Standard & Poor's Financial Services, commonly referred to as S&P, is a prominent financial services company that is well-known for its credit ratings, research, and analytics. It plays a crucial role in the financial markets by providing independent assessments of creditworthiness to a variety of entities, including governments, corporations, and financial institutions. S&P is a division of S&P Global, Inc., and its work is integral to investment decisions around the globe, helping investors and market participants make informed choices. The company is also known for its benchmark indices, such as the S&P 500, which is widely used to gauge the performance of the U.S. stock market.