Bond rating refers to the method of evaluating the possibility of default by a bond issuer, such as a corporation or government body. Prominent agencies like Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor's, and Moody's assess the financial strength of issuers and provide ratings that range from AAA (highly unlikely to default) to D (in default). Bonds rated BB or below are considered non-investment grade.
Investment-Grade describes bonds suitable for purchase by prudent investors. Standard & Poor's (S&P) designates the bonds in its four top categories (AAA down to BBB) as investment-grade.
Moody's Investors Service is a preeminent financial services company headquartered in downtown Manhattan. It stands among the three most well-known bond-rating agencies in the United States, alongside Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's.
The term 'Not Rated (NR)' is an indication used by securities rating services like Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Moody's, as well as mercantile agencies such as Dun & Bradstreet, to show that a security or a company has not been rated. This designation carries neither positive nor negative implications.
A rating agency is an organization that monitors the credit backing of bond issues and other forms of public borrowings. It also provides ratings on the risks involved in holding specific stocks. Well-known rating agencies include Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch.
Evaluation of the credit and investment risk of a securities issue by commercial rating agencies.
SPDRs, also known as Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts or 'spiders,' are securities traded on major exchanges representing ownership in a long-term unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of common stocks. These portfolios are meticulously designed to track the performance of the S&P 500 Index.
Standard & Poor's Corporation (S&P) is a subsidiary of McGraw-Hill, Inc. that provides a range of investment services, including rating securities, compiling the S&P composite indexes of stocks, and publishing statistical materials, investment advisory reports, and other financial information.
The classification of stocks and bonds according to risk, issued by Standard & Poor's Corporation. S&P's ratings range from Investment Grade for low-risk investments to speculative grades for higher-risk investments.
The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Home Price Index tracks changes in the value of the residential real estate market, measuring the health and fluctuations in property values in various regions across the United States.
