Moody's Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Y/Y Revenue Growth

Core Insights - Moody's reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $3.92 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.70, with a year-over-year growth of 22.1% [1][8] - The revenue for the quarter was $2.01 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.96 billion, and reflecting a 10.7% increase year over year [3][8] - The company's liquidity position remained strong, although operating expenses increased, presenting a challenge [1][3] Financial Performance - Net income attributable to Moody's was $646 million or $3.60 per share, up from $534 million or $2.93 per share in the prior-year quarter [2] - Total expenses rose to $1.09 billion, an increase of 1.4% year over year [3] - Adjusted operating income was $1.06 billion, marking a 22.5% increase year over year, with an adjusted operating margin of 52.9%, up from 47.8% a year ago [3] Segment Performance - Moody's Investors Service (MIS) revenues increased by 11.8% year over year to $1.10 billion, driven by strong performance across various finance sectors [4] - Moody's Analytics (MA) revenues rose 9.4% year over year to $909 million, supported by growth in Decision Solutions, Research and Insights, and Data & Information [4] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of September 30, 2025, Moody's had total cash and short-term investments of $2.26 billion, down from $2.97 billion at the end of 2024 [5] - The company reported $7 billion in outstanding debt and $1.25 billion in additional borrowing capacity [5] Share Repurchase Program - In the quarter, Moody's repurchased 1 million shares at an average price of $503.66, with $398 million of share repurchase authorization remaining [6] - The board authorized an additional $4 billion in share repurchase authority with no expiration date [6] Updated Guidance - Moody's updated its 2025 guidance, expecting adjusted earnings of $14.50-$14.75 per share, up from the previous target of $13.50-$14.00 [9] - Revenue growth is projected in the high-single-digit percent range, an increase from the prior mid-single-digit range [9] - The adjusted operating margin is expected to be 51%, up from the previously mentioned 49-50% [10] Strategic Developments - Moody's announced plans to secure majority equity ownership in MERIS, enhancing its presence in the Middle East and Africa [12]