Standard & Poor's, often abbreviated as S&P, is a financial services company known for providing credit ratings, research, and analytics. It is part of S&P Global, which offers insights into various markets and industries. S&P is widely recognized for its stock market indices, such as the S&P 500, which tracks the performance of 500 large companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The company plays a crucial role in the financial world by assessing the creditworthiness of corporations and governments. Its credit ratings help investors make informed decisions about the risk associated with different investments. S&P's ratings are influential in determining borrowing costs and overall market confidence.