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The company's loss from continuing operations
was $1 billion, or $3.71 per share, for the fourth quarter ended
Dec. 31, compared with an income of $165 million, or 60 cents
per share, a year earlier.
S&P said last week it would pay $1.5 billion to resolve a
collection of lawsuits over its ratings on mortgage securities
that soured in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis.
The U.S. Justice Department sued the firm in February 2013,
claiming more than $5 billion in losses from S&P-rated
securities during the 2007-2009 financial crisis.
The company's adjusted earnings of 95 cents per share topped
analysts' average estimate of 90 cents, helped by higher demand
for corporate ratings, particularly U.S. investment-grade, and
public finance ratings.
Revenue from the S&P's ratings business rose 8 percent to $618
million during the quarter.
The company raised its quarterly dividend to 33 cents per share
from 30 cents.
Bond markets globally have been volatile due to plunging oil
prices and worries about Greece.
However, high-grade corporate debt offerings in the United
States rose 9 percent to $1.1 trillion in 2014, according to
Thomson Reuters data.
McGraw Hill forecast 2015 earnings of $4.35-$4.45 per share,
above the average analyst estimate of $4.32, according to
Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
S&P rival Moody's Corp reported a better-than-expected quarterly
profit last week, driven by strong growth in its analytics
business and higher debt issuance in the United States.
Thomson Reuters Corp competes with McGraw Hill in providing
information related to the financial and commodities markets.
Up to Wednesday's close, McGraw Hill's shares had risen 22
percent in past 12 months.
(Reporting by Neha Dimri in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj
Kalluvila)
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