List of Credit Rating Agencies
The 3 leading global credit rating agencies, often referred to as the Big Three credit rating agencies are:
- Standard & Poor’s
- Moody’s
- Fitch Rating
These rating agencies are recognized by the Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
No. 1 Standard & Poor’s
Key Facts
- Company Name: Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC
- Best known as: S&P
- Founded: 1860
- Founders: Henry Varnum Poor & Luther Lee Blake
- Origin: United States
Introduction
Standard & Poor’s is a credit rating agency, best known for it’s S&P 500 indices – a major US stock indices. The company issues credit ratings on debts such as government bonds and corporate bonds.
History
In 1860, Henry Varnum Poor first compiled a comprehensive financial & operational state of United States railroad companies. This led to the founding of “H.V. and H.W. Poor Co.” in 1868 with his son, Henry William Poor. In 1906, Luther Lee Blake founded the “Standard Statistics Bureau” providing financial information on non-railroad companies.
In 1941, both companies merged to become Standard and Poor’s Corp. In 1966, the company was acquired by The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Rating Table:
| Investment Grade | Non-Investment Grade | Short-term Issue |
| AAA, AA+, AA, AA-, A+, A, BBB | BB, B, CCC, CC, C, R, SD, D, NR | A-1, A-2, A-3, B, C, D |
No. 2 Moody’s
Key Facts
- Company Name: Moody’s Investor Service
- Best known as: Moody’s
- Founded: 1909
- Founders: John Moody
- Origin: United States
Introduction
Moody’s Investor Service is a credit rating agency and commonly referred as Moody’s. The company issues credit ratings on debts such as government bonds and corporate bonds, by measuring expected investor loss in the event of default.
History
In 1900, John Moody founded John Moody & Company and published Moody’s Manual of Industrial and Miscellaneous Securities. The manual was sold out in 2 months, which provided info and stats on stocks and bonds of financial institutions, government agencies, manufacturing, mining, utilities and food companies. In the stock market crash in 1907, the business was sold due to insufficient capital
In 1909, John Moody provided investors with analysis of security values by adopting letter rating symbols. He became the first to rate public market securities. In 1909, the publication Moody’s Analyses of Railroad Investments outline the analytic principles to assess railroad’s operations, management and finance.
On 1st July 1914, Moody’s Investors Service was incorporated. By 1924, Moody’s ratings covered nearly 100 percent of the US Bond market.
| Investment Grade | Speculative Grade |
| Aaa, Aa1, Aa2, Aa3, A1, A2, A3, Baa1, Baa2, Baa3 | Ba1, Ba2, Ba3, B1, B2, B3, Caa1, Caa2, Caa3, Ca, C |
No. 3 Fitch
Key Facts
- Company Name: Fitch Ratings
- Best known as: Fitch
- Founded: 1914
- Founders: John Knowles Fitch
- Origin: United States
Introduction
Fitch Ratings is a credit rating, commentaries & research company, part of Fitch Group. The company issues credit ratings on debts such as government bonds and corporate bonds.
History
On 24th December 1913, John Knowles Fitch founded Fitch Publishing Company in New York City. In 1997, it merged with London-based IBCA Limited and in 2000, it acquired Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. and Thomson Financial BankWatch.
| Investment Grade | Non-Investment Grade | Short-term rating |
| AAA, AA, A, BBB | BB, B, CCC, CC, C, D, NR | F1+, F1, F2, F3, B, C, D |
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