
Key Takeaways
- A debenture is a type of debt instrument that is not backed by any collateral and usually has a term greater than 10 years.
- Debentures are backed only by the creditworthiness and reputation of the issuer.
- Both corporations and governments frequently issue debentures to raise capital or funds.
What are the differences between shareholder and debenture?
- A person having the debentures is called debenture holder whereas a person holding the shares is called shareholder.
- A shareholder subscribes to the shares of a company. ...
- A shareholder or member is the joint owner of a company; but a debenture holder is only a creditor of the company.
Are debentures traded on Stock Exchange?
The interest on the debenture is paid to the person who holds the debenture currently. All the debenture holders of the company earn a fixed rate of return. Compared to fixed deposit debentures pay a higher rate of interest. Debentures are liquid and could be traded on the National stock exchange ( NSE) and the Bombay stock exchange (BSE).
What are the advantages and disadvantages of debentures?
These are given as follows:
- Payment of interest on debenture is obligatory and hence it becomes burden if the company incurs loss.
- As fixed charge instruments, debentures put a permanent burden on the earnings of a company. ...
- In case of redeemable debentures, the company has to make provisions for repayment on the specified date, even during periods of financial difficulty;
Is debenture a source of Finance?
Long-term debt financing is majorly categorized into a term loan and debentures. Debentures are one of the common long-term sources of finance. They normally carry a fixed interest rate and a certain date of maturity. One has to pay interest every year and the principal on the date of maturity.

What does debenture mean in the stock market?
Share. A debenture is a marketable security (a type of investment) issued by a business or other organization to raise money for long-term activities and growth. It is a form of debt capital so it is accounted for as debt on the balance sheet of the issuing company.
What is debenture with example?
An entity that issues debentures and has lower credit quality can expect to pay a high interest rate, to compensate investors for the increased risk associated with these instruments. Both corporations and governments make use of debentures. Examples of debentures are Treasury bonds and Treasury bills.
What is the difference between debentures and stocks?
A debenture is a debt tool – the funds raised are considered loans to the company. But shares allow you ownership in the company....Difference Between Shares and Debentures.Areas comparedSharesDebenturesRiskHigh riskSecured investmentVoting rightsShareholders have voting rights in the companyDebenture holders don't have any rights to vote7 more rows
How does a debenture stock work?
A debenture pays a regular interest rate or coupon rate return to investors. Convertible debentures can be converted to equity shares after a specified period, making them more appealing to investors. In the event of a corporation's bankruptcy, the debenture is paid before common stock shareholders.
How do I buy debentures?
You need to have the usual trading and a demat account to buy a non convertible debenture (NCD). The process to buy a NCD is the same as that for a share. You log into your trading account or ask your broker to buy you an NCD on your behalf. The manner in which you buy and the brokerage is the same as that for shares.
What are the advantages of debentures?
Advantages and disadvantages of Investing in a DebentureAdvantagesDisadvantagesDebentures are debt instruments issued by the company that promises a fixed interest rate on the due date.The payment of interest and principal becomes a financial burden for the company in case of no profits.6 more rows•Jan 11, 2022
Which is Better shares or debentures?
Here, the fund is a borrowed capital, which makes the holder of debenture a creditor of the business. The debentures are both redeemable and unredeemable, freely transferable with a fixed interest rate....SharesDebenturesShares are the company-owned capital.Debentures are the borrowed capital of the company.Holder14 more rows
Do debentures pay dividends?
Shareholders get the dividend. Debenture holders get the interest. Dividend can be paid to shareholders only out of profits. Interest can be paid to debenture holders even if there is no profit.
What are the risks of debentures?
The risks associated with investing in debentures and unsecured notes include the following:Interest rate risk. The majority of debentures and unsecured notes have a fixed rate of interest and a fixed repayment of capital amount. ... Credit/default risk. ... Liquidity risk.
Is investing in debentures safe?
Although NCDs are generally considered safe fixed-income instruments, some recent defaults have made investors cautious. NCDs can be either secured by the issuer company's assets, or unsecured.
Can I sell debentures?
Listing & Liquidity: Debentures (convertible and/or non convertible) can be listed on a stock exchange, providing opportunities to accumulate additionally or to sell them and exit earlier than the tenure of the debenture.
Why do companies issue debentures?
Debentures. Debentures generally have a more specific purpose than other bonds. While both are used to raise capital, debentures typically are issued to raise capital to meet the expenses of an upcoming project or to pay for a planned expansion in business.
How do debentures work?
How Debentures Work. Debentures are often issued when a corporation or government needs to raise capital for a specific purpose. For example, a city government may need funds to move ahead with road maintenance or construction projects while a corporation may require capital to complete an expansion project.
What is a debenture bond?
A debenture is a type of bond that is not secured by any sort of collateral. Governments and corporations can use debentures as a capital-raising tool in lieu of taking out traditional loans. Debenture investors contribute necessary funds with the agreement that the money they’re putting up will be repaid later with interest.
Why are convertible debentures attractive?
Convertible debentures may be attractive to investors who are interested in eventually owning an equity stake in the company. Debentures can be an attractive option for raising capital when a corporation or government would prefer not to use existing assets as security for traditional bonds.
What is maturity date on a debenture?
Maturity date. A debenture’s maturity date refers to when the issuer must repay its investors. This is important to know if you’re including debentures in a long-term investment strategy. Credit rating. Creditworthiness is important for evaluating any bond issuer but it may be even more so with unsecured debentures.
Can you convert a debenture into stock?
When it’s time to repay the principal on debenture investments, issuers can choose between lump-sum payments or installments. In some instances, companies may allow investors to convert their debenture into shares of stock. Whether this is optional or required depends on the terms of the debenture.
What is a certificate of stock?
Certificates specifying the amount of stock, with coupons for interest attached, are usually issued to the . Debenture stock, loan contract issued by a company or public body specifying an obligation to return borrowed funds and pay interest, secured by all or part of the company’s property.
What is stock in finance?
Stock, in finance, the subscribed capital of a corporation or limited-liability company, usually divided into shares and represented by transferable certificates. The certificates may detail the contractual relationship between the company and its stockholders, or shareholders, and set forth the…. Security.
What is a bond N?
bond#N#Bond, in finance, a loan contract issued by local, state, or national governments and by private corporations specifying an obligation to return borrowed funds. The borrower promises to pay interest on the debt when due (usually semiannually) at a stipulated percentage of the face value and to redeem the face…
Why are debentures less safe than other bonds?
Debentures are perceived to be less safe than other bonds because they lack collateral security, although an exception is made in the case of government debentures such as U.S. Treasury Bills .
Is a debenture stock safe?
Debenture stocks are not perceived to be less safe than other equities since they carry the same degree of risk as other types of stock issue. Unlike traditional stocks, debenture stocks provide a more reliable stream of returns.
Do debentures have collateral?
Debenture stockholders are entitled to dividend payments at fixed intervals. Like regular debentures, debenture stocks are normally not backed by any collateral. However, a form of protection may be sought through a trust deed that names a trustee to act on behalf of stockholders.
Debenture stock
A type of stock that makes fixed payments at scheduled intervals of time. Debenture stock differs from a debenture in that it has the status of equity, not debt, in liquidation.
Debenture Stock
A stock entitling the bearer to a certain fixed dividend at set periods of time. Like debenture debt, debenture stock offers fixed payments with no collateral beyond the company's performance. Unlike debenture debt, however, debenture stock is a form of equity, which puts it in a position behind all debts in the event of liquidation.
