Investors always prefer investing in securities that give predictable and stable returns. Although Fixed Deposits (FDs) are the first choice for many investors, many other fixed-income instruments are gaining popularity among new-age investors. Debt mutual funds are a preferred investment choice for retail investors due to the high popularity of mutual funds. However, with bond investing opening up to retail investors, it is slowly gaining traction. However, these two are very different from each other. To make an informed decision, it is important to compare the different features of bonds and debt mutual funds.
Bonds vs Debt Mutual Funds: At a Glance
| Parameter | Bonds | Debt Mutual Funds |
| How do they work? | Securities through which Companies raise money, who then pay you regular interest and repay the principal as per a predefined cash flow. | Money from multiple investors is pooled together to be invested in a variety of bonds and returns are generated through capital appreciation. |
| Minimum Investment | Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,00,000 | Rs 1,000 |
| Returns | 7-12% | 6-8% |
| Tenure | Short, medium and long term | Short, medium and long term |
| Credit Risk | Low to High | Low to Moderate |
| Predictability of Return | High | Medium |
| Liquidity | Low | Highly |
| Expense Ratio | No | Yes |
| Transparency | High | Low |
| Diversification | No | Yes |
| Purpose of Investment | Regular income | Short-Term Goals |
| Taxation | Interest taxed at Marginal Tax Rate
STCG (<1 year) is taxed as per Marginal Tax Rate LTCG (>1 year) is taxed at 10% |
Capital gains are taxable at Marginal Tax Rate |
Bonds vs Debt Mutual Funds: In Detail
Definition
Bonds are financial instruments issued by governments and corporations to raise capital. They are fixed-income securities that offer a stable income to the investors. Debt mutual funds are financial instruments that pool money from investors and invest in debt securities such as bonds, money market instruments and government securities.
How do they work
When you invest in a bond, you are lending money to the issuer. In return, the issuer will pay a fixed interest on the borrowed money. The interest is paid at regular intervals until maturity, and the principal is paid at maturity.
In the case of a debt fund, the money you invest is used to purchase different debt instruments like Bonds, Commercial Papers, etc. The capital appreciation and interest earned will be added to the fund’s Net Asset Value (NAV), increasing the fund’s NAV. When the NAV of the fund goes up, it results in profits. You will earn through capital gains if you sell your mutual fund units.
Minimum investment amount
The minimum investment in bonds ranges between Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh. In contrast, for a debt fund, the minimum investment is around Rs 1,000.
Returns
Bonds pay a fixed interest on your investment, which acts as a regular income. Bonds give around 7-12%. Debt Mutual Funds do not pay any fixed interest, and their returns depend on the market price of underlying assets. Moreover, the returns from debt funds are slightly lower when compared to bonds. Hence, Bonds are more likely to give better returns than Debt Mutual Funds.
Tenure
Debt Mutual Funds, on the other hand, have both short and long tenures. Depending on the type of Debt Mutual Fund, the tenure varies. For example, Ultra-Short Term Mutual Funds have a tenure below one year, whereas long-term debt funds and gilt funds have a longer tenure.
Liquidity
Bonds trade on the secondary market, and hence, you can buy and sell them on the stock exchange based on the availability of buyers and sellers, just like shares. In contrast, you can sell/ redeem your investment in Debt Mutual Funds anytime you want. However, an exit load is levied in case of some funds, and you must also consider the tax implications of selling your debt mutual funds.
Risk Involved
Bonds can be risky or risk-free. For example, corporate bonds with low credit ratings have more risk as compared to very high rated Corporate Bonds or Government Securities.
On the other hand, there is no certainty of returns from Debt Mutual Funds. The level of volatility depends on the average maturity of the fund’s portfolio. If you invest in long or medium duration bonds, these may undergo several interest rate fluctuations. Hence low duration debt funds are often preferred over long duration debt funds.
Expense ratio
Investing in bonds does not attract any additional costs. On the other hand, when you invest in Debt Mutual Funds, the fund house charges a fee for managing the funds. A fund house can charge a maximum of 2% as an expense ratio for debt mutual funds.
Transparency
When investing in Bonds, you have all the information about the issue and the issuer. For example, minimum investment amount, YTM, maturity date, interest payment frequency, etc. While investing in Debt Mutual Funds, it’s quite tedious to analyse each bond holding.
Diversification
Investing in bonds to achieve diversification requires higher capital. Simply put, the capital required can be significantly high if you have to invest in 5 bonds individually. At the same time, investing in mutual funds will expose you to a basket of bonds.
Purpose of Investment
Bonds offer regular income, while Debt Mutual Funds do not. Thus, if you seek regular income from your investment, bonds must be your choice. Debt Mutual Funds like liquid funds or Ultra Short-Term Funds are often suitable to park your funds for short-term goals or emergencies. These are a good alternative to holding money in your savings bank account.
Taxation
Bonds offer regular interest payments. The interest income from bonds is added to your total taxable income and is taxed at Marginal Tax Rate. STCG on bonds is also taxed as per your marginal tax rate but LTCG is is taxed at 10%.
However, investments made in debt mutual funds prior to April 1st 2023, have long-term and short-term capital gains. If the investment holding period is less than three years, the short-term capital gains will be taxed as per your Marginal Tax Rate. For investments with a holding period of more than three years, the capital gains are taxable at 20% with indexation benefit.
Conclusion
The choice between bonds and debt mutual funds depends on your financial goals and risk appetite. Bonds offer stable and predictable income, thus, suitable for those seeking regular income.
On the other hand, debt mutual funds provide diversification and flexibility but lack fixed returns. There are a variety of Debt Mutual fund categories that one can invest based on their risk appetite and investment horizon.
Given the complexity of debt mutual funds, you may limit them only to your emergency fund requirements.
Do you wish to invest in bonds and are confused about how to proceed? Feel free to speak to our experts, who can help you select the right bonds and make your investment journey hassle-free.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When interest rates rise, what happens to Debt Mutual Funds?
Bonds have an inverse relationship to interest rates. When interest rates go up, bond prices fall, and when interest rates decline, bond prices increase. As Debt Mutual Funds invest in different bonds, the prices will fall if the interest rate rises.
How do the returns from Bonds and Debt Mutual Funds differ?
Bondholders receive regular income in the form of interest payments, typically distributed monthly/quaterly/annually. On the other hand, Debt Mutual Funds invest in a basket of debt securities not restricted only to bonds. Thus, the returns vary based on the underlying securities.
Bonds or Debt Mutual Funds – which is more liquid?
Bonds offer relatively lower liquidity compared to Debt Mutual Funds because they have fixed maturity dates, and investors may not be able to sell them before maturity without incurring penalties. Debt Mutual Funds provide higher liquidity as investors can redeem their units at prevailing NAVs on any business day.
Is it better to invest in Debt Mutual Funds or Bonds?
Deciding between Bonds and Debt Mutual Funds depends on your financial objectives and risk tolerance. Bonds ensure steady and predictable earnings, while, Debt Mutual Funds offer diversification but don’t guarantee fixed returns. Thus, depending on your investment preferences you can pick a suitable investment.
