Buying T-bills at Fidelity

[student]

I just entered an order of T-bills at Fidelity and now I am worried. I made sure that I entered quantity is 1 bond (equals $1000 face value). When I looked at the order page, it says quantity 1000.00. I hope this means $1000 and not 1000 bonds. I am waiting to speak to someone. Anybody knows the answer?

[frugalecon]

I just entered an order of T-bills at Fidelity and now I am worried. I made sure that I entered quantity is 1 bond (equals $1000 face value). When I looked at the order page, it says quantity 1000.00. I hope this means $1000 and not 1000 bonds. I am waiting to speak to someone. Anybody knows the answer?

Unless you have $1 million of cash in your account, I don’t think it would let you buy 1000 bonds. I think everything will be fine.

[student]

I just entered an order of T-bills at Fidelity and now I am worried. I made sure that I entered quantity is 1 bond (equals $1000 face value). When I looked at the order page, it says quantity 1000.00. I hope this means $1000 and not 1000 bonds. I am waiting to speak to someone. Anybody knows the answer?

Unless you have $1 million of cash in your account, I don’t think it would let you buy 1000 bonds. I think everything will be fine.

Thanks. You gave me an idea. I went in the system and attempt to buy 5 more bonds. It says I don't have enough money. lol. I am still on the phone. I will give it 30 more minutes. Then I will give up.

[HueyLD]

Shouldn’t it say “ value” of $1,000 instead of quantity of 1000?

[student]

Shouldn’t it say “ value” of $1,000 instead of quantity of 1000?

It says "quantity: 1000.00" with no dollar sign. That's why I am worried.

[student]

Thanks for the responses. I just talked to Fidelity and the person confirmed that I did it correctly.

[oldcomputerguy]

I bought some brokered CDs from Fidelity some time back. As I recall it did the same thing there (listed quantity where I thought it should have listed cost). The purchase turned out just as I intended, so I think you're okay.

[student]

I bought some brokered CDs from Fidelity some time back. As I recall it did the same thing there (listed quantity where I thought it should have listed cost). The purchase turned out just as I intended, so I think you're okay.

Thanks.

[Hebell]

I went through the same worry as you, the first time. It was unsettling.

[student]

I went through the same worry as you, the first time. It was unsettling.

I am glad that I am not the only one who is paranoid.

[RetiredAL]

I just entered an order of T-bills at Fidelity and now I am worried. I made sure that I entered quantity is 1 bond (equals $1000 face value). When I looked at the order page, it says quantity 1000.00. I hope this means $1000 and not 1000 bonds. I am waiting to speak to someone. Anybody knows the answer?

That is correct. 1 shows as pending order Qty 1000. Seems stupid, but that is how it shows on the order status screen.

Remember, these are T-Bills, which are zero coupon. The 1000 is face value, the actual purchase will be less, say around $997 if you bought a 13-week bill or around $992 for a 26-week bill. The actual price is set by the auction.

[student]

I just entered an order of T-bills at Fidelity and now I am worried. I made sure that I entered quantity is 1 bond (equals $1000 face value). When I looked at the order page, it says quantity 1000.00. I hope this means $1000 and not 1000 bonds. I am waiting to speak to someone. Anybody knows the answer?

That is correct. 1 shows as pending order Qty 1000. Seems stupid, but that is how it shows on the order status screen.

Remember, these are T-Bills, which are zero coupon. The 1000 is face value, the actual purchase will be less, say around $997 if you bought a 13-week bill or around $992 for a 26-week bill. The actual price is set by the auction.

Thanks for the info.

[student]

Another update. Order executed. The email that I got is

Your order to BUY: 1000.00 bonds of 912796XV6 was FILLED.
Filled: 1000.00 bonds @ $99.62
Execution Time: 11:40 a.m. ET

So 1 bond with face value $1000. It lists as 1000.00 bonds that I mentioned in my OP. The "unit price" is $99.62 which is per $100. So they are using 3 difference units.

[Harry Livermore]

Another update. Order executed. The email that I got is

Your order to BUY: 1000.00 bonds of 912796XV6 was FILLED.
Filled: 1000.00 bonds @ $99.62
Execution Time: 11:40 a.m. ET

So 1 bond with face value $1000. It lists as 1000.00 bonds that I mentioned in my OP. The "unit price" is $99.62 which is per $100. So they are using 3 difference units.

Wow. Confusing as heck.
Cheers

[johnegonpdx]

As someone about to ladder bonds at Fidelity, I thank you for this scouting report.

[longlife]

I have been buying T-bills on Fidelity recently too and had the same question before. I agree without the $ it's quite confusing. I think it's same for CDs too.

[student]

I have been buying T-bills on Fidelity recently too and had the same question before. I agree without the $ it's quite confusing. I think it's same for CDs too.

The CS person that I talked to gave me a tip. If it has two decimal points, it usually means dollar amount.

