What do credit ratings tell us?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on February 17, 2026
A credit rating determines not only whether or not a borrower will be approved for a loan but also the interest rate at which the loan will need to be repaid. A poor credit rating is a risky investment; it indicates a larger probability that the company will be unable to make its bond payments.
Why do companies have credit ratings?
Credit rating agencies can give a credit risk rating to individual companies, stocks, government, corporate or municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities, credit default swaps and collateralised debt obligations. Credit risk shows how likely a borrower is to default on their obligations to repay a loan.
What is credit rating in simple words?
Definition: Credit rating is an analysis of the credit risks associated with a financial instrument or a financial entity. These ratings based on detailed analysis are published by various credit rating agencies like Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and ICRA, to name a few.
Which credit rating is most important?
FICO® Scores
Which credit score matters the most? While there’s no exact answer to which credit score matters most, lenders have a clear favorite: FICO® Scores are used in over 90% of lending decisions.
What is a junk rating?
A junk bond is debt that has been given a low credit rating by a ratings agency, below investment grade. As a result, these bonds are riskier since chances that the issuer will default or experience a credit event are higher.
What is credit rating advantages and disadvantages?
By Gigi Starr. Many people know that a high credit rating is an advantage, while people with a low credit rating are often hard-pressed when looking for loans and other financial products. Often, their low FICO score brings them the worst terms available.
What does it mean to have a good credit rating?
Credit Rating is an assessment of the borrower (be it an individual, group or company) by a registered credit rating agency that determines whether the borrower will be able to pay the loan back on time, as per the loan agreement. Needless to say, a good credit rating depicts a good history of paying loans on time in the past.
How does a credit rating affect a company?
Through credit rating, the likelihood of debt payment is reflected in standings on the assessment of individual and corporate creditworthiness. Credit rating focuses, in the case of banking, on establishing the ability of borrowers to pay back loans.
How are credit rating agencies paid and what do they do?
These rating agencies are paid by the entity that is seeking a credit rating for itself or one of its debt issues. A credit rating is a quantified assessment of the creditworthiness of a borrower in general terms or with respect to a particular debt or financial obligation.
Why is credit rating so important in India?
Although, it is a new concept in Indian financial market but slowly its popularity has increased. It helps investors to recognize the risk involved in lending the money and gives a fair assessment of the borrower’s creditability. But as an individual, it is your credit score that matters. Check Score Importance of Credit Rating