1. Top 10 Credit Rating Agencies of the world
Here is the list of Top 10 Credit Rating Agencies of the world. These agencies are Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating
Organizations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
1. MODDY’S
Moody’s is the oldest credit rating agency. It is also the first rating
agency to be recognized by NRSRO in 1975. The company became public in 2000. It has been earning huge profits. Average
profit margin was 53% from 2000 to 2007. Structured finance products was its top source of revenue by 2000.
2. Standard & Poor’s
The agency is owned by Mc Graw-Hill Inc. It has been published
any stock indices of the world, most famous being S&P 500 index which is the most watched index in the world. McGraw-Hill
reported a net profit margin of 12.6 percent for 2008.

2. 3. Fitch
Fitch is smallest among the top three agencies. It is a part of
Fitch Group, a subsidiary of Fimalac S.A FIM.PA. Was the third agency to become an NRSRO in 1975. From 1975 to 1992, four
other agencies were recognized as NRSROs and all subsequently merged with Fitch.
4. DBRS
DBRS is privately owned Canadian ratings agency. Has been the top ratings agency in
Canada for 30 years. It became the fourth NRSRO in 2003. DBRS believes that it can compete with the big three but is not
favored by authorities.
5. Egan-Jones
Egan-Jones is a Philadelphia-based agency founded
in 1995. It was granted NRSRO status in December 2007 after a nine-year process. Although they are paid by investor-
subscribers, Egan-Jones will give out their ratings to anyone who asks.

3. 6. A.M Best
A.M Best was founded in 1899 in New
York City and became an NRSRO in 2005. It specializes exclusively on the insurance marketplace and so not a competitor with
the others per se. But has recently begun issuing debt and financial-strange ratings for small and mid-sized commercial banks.
7. Japan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Japan Credit rating Agency was
established in 1985 and based in Tokyo and it became an NRSRO in 2007. It is a small agency when compared to competitors. it
has a staff of just 90.
8. Rating and Investment Information Inc
The second Japanese credit ratings agency to become an NRSRO in 2007. It was set up
in 1975, now based in Nihonbashi. New York office was set up in 2005.
9. LACE Financial
It was founded in 1984, and became a NRSRO in 2008. The second NRSRO after
Egan-Jones to operate on investor-paid business model.

4. 10. Realpoint LLC
Realpoint LLC became a NRSRO in 2008. It is one of the smallest NRSROs
and is paid by issuers. Obtained an exemption in 2008 from the SEC regulation that an NRSRO is prohibited from rating an
issuer that contributes 10 percent or more of its revenue.