Tearsheet

Moodys (MCO)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $492.36 | Market Cap: $88.1 Bil
Sector: Financials | Industry: Financial Exchanges & Data

Moodys (MCO)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $492.36
Market Cap: $88.1 Bil
Sector: Financials
Industry: Financial Exchanges & Data

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Sustainable Finance, Digital & Alternative Assets, Fintech & Digital Payments, AI in Financial Services, Show more.
 
0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Sustainable Finance, Digital & Alternative Assets, Fintech & Digital Payments, AI in Financial Services, Show more.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

MCO Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Moody's (MCO) experienced a slight decline of approximately 3.3% in its stock price during the period from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025. This movement occurred amidst a backdrop of generally positive company performance and analyst sentiment. Here are the key points regarding this stock movement: 1. MCO Underperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

While Moody's stock declined by 3.7% over the past three months (which includes the requested period), the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 4.6% during the same timeframe, indicating an underperformance by MCO. 2. Mixed Analyst Price Targets and Ratings.

As of December 4, 2025, Moody's held a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from analysts, with an average 12-month price target of $543.07, suggesting an upside potential of approximately 11.3%. However, individual price targets ranged from a low of $471.00 to a high of $620.00. Some analysts, like Stifel Nicolaus, reduced their price objective during this period, from $526.00 to $471.00.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
MCO Return23%36%-28%42%22%4%117%
Peers Return19%39%-22%32%18%4%108%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
MCO Win Rate67%67%33%67%58%60% 
Peers Win Rate60%55%37%63%62%58% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
MCO Max Drawdown-30%-9%-39%-1%-6%-16% 
Peers Max Drawdown-32%-5%-32%-8%-6%-15% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: BLK, SPGI, CBOE, MORN, CME. See MCO Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventMCOS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-42.2%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven72.9%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven579 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-42.1%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven72.8%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven106 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-30.8%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven44.6%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven102 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-79.1%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven378.8%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1821 days1480 days

Compare to BLK, SPGI, CBOE, MORN, CME


In The Past

Moodys's stock fell -42.2% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 10/28/2021. A -42.2% loss requires a 72.9% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Moodys (MCO)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to MCO. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
WU_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025WUWestern UnionDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.4%3.4%-0.4%
COIN_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025COINCoinbase GlobalMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
9.5%9.5%0.0%
PYPL_11142025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11142025PYPLPayPalDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
0.1%0.1%-7.5%
V_11142025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11142025VVisaMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.1%-0.1%-2.7%
WD_11072025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11072025WDWalker & DunlopDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-7.7%-7.7%-11.0%
MCO_12312022_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper12312022MCOMoodysMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
25.4%41.5%-0.8%
MCO_6302022_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper06302022MCOMoodysMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
4.8%29.4%-13.3%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
WU_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025WUWestern UnionDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.4%3.4%-0.4%
COIN_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025COINCoinbase GlobalMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
9.5%9.5%0.0%
PYPL_11142025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11142025PYPLPayPalDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
0.1%0.1%-7.5%
V_11142025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11142025VVisaMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.1%-0.1%-2.7%
WD_11072025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11072025WDWalker & DunlopDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-7.7%-7.7%-11.0%
MCO_12312022_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper12312022MCOMoodysMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
25.4%41.5%-0.8%
MCO_6302022_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper06302022MCOMoodysMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
4.8%29.4%-13.3%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Moodys

Peers to compare with:

Financials

MCOBLKSPGICBOEMORNCMEMedian
NameMoodys BlackRockS&P Glob.Cboe Glo.Mornings.CME  
Mkt Price-------
Mkt Cap-------
Rev LTM-------
Op Inc LTM-------
FCF LTM-------
FCF 3Y Avg-------
CFO LTM-------
CFO 3Y Avg-------

Growth & Margins

MCOBLKSPGICBOEMORNCMEMedian
NameMoodys BlackRockS&P Glob.Cboe Glo.Mornings.CME  
Rev Chg LTM-------
Rev Chg 3Y Avg-------
Rev Chg Q-------
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM-------
Op Mgn LTM-------
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-------
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-------
CFO/Rev LTM-------
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg-------
FCF/Rev LTM-------
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-------

Valuation

MCOBLKSPGICBOEMORNCMEMedian
NameMoodys BlackRockS&P Glob.Cboe Glo.Mornings.CME  
Mkt Cap-------
P/S-------
P/EBIT-------
P/E-------
P/CFO-------
Total Yield-------
Dividend Yield-------
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-------
D/E-------
Net D/E-------

Returns

MCOBLKSPGICBOEMORNCMEMedian
NameMoodys BlackRockS&P Glob.Cboe Glo.Mornings.CME  
1M Rtn-------
3M Rtn-------
6M Rtn-------
12M Rtn-------
3Y Rtn-------
1M Excs Rtn-------
3M Excs Rtn-------
6M Excs Rtn-------
12M Excs Rtn-------
3Y Excs Rtn-------

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Moody’s Analytics (MA)3,0692,7772,4132,0861,963
Moody’s Investors Service (MIS)3,0462,8733,9773,4403,009
Eliminations-199-182-172-155-143
Total5,9165,4686,2185,3714,829


Operating Income by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Moody’s Investors Service (MIS)1,5571,3422,4031,9641,633
Moody’s Analytics (MA)580541441424365
Total2,1371,8832,8442,3881,998


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity1,843,809
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-9.3%
Average Daily Volume766,647
Days-to-Cover Short Interest2.41
Basic Shares Quantity178,900,000
Short % of Basic Shares1.0%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251023202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025724202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025423202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024214202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241023202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024724202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024502202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023214202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231026202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023726202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023426202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022215202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221026202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022727202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022502202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021222202210-K 12/31/2021