Merritt Research Services
The Engine that Drives the Fixed-Income Industry’s Most Trusted Dataset
Since 1985, Investortools’ Merritt Research Services has continually developed and refined its practices to deliver and maintain the highest-quality, comprehensive financial and supplemental data in the municipal finance industry—data meticulously prepared for both basic and advanced analytical evaluation, statistical comparisons, and modeling.
The data integrity imperative
Quality Data
Merritt has collected and standardized a deep and wide dataset to power consistent and accurate analysis of the financial condition of municipal borrowers.
Quality People
Our highly qualified analysts work directly within our U.S. offices. Analysts are thoroughly trained to rigorously evaluate and analyze financial statements.
Quality Results
Tens of thousands of credits and data points are standardized and consistently fielded, making credit research scalable to meet even the most extensive research demands.
Data Collection
Our effort and expertise, your advantage
Merritt analysts collect and standardize credit data for the dataset that powers the fixed-income industry’s leading firms.
Beyond the annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR)
- Our analysis goes beyond the balance sheet and income statement to include data points from the financial footnotes as well. When necessary, we reach out directly to the CFO, auditor, or other appropriate representative to clarify the financial presentation.
Tested procedures ensure consistency
- During the preparation and extraction process, Merritt analysts adhere closely to our internal procedures' manual, which has been developed to ensure that every team member is applying like standards.
Every field counts
- To promote data quality and consistency, guidelines are maintained to support the extraction of every data field in our database.
The Review Process
The right data, every time
After the data is collected and input, our review process ensures that users receive only the most accurate and objective data.
Stringent checks and balances
- To fuel quality control, a more senior analyst will review every data field that is entered.
Accountability & oversight
- Our review process mirrors the initial extraction efforts. The review analyst examines the same documents and processes as the original entry analyst and identifies any discrepancies.
Standard discrepancy protocol
- If a discrepancy is found, it is discussed by the research team and referenced against the procedures manual to arrive at the most appropriate answer.
Quality Assurance
Final data audit screens out any financial irregularities
The intention of the data audit is to create a final data check to screen and account for issues and irregularities.
Irregularities highlighted
- Final tests identify mathematically improbable or impossible credit scenarios.
Automated + manual troubleshooting
- A sequence of hundreds of reports identify potentially erroneous data. Data inconsistencies are catalogued and then manually reviewed.
Passing the final exam
- Thorough and methodical examination procedures for identifying and evaluating uncharacteristic data points provide a high degree of assurance in the quality of our data.
CreditScope
Tame the Massive Task of Credit Analysis
CreditScope provides a massive credit database, tools to evaluate and monitor risk, and processes to manage credit research.
- The industry’s most trusted database
- Leverage the data to improve your research
- Automate, standardize, and socialize credit research
Energy Credit Management
Tailored solutions for the energy industry
Identify unforeseen counterparty risk, assess liquidity factors, and make better-informed decisions.
- Robust data package drives efficiencies
- Accurate credit decisions and credit limit determinations
- Comprehensive credit reporting and surveillance
Merritt Benchmark Central
Merritt Research Services provides detailed information, through tens of thousands of data fields, related to municipal credits with revenue or tax-backed debt outstanding.
Leverage the Highest Quality Data Curated by Industry Experts
Discover the Merritt advantage and how it can enhance your investment strategy.
