Analysts Set Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) Target Price at $558.56

Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $553.75.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MCO shares. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of Moody’s in a report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $531.00 price objective on Moody’s in a research report on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Moody’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Moody’s from $574.00 to $540.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Moody’s from $620.00 to $660.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th.

Moody’s Price Performance

NYSE MCO opened at $449.69 on Tuesday. Moody’s has a twelve month low of $378.71 and a twelve month high of $546.88. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $497.86 and a 200 day simple moving average of $494.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.22 billion, a PE ratio of 32.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.84 and a current ratio of 1.74.

Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The business services provider reported $3.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.39 by $0.25. The business had revenue of $1.89 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.87 billion. Moody’s had a return on equity of 66.01% and a net margin of 31.86%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.62 earnings per share. Moody’s has set its FY 2026 guidance at 16.400-17.000 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Moody’s will post 13.95 EPS for the current year.

Moody’s Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This is a positive change from Moody’s’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. Moody’s’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.23%.

More Moody’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat — Moody’s reported non‑GAAP EPS of $3.64 and revenue of $1.89B (revenue +13% y/y), outpacing consensus and driven by strong Investor Services and analytics demand. This is the main bullish catalyst behind recent investor interest. MarketBeat: Earnings Report
• Positive Sentiment: Upbeat FY‑2026 outlook — Moody’s issued FY‑2026 EPS guidance of $16.40–$17.00, roughly in line with or slightly ahead of Street expectations, citing strong demand for credit ratings and higher issuance. The guidance supports forward earnings visibility. Reuters: Upbeat 2026 Profit Forecast
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend raised — Moody’s declared a quarterly dividend of $1.03 (9.6% increase versus prior payout), offering modest income support and signaling confidence in cash flow. Ex‑dividend date: March 2. Press Release (PDF)
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst repositioning — JPMorgan cut its price target from $600 to $560 but kept an Overweight rating (the new PT still implies material upside from current levels). This is mixed: lower target tempers enthusiasm but the rating remains constructive. Benzinga: JPMorgan Price Target Change
• Neutral Sentiment: Business development — Moody’s is expanding its regional presence with a new headquarters in Saudi Arabia, supporting long‑term client access in a growth market. Albawaba: Regional HQ in Saudi Arabia
• Negative Sentiment: Near‑term share reaction and commentary — Some analysts/commentaries framed a post‑earnings pullback as expected and pointed to headwinds (rising expenses, valuation). That narrative can pressure the stock in the short term despite the beat. Seeking Alpha: Post‑earnings Pullback

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Robert Fauber sold 575 shares of Moody’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $498.90, for a total transaction of $286,867.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 61,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,473,809.80. The trade was a 0.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.14% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Moody’s

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MCO. Rexford Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Moody’s during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Moody’s in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Birchwood Financial Partners Inc. bought a new position in Moody’s in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Moody’s in the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Caitlin John LLC purchased a new position in shares of Moody’s during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.11% of the company’s stock.

Moody’s Company Profile

Moody’s Corporation is a global provider of credit ratings, research, data and analytics that support financial decision-making and transparency in capital markets. The company traces its origins to the early 20th century when financial analyst John Moody began publishing credit information; today Moody’s is headquartered in New York and serves a broad set of market participants including investors, issuers, financial institutions, corporations, governments and regulators.

Moody’s operates primarily through two complementary businesses.