Issuer Bias in Corporate Ratings Toward Financially Constrained Firms

Abstract

Rating downgrades can have adverse consequences on a firm due to the feedback effect, even when ratings lack informational content. In this paper, we consider whether the rating agency attempts to mitigate the feedback effect through its rating actions. Using Moody’s issuer ratings over 1982–2009, we show that firms with greater external financing constraints are less likely to be downgraded. The issuer bias is robust, and its economic significance increases at times when economy-wide credit spreads are unusually high. We document that severely constrained firms whose ratings are affirmed or upgraded have long-term positive excess equity returns.