Frequently Asked Questions
This page provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Standard & Poor's products and services,
many of which are available to you through Advisor Insight.
You'll also find answers here to Frequently Asked Questions about specific topics, products, and services.
See our Glossary of Terms for a list of terms.
General Questions
- What is the methodology your analysts use in choosing STARS?
- Standard & Poor's has a staff of over 100 equities analysts globally, which cover more than 1,750 stocks in 115 industry groups. In each group assigned to them, the analysts evaluate companies on prospects for earnings growth, applying a fundamental, bottom up (company driven) approach and seeking primarily to identify stocks of well-managed companies with strong positions in expanding markets.
- What is your policy regarding ownership of securities by the analysts who cover them?
- S&P equity analysts are prohibited from owning shares in the companies that they cover. In addition, all personal trades are subject to the company's internal code of ethics and compliance rules, which among other things, requires that all trades are pre-cleared through S&P's Compliance Officer. S&P equity analysts are prohibited from establishing new positions in stocks that are placed on the internal Restricted List.
