What is Standard & Poor’s Fundamentals of Corporate Credit Analysis? Standard & Poor’s Fundamentals of Corporate Credit Analysis is an in-depth guide authored by experts at Standard & Poor’s, a US-based financial services company that provides credit ratings on countries, bonds, commodities, and other investments. S&P’s guide provides credit professionals with the knowledge that they…
What are the Types of Credit Certifications? Credit professionals often work to obtain different types of credit certifications to boost their job prospects and chances of getting a promotion at work. Financial institutions, credit bureaus, and investment banks employ credit professionals, such as credit analysts and credit managers, and getting a credit certification provides an additional…
What is a Balanced Budget? A balanced budget is a budget (i.e., a financial plan) in which revenues are equal to expenditures, such that there is no budget deficit or surplus. Although the concept of a balanced budget applies to any organization that generates operating revenues and incurs operating expenses, it is most commonly applied…
What is Normalization? Financial statement normalization involves adjusting non-recurring expenses or revenues in financial statements or metrics so that they only reflect the usual transactions of a company. Financial statements often contain expenses that do not constitute a company’s normal business operations and that may hurt the company’s earnings. The purpose of normalization is to…
What is a Personal Guarantee? A personal guarantee is a type of unsecured loan agreement that allows the lender to acquire the guarantor’s personal assets if the associated debtor defaults on a loan. A guarantor is someone who promises to pay the debtor’s debt in case of default. Personal guarantees are categorized as unsecured debt…
Introduction In finance, understanding key metrics and concepts is crucial for investors navigating the market. Investors, both experienced and new, always aim to improve returns and manage risk. Abnormal returns, also known as excess returns, are a critical aspect. This article explores abnormal returns, detailing what excess returns involve, how they differ from risk-free rates,…
What is Senior Debt? Senior Debt, or a Senior Note, is money owed by a company that has first claims on the company’s cash flows. It is more secure than any other debt, such as subordinated debt (also known as junior debt), because senior debt is usually collateralized by assets. It means the lender is…
What is a Senior Term Debt? Senior term debt is a loan with a priority repayment status in case of bankruptcy, and typically carries lower interest rates and lower risk. The term can be for several months or years, and the debt may carry a fixed or variable interest rate. To reduce repayment risk, fixed…
What is a Mezzanine Fund? A mezzanine fund is a pool of capital that invests in mezzanine finance for acquisitions, growth, recapitalization, or management/leveraged buyouts. In the capital structure of a company, mezzanine finance is a hybrid between equity and debt. Mezzanine financing most commonly takes the form of preferred stock or subordinated and unsecured…
What are Stock Warrants? Stock warrants are options issued by a company that trades on an exchange and give investors the right (but not obligation) to purchase company stock at a specific price within a specified time period. When an investor exercises a warrant, they purchase the stock, and the proceeds are a source of…
