The
Standard and Poor's Corporation (also:
S&P), a subsidiary of
McGraw-Hill[?], is a company that performs financial research and analysis. It is best known for its
S&P 500 stock market index. The company also ranks the credit-worthiness of borrowers using a standardized ratings scale.
The basic ratings are:
- AAA
- AA
- A
- BBB
- BB
- B
- CCC
- CC
- C
- CI = past due on interest
- D = default
- NR
Ratings below BBB are non-investment grade junk bonds.