What is Accreted Value?

Accreted value is a value that accumulates interest, but will not pay out that interest at any given time until it reaches maturity. Accreted value is commonly applied on zero-coupon bonds or on cumulative preferred stock.

How does Accreted Value Work? 

Some investment interest plans like savings accounts and other regular bonds are usually shared out to investors on a regular basis. On the other hand, investment plans like zero-coupon bonds, do not share out their interests. Instead, the interest is reinvested and it accrues value until a certain period of maturity time. Accreted value is the amount that accrues its interest but the interest is not shared among investors until it reaches maturity. This best applies to zero-coupon bonds and stock markets. The investors then get the capital they invested plus the interest the bond earned during its maturity time.

With respect to capital appreciation bonds, accreted value is the amount that is equal to the original amount added to the interest which the bond has accrued. This is counted from the date the bond was issued to the date it was computed. Accreted value of a bond at a particular time equates to the initial amount invested, plus the accumulated interest over the period of time to that very date. Normally, zero-coupon bonds are discounted when being issued. The value then increases gradually during the life of the bond. So, the accreted value may be lower or higher than the bonds market value. However, this is never an issue as its market value is accredited to the supply and demand of the bond based on its worthiness. The worth of the bond may change during its lifetime making the market value to rise or fall. Generally, an accreted value of a bond does not relate to its market value, although the two sometimes have a tough relationship. A bonds accreted value grows mathematically and its final value may turn out to be higher than its market value at a certain period in time. If the market value of the bond happens to fall, the accreted value of the bond will be higher than the market value. But if the market value of the bond rises, then the accreted value of the bond will be less.

What to Consider when Assessing an Accreted Value

There are some elements that are put into consideration when assessing an accreted value. They are as follows:

• The initial price offering for the bonds. This is basically the investors initial capital when the offer is being made during investment.
• The interest that has accumulated throughout the bonds lifetime (until maturity time). This is also based on the agreed interest rates at the initial offering of the bond.

Importance of an Accreted Value to Bond Pricing

An accreted value may be relevant on bond pricing in the following ways:

• It is a factor used to determine the capital appreciation bonds weighted average mature.
• It is viewed as on bond theoretical pricing. This is if it was to be sold while the market interest rates continued to be consistent in their recent level.

Key Takeaways

• The accreted value is the amount that accrues its interest, but the interest is not shared among investors until it reaches maturity.
• The accreted value applies best to zero-coupon bonds and stock markets.