Company Description
Moelis & Company (NYSE: MC) is a global independent investment bank operating in the investment banking and securities dealing industry within the broader finance and insurance sector. The firm focuses on providing strategic and financial advisory services to a diverse client base that includes corporations, governments, financial sponsors, and institutional investors. According to its public disclosures and press releases, Moelis & Company advises clients on critical corporate finance decisions such as mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other advisory matters.
Business model and core advisory focus
Moelis & Company states that it assists clients in achieving their strategic goals by offering integrated financial advisory services across major industry sectors. The firm emphasizes advice on transactions and situations that are central to a client’s long-term strategy, including M&A, capital structure, and capital markets activities. Based on the company’s own description, it generates revenue from advisory transactions, with performance influenced by the number, size, timing, and fee levels of completed deals in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and capital structure advisory.
The firm’s communications highlight areas of advisory strength including:
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) – advising on combinations, sales, and purchases of businesses.
- Recapitalizations and restructurings – advising on capital structure changes and financial restructuring situations.
- Capital markets transactions – advising on transactions that access debt and equity capital markets.
- Private capital advisory and secondaries – advising financial sponsors and institutional investors on private funds, secondaries, and sponsor-led capital solutions, as described in the firm’s announcements about its Private Funds Advisory and Private Capital Advisory teams.
Client base and sector coverage
Across its disclosures, Moelis & Company repeatedly notes that its client base includes corporations, governments, and financial sponsors. Financial sponsors and institutional investors are specifically referenced in connection with its private funds and secondaries advisory activities. The firm positions its advisory platform as covering all major industry sectors, and its hiring announcements reference sector and product focuses such as metals & mining, technology, business services, and private capital advisory.
Moelis & Company also notes that its professionals advise clients on their most critical decisions, underscoring a focus on high-impact strategic transactions and capital solutions. The firm’s results commentary indicates that average fees per completed transaction, particularly in M&A and capital markets, are an important driver of revenue.
Geographic footprint
In its press releases, Moelis & Company describes itself as a global independent investment bank serving clients from locations across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. This indicates a multi-continent presence and the ability to execute and advise on cross-border transactions. The firm’s communications also reference Managing Directors based in Europe and in U.S. cities such as New York and Boston, reflecting a geographically distributed senior team.
Organizational structure and financial characteristics
Moelis & Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MC, as confirmed in its SEC filings. The company uses a partnership structure in which Moelis & Company, as the corporate partner, owns a majority interest in Moelis & Company Group LP, the operating partnership. The firm explains that a portion of its earnings is taxed at the corporate level, while the remaining interest is held by other partners and is primarily taxed at the partner level, with certain state, local, and foreign taxes incurred at the company level.
The firm’s earnings releases and related commentary emphasize that revenues and net income can fluctuate materially depending on the number, size, and timing of completed transactions and on fee levels, particularly in M&A and capital markets. Moelis & Company also discusses its use of Adjusted (non-GAAP) measures alongside GAAP results, including Adjusted revenues, Adjusted pre-tax margin, and Adjusted net income, to provide additional insight into operating performance. The company highlights a balance sheet characterized by cash and short-term or liquid investments and no funded debt or goodwill in the periods described.
Growth, hiring, and leadership
Moelis & Company’s public communications describe an ongoing strategy of organic growth, including the hiring of additional Managing Directors across products and sectors. The firm has announced senior hires focused on M&A, capital markets, metals & mining, technology, business services, and private capital advisory, as well as senior appointments in its Private Funds Advisory business. These hires are presented as part of an effort to expand expertise in secondaries advisory, sponsor-led capital solutions, and broader private capital advisory.
The company has also disclosed board and leadership developments, including the appointment of an independent director and a planned leadership transition in which the founder will become Executive Chairman, a co-founder will serve as Chief Executive Officer, and another co-founder will become Executive Vice Chairman. These changes are framed as part of long-term leadership planning and an effort to support the next phase of the firm’s growth while maintaining a focus on client advisory work.
Earnings communication and investor engagement
Moelis & Company regularly issues earnings press releases and hosts conference calls and webcasts to discuss quarterly and annual financial results. The firm files Current Reports on Form 8-K with the SEC in connection with these announcements, referencing press releases that detail revenues, net income, operating expenses, and other financial metrics. It also periodically updates investor presentations, which are referenced in its SEC filings as being available through its investor relations channels.
In addition, Moelis & Company management participates in financial services conferences hosted by institutions such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, where members of the leadership team speak about the firm. These events, along with regular earnings calls, form part of the firm’s engagement with investors and analysts.
Dividends and capital management
In its earnings releases, Moelis & Company reports that its Board of Directors has declared regular quarterly dividends per share. The firm also describes repurchases of shares of its common stock during certain periods. These disclosures indicate an ongoing capital management approach that includes returning capital to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, subject to board decisions and financial performance.
Position within the finance and insurance sector
Within the finance and insurance sector, Moelis & Company is classified in the investment banking and securities dealing industry. The firm emphasizes its independence, global reach, and focus on advisory services rather than balance sheet lending. Its communications highlight an integrated global platform, a network of experienced professionals, and coverage across major sectors and regions, with particular attention to complex, high-value transactions and private capital advisory work.
Frequently Asked Questions about Moelis & Company (MC)
- What does Moelis & Company do?
Moelis & Company is a global independent investment bank that provides strategic and financial advisory services. According to its public descriptions, the firm advises corporations, governments, financial sponsors, and institutional investors on mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters. - How does Moelis & Company generate revenue?
The company states that it generates revenue from advisory transactions. Its earnings releases indicate that revenues are influenced by the number, size, timing, and fee levels of completed transactions, with particular reference to M&A and capital markets advisory work. - Who are Moelis & Company’s typical clients?
Moelis & Company describes its client base as including corporations, governments, financial sponsors, and institutional investors. In the context of its private funds and secondaries advisory activities, it specifically references financial sponsors and institutional investors as key client groups. - In which regions does Moelis & Company operate?
Based on the firm’s own description, Moelis & Company serves clients from locations across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, reflecting a global advisory footprint. - What types of transactions does Moelis & Company advise on?
The firm highlights advisory work on mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters. It also reports activity in private capital advisory and secondaries, including sponsor-led capital solutions and transactions involving private funds. - How does Moelis & Company describe its financial performance?
In its earnings press releases, Moelis & Company reports GAAP revenues and net income, as well as Adjusted (non-GAAP) measures such as Adjusted revenues and Adjusted pre-tax margin. The firm notes that results can fluctuate materially depending on transaction activity and that it uses Adjusted metrics to help investors compare performance across periods. - What is Moelis & Company’s stock exchange and ticker symbol?
According to its SEC filings, Moelis & Company’s Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol MC. - Does Moelis & Company pay dividends?
Yes. The company’s earnings releases state that its Board of Directors has declared regular quarterly dividends per share during the reported periods. Specific dividend amounts and payment dates are determined by the Board and disclosed in those releases. - What is Moelis & Company’s approach to growth?
The firm describes a strategy of organic growth, including hiring additional Managing Directors across products and sectors such as M&A, capital markets, metals & mining, technology, business services, and private capital advisory. It also emphasizes expansion of its private funds and secondaries advisory capabilities. - How can investors learn more about Moelis & Company’s performance?
Moelis & Company issues quarterly and annual earnings press releases, hosts conference calls and webcasts to review results, and files Current Reports on Form 8-K with the SEC in connection with these announcements. The firm also updates investor presentations referenced in its SEC filings.