Moody’s Corporation $MCO Shares Sold by Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. decreased its position in Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) by 32.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 129,690 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 61,570 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. owned approximately 0.07% of Moody’s worth $58,896,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MCO. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC raised its holdings in Moody’s by 0.3% in the first quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 6,440 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $2,810,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Kenora Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Moody’s by 1.5% in the third quarter. Kenora Financial LLC now owns 1,534 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $697,000 after buying an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Resolute Wealth Strategies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Moody’s by 3.8% in the first quarter. Resolute Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 623 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Moody’s by 1.2% during the third quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,949 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $885,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Matrix Trust Co grew its holdings in shares of Moody’s by 1.5% during the third quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 1,706 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $775,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. 92.11% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Moody’s Price Performance

NYSE MCO opened at $489.64 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $478.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $468.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $84.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.05, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.19. Moody’s Corporation has a 1-year low of $402.28 and a 1-year high of $546.88.

Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 21st. The business services provider reported $4.14 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.25 by ($0.11). The firm had revenue of $2.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.08 billion. Moody’s had a return on equity of 84.76% and a net margin of 35.26%. The business’s revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.92 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Moody’s Corporation will post 16.79 earnings per share for the current year.

Moody’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 20th will be given a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 20th. Moody’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MCO has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Moody’s from $610.00 to $575.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 16th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $600.00 price objective (up from $565.00) on shares of Moody’s in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Moody’s from $587.00 to $594.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Daiwa Securities Group increased their target price on Moody’s from $500.00 to $535.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut Moody’s to a “neutral” rating and set a $560.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Friday, October 16th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $552.63.

Moody’s News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Moody’s this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America maintained a Buy rating and lowered its price target modestly from $580 to $575, still implying approximately 17% upside from the referenced trading level. Bank of America Moody’s rating
• Positive Sentiment: Moody’s management highlighted strong AI-related activity: issuance tied to AI infrastructure reportedly increased fourfold year over year, while refinancing needs in the U.S. and Europe exceed $5 trillion. These trends could support future demand for Moody’s ratings, data and analytics products. Moody’s long-term investor takeaways
• Positive Sentiment: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.03 per share, equivalent to $4.12 annually and a referenced yield of approximately 0.8%, providing a modest shareholder-return benefit.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst target changes were mixed but generally supportive: Deutsche Bank raised its target from $559 to $561, while Morgan Stanley lifted its target from $470 to $480. Morgan Stanley’s target remains below the referenced share price, suggesting limited near-term upside under that valuation. Deutsche Bank target change Morgan Stanley target change
• Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter adjusted EPS of $4.14 missed the $4.25 consensus estimate, while revenue of $2.02 billion fell short of the $2.08 billion forecast. Revenue rose only 0.8% year over year, increasing concern about slowing growth and cost pressure. Moody’s Q3 earnings miss
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary from Seeking Alpha argued that MCO’s roughly 30-times earnings valuation may already reflect its high business quality, limiting upside unless growth accelerates materially. Moody’s valuation analysis

Insider Transactions at Moody’s

In other Moody’s news, CEO Robert Fauber sold 1,467 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $484.30, for a total transaction of $710,468.10. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 51,964 shares in the company, valued at $25,166,165.20. The trade was a 2.75% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Moody’s Profile

Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) is a global provider of credit ratings, research, data, analytics and risk-management solutions. Through Moody’s Investors Service, the company assigns credit ratings and publishes research on corporate, government and structured-finance debt issuers, helping investors and other market participants evaluate credit risk.

Through Moody’s Analytics, the company provides financial intelligence, economic research, data, software and advisory services. Its offerings support credit analysis, lending, portfolio management, enterprise risk management, compliance and related functions across financial institutions, corporations, governments and other organizations.

Moody’s traces its origins to 1909, when John Moody established the company that introduced published credit ratings for bonds.