What Is Credit Analysis? How It Works With Evaluating Risk

Each lender has its own standardized approach in performing diligence and gauging the credit risk of the borrower. In particular, the inability of the borrower to meet its financial obligations on time, which is known as default risk, represents the most concerning outcome to lenders. A bank is deciding whether to lend money to Company A, which has a debt-service coverage ratio of 10, or Company B, with a debt service ratio of 5. Company A is a better choice as the ratio suggests this company’s operating income can cover its total outstanding debt 10 times. These firms also hire credit analysts to manage risk in their investment portfolios, or even to manage the balance sheets of individual private companies that the firm has invested in and which employ debt in their capital structures. Typical education credentials often require a business related bachelor’s degree majoring in finance, business, statistics, or accounting (to include an emphasis in finance or economics).

Determine creditworthiness

One objective of credit analysis is to look at both the borrower and the lending facility being proposed and to assign a risk rating. The risk rating is derived by estimating the probability of default by the borrower at a given confidence level over the life of the facility, and by estimating the amount of loss that the lender would suffer in the event of default. We also discussed risk versus return when investing in credit and how spread changes affect holding period returns. In addition, we addressed the special considerations to take into account when doing credit analysis of high-yield companies, sovereign borrowers, and non-sovereign government bonds. The following table contains some of the more common credit analysis ratios used to assess the default risk of borrowers, at the brink of insolvency (i.e. near financial distress).

Credit Analysts and Credit Ratings

Would you prefer to lend to a person that already owes someone else $1000 or someone who owes $100, given both of them make the same amount of money? It is likely you would choose the person that only owes $100, as they have less existing debt and more disposable income to pay you back. Upgrading to a paid membership gives you access to our extensive collection of plug-and-play Templates designed to power your performance—as well as CFI’s full course catalog and accredited Certification Programs.

Career path and progression

The top-paying industries for credit analysts are monetary authorities (central banks); securities, commodities, and financial investment companies; insurance carriers; and business support firms. The states with the highest employment levels for credit analysts are California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. In addition, the less collateral that can be pledged; hence, borrowers have to seek riskier debt tranches to raise more debt capital after a certain point.

Determining the level of risk in a loan or investment helps banks manage risks and generate revenue. Analysts evaluate the risk investments hold and determine the interest rate and credit limit or loan terms for a borrower. They use their research to ensure the borrower receives an affordable loan and the lender is protected if the borrower defaults. When dealing with individuals or companies, the main goal of credit analysts is to determine the client’s creditworthiness. To do this, you’ll need to consider all relevant financial information to provide a thorough recommendation on how to proceed.

1. Not only is the credit analysis used to predict the probability of a borrower defaulting on its debt, but it’s also used to assess how severe the losses will be in the event of default.
2. Coverage ratios measure the coverage that income, cash, or assets provide for debt or interest expenses.
3. If the borrower in question is an individual, the financial information you use for analysis may include an in-depth look at their payment history, how much debt they have, their assets, and how much their yearly income is.
4. Credit analysts who assess bonds often work at credit rating agencies such as Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s (S&P).
5. Some analysts also have advanced certification, such as training offered through the National Association of Credit Analysts.

The quick ratio is the current assets of a company, less inventory and prepaid expenses, divided by current liabilities. A person is deciding whether to invest in two companies that are very similar except that company A has a quick ratio of 10 and the other has a ratio of 5. Company A is a better choice, as a ratio of 10 suggests the company has enough liquid assets to cover upcoming liabilities 10 times over. A few of the top industries for pay are telecommunications, information technology (IT), and consulting, which all pay above-average salaries. Additionally, the amount you will make varies depending on the company you work for within these top industries. Google and PayPal are two of the top places to work in terms of the salary you receive, according to November 2023 data from Zippia.

When the downside potential for a borrower married filing separate status on your 2020 or 2021 tax return is far greater than that of traditional borrowers, the importance of in-depth credit analysis increases because of the uncertainty. Often, some of the more important contractual terms in the financing arrangements that lenders pay close attention to include debt covenants and the collateral pledged as part of the signed contract. Higher margin and return ratios are an indication that a company has a greater ability to pay back debts.

