S&P Global Inc. - SPGI STOCK NEWS

The Board of Directors of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.77 per share, which will be paid on December 10, 2021, to shareholders on record as of November 26, 2021. This results in an annualized dividend rate of $3.08 per share. Since 1937, S&P Global has consistently paid dividends and is among fewer than 25 S&P 500 companies that have raised their dividends annually for at least 48 years, reflecting strong financial health and commitment to shareholders.

S&P Dow Jones Indices has reported a significant increase in U.S. home prices, with the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index showing a 19.7% annual gain for July 2021, up from 18.7% in June. The 20-City Composite posted a 19.9% rise, indicating a continued upward trend. Phoenix led the cities with a 32.4% surge, followed by San Diego at 27.8% and Seattle at 25.5%. All 20 cities reported price increases, marking the fourth consecutive month of record growth in home prices.

S&P Global Platts has announced the finalists for the 23rd annual Global Energy Awards, recognizing 196 companies from 29 countries for achievements in innovation and leadership across 22 categories. The awards, often referred to as the 'Oscars of the energy industry', will honor corporate and individual accomplishments tackling emissions, digitization, and quality of life improvements. The winners, including 'Energy Company of the Year', will be announced at a gala on December 9 in New York City. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the event.

S&P Global Platts announced the launch of daily carbon offset premiums and monthly carbon intensity calculations for 14 major crude fields starting October 1. This initiative aims to promote transparency regarding emissions attributes in crude production. The calculations will help stakeholders, including producers and investors, understand the carbon intensity (CI) associated with different oil fields, facilitating the shift towards low-carbon crude. Enhanced market awareness could accelerate investments in emissions reduction projects, vital for achieving global climate goals.

S&P Dow Jones Indices announced preliminary share repurchase data for Q2 2021, reporting $198.8 billion in buybacks, an increase of 11.6% from Q1 2021 and 124.3% from Q2 2020. A total of 294 companies executed buybacks of at least $5 million, with the top 20 companies accounting for 55.7% of the total. Dividends saw a slight decline to $123.4 billion. Overall shareholder returns from buybacks and dividends reached $322.2 billion, marking a 6.7% rise from the previous quarter. The outlook remains optimistic, with expectations of continued high buyback levels for the remainder of 2021.

S&P Global has joined the newly launched Net Zero Financial Services Provider Alliance (NZFSPA), consisting of 17 members dedicated to achieving a net zero economy by 2050. This alliance, part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), aims to mobilize capital for sustainable transitions by providing essential data and insights to financial institutions. Members will set Science Based Targets for emissions and report progress in line with the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures. CEO Doug Peterson emphasized the importance of collaboration in reaching net zero goals.

S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian reported that the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices for August 2021 show a composite default rate down one basis point to 0.39%, marking the fifth consecutive drop. The bank card default rate decreased by 16 basis points to 2.35%, while auto loan defaults increased by three basis points to 0.34%. Major cities like Chicago and New York experienced rising default rates, highlighting regional disparities in credit risk.

S&P Dow Jones Indices has successfully completed its eighth annual review of adherence to the IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks. Conducted by an independent global accounting firm, the review assesses S&P DJI's governance, control framework, and operational integrity. CEO Dan Draper emphasized the importance of maintaining the independence and transparency of iconic benchmarks like the S&P 500® and Dow Jones Industrial Average®. The complete Management Statement and independent review results are available on their Governance website.