Letters (e.g., "AAA," "AA," etc.) that are assigned to bonds to express their relative probability of default; letter grades that designate investment quality.
A system for measuring the relative credit worthiness of bond issues using rating symbols, which range from the highest investment quality (least investment risk) to the lowest investment quality (greatest risk).
Rating for bonds to be issued that primarily reflects the ability of the issuer to repay the bonds. Better bond ratings result in lower interest rates for the bonds issued. (House Fiscal Analysis Department)
Rating systems which provide investors with a simple series of gradations by which the relative investment qualities or risks of bonds are indicated. Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's Corporation are two principal bond rating agencies.
Debt ratings by companies such as Standard & Poor's or Moody's to classify a company's credit risk.
Gradings by debt rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s Investors Services to classify the investment-worthiness of a company's debt.
Grading by debt rating agencies such as Standard & Poor, Moody's Investors Services or Fitch Investors Services Inc. to classify the investment-worthiness of a company's debt.
Assessments of the financial strength of a bond issuer. Rating agencies like Moody's or Standard & Poor's assign a particular ranking — from top-quality AAA to below investment grade D — to indicate the bond issuer's creditworthiness. Lower-rated bonds tend to pay higher interest rates.
Evaluation of the creditworthiness of issuers and securities. Moody's Investors Services and Standard and Poor's are the largest rating agencies in the world.
Since the early 1900's bonds have been assigned a quality rating which reflects the bonds probability of defaulting.
