S&P Global Raises Annual Profit Forecast

(Reuters) – Financial information company S&P Global raised its annual profit forecast on Thursday and beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit on strong demand for its data and analytics products.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Expectations of further interest-rate cuts kept investors confident in the health of the U.S. economy and boosted demand for market-related analytical tools for better investment choices, helping firms such as S&P Global and Moody's (NYSE:MCO).

BY THE NUMBERS

S&P Global now expects its 2024 adjusted earnings per share between $15.10 and $15.30, compared with the prior view of $14.35 to $14.60.

The company reported an adjusted profit of $1.21 billion, or $3.89 per share, in the three months ended Sept. 30, up from $1.02 billion, or $3.21, a year earlier.

Analysts on average estimated an adjusted profit of $3.64 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The market intelligence unit, S&P Global's biggest segment in terms of revenue that provides data and analytics, posted a 6% rise in its third-quarter revenue of $1.16 billion from a year ago.

Revenue from the company's ratings segment, which provides credit ratings, research and analytics to investors, rose 36% to $1.11 billion.

The company's mobility business, which focuses on vehicle, market, and consumer data for original equipment manufacturers, reported a 9% rise in quarterly revenue.

S&P Global's total third-quarter revenue increased 16% to $3.58 billion.

CONTEXT

The New York-based company provides credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets.

S&P Global Ratings had agreed to pay $20 million in civil penalties to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges for breaking record-keeping rules, Reuters reported in September.

Peer Moody's Corp on Tuesday also reported a rise in third-quarter profit on the back of strong product demand.