[Retirement_Life]

Long-time Fidelity investor, but new to fixed income investing. Dipped my toe into buying treasures on Fidelity site. Purchased 1-year (details below). Trying to figure out what my personal total return will be. Before purchasing, I did get call Fidelity to help me understand the process and terminology. I purchased $10,000 at a price of $98.1750 on 22 June 2022. Details below.

UNITED STATES TREAS SER N-2023 NTS NOTE
WE HAVE ACTED AS PRINCIPAL.
COUPON 1.25000% MATURITY DATE
07/31/2023
CURRENT YIELD 1.273200
YIELD TO MATURITY 2.935790%
MOODY'S AAA , STANDARD & POOR – NR
INTEREST PAID SEMI-ANNUALLY

Principal Amount 9,817.50
Interest 49.03
Settlement Amount 9,866.53

So, if my all-in price was $9866.53, then at maturity, I would receive $10,000 (a gain of $133.47), correct? Plus, the coupon rate of 1.25% (on $10,000?) for approximately 13 months (22 June 2022 to 31 July 2023) for an amount approximately $135. So, my total gain would be approximately $133.47 + $135 = $268.47. So, about a 2.685% personal return on my investment. Is this the correct way to think of this?

[evelynmanley]

I just entered an order of T-bills at Fidelity and now I am worried. I made sure that I entered quantity is 1 bond (equals $1000 face value). When I looked at the order page, it says quantity 1000.00. I hope this means $1000 and not 1000 bonds. I am waiting to speak to someone. Anybody knows the answer?

I had the same question in a recent thread, and several Bogleheads, especially Kevin M, walked me through it:

viewtopic.php?p=6662541#p6662541

[student]

I just entered an order of T-bills at Fidelity and now I am worried. I made sure that I entered quantity is 1 bond (equals $1000 face value). When I looked at the order page, it says quantity 1000.00. I hope this means $1000 and not 1000 bonds. I am waiting to speak to someone. Anybody knows the answer?

I had the same question in a recent thread, and several Bogleheads, especially Kevin M, walked me through it:

viewtopic.php?p=6662541#p6662541

This has been resolved upthread.

[LittleMaggieMae]

Any answer to this from Retirement_Life's post?

So, if my all-in price was $9866.53, then at maturity, I would receive $10,000 (a gain of $133.47), correct? Plus, the coupon rate of 1.25% (on $10,000?) for approximately 13 months (22 June 2022 to 31 July 2023) for an amount approximately $135. So, my total gain would be approximately $133.47 + $135 = $268.47. So, about a 2.685% personal return on my investment. Is this the correct way to think of this?

[gobel]

Any answer to this from Retirement_Life's post?

So, if my all-in price was $9866.53, then at maturity, I would receive $10,000 (a gain of $133.47), correct? Plus, the coupon rate of 1.25% (on $10,000?) for approximately 13 months (22 June 2022 to 31 July 2023) for an amount approximately $135. So, my total gain would be approximately $133.47 + $135 = $268.47. So, about a 2.685% personal return on my investment. Is this the correct way to think of this?

They should receive 3 interest payments of 62.50 each (not 13 months interest). If they enter that into excel and use XIRR, they can find their annualized internal rate of return. (I'm not sure if that'll just work out to be the YIELD TO MATURITY that they were quoted, but it'll be close)

[ModifiedDuration]

Any answer to this from Retirement_Life's post?

So, if my all-in price was $9866.53, then at maturity, I would receive $10,000 (a gain of $133.47), correct? Plus, the coupon rate of 1.25% (on $10,000?) for approximately 13 months (22 June 2022 to 31 July 2023) for an amount approximately $135. So, my total gain would be approximately $133.47 + $135 = $268.47. So, about a 2.685% personal return on my investment. Is this the correct way to think of this?

They should receive 3 interest payments of 62.50 each (not 13 months interest). If they enter that into excel and use XIRR, they can find their annualized internal rate of return. (I'm not sure if that'll just work out to be the YIELD TO MATURITY that they were quoted, but it'll be close)

They will receive 3 interest payments of $62.50, but they paid $49.03 for accrued interest at settlement.

So, they will earn the $133.47 of discount plus $138.47 of interest payments ($62.50 x 3, less $49.03), or $271.94 in total.

[Retirement_Life]

Thank you. Now, I understand about the 3 semiannual interest payments minus the accrued interest paid to the seller.

[Retirement_Life]

So, the 271.94 profit on 10k bond held for about 13 months (from settlement date to maturity date) is about 2.72% or about 2.5% annualized return. Considerably different from the 2.96% YTM

[gobel]

So, the 271.94 profit on 10k bond held for about 13 months (from settlement date to maturity date) is about 2.72% or about 2.5% annualized return. Considerably different from the 2.96% YTM

You can't really lump all the interest payments together like the other poster seemed to suggest. Yes, this is the dollar ROI that you will get, but to calculate the annualized return, just enter the cashflows and dates into excel and use =XIRR.

or just trust the quote. They are never wrong.