The 2 US Companies With a Better Credit Rating Than Uncle Sam Belong in Every Retirement Portfolio

S&P Global rates lone 2 U.S. nationalist companies AAA, 1 notch supra the national authorities itself. S&P downgraded the United States to AA+ successful 2011, and Fitch followed successful 2023, leaving Uncle Sam a measurement beneath the tiny nine inactive graded astatine the apical of the scale. That nine has 2 members: Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

A AAA standing is the highest imaginable awesome of debt-repayment assurance from a large agency. It reflects fortress equilibrium sheets, durable escaped currency flow, and disciplined superior allocation crossed afloat recognition cycles, signaling survivability done complaint shocks and recessions. For retirement-focused investors who privation holdings that tin proceed paying dividends done recessions and complaint shocks, this standing is some uncommon and meaningful. For retirement-focused investors who privation holdings that tin proceed paying dividends done recessions and complaint shocks, this standing is some uncommon and meaningful. Below, we number down the 2 American companies that wide that bar, starting with the lone U.S. exertion steadfast successful the group.

2. Microsoft

Microsoft carries a marketplace capitalization of astir $3.0 trillion and the benignant of recurring bundle and unreality economics that enslaved analysts imagination about. In Q3 FY2026, reported April 29, 2026, the institution posted gross of $82.89 billion, up 18.3% twelvemonth implicit year, with EPS of $4.27 beating the $4.07 statement estimate. Operating currency travel reached $46.68 cardinal successful the quarter, and commercialized remaining show obligations stood astatine $627 billion, a multi-year contracted backlog fewer peers tin match.

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The AAA question for Microsoft is the AI superior expenditure cycle. Capex reached $30.88 cardinal successful Q3 FY2026, up 84.4% twelvemonth implicit year, portion CEO Satya Nadella noted the AI concern surpassed a $37 cardinal yearly gross tally rate, up 123% twelvemonth implicit year. The equilibrium expanse inactive absorbs it: shareholders' equity grew to $414.37 billion, debt-to-equity is 0.33, and involvement sum is 53.9x. The dividend was raised to $0.91 per 4th successful 2026, compounding from $0.08 successful 2004. Shares commercialized astatine a guardant P/E of 21x. Year to date, the banal is down 15.7% arsenic the marketplace digests the capex bill, but the recognition illustration remains intact.