Moody's (MCO) reported $2.02 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 0.8%. EPS of $4.14 for the same period compares to $3.92 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.06 billion, representing a surprise of -2.02%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -2.59%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $4.25.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Moody's performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Revenue- Total external customers- Moody's Analytics: $936 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $938.81 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3%. Revenue- Total external customers- Moody's Investor Services: $1.09 billion compared to the $1.12 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -1% year over year. Revenue- Moody's Analytics- Data and Information: $250 million compared to the $247.99 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.3% year over year. Revenue- Moody's Analytics- Research and Insights: $260 million versus $266.05 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +3.2% change. Revenue- Moody's Analytics- Decision Solutions: $426 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $323.04 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.5%. Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Recurring: $373 million compared to the $367.78 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.1% year over year. Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Transaction: $714 million versus $746.62 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -5.2% change. Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Corporate Finance: $530 million versus $524.88 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -8% change. Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Structured Finance: $153 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $147.3 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.8%. Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Financial Institutions: $213 million versus $217.78 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.4% change. Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Public, Project and Infrastructure Finance: $179 million compared to the $207.38 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.2% year over year. Revenue- Moody's Analytics: $939 million versus $938.18 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +3% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Moody's here>>>
Shares of Moody's have returned +1.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Moody's Corporation (MCO): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).