[Music] I'm Isis Julian and I'm a senior software engineer at Morning Star and I work on the intelligence engine. Morning Star is a global leader in providing investment research data and analysis and we pride ourselves in empowering investor success by serving transparent, accessible, and reliable investment information. So, with AI gaining increasing popularity nearing the end of 2022 and early 2023, with a scrappy team of just five engineers, we were able to launch our first ever AI research assistant na ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Over the last five years, Moody's has achieved a top-line growth of 8% CAGR, with EPS also growing at 8%. In the last two years, revenue has grown at 14% and EPS at 21%, indicating strong operating leverage [3][4][7]. Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The analytics business has seen a growth in ARR of 9% to 10% over the last few years, although it has decelerated somewhat in recent quarters [53]. - The KYC segment has experienced high teens ARR growth, driven by recent AI initiatives [59]. Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately half of Moody's revenues come from outside the United States, with significant investments in domestic markets in regions like Africa and Latin America [12][14]. - The private credit market is currently valued at around $2 trillion, with expectations for growth to $10 trillion or more, presenting substantial opportunities for Moody's [38][39]. Company Strategy and Development Direction - Moody's is focusing on integrating AI into its offerings, enhancing its data and analytics capabilities, and expanding its presence in private credit and KYC solutions [4][60]. - The company aims to maintain its competitive position by leveraging proprietary data and analytics, particularly in the insurance and banking sectors [10][11]. Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while there are headwinds from elevated treasuries and trade policy uncertainty, there are signs of recovery in the issuance markets [22][23]. - The demand for independent credit assessments is expected to increase, especially during credit cycles, reinforcing the need for Moody's services [48]. Other Important Information - Moody's has made significant acquisitions to enhance its capabilities, including investments in companies like Predicate and Cape, which are expected to drive growth in the insurance sector [72][74]. - The company is exploring new revenue models, including consumption-based pricing for certain content sets, to improve operating leverage [76]. Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the long-term margin targets for MA? - Management indicated a medium-term target for MA margins in the mid-30s, with potential for further upside as the business scales and integrates technology [75]. Question: How does AI impact M&A direction? - The company is considering investments in analytics businesses that align with the future of B2B software and AI, balancing current business needs with future opportunities [78][79]. Question: What opportunities does private credit present? - The growth of private credit into retail markets is seen as a significant opportunity for Moody's, as it will likely require more ratings and assessments [81][82].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 revenue was $594 million, with a net loss of $104 million attributed to higher restructuring expenses related to the value creation plan [22][23] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.14, flat compared to the same period last year [23] - Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by more than one percentage point due to improved cost management [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic annual contract value (ACV) grew sequentially, with total organic revenue increasing for the first time in over a year, and recurring organic revenue grew nearly 1% [6][8] - In the IP Patent Annuity business, organic recurring revenue grew 5% due to higher volumes [12] - Subscription renewal rates in Life Science and Health improved to 90%, an increase of three percentage points over the prior year [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The mix of recurring revenue to total revenue is now 83%, an improvement of 200 basis points compared to the prior year [6] - The company noted that less than 3% of total revenue comes directly from the U.S. Federal government, indicating limited exposure to government funding cuts [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing revenue, improving sales execution, and accelerating innovation through a subscription-centric model [5][8] - The value creation plan is on track, with a focus on business model optimization, sales execution, and accelerated product innovation [15][18] - The company is evaluating strategic alternatives to unlock value and maximize shareholder returns [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future of research in academia despite potential government funding cuts, indicating minimal impact on business so far [39][40] - The company remains cautious about the macroeconomic environment but believes its products' recurring nature positions it well during uncertain times [34] Other Important Information - Free cash flow was strong at $110 million, with nearly half used for share repurchases [26][28] - The company expects annual contract value to accelerate by approximately 60 basis points to 1.5% at the midpoint of the range [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about government funding exposure - Management indicated minimal impact from government actions and noted strong renewal rates in the A and G segment [39][42] Question: Inquiry about private equity interest in the IP segment - Management stated they are evaluating strategic options but had no specific comments on the private equity interest [47] Question: Drivers behind higher renewal volumes in IP - The primary driver for the increase in organic recurring revenues was a return to healthy growth in patent and trademark renewals [50][51] Question: Impact of funding cuts on large universities - Management confirmed that less than half of the A and G segment business is in the U.S., with a significant portion already renewed this year [55] Question: Expectations for transactional revenue growth - Management remains conservative about transactional revenue growth, focusing on improving recurring revenues [58] Question: Changes to the sales incentive model - Management highlighted upgrades in sales leadership and changes to the incentive model to reward subscription revenue growth [66] Question: Cyclical nature of patent renewals - Management acknowledged that while patent renewals can be cyclical, they expect the long-term trend to remain positive [70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 revenue was $594 million, with a net loss of $104 million attributed to higher restructuring expenses related to the value creation plan [23][24] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.14, flat compared to the same period last year [24] - Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by more than one percentage point due to internal cost efficiencies, with free cash flow of $110 million [9][28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic annual contract value (ACV) grew sequentially, driven