Morningstar, Inc.
A provider of independent investment research and data, Morningstar tracks mutual funds, stocks, and other investments for everyday investors, financial advisors, and fund managers. Founded in 1984 by Joe Mansueto in his Chicago apartment, it became famous for its one-to-five-star fund ratings that simplify complex data. The company's name comes from the closing line of Henry David Thoreau's *Walden*: "The sun is but a morning star."