What is primarily assessed by financial rating agencies?

Financial strength is the key focus of assessments conducted by financial rating agencies. These agencies evaluate a company's ability to meet its long-term financial obligations, which involves analyzing various financial metrics such as a company's revenue, profit margins, debt levels, and cash flow. The financial strength rating reflects the organization’s overall financial health, including its solvency and stability in the market.

This assessment is crucial for investors and stakeholders as it helps them gauge the risk associated with investing in or doing business with the company. A high financial strength rating often indicates that a company is well-positioned to navigate economic challenges, while a low rating may signify potential financial difficulties.

Other aspects like market share, employee turnover, and customer satisfaction ratings are important for the overall performance of a business but do not directly reflect financial viability as assessed by rating agencies. These elements may influence a company's financial strength indirectly but are not the primary factors in how financial agencies evaluate and assign ratings.