Moody's Corporation (MCO)

Over the past six months, Moody's stock has been influenced by several events. Strong Q1 and Q2 2025 earnings reports positively impacted the stock. Analyst upgrades, such as Deutsche Bank's upgrade to "Buy," also contributed to favorable performance. Strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including increased ownership in MERIS Ratings and the acquisition of ICR Chile, signaled growth. Leadership changes, such as the appointment of an interim President of Moody's Analytics, introduced some uncertainty. An insider stock sale by SVP Richard Steele led to a slight fall in shares. MCO stock experienced fluctuating movement, reaching a 52-week high of $531.93 on February 14, 2025, and a 52-week low of $378.71 on April 7, 2025.

The demand for Moody's products and services is influenced by seasonality in the broader credit markets. Corporate credit markets exhibit seasonal variations in interest rates and lending volumes, with increased borrowing during late spring and fall and lower lending volumes in winter and summer. Moody's Investors Service may experience fluctuations in demand corresponding to these issuance cycles, and Moody's Analytics' risk management and data solutions could see seasonal patterns aligned with financial market activity.

Moody's Corporation operates in the financial sector as a global integrated risk assessment firm, providing financial services and tools through two segments: Moody's Investors Service (MIS), a credit rating agency, and Moody's Analytics (MA), which develops risk management products and services.

Moody's Corporation has a significant global presence with revenue distribution in fiscal year 2024 from International Regions (50%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) (33.43%), Asia Pacific (9.67%), and the United States (6.9%). Moody's Investors Service operates in over 110 countries.

Moody's maintains a strong brand reputation as a leading provider of credit ratings and financial analysis. The company is recognized for its competitive position and operating margins in the credit ratings market. Moody's is praised for its role as a leading data provider specializing in artificial intelligence within the financial sector. The formation of Moody's ESG Solutions Group demonstrates a commitment to ESG insights. Moody's Wildfire Risk Model successfully completed the California Department of Insurance review process in August 2025. The company's reputation is closely tied to the accuracy and timeliness of their assessments.

Moody's Corporation's ownership is predominantly institutional, with approximately 91.28% held by institutional shareholders, including Berkshire Hathaway Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and Vanguard Group Inc. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is the largest individual shareholder, owning 97.09% of the company. Insiders own approximately 97.97% of Moody's, while retail investors hold 0.00%.