Which of the following describes the total of interest payments a bondholder receives?

The total of interest payments a bondholder receives is best described as coupon payments. When a bond is issued, it typically specifies a fixed interest rate, known as the coupon rate, which is used to calculate the periodic interest payments made to the bondholder. These payments occur at regular intervals, commonly annually or semi-annually, and represent the income that the investor earns from holding the bond until maturity. Thus, the total interest received over the life of the bond corresponds directly to these coupon payments, making this option the most accurate representation of the interest income associated with a bond investment.

Yield to maturity, while related to the bond's overall return including both coupon payments and any capital gain or loss upon maturity, does not solely reflect the interest payments. Total returns encompass all potential income from the bond, which includes coupon payments and any other gains or losses, not just the interest. Net cash flows might represent the overall cash earned or expended, but does not specifically denote the periodic interest income derived from the bond, making it less precise for this context. Therefore, coupon payments effectively encapsulate the total interest payments received by a bondholder.