MCO
Financial ServicesMoody's Corporation · Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges · $79B
What is Moody's Corporation?
Moody's Corporation is a global integrated risk assessment firm best known for its credit ratings and financial analytics. Headquartered in New York City, it serves institutional clients across roughly 140 countries.
Moody's earns revenue through two segments. Moody's Investors Service issues credit ratings on corporate, government, financial institution, and structured finance obligations. Moody's Analytics sells subscription-based research, risk management tools, economic forecasts, and data products to institutional participants in global financial markets.
Moody's Corporation was incorporated in its current form in 1994 and is headquartered in New York City.
- Credit ratings across corporate, sovereign, and structured finance
- Subscription research and quantitative credit scoring tools
- Economic forecasting and business intelligence data
- Commercial real estate analytics
Is MCO a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates MCO as Good overall.
The Quality pillar stands out as Strong, reflecting the durability of Moody's business model and its entrenched position in credit ratings. The Moat pillar also registers as Good, consistent with the high barriers to entry in the ratings industry.
Growth and Valuation both sit at Neutral, suggesting the market has already priced in much of Moody's competitive standing.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does MCO pay dividends?
Yes — Moody's Corporation pays a dividend.
Moody's pays a regular dividend, appealing to investors who value income alongside quality. The company's recurring, subscription-heavy revenue streams support consistent dividend payments. Investors should verify the current yield and payout schedule on Moody's investor relations page.
When does MCO report earnings?
Moody's Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
Moody's two-segment structure means results can be influenced by debt issuance volumes in capital markets alongside steady Analytics subscription growth. Investors watch both segments for signals on credit market activity and recurring revenue trends.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Moody's Corporation's investor relations page directly.
MCO Price History
+42.5% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Moody's Corporation?
Based on Moody's Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Moody's Corporation do?
Moody's operates two businesses: Moody's Investors Service, which issues credit ratings on debt obligations worldwide, and Moody's Analytics, which provides risk management tools, economic research, and data subscriptions to financial institutions and corporations.
Does MCO pay dividends?
Yes, Moody's pays a regular dividend. The company's recurring revenue base supports ongoing dividend payments. For current yield and schedule details, check Moody's investor relations page.
When does MCO report earnings?
Moody's reports on a standard quarterly schedule. Exact dates are published in advance on the company's investor relations page, which is the most reliable source for upcoming earnings timing.
Is MCO a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates MCO as Good overall, with a Strong Quality pillar and a Good Moat pillar. Growth and Valuation are both Neutral. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your own objectives — the full UQS breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is MCO overvalued?
MCO's Valuation pillar is rated Neutral, meaning the market price appears broadly in line with the company's fundamental profile — neither clearly cheap nor clearly stretched relative to sector peers.
What is MCO's market cap bracket?
Moody's Corporation is classified as a large-cap company, placing it among the more established and widely followed names in the Financial Services sector.
Is MCO a long-term quality indicator?
MCO's Strong Quality and Good Moat pillar ratings suggest durable business characteristics over time. Long-term investors often look to these pillars as indicators of resilience, though all investments carry risk. Pro members can view the complete analysis.
What is the main competitive advantage of Moody's?
Moody's benefits from deep network effects and regulatory recognition that make its ratings difficult to replicate. Issuers and investors rely on Moody's ratings globally, creating high switching costs and a durable competitive position reflected in its Good Moat pillar rating.
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Pro Analysis
MCO — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 61.3 | 86.9 | 61.0 | 55.2 | 36.9 | 51.4 | -0.1 |
| May 21, 2026 | 61.4 | 87.0 | 61.0 | 55.2 | 36.9 | 51.9 | -0.3 |
| May 16, 2026 | 61.7 | 87.5 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 36.9 | 53.3 | +0.2 |
| May 14, 2026 | 61.5 | 87.2 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 36.9 | 52.2 | +0.2 |
| May 12, 2026 | 61.3 | 86.9 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 36.9 | 51.8 | -1.7 |
| May 7, 2026 | 63.0 | 85.9 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 49.4 | 52.1 | +0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 62.9 | 85.9 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 49.4 | 51.3 | +0.1 |
| May 1, 2026 | 62.8 | 85.9 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 49.4 | 51.1 | -0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 62.9 | 85.9 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 49.4 | 51.1 | 0.0 |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 62.9 | 85.9 | 61.0 | 55.3 | 49.4 | 51.5 | -0.1 |
MCO — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 86.9/100 (25%)Moody's Corporation demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 55.2/100 (20%)Moody's Corporation demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 36.9/100 (15%)Moody's Corporation has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 51.3/100 (15%)Moody's Corporation has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 61/100 (25%)Moody's Corporation has meaningful competitive advantages that should protect its market position. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for MCO.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the MCO UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Moody's Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Moody's Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Moody's Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.