by improved subscription renewals and new business wins [7][10] - Organic recurring revenue grew nearly 1%, with renewal rates across the subscription base improving by one percentage point [8][9] - In the IP Patent Annuity business, organic recurring revenue grew 5% due to higher volumes, with a double-digit increase in search volume for the Derwent innovation platform [13][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The mix of recurring revenue to total revenue is now 83%, an improvement of 200 basis points compared to last year [8][18] - Subscription renewal rates in the Life Science and Health segment improved to 90%, an increase of three percentage points over the prior year [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing revenue, improving sales execution, and accelerating innovation through a subscription-centric model [6][10] - The value creation plan is on track despite a volatile macro environment, with a focus on business model optimization and increasing the subscription revenue mix [10][17] - The company is evaluating strategic alternatives to unlock value and maximize shareholder returns [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future of research in academia despite potential government funding cuts, indicating minimal impact on business so far [11][40] - The company remains cautious against a challenging macroeconomic environment but believes its products' recurring nature positions it well [35] Other Important Information - The company has engaged with advisors to analyze options for maximizing shareholder value and will provide updates when appropriate [20] - The company launched new subscription platforms and AI-powered features, enhancing competitive advantage and customer engagement [19][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about government funding exposure - Management indicated minimal impact from government actions in Q1 and noted that half of government contracts have already been renewed [40][41] Question: Inquiry about private equity interest in the IP segment - Management stated they are evaluating strategic options but had no specific comments on the private equity interest [48][49] Question: Drivers behind higher renewal volumes in IP - The primary driver for the increase in organic recurring revenues was a return to healthy growth in patent and trademark renewals [52][55] Question: Impact of U.S. government funding on revenue - Less than half of the A and G segment business is in the U.S., with a meaningful portion already renewed this year, indicating confidence in guidance range [59][60] Question: Expectations for transactional revenue growth - Management expects transactional revenue to remain soft in the current macro environment, focusing on improving recurring revenues [62][63] Question: Changes to the sales incentive model - Management highlighted upgrades in sales leadership and changes to the customer success organization, which have contributed to improved renewal rates [67][68] Question: Cyclical nature of patent renewals - Management acknowledged that while patent renewals can fluctuate, the long-term trend is expected to head back in a healthy direction [72][73]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Moody's achieved record revenue of $1.9 billion in Q1 2025, up 8% year-over-year [12][36] - Adjusted operating margin reached 51.7%, an increase of 100 basis points from the previous year [12][36] - Adjusted diluted EPS grew 14% to $3.83 [12][36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Moody's Investors Service (MIS) revenue grew 8% with issuance growth of 9%, achieving quarterly revenue of $1.1 billion [12][36] - Moody's Analytics (MA) revenue was $859 million, also up 8%, with Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth of 9% [36][37] - Decision Solutions within MA saw ARR growth of 12%, driven by KYC, insurance, and banking solutions [37][39] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Private credit was a significant contributor to growth, with 143 private credit-related deals in Q1 2025, up from 69 in Q1 2024 [13][14] - Data center debt issuance reached $4 billion in Q1 2025, indicating strong demand for financing in digital infrastructure [16][17] - Economic losses from extreme weather events in Q1 2025 were reported at $83 billion, above the 21st-century average [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing its earnings power and market position amidst economic volatility [11][28] - Investments in AI and digital transformation are central to the company's strategy, with a focus on generative AI to drive growth and efficiency [22][23] - A partnership with MSCI aims to provide independent risk assessments for private credit investments, enhancing transparency in the market [31][123] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged increased uncertainty in the market due to tariffs and economic conditions, leading to a more conservative guidance approach [28][44] - The company expects a decrease in MIS rated issuance for 2025, projecting low to high single-digit declines [46][48] - Despite short-term challenges, management remains confident in the long-term demand for their solutions driven by deep market currents [30][55] Other Important Information - The company maintains a strong financial profile and plans to return at least $1.3 billion to shareholders in 2025 [54] - Adjusted diluted EPS guidance for 2025 is set between $13.25 and $14, representing a 9% growth at the midpoint [52] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you walk us through your assumptions around what acquisitions were included in the prior guidance versus now? - No change in M&A assumptions with respect to MA revenue guidance; CAPE Analytics was already included [58][59] Question: What were the key assumptions that were made in terms of M&A volume? - Adjusted M&A growth expectations down to 15% from 50% due to trade policy uncertainty [65] Question: How sensitive are Research and Insights and Data and Information to current macro trends? - Research and Insights growth is mainly from CreditView; Data and Information faced slower growth due to government attrition [68][71] Question: Can you explain the guidance for a decrease in issuance versus flat to increased revenue growth for 2025? - Annual pricing initiatives and a positive mix shift are expected to support revenue despite decreased issuance [74][75] Question: Can you elaborate on the costs and efficiency program? - The efficiency program is generating gains, with expectations for MA margins to ramp into the mid-30s range by Q4 [80][81] Question: How do Fed rate cuts impact your issuance outlook? - Rate cuts present mixed effects; decelerating economic growth could negatively impact issuance despite lower rates [87] Question: What is the revenue model for the partnership with MSCI? - The revenue model has not been disclosed, but there is significant demand for rigorous third-party credit assessments in the private credit market [121][122] Question: What is the outlook for first-time mandates? - First-time mandates are expected to continue growing, particularly in the private credit market [128][129] Question: Are tariffs driving demand for KYC solutions? - Tariffs may drive demand for KYC and supply chain risk solutions, with a new corporate platform launched to address these needs [132]