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Moody's MCO

Moody's scores excellent on business quality (8.7 of 10). Here is why, in plain words, and what our sealed record shows.

Last price$464.23Oct 9, 2026
Business qualityExcellent
Next earningsOct 21, 2026, before the open
Insiders, 90 daysQuiet

Why it matters

  1. What Moody's does

    Moody's makes money by issuing debt credit ratings and selling financial research and analytics to global institutions, banks, and corporations. The business captures fees whenever debt is issued or investors buy subscriptions for risk assessment tools.

  2. What it does best

    Moody's dominates credit ratings through an entrenched duopoly model protected by regulatory mandates. Its operating margin sits at 46.1%, beating peer Nasdaq's 30.4% due to the deep cost barriers of replicating a globally trusted ratings brand.

  3. The main risk

    Regulatory scrutiny and shifts in debt issuance volumes threaten core rating revenues. When debt markets freeze or tighter compliance rules alter rating processes, top-line cash generation takes an immediate hit.

Quality, check by check

Scored against its own industry, from company filings.

ProfitabilityStrong

Operating margin stands at 46.1% and FCF margin at 36.4%, driven by high-margin subscription data and ratings fees. Scale heavily expands profitability as incremental issuance costs near zero.

MoatStrong

The regulatory-backed credit rating duopoly locks in issuers and institutional investors globally. Its operating margin ranks in the top decile of its sector at 92nd percentile, preventing new rivals from scaling.

GrowthSteady

Revenue grew to $8.2B with an annual growth rate of 8.9%, accelerating past historical levels from 2022 and 2023.

Financial healthStrong

Interest coverage is 16.6x, keeping debt servicing manageable. Free cash flow reached $3.0B, showing solid cash generation that is getting stronger.

Insiders

Executives and directors, from SEC Form 4 filings we read ourselves. Open market trades only; grants, option exercises and pre-planned sales left out.

No open market buys or unplanned sales by executives or directors.

Our sealed record on MCO

Verdicts appear here 30 days after we publish them; members see today's. Each one is in the nightly ledger, fingerprinted the night it was made.

The first sealed verdicts appear here on Oct 11, 2026.

Questions

Is MCO a good business?

Moody's scores excellent on the Cluenex quality check (8.7 of 10), measured against its own industry. Profitability is strong, moat strong, growth steady and financial health strong.

Are insiders buying MCO?

In the last 90 days of SEC Form 4 filings: No open market buys or unplanned sales by executives or directors.

When does MCO report earnings?

Oct 21, 2026, before the open.

For members

See MCO today

  • Today's verdict on MCO, and why
  • Fair value with cautious, base and optimistic cases
  • The exact price that would change the verdict
  • Which stocks each signal names, the night it fires
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Cite this page: Cluenex, “Moody's (MCO)”, https://cluenex.com/stocks/mco/, data as of Oct 10, 2026.