Identify the assessment
Check agency, date, scale and whether it covers the issuer or a particular issue. Obligations can have different ratings.
FinFly Explains / Economy
Credit ratings express credit-risk opinions
A rating is an agency’s assessment, not a repayment guarantee.
Separate the outlook
FinFly recommends reading the rating and outlook separately. An outlook change is not necessarily a rating upgrade.
Know the limits
Even a high rating does not eliminate default risk or guarantee resale value.
Method
Primary sources
The explainer is checked against these institutional and industry sources. Links open the original material.