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Sep 30, 2023

Moody's Q3 2023 Earnings Report

Moody's reported impressive double-digit revenue growth, driven by a rebound in issuance and increasing demand for research, data, and solutions. The company is investing in transformative technologies to enhance capabilities and reaffirmed its full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance.

Key Takeaways

Moody's Corporation reported strong third-quarter results with a 15% increase in revenue to $1.5 billion. Diluted EPS increased by 28% to $2.11, and adjusted diluted EPS increased by 31% to $2.43. The company reaffirmed its full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $9.75 to