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credit watch investment & finance definition

A list that is used by ratings agencies to signal that they may downgrade a company’s credit rating because of a declining business environment characterized by declining sales, pressure on profits, or extreme competition. Just because a company is placed on a credit watch list by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors’ Service, or Fitch Ratings doesn’t necessarily mean that the company will be eventually downgraded.

See credit watch in Wall Street Words

The reevaluation of the credit quality of a firm's debt obligations by a rating agency. Being the object of a credit watch generally indicates the credit quality of a firm's debt has deteriorated and may be downgraded.

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