Dividendology
$SPGI S&P Global is trading at 21.7x earnings, it's lowest valuation in over 5 years-
But they're set to benefit from two major tailwinds.
First, the continued shift toward passive investing.
S&P Global earns licensing fees from ETFs and mutual funds that track its benchmarks, including the S&P 500. As assets in those funds grow, so can the fees it collects.
In Q2, its Indices business grew revenue 20%, with asset-linked fees increasing 22%.
Second, the enormous financing needs of the AI buildout.
Data centers, chips, and power infrastructure require substantial capital. When companies fund those investments through debt rated by S&P Global, that creates opportunities to earn issuance fees and ongoing monitoring revenue.
We’ve already seen how stronger issuance can help: Ratings revenue increased 17% in Q2, driven partly by higher investment-grade bond issuance. AI financing could extend that opportunity.
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