investment

Types of  Investment:-(Difference between Investment and Speculation)

1) Business Investment: Your money put in any business

2) financial Investment: Your money put in any securities like bonds, stocks, etc.

3) sheltered Investment: In this, you buy those securities that have minimum risk and they have the first claim on company asset.

4) Analysis Investment: Analysis investment is that investment operation that going through the analysis and they give the promise statement about principle safety and also adequate returns.

So this is the list of types of investment, so this is not an exotic investment list, and about them not other any investment is not like that. and this put randomly without any relations. (Difference between Investment and Speculation)

Types of Speculation:

1) Intelligent Speculation

2) Unintelligent Speculation

1) Intelligent Speculation: Those are intelligent speculation, you only get those risks, you are justifiable on that because you do good studies and whatever your prose and cause on your decision.

So this called Intelligent Speculation

2) Unintelligent Speculation:

In this, you take the risk, without reading that situation you just doing this, because you think these stocks going high.

Because you listen this is a popular company and lots of people talk about this company so this is all are bullshit.

Those are stocks price, and you are paying for that stocks, so we can divide them into two components.

Investment and Speculative components of Price:

e.g. In 1939, General Electric stocks $38

so analyst judgement says that the investment of that stocks price is $25.

and other remains $13 is that speculation price.

so they represent the stocks market appraisal and long term prospects may be good and peoples bias is that this company is very good and they include the other factor of specular component.

So any investor/buyers pay more than the $25, then they have to recognise, they are paying for speculative possible so the author doesn’t say that this is wrong thinking or right thinking.

they have to just recognise that they are paying for speculation price also and they have to remember this fact then only your mind is set

If you think this is justifiable to pay more than the $25 then, this is Bullshit Think.

and your brain is not set for investing.

lastly, the author gives the relationship between intrinsic value, investment value and speculative value

Relation: Intrinsic value, Investment Value and Speculative Value:

So those are intrinsic value they can include in the speculative value also, but only for Intelligent Speculation.

So Intrinsic value has two components

  1. Investment Value
  2. Intelligent speculation value

If stocks price is equal to Intrinsic value and If they have more than then they include the unintelligent Speculation Value.

so this is all about the Difference between Investment and Speculation from the Security analysis book, chapter 4.

Intelligent Investor: Chapter 16

Hello friends, today's article is in chapter 16 of the intelligent investor book. in chapter 16, we see the convertible issues and warrants, and how they benefited investors, this is all…