• Invest
    Investment Suite
    Stocks
    Mutual Funds
    Future and Options
    IPO
    Exchange Traded Funds
    Commodity
    Stockcase (Stock Baskets)
    Currency
    Non Convertible Debentures
    Sovereign Gold Bond
    Exclusive
    NRI Account
    Private Client Group
    Features
    SipIt
    MTF
    Investment Suite
    Exclusive
    Features
  • Platform
    Product Suite
    Kotak Neo App & Web
    Nest Trading Terminal
    NEO Trade APIs
    Features and Tools
    MTF
    Securities Accepted as Collateral
    Margin Requirements
    Payoff Analyzer
    Calculators
    SIP Calculator
    Lumpsum Calculator
    Brokerage Calculator
    Margin Calculator
    MTF Calculator
    All Calculators
    Product Suite
    Features and Tools
    Calculators
  • Pricing
  • Research
    Research Calls
    Long Term calls
    Short Term calls
    Intraday calls
    Derivatives calls
    Pick of the week
    Top Monthly Picks
    Research Reports
    Fundamental Research Report
    Technical Research Report
    Derivative Research Report
    Research Calls
    Research Reports
  • Market
    Stocks
    Market Movers
    Large Cap
    Mid Cap
    Small Cap
    Indices
    Nifty 50
    Bank Nifty
    FinNifty
    Nifty Midcap India
    VIX
    All Indian Indices
    Mutual Funds
    SBI Mutual Funds
    HDFC Mutual Funds
    Axis Mutual Funds
    ICICI Prudential Mutual Funds
    Nippon India Mutual Funds
    All AMC's
    IPO
    Upcoming IPO
    Current IPO
    Closed IPO
    Recently Listed IPO
    Stocks
    Indices
    Mutual Funds
    IPO
  • Learn
    Resource
    Market Ready
    Kotak Insights
    Infographic
    Podcast
    Webinars
    Youtube Channel
    Quarterly Results
    Investing Guide
    Demat Account
    Trading Account
    Share Market
    Intraday Trading
    IPO
    Mutual Funds
    Commodities
    Currency
    Futures & Options
    Derivatives
    Margin Trading
    Events
    Budget 2024
    Muhurat Trading
    Share Market Holiday
    Market Outlook 2024
    Resource
    Investing Guide
    Events
  • Partner
    Business Associates
    Fund Expert
    Kotak Connect Plus
    Startup connect
  • Support
    FAQs
    Circulars
    Bulletins
    Contact Us
    Forms Download
    Get your Statement

Gilt Funds vs. Corporate Bond Funds: A Comparison

  •  5 min read
  • 0
  • 03 Jan 2024
Gilt Funds vs. Corporate Bond Funds: A Comparison

Gilt funds are mutual funds that predominantly invest in government securities. Government security, also known as a G-Sec, is a debt instrument issued by the Central Government or State Governments to raise funds for public expenditure.

The issuance of G-Secs is facilitated through India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The term “gilt” is used because these securities carry no default risk, thanks to their sovereign guarantee and high credit rating.

The common types of gilt funds are as follows:

1. Gilt Fund

This category of gilt funds actively invests in government securities with varying maturities. For instance, funds within this classification can expose themselves to short-duration papers, featuring maturities ranging from 1 to 3 years. They can also position their investments in papers with maturity approximately ranging from 10 to 15 years.

As per SEBI’s mandate, this fund type must allocate a minimum of 80% of its portfolio exclusively to government securities. Mutual funds typically allocate the remaining 20% to debt instruments such as T-bills, cash and cash equivalent securities, certificates of deposit, commercial papers, and other eligible options.

2. Gilt Fund With 10-year Constant Maturity

These funds maintain exposure to government securities with 10-year durations, as per SEBI’s categorization mandate. Similar to the aforementioned gilt funds, this category requires a minimum allocation of 80% of its portfolio exclusively to government securities.

Here are some essential features of gilt funds:

1. Investment in Government Securities

Gilt funds primarily invest in government securities, including central government bonds and state government bonds. These securities are considered safe as the government backs them.

2. Low Credit Risk

Since gilt funds invest in government bonds, which are backed by the sovereign, they carry minimal credit risk. The likelihood of default on government securities is considered extremely low.

3. Stable Returns

Gilt funds provide stable and predictable returns over the long term. The focus on government securities contributes to the stability of these funds.

A corporate bond fund actively invests over 80% of its financial assets in corporate bonds. Businesses sell these bonds to finance various short-term expenses, including working capital needs, advertising, insurance premium payments, and more.

A corporate bond fund primarily invests in:

  1. Companies with very high CRISIL credit ratings (AA+), including Navratnas and public sector firms
  2. Firms with slightly lower credit ratings

Here are some of the key features of corporate bond funds:

1. Investment in Corporate Bonds

Corporate bond funds invest in bonds that corporations issue. These bonds represent the debt obligations of companies seeking capital and pay periodic interest to investors.

2. Can Offer Potentially Higher Returns

These funds typically offer higher returns than gilt funds but also have higher risk. This is because corporate bonds are issued by companies, which are more likely to default on their debt than governments.

3. High Liquidity

These funds are generally more liquid than individual corporate bonds, which means they can be easily bought and sold. This makes them a good choice for investors who need to access their money quickly.

Now that you know the meaning and features of gilt funds and corporate bond funds, let’s compare them on key parameters. The table below compares them in various aspects:

Aspects Gilt Funds Corporate Bond Funds
Underlying Securities
Primarily invests in government securities
Mainly invests in bonds issued by corporations
Risk
Low due to government backing
Moderate to high as it’s issued by corporation
Credit risk
Minimal as government securities are secure
High as corporate bonds are likely to default
Returns
Generally lower compared to corporate bond funds
Potentially higher than gilt funds
Investor profile
Suited for conservative investors
Suitable for investors with moderately higher risk appetite

Choosing between gilt funds and corporate bond funds depends on your financial objectives, risk tolerance, and investment preferences. Here are some factors to consider when deciding between gilt funds and corporate bond funds:

1. Risk Tolerance

Gilt funds may be more suitable if you have a low-risk tolerance and prefer capital preservation. They are considered low-risk due to their investment in government securities. You can consider them if you have a moderate risk tolerance and can take a higher risk for higher returns.

2. Investment Horizon

Gilt funds are often suitable for long-term investors seeking stability and consistent, albeit potentially lower, returns over time. Corporate bond funds may be appropriate for you if you have a medium to long-term horizon looking to balance income generation and capital appreciation.

3. Return Expectations

Gilt funds generally offer lower returns compared to corporate bond funds. If your aim is to preserve capital and you are content with modest returns, gilt funds might align with your expectations. Corporate bond funds could provide the income and growth you're looking for if you seek higher potential returns and can take on some level of credit risk.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision between gilt and corporate bond funds should align with your financial objectives and risk preferences. Several investors choose to diversify their portfolios by including a mix of both asset classes to achieve a balanced and well-rounded investment strategy.

FAQs on Gilt Funds vs. Corporate Bond Funds

The best time in a falling interest rate regime. As interest rates decline, gilt funds tend to experience higher returns because the demand for government securities increases due to the higher interest rates they offer, causing bond prices to rise.

Yes, gilt funds are highly safe because they primarily invest in government securities.

Corporate bond funds are ideal for moderately high-risk investors who have an investment horizon of 2-3 years.

Did you enjoy this article?

0 people liked this article.

What could we have done to make this article better?

Enjoy Free Demat Account Opening
+91 -

personImage
Enjoy Free Demat Account Opening
+91 -