Moody'S Corp Stock Price, News & Analysis

Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) has updated its management presentation for investors, now available on its website. This presentation includes key information about the company's financial results for the three months and full year ending December 31, 2020. The update is part of Moody's compliance with Regulation FD, and senior management may reference it in discussions with analysts and investors. Moody's is recognized as a leading global risk assessment firm, providing data and insights to help organizations make informed decisions.

Moody’s Analytics has been recognized as a Category Leader in all four RiskTech Quadrants® by Chartis Research in their report evaluating over 20 ALM technology vendors. This recognition underscores Moody’s comprehensive capabilities in asset and liability management, focusing on solutions like Funds transfer pricing, Liquidity risk management, and Capital optimization. With ongoing investments to improve balance sheet management, Moody’s Analytics aims to empower banks to make informed decisions amidst uncertainty.

Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) announced participation in two upcoming conferences. Andrea Blackman, Global Head of Moody’s ESG Solutions, will present at the dbAccess ESG Conference on March 1, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Robert Fauber, President and CEO, is scheduled to speak at the Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference on March 3, 2021, at 4:40 p.m. ET. Both presentations will be available via live webcast on Moody’s Investor Relations website.

Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) reported a 5% increase in Q4 2020 revenue, totaling $1.3 billion, driven by strong demand in its Investors Service (MIS) and Analytics (MA) divisions. MIS revenue grew 2% to $735 million, while MA surged 8% to $555 million. Despite higher operating expenses, adjusted operating income was $531 million, down 5%. For 2021, Moody's expects mid-single-digit revenue growth and anticipates diluted EPS between $9.70 and $10.10. The company plans $1.5 billion in share repurchases and projects U.S. GDP growth of 4% to 5%.

Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cortera, enhancing its risk assessment capabilities and expanding coverage in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. Cortera, known for its comprehensive credit data on over 36 million companies, enhances Moody’s analytical tools. This acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2021, subject to regulatory approvals. It will be funded with cash on hand and is anticipated to have no material impact on Moody’s 2021 financial results.

Moody’s Analytics has achieved top rankings in four categories in the 2021 CeFPro Fintech Leaders report, including Balance Sheet Risk, Credit Risk, Model Risk, and Stress Testing. The company also improved its overall ranking, now positioned #2 in the Top 50 Ecosystem Rankings, up from #5 last year. This success reflects the value of its interconnected solutions, as noted by Jacob Grotta. Moody’s Analytics garnered over 70 awards in 2020, further affirming its industry recognition.

Moody’s Analytics has released new forecasts for commercial real estate (CRE) rents and vacancies across the U.S., indicating a challenging year ahead for the office sector. The predicted vacancy rate is set to rise to 19.4% in 2021, with average effective office rents expected to decline by 7.5%. Major cities like San Francisco and New York are projected to see significant rent decreases of 15% and 8.9%, respectively. The apartment sector shows a mixed outlook, while the retail sector continues to struggle, with vacancy rates anticipated to reach 12.7%. The warehouse sector, however, is expected to see modest rent growth.

Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) has launched the Moody’s DataHub, a new cloud-based analytical platform that consolidates data across its operations. This platform empowers financial and risk decision-makers by providing access to billions of data points, facilitating comprehensive risk management and investment analysis. Key features include over 4.5 million ratings, historical default data, and climate risk scores for thousands of companies. The DataHub emphasizes user accessibility with tools for data transformation and collaboration, supporting better decision-making in various sectors.

Moody’s Analytics announced that its ImpairmentStudio™, RiskCalc™, and CMM™ platforms have successfully completed the SOC 1 Type 2 examinations. This evaluation, conducted by an independent auditor, verifies the platforms' operational compliance regarding financial reporting controls. The SOC 1 report validates that Moody's services meet crucial control objectives, which is essential for clients like banks and insurance companies. Eric Ebel, Managing Director at Moody’s Analytics, emphasized the significance of these attestations in supporting operational compliance for their customers.