On the information content of credit ratings and market-based measures of default risk
86 Pages Posted: 13 Jul 2017 Last revised: 20 Jul 2022
Date Written: July 7, 2022
Abstract
We examine the ability of ratings and market-based measures to predict defaults. Although market-based measures are more accurate at horizons up to one year, ratings complement market-based measures and are not redundant in predicting defaults across horizons. Market-based measures differ from ratings in that they respond to both cash-flow and discount-rate news, while ratings respond primarily to cash-flow news, which is more informative of future defaults. Ratings ignore transitory shocks to credit risk, while market-based measures do not. Rating agencies respond to transitory shocks with watches rather than downgrades. Ratings are more informative during expansions and for speculative grade firms.
Keywords: Credit Ratings, Mutual Funds, Institutional Investors, Financial Intermediation
JEL Classification: G14, G23, G24, G32, G33, G38
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