Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the University’s debt rating to Aaa from Aa1 and assigned an Aaa rating to the Series 2007 A and B fixed-rate bonds to be issued through the Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority.
The Aaa rating is the highest level offered by Moody’s.
According to Moody’s, the upgrade reflects the University’s superior levels of liquid financial resources, improved student market position, consistently positive operations and Moody’s expectation of continued careful evaluation of future capital projects and manageable additional borrowing plans.
“We are very pleased and feel honored to be among those with a Moody’s triple-A rating,” University Treasurer Amy B. Kweskin said.
Moody’s highlighted several financial strengths of the University, including:
• Steady, long-term improvement in undergraduate student market position, placing the University among the nation’s most selective universities, combined with a broad array of reputable graduate programs.
• Superior unrestricted balance sheet resources providing financial flexibility and sturdy support for debt and operations.
• Nationally prominent research programs in medicine and related fields that drive the University’s enhanced local and national reputation and engender strong philanthropic support.
• Consistently strong operating performance with well diversified revenue base.
In December 2004, Standard & Poors rated the University AAA, and combined with the recent Moody’s rating, the University is among the top-rated in the country.
“We only rate 18 schools in our private higher education portfolio of 275 credits Aaa,” said Moody’s analyst Kimberly Tuby. “It’s just a small group.”
The University is among nine private research universities rated Aaa by Moody’s.