The actual salary you receive as a credit analyst depends on many factors, such as your location, the type of industry you are in, and the specific employer you work for. The average salary for credit analysts varies significantly between cities in the US. Credit analysts evaluate and analyze the financial risk of investments, individuals, or businesses. As a credit analyst, you will work as a finance professional, calculating the chance that an entity can pay back a financial obligation, such as a loan. You’ll predict the expected loan return by analyzing critical financial information as part of your daily duties. Yes, a credit analyst can be a good job if you have an interest in accounting or finance, along with a desire to help companies and consumers make decisions regarding the extension of credit and the reduction of financial risk.

In other words, the debt service coverage ratio should be 1.2 or higher to show that an extra cushion exists and that the business can afford its debt requirements. Organizations of all types require credit analysts as part of the business to identify their counterparties’ credit limits and conduct cash flow analysis. Commercial banks utilize credit analysts to analyze loans for small businesses or individuals in the community. In these roles, you judge various companies’ risk characteristics and financial data to give them a credit rating. For example, a debt service coverage ratio of 0.89 indicates that the company’s net operating income is enough to cover only 89% of its annual debt payments.

They decide whether the borrower has adequate cash flows by comparing ratios with industry data benchmarks. For example, a credit analyst working at a bank may examine an agricultural company’s financial statements before approving a loan for new farm equipment. Some factors may have only an indirect impact on a company’s financial positions, but they may still provide significant dimensions of a credit analysis. Industry risk considers how the industry’s business dynamics, legal and regulatory climate, and market factors could impact the performance of the individual company. Leverage ratios compare the level of debt against other accounts on a balance sheet, income statement, or cash flow statement. Today, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Risk Management Association can all provide banks with industry ratios.

Incorporating certain soft (qualitative) data in a risk model is particularly demanding, however successful implementation eliminates human error and reduces potential for misuse. That is why, from time to time, banks have tried to clone their decision-making process. Even so, in the granting of credit to corporate customers, many banks continue to rely primarily on their traditional expert system for evaluating potential borrowers. In the sections that follow, we cover basic principles of credit analysis, which may be broadly defined as the process by which credit risk is evaluated. Readers will be introduced to the definition of credit risk, the interpretation of credit ratings, the four Cs of traditional credit analysis, and key financial measures and ratios used in credit analysis. We explain, among other things, how to compare bond issuer creditworthiness within a given industry as well as across industries and how credit risk is priced in the bond market.

These factors may be environment-oriented, such as economic changes, stock market fluctuations, legislative changes, and regulatory requirements. If a business client struggles to meet payroll, it could be indicative of a decline in revenue and potential bankruptcy, which may affect the bank’s assets, ratings, and reputation. These ratios help analysts and investors determine whether individuals or corporations are capable of fulfilling financial obligations. For a corporation looking to receive a loan or other credit, you analyze their financial statements, identifying their income as a first step. You then specify the company’s debt and assets to determine how large of a loan they qualify for. Additional factors you may consider include income growth, how much market share differences between ebitda and operating cash flow they hold, and their trustworthiness.

For example, check out the Business and Financial Modeling Specialization by the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business. This course teaches you to create your quantitative models, manage and measure risk, and utilize spreadsheets to handle data for decision-making. Or, if you want to start building skills in behavioral finance and economics, financial markets, and financial concepts, consider relevant courses like Financial Markets offered by Yale University. Stock markets are volatile and can fluctuate significantly in response to company, industry, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the estimated wage range for credit analysts in 2020 was $50,060 to $164,750. Employment is offered at a variety of financial institutions, including banks, investment companies, credit unions, credit rating agencies, insurance companies, and asset management companies. Analysts who work in securities, commodity contracts, and other areas of financial investments earn the highest salaries. The term credit analyst refers to a financial professional who assesses the creditworthiness of securities, individuals, or companies. Coverage ratios measure the coverage that income, cash, or assets provide for debt or interest expenses. The higher the coverage ratio, the greater the ability of a company to meet its financial obligations.

The DSCR is a measure of the level of cash flow available to pay current debt obligations, such as interest, principal, and lease payments. Rating agencies like Fitch and Moody’s employ teams of credit analysts to assess the credit risk of publicly traded companies. This fixed income credit analysis supports debt ratings that are used to price fixed income securities, which trade publicly (like corporate bonds). Alternatively, many credit analysts leverage their skills to transition into relationship or sales roles within banking.