Moody's rating
What is it?
The Moody's long-term issue rating reflects Moody's opinion of the credit quality of a specific bond or debt instrument on a long-term horizon. It is assigned at the instrument level and indicates the relative likelihood that the issuer will meet the financial obligations of that particular issue.
Rating scale
| Rating | Description |
| Aaa | Highest-quality credit; the lowest level of credit risk. |
| Aa1, Aa2, Aa3 | High-quality credit with very low credit risk. |
| A1, A2, A3 | Upper-medium-grade credit with low credit risk. |
| Baa1, Baa2, Baa3 | Medium-grade credit with moderate risk and some possible speculative characteristics. |
| Ba1, Ba2, Ba3 | Speculative credit with substantial credit risk. |
| B1, B2, B3 | Speculative credit with high credit risk. |
| Caa1, Caa2, Caa3 | Poor-standing speculative credit with very high credit risk. |
| Ca | Highly speculative; default is likely or very near, but some recovery may remain. |
| C | Lowest rating category; typically in default, with little expected recovery. |
| NR | No Moody's rating is assigned. |
Why is it important?
- Provides instrument-level credit assessment from Moody's, one of the three major global rating agencies.
- Allows comparison of Moody's, S&P, and Fitch issue ratings for the same bond on a single platform.
- Helps investors evaluate the credit risk of a specific bond independently of the issuer's overall rating.
- Available as a column and filter in the Bond Screener for registered users.