APPLE INC., $369.80, Nasdaq symbol AAPL, unveiled the latest version of its hugely popular iPhone smartphone this week.

This new version, called the iPhone 4S, features a faster processor, a better camera and software that lets users enter commands and search the Internet by speaking… Read More

McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., New York symbol MHP, rose 17% the week of September 12 after it announced that it will split into two separate, publicly traded companies.

One of these new firms, McGraw-Hill Markets, will sell a variety of financial-information products. This business will include… Read More

MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES INC. $43 (New York symbol MHP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 301.3 million; Market cap: $13.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 2.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mcgraw-hill.com) plans to split into two separate, publicly traded companies.

One of these new firms, McGraw-Hill… Read More

MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES INC., $45.29, New York symbol MHP, rose 17% this week after it announced that it will split into two separate, publicly traded companies.

One of these new firms, McGraw-Hill Markets, will sell a variety of financial-information products. This business will include Standard &.. Read More

Right now, the U.S. credit-rating industry is dominated by three firms: Standard & Poor’s (which is owned by McGraw-Hill, below), Moody’s and Fitch. However, Standard & Poor’s recent downgrade of U.S. Treasury bonds has drawn new attention to the entire industry. This increased scrutiny makes… Read More

When investors see a day like Thursday, with a drop of more than 500 points in the Dow Jones Industrials, they can’t help but wonder if we face a replay of the 2007-2009 market plunge. However, though today’s situation could turn out badly, that’s not… Read More

J.C. PENNEY CO. INC., $34.29, New York symbol JCP, jumped 15% this week after it named Ron Johnson as its new chief executive officer, effective November 1, 2011. Mr. Johnson helped develop computer maker Apple Inc.’s hugely successful retail stores.

Shoppers have shifted away from department… Read More

MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES INC. $38 (New York symbol MHP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 307.0 million; Market cap: $11.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.9; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mcgraw-hill.com) gets 70% of its earnings and 45% of its revenue from its Standard &… Read More

New regulations in the wake of the financial crisis will push up costs for these three leading credit-rating providers. However, they face little competition, and they continue to benefit from falling computer costs and the shift to electronic document delivery. These savings are also letting… Read More

Under the new financial-reform law, the Securities and Exchange Commission will develop rules to prevent conflicts of interest in the credit rating industry. The law also creates new standards for credit analysts, including passing qualifying examinations.

The new law will raise these three rating providers’ costs… Read More