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Moodys Corp. /DE/ (MCO) Stock Fundamental Analysis & AI Rating 2026

MCO NYSE Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies DE CIK: 0001059556
Updated This Month • Analysis: Apr 29, 2026 • SEC Data: 2026-03-31
Combined AI Rating
BUY
78% Confidence
N/A
BUY
78% Conf
Pending
Analysis scheduled

📊 MCO Key Takeaways

Revenue: $2.1B
Net Margin: 31.8%
Free Cash Flow: $844.0M
Current Ratio: 1.16x
Debt/Equity: 2.33x
EPS: $3.73
AI Rating: BUY with 78% confidence
Moodys Corp. /DE/ (MCO) receives a BUY rating with 78% confidence from our AI fundamental analysis based on SEC 10-K filings. With revenue of $2.1B, net profit margin of 31.8%, and return on equity (ROE) of 22.1%, Moodys Corp. /DE/ demonstrates strong fundamentals in the Finance sector. Below is our complete MCO stock analysis for 2026.

Is Moodys Corp. /DE/ (MCO) a Good Investment?

Claude

Moody's demonstrates exceptional profitability with 44.3% operating margins and 31.8% net margins, generating strong free cash flow of $844M (40.6% FCF margin) despite a capital-light business model. However, the disconnect between 8.9% revenue growth and flat net income growth, combined with elevated leverage (2.33x Debt/Equity), warrants a measured stance pending clarification on profitability trends.

Why Buy Moodys Corp. /DE/ Stock? MCO Key Strengths

Claude
  • + Exceptional operating margins (44.3%) and net margins (31.8%) indicate strong pricing power and operational efficiency
  • + Outstanding free cash flow generation ($844M) with minimal capex requirements ($95M) reflects asset-light business model
  • + EPS growth of 21.4% YoY despite flat net income demonstrates effective capital allocation and share buybacks
  • + High ROE of 22.1% shows efficient deployment of shareholder capital

MCO Stock Risks: Moodys Corp. /DE/ Investment Risks

Claude
  • ! Net income essentially flat YoY (-0.1%) while revenue grew 8.9% suggests margin compression or rising costs
  • ! Elevated leverage with Debt/Equity ratio of 2.33x ($7.0B debt vs $3.0B equity) limits financial flexibility
  • ! Low current/quick ratio of 1.16x provides limited liquidity cushion relative to $7B debt burden
  • ! Significant insider trading activity (33 Form 4 filings in 90 days) may indicate management uncertainty

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Net Income margin trend - critical to identify if 8.9% revenue growth can translate to profitability gains
  • * Operating cash flow sustainability and free cash flow generation relative to debt service
  • * Debt reduction trajectory and Debt/Equity ratio improvement

Moodys Corp. /DE/ (MCO) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios

Revenue
$2.1B
Net Income
$661.0M
EPS (Diluted)
$3.73
Free Cash Flow
$844.0M
Total Assets
$14.7B
Cash Position
$1.5B

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The 40.6% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments.

MCO Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin N/A
Operating Margin 44.3%
Net Margin 31.8%
ROE 22.1%
ROA 4.5%
FCF Margin 40.6%

MCO vs Finance Sector: How Moodys Corp. /DE/ Compares

How Moodys Corp. /DE/ compares to Finance sector averages

Net Margin
MCO 31.8%
vs
Sector Avg 25.0%
MCO Sector
ROE
MCO 22.1%
vs
Sector Avg 12.0%
MCO Sector
Current Ratio
MCO 1.2x
vs
Sector Avg 1.2x
MCO Sector
Debt/Equity
MCO 2.3x
vs
Sector Avg 2.0x
MCO Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is Moodys Corp. /DE/ Stock Overvalued? MCO Valuation Analysis 2026

Based on fundamental analysis, Moodys Corp. /DE/ appears fundamentally strong relative to the Finance sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
22.1%
Sector avg: 12%
Net Profit Margin
31.8%
Sector avg: 25%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
2.33x
Sector avg: 2x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

Moodys Corp. /DE/ Balance Sheet: MCO Debt, Cash & Liquidity

Current Ratio
1.16x
Quick Ratio
1.16x
Debt/Equity
2.33x
Debt/Assets
78.7%
Interest Coverage
N/A
Long-term Debt
$7.0B

MCO Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend

MCO 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $6.2B, Net Income $1.4B, EPS $7.42. Year 2022: Revenue $6.2B, Net Income $1.8B, EPS $9.39. Year 2023: Revenue $6.2B, Net Income $2.2B, EPS $11.78. Year 2024: Revenue $7.1B, Net Income $1.4B, EPS $7.44. Year 2025: Revenue $7.7B, Net Income $1.6B, EPS $8.73.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Moodys Corp. /DE/'s revenue has grown significantly by 24% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $8.73 reflects profitable operations.

MCO Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
40.6%
Free cash flow / Revenue

MCO Quarterly Earnings & Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Moodys Corp. /DE/ including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q1 2026 $1.9B $625.0M $3.46
Q3 2025 $1.8B $534.0M $2.93
Q2 2025 $1.8B $552.0M $3.02
Q1 2025 $1.8B $577.0M $3.15
Q3 2024 $1.5B $389.0M $2.11
Q2 2024 $1.5B $377.0M $2.05
Q1 2024 $1.5B $501.0M $2.72
Q3 2023 $1.3B $303.0M $1.65

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

Moodys Corp. /DE/ Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$939.0M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$1.5B
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$95.0M
Investment in assets
Dividends Paid
$185.0M
Returned to shareholders

MCO SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Moodys Corp. /DE/ (CIK: 0001059556)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
May 4, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1777928957.xml View →
May 4, 2026 4 xslF345X06/wk-form4_1777928862.xml View →
Apr 23, 2026 10-Q mco-20260331.htm View →
Apr 22, 2026 8-K mco-20260422.htm View →
Apr 16, 2026 8-K mco-20260414.htm View →

Frequently Asked Questions about MCO

What is the AI rating for MCO?

Moodys Corp. /DE/ (MCO) has an AI rating of BUY with 78% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are MCO's key strengths?

Claude: Exceptional operating margins (44.3%) and net margins (31.8%) indicate strong pricing power and operational efficiency. Outstanding free cash flow generation ($844M) with minimal capex requirements ($95M) reflects asset-light business model.

What are the risks of investing in MCO?

Claude: Net income essentially flat YoY (-0.1%) while revenue grew 8.9% suggests margin compression or rising costs. Elevated leverage with Debt/Equity ratio of 2.33x ($7.0B debt vs $3.0B equity) limits financial flexibility.

What is MCO's revenue and growth?

Moodys Corp. /DE/ reported revenue of $2.1B.

Does MCO pay dividends?

Moodys Corp. /DE/ pays dividends, with $185.0M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.

Where can I find MCO SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Moodys Corp. /DE/ (CIK: 0001059556) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is MCO's EPS?

Moodys Corp. /DE/ has a diluted EPS of $3.73.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

Is MCO a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in May 2026, Moodys Corp. /DE/ has a BUY rating with 78% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.

Is MCO stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for MCO: ROE of 22.1% (sector avg: 12%), net margin of 31.8% (sector avg: 25%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.

Should I buy MCO stock in 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives Moodys Corp. /DE/ a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is MCO's free cash flow?

Moodys Corp. /DE/'s operating cash flow is $939.0M, with capital expenditures of $95.0M. FCF margin is 40.6%.

How does MCO compare to other Finance stocks?

Vs Finance sector averages: Net margin 31.8% (avg: 25%), ROE 22.1% (avg: 12%), current ratio 1.16 (avg: 1.2).

Is Moodys Corp. /DE/ carrying too much debt?

MCO has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33x, which is above the Finance sector average of 2x. However, the current ratio of 1.16 suggests adequate short-term liquidity.

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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Apr 29, 2026 | Data as of: 2026-03-31 | Powered by Claude AI