Search Sort by Newest to OldestOldest to NewestRelevanceA-ZZ-A Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Page 3 … Next page › Last page Last Rating Agency Upgrade an Downgrade Decisions Upgrades and downgrades reflect the realities of what ratings are intended to do, which is to reflect the rating agency’s best assessment of an organization’s performance for investors. Upgrades must be earned and downgrades may happen quickly, but affirmations are most typical. Blog 2024 Rating Agency Spring Webinar Watch an engaging discussion with Moody’s, Fitch and S&P on their latest industry outlooks, rating activity through early 2024 and what this means for the sector. Webinar Takeaways from Our Conversation with the Rating Agencies on the Outlook for Higher Education The higher education sector leaders from the three rating agencies share their insights on 2024 outlooks, growth strategies, consolidation within higher education, and current rating committee concerns. Blog Three Must-Haves for Every Rating Presentation How you tell the story of your organization is as important as the story itself. Paying attention to three key themes will help ensure that your best voice is being heard in rating committee. Blog Credit and Capital Markets Outlook for 2024 There was a general improvement in operating margins over the course of 2023, and it is possible that we have reached a point of stability. But with margins still well below pre-pandemic levels, will that level of stability provide sustainability? Article 5 Key Takeaways from Healthcare Rating Activity in 2023 The past year saw a material increase in downgrades over 2022 while the number of upgrades declined from the prior year. Here are five key takeaways from rating activity in 2023. Blog Executive Intelligence and Its Relationship to Management Competence The concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence explored by Arthur Brooks in his new book, “From Strength to Strength,” offer a new way for health system leaders to look at their executive team and find the proper balance between different types of intelligence. Thoughts from Ken Kaufman Three Things Board Members Should Know When Attending Rating Agency Meetings How can board members play a helpful role in rating agency meetings if they are invited to attend? Here are three ways in which board members can add value to the rating presentation. Blog Uncertainty Regarding Covenant Compliance Continues Responses to Kaufman Hall’s 2023 “State of Healthcare Performance Improvement” report indicate ongoing concern regarding covenant challenges in 2024. Organizations need to understand the causes of covenant misses and near misses and build a durable financial plan for the future. Blog The Balance Sheet Buffer Balance sheet strength has buffered consumers and businesses from some of the restrictive shock of higher rates. With a relatively brittle revenue model in healthcare, the focus becomes whether, when, and how to restructure operations as balance sheets are spent down. Blog Downgrades and the Rating Sword of Damocles The number of not-for-profit hospital rating downgrades has escalated in 2023, suggesting that benefit of the doubt is running out. Hospitals will need to go the extra mile when preparing material for their rating agency meetings. Blog External Capital Formation in a Higher Rate Environment After years of monetary tingle, a more restrictive stance from the Federal Reserve is creating a chill. A sustained higher interest rate environment may require finance teams to rethink external capital formation strategies. Blog Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Page 3 … Next page › Last page Last
Rating Agency Upgrade an Downgrade Decisions Upgrades and downgrades reflect the realities of what ratings are intended to do, which is to reflect the rating agency’s best assessment of an organization’s performance for investors. Upgrades must be earned and downgrades may happen quickly, but affirmations are most typical. Blog
2024 Rating Agency Spring Webinar Watch an engaging discussion with Moody’s, Fitch and S&P on their latest industry outlooks, rating activity through early 2024 and what this means for the sector. Webinar
Takeaways from Our Conversation with the Rating Agencies on the Outlook for Higher Education The higher education sector leaders from the three rating agencies share their insights on 2024 outlooks, growth strategies, consolidation within higher education, and current rating committee concerns. Blog
Three Must-Haves for Every Rating Presentation How you tell the story of your organization is as important as the story itself. Paying attention to three key themes will help ensure that your best voice is being heard in rating committee. Blog
Credit and Capital Markets Outlook for 2024 There was a general improvement in operating margins over the course of 2023, and it is possible that we have reached a point of stability. But with margins still well below pre-pandemic levels, will that level of stability provide sustainability? Article
5 Key Takeaways from Healthcare Rating Activity in 2023 The past year saw a material increase in downgrades over 2022 while the number of upgrades declined from the prior year. Here are five key takeaways from rating activity in 2023. Blog
Executive Intelligence and Its Relationship to Management Competence The concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence explored by Arthur Brooks in his new book, “From Strength to Strength,” offer a new way for health system leaders to look at their executive team and find the proper balance between different types of intelligence. Thoughts from Ken Kaufman
Three Things Board Members Should Know When Attending Rating Agency Meetings How can board members play a helpful role in rating agency meetings if they are invited to attend? Here are three ways in which board members can add value to the rating presentation. Blog
Uncertainty Regarding Covenant Compliance Continues Responses to Kaufman Hall’s 2023 “State of Healthcare Performance Improvement” report indicate ongoing concern regarding covenant challenges in 2024. Organizations need to understand the causes of covenant misses and near misses and build a durable financial plan for the future. Blog
The Balance Sheet Buffer Balance sheet strength has buffered consumers and businesses from some of the restrictive shock of higher rates. With a relatively brittle revenue model in healthcare, the focus becomes whether, when, and how to restructure operations as balance sheets are spent down. Blog
Downgrades and the Rating Sword of Damocles The number of not-for-profit hospital rating downgrades has escalated in 2023, suggesting that benefit of the doubt is running out. Hospitals will need to go the extra mile when preparing material for their rating agency meetings. Blog
External Capital Formation in a Higher Rate Environment After years of monetary tingle, a more restrictive stance from the Federal Reserve is creating a chill. A sustained higher interest rate environment may require finance teams to rethink external capital formation strategies. Blog