OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has just launched its first interactive peer study for standalone U.S. port credits, the Fitch Analytical Comparative Tool, or FACT.

'The FACT is a user-friendly analytical tool that compliments the 'Peer Review of U.S. Ports' study published in September. We believe this interactive interface will facilitate a dive deeper into the key credit metrics that underpin Fitch's analysis of U.S. ports, allowing users to select subsets of Fitch's rated ports for analysis,' said Emma Griffith, Director in the Global Infrastructure and Project Finance Group.

The interactive FACT tool contains key financial information for Fitch-rated standalone port issuers in the U.S.; a graphical plotting function for four-year annual and median performance; and a radar chart that indicates key risk levels.

The FACT also features a peer analysis tool, which allows users to review and compare summary credit profiles for selected individual issuers.

The median charting tool allows users to generate a graphic representation of how specific metrics for individual ports compare to sector medians.