This course offers a strategic introduction to the principles and practices of credit analysis and fixed income investing. Designed for professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of credit risk and debt markets, it blends analytical frameworks with practical tools to evaluate financial health, creditworthiness, and investment potential. Learners will gain insights into how credit decisions are made, how various fixed income instruments function, and how financial and non-financial data inform risk assessment, building a strong foundation for roles in investment management, corporate finance, and credit evaluation.



Foundations of Credit Analysis and Fixed Income Securities
This course is part of Credit Analyst Academy Specialization


Instructors: Michael McDonald
Access provided by Signature Performance, Inc.
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Execute fundamental credit risk assessments using industry-standard analytical frameworks.
Evaluate various fixed income securities and their risk characteristics across different market segments.
Interpret credit ratings and assess their implications for investment decision-making.
Apply basic financial statement analysis techniques to assess issuer creditworthiness.
Skills you'll gain
- Investment Management
- Decision Making
- Portfolio Management
- Financial Regulation
- Investments
- Analytics
- Balance Sheet
- Credit Risk
- Market Data
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Risk Analysis
- Financial Market
- Analysis
- Derivatives
- Income Statement
- Business Valuation
- Risk Management
- Financial Data
- Securities (Finance)
Details to know

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August 2025
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There are 5 modules in this course
In this course, you’ll learn how to evaluate credit risk and make informed fixed income investment decisions using financial analysis, credit ratings, and bond valuation techniques. You’ll focus on real-world applications like interpreting issuer financials, assessing default probability, and comparing fixed income instruments across sectors. Through expert instruction, case studies, and hands-on exercises, you’ll build the skills to analyze creditworthiness, manage portfolio risk, and apply structured methodologies used by credit analysts and institutional investors.
What's included
1 reading
In this module, you’ll learn how to assess credit risk by exploring the core principles of credit analysis, the major drivers of credit risk, and the differences between credit and equity evaluation. You’ll focus on how credit analysts make informed decisions across different markets, identify common analytical mistakes, and apply foundational credit concepts. Through expert-led videos, hands-on Excel exercises, real-world scenarios, and interactive assessments, you’ll gain the skills to evaluate credit risk with clarity, precision, and professional insight.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
In this module, you’ll learn how to evaluate fixed income securities through the lens of credit risk, market structure, and macroeconomic context. You’ll focus on analyzing bond types, yield curves, and risk premiums across corporate and sovereign markets, while using tools like TRACE and FactSet to assess real-time market behavior and credit spreads. Through expert-led videos, hands-on exercises, live data analysis, and practical case studies, you’ll gain the skills to navigate complex bond portfolios and make credit-sensitive investment decisions with confidence and strategic insight.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
In this module, you’ll explore the role and methodologies of credit rating agencies in assessing issuer and instrument risk. You’ll gain practical insights into how credit ratings influence market perception, pricing, and investment strategies, with a focus on distinctions between investment-grade and high-yield securities. Through real-world case studies, critical evaluation of rating agency practices, and Excel-based rating reviews, you'll strengthen your ability to interpret credit ratings, assess their implications, and navigate the complexities and controversies surrounding credit assessment in institutional finance.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
In this module, you’ll explore the structure and components of financial statements with a focus on their role in credit risk assessment. You’ll gain practical insights into interpreting income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to evaluate an issuer’s financial health. Emphasis will be placed on identifying critical financial ratios, analyzing earnings quality, and recognizing red flags that may indicate distress or default risk. Through real-world case studies, Excel-based financial analysis, and guided exercises, you'll strengthen your ability to extract meaningful credit insights from financial data and apply them to risk evaluation and lending decisions.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews
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