Understanding Long term credit rating

Understanding Your Long-Term Credit Rating

Updated: May 15   Credit Ratings in Bond Transactions As institutions advance bond transactions to the market, a common step for many borrowers is to obtain a long-term bond rating for the issue. This rating is a signal to investors of an institution’s creditworthiness, i.e., its ability to repay its debt

July Update

The Shield – July Market Update

In our previous market update published in mid-May, we focused on interest rate volatility and signaling from the Fed on its rate outlook for the remainder of the year. While rate volatility has somewhat calmed, the interest rate environment is still elevated relative to the last several years. As volatility

May 2024 Update

The Shield – May Market Update

Markets have remained volatile through the first four months of 2024, continuing a theme that we observed at the end of last year. Rates have moved significantly higher and equity indexes sit near all-time highs. However, there is significant uncertainty around how the rest of the year will unfold.  Much

looking back

The Shield – Looking Back, Looking Ahead

It is with great joy that our Blue Rose advisory team serves organizations across the country with the goal of improving their financial health.  In 2023, we had the opportunity to positively impact numerous higher education institutions, non-profits, and governmental entities advising on matters related to long-term capital planning, capital

Shield update

The Shield – Third Quarter Market Update

The third quarter of 2023 has seen significant market movements and much uncertainty around the United States’ economic outlook for 2024 as the Federal Reserve attempts to steady inflation. Absolute yields as well as credit spreads have widened meaningfully across the credit spectrum. Additionally, a recent selloff has pared back

The Shield - Rating Agency Update: New S&P Criteria and FY2022 Medians

The Shield – Rating Agency Update: New S&P Criteria and FY2022 Medians

As we’ve passed the mid-year point in 2023, rating agencies have published higher education sector updates and median data for fiscal year 2022. Their commentary along with the supporting data identifies trends observed across both public and private higher education. Additionally, S&P global ratings recently updated its higher ed rating

2023 First Quarter Market Update

The Shield: 2023 First Quarter Market Update

After a whirlwind 2022, many had hoped for calmer markets in the first quarter of 2023. While the overall performance of the market was positive, the first few months of the new year were anything but calm. We saw stubborn inflation, substantial interest rate movement, and the first significant banking

The Shield - 2022 Municipal Market in Review

The Shield – 2022 Municipal Market in Review

The municipal market landscape in 2022 was a meaningful departure from what we experienced in 2021 and 2020, which were banner years for issuance of municipal debt. Municipal market issuance declined again from 2021 as rising interest rates and volatility were constant themes throughout much of the year. Taxable issuances

Keeping Pace

The Shield – Keeping Pace with Moody’s New ESG Methodology

ESG, or “Environmental, Social, and Governance” has been a hot topic of conversation across the financial world for years, with its weight and influence on investing decisions and credit profiles continuing to grow and expand. There has been considerable discussion and debate about the implications of considering ESG factors as