What is Standard & Poor's (S&P)?

Standard & Poor's (S&P) is a financial services company and a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. S&P does business in six main areas: credit ratings, indices, equity research, risk management, investment advisory services, and data services.

When did Standard & Poor's become a company?

In 1923, it released its first stock market indicator, which contained 233 companies. Poor's Publishing, meanwhile, issued its first rating in 1916. The two firms merged in 1941, to create Standard & Poor's. The McGraw-Hill Cos. purchased S&P in 1966.

Is Standard & Poor's a credit rating agency?

By 1976 the Securities and Exchange Commission recognized Standard and Poor’s as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). In the 1980s, Standard and Poor’s developed offices in London and Tokyo and became a global company. Today, S&P is one of the Big Three credit rating agencies.

Does Standard & Poor's pay a fee?

Standard & Poor's is paid fees for its rating services by issuers of securities and debt obligations. In addition, companies and individuals often pay for its more detailed market intelligence and analysis reports, and subscribe to other research services. What Companies Are in the S&P 500?