DISC

• How to use DISC formula?
• Examples of using DISC formula
• DISC formula not working?
• Similar formulas to DISC

Usage

Use the DISC formula with the syntax shown below, it has 4 required parameters and 1 optional parameter:

=DISC(settlement, maturity, price, redemption, [day_count_convention])

1. settlement (required):
   The settlement date of the security, represented as a date or a reference to a cell containing a date.
2. maturity (required):
   The maturity date of the security, represented as a date or a reference to a cell containing a date.
3. price (required):
   The purchase price of the security, represented as a number or a reference to a cell containing a number.
4. redemption (required):
   The redemption price of the security, represented as a number or a reference to a cell containing a number.
5. day_count_convention (optional):
   An optional argument specifying the day count convention to use when calculating the discount rate. If omitted, the US (NASD) 30/360 day count convention is used by default.

Examples

Calculating the discount rate of a security

One common use of the DISC function is to calculate the discount rate of a security. This can be useful for investors who are considering purchasing a security, as it can help them determine the potential return on their investment.

Comparing the discount rates of different securities

Investors may use the DISC function to compare the discount rates of different securities. This can help them determine which security is likely to provide the highest return on investment.

Analyzing the impact of different purchase prices on the discount rate

By changing the purchase price of a security in the DISC function, investors can analyze the impact of different purchase prices on the discount rate. This can help them determine the optimal purchase price for a given security.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect order of arguments

One common mistake is to input the arguments in the wrong order. For example, inputting the redemption value in the price argument.

Invalid input types

Another mistake is to input non-numeric values in the required arguments, such as text or empty cells.

Missing arguments

A third mistake is to omit required arguments, such as the settlement date or the maturity date.

Incorrect day count convention

The day count convention argument can also be a source of mistakes if the wrong convention is used for the given financial instrument.

Misunderstanding of output

Users may also misunderstand the output of the DISC formula, which returns the discount rate of a security. They may confuse it with the yield or the interest rate.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to DISC or are often used with it in a formula:

• YIELD

  The YIELD function calculates the yield of a security that pays periodic interest. The yield is the annualized percentage rate returned on the bond, assuming the bond is held until maturity. This function is commonly used in finance and investment analysis.

• PRICE

  The PRICE function calculates the price per $100 face value of a security that pays periodic interest. It is commonly used to determine the current value of a bond. The function takes the settlement date, maturity date, annual coupon rate, yield, redemption value, and frequency of coupon payments as input. It returns the price of the security, which is the sum of the present value of the coupon payments and the present value of the redemption value.

• DURATION

  The DURATION function calculates the Macauley duration of a security paying periodic interest, such as a US Treasury Bond, based on expected yield. The Macauley duration is a measure of the sensitivity of the price of the security to changes in interest rates. This function is commonly used in finance and investment analysis.

Learn More

You can learn more about the DISC Google Sheets function on Google Support.