UPGRADE

Upgrade is when the rating of a security undergoes positive change. Upgrades are typically brought about by stable developments from the fundamentals and financials of the entity who issued the security. Rating agencies like Standard & Poor’s may issue upgrades to a corporation's credit rating. On the other hand, equity and bond analysts and their respective brokerages issue upgrades to a stocks and fixed-income securities’ investment rating.

Upgrade may also have other meaning if used in the context of portfolio management. In here, it refers to a strategy where blue-chips are included in the portfolio while disregarding speculative stocks to improve the risk profile and portfolio quality.