Fixed Income

U.S. Treasury Securities

The history of U.S. public debt dates back to revolutionary times. To support war efforts, many states issued debt certificates, bonds and other forms of IOUs. Unfortunately, by the end of the war most states were unable to meet their financial obligations. In 1789, Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, wrote a proposal in which he outlined the plan for the federal government to assume and pay off the states’ securities at full face value, and to fund new national debt. Little did he know that more than 200 years later, U.S. government bonds would be considered the safest of all investments and become the benchmark against which other securities are measured.

For many Americans, there comes a time when supplementing earnings with income from a reliable source can assure life’s financial needs are being met. In this case, investors look to U.S. Treasury securities, which provide dependable, steady cash flow and preserve invested principal, if held to maturity. In general, bonds serve as a solid foundation upon which a successful investment portfolio may be built. The imbedded “safety” of government bonds, certainty of income stream and a variety of maturities may help investors meet current and future needs, including, but not limited to, education funding and retirement planning.

What are U.S. Treasury Securities?

When investors buy Treasury bills, notes and bonds at auction, they are lending money to the U.S. government. The timely payments of interest and principal are guaranteed by the government, which implies no “credit risk” and makes them the safest of all investments. Because of their safety advantage, government bonds pay somewhat lower interest rates than other fixed income securities. Treasury bonds are issued in a wide range of maturities, from four weeks to 30 years. Generally, they are non-callable and the interest payments are exempt from state and local taxes – especially important for investors residing in high-tax states.

The current market size of marketable U.S. Treasury securities is more than $6.5 trillion. Marketable securities are those traded on the open market. Generally, the U.S. Treasury debt market is considered very liquid as it provides the highest degree of pricing and trading efficiency. Nevertheless, there may be times when liquidity is affected by various market conditions.

Investment Risks

Unlike other fixed income investments, U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, assuring investors of interest and principal payments. However, the value of these securities is affected by interest rate and inflation risks, among others. During the life of a bond, its principal value may change depending on the direction of interest rates. Bond prices and interest rates enjoy an inverse relationship. This means that after a Treasury bond is issued, if interest rates rise, its principal value will fall because newly issued higher coupon bonds will be in greater demand. On the other hand, if interest rates fall, the older Treasuries with higher coupon rates will become more attractive and their prices will rise. So, if bonds are sold prior to maturity, the proceeds received may be more or less than the invested principal. Zero-coupon bonds, such as STRIPS, may have higher price fluctuations since there are no regular interest payments. Of course, investors who hold Treasury bonds until maturity will receive the full face value.

Changing inflation affects all fixed income securities. When consumer prices increase, the principal and income from fixed income investments become less valuable, as investors are able to buy fewer goods and services. To help address the risk of lower purchasing power, the government created Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. These bonds combat the effects of inflation by adjusting principal value using the Consumer Price Index. More information on TIPS is discussed below.

Other factors may affect the value of Treasury bonds, such as laws of supply and demand based on specific market events, as well as reinvestment risk when interest payments must be reinvested at lower rates.

Interest income from Treasury securities is subject to federal income tax but exempt from state and local taxes. Income from Treasury bills is paid at maturity and, thus, tax-reportable in the year it is received. An investor should know that, although not paid until maturity, income from zero-coupon STRIPS is taxable in the year in which it accrues. This is known as a “phantom income” tax.

Types of U.S. Treasury Securities

Bills are short-term investments with maturities of less than one year. Like other zero-coupon bonds, bills are generally sold at a discount from par value.

Notes are intermediate-term investments with maturities from two to 10 years. These securities have a stated interest rate, make semi-annual payments, and may be purchased to meet future expenses or provide additional retirement income.

Bonds are long-term securities with maturities of 30 years. They pay interest semi-annually and may be used for supplemental income, retirement and estate planning.

TIPS, or Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, are notes and bonds intended to provide inflation protection. The principal is adjusted every six months to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. A fixed coupon rate is paid on the adjusted principal. Since the interest is paid on the adjusted principal, the semi-annual payments may fluctuate. At maturity, an investor receives either the higher adjusted principal (usually during inflationary periods) or the face value (usually in deflationary periods), whichever is higher. In either case, an investor is protected against shifting inflation rates. In return for inflation protection, investors agree to receive slightly lower interest rates. For more information, read “TIPS – Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities.”

STRIPS are a special kind of Treasury bond created by a process called “coupon stripping.” Principal and interest are separated and sold individually as zero-coupon bonds at a discount from their par value. For example, stripping of a 15-year bond will result in 30 coupon STRIPS and one principal STRIP. The unique nature of these securities requires thorough understanding of their features, risks and benefits.

How to Buy and Sell Treasury Securities

Treasuries are generally sold and bought through an investment company or a commercial bank. Investors may participate in a Treasury auction to purchase new government securities. The auctions are conducted on certain days of the week, depending on the offering. Many broker/dealers maintain secondary markets for Treasury securities. Investors wishing to sell or buy previously issued securities may do so through the secondary market.

Whether buying a new or secondary offering or needing to sell prior to maturity, investors should consult their financial professionals.

U.S. government securities offer many benefits, including safety, predictability, liquidity and tax advantages – all to help meet the needs of risk-conscious investors and enhance the performance of their portfolios. For more information about these investment alternatives, visit the Treasury’s Bureau of the Public Debt at publicdebt.treas.gov and SIFMA at investinginbonds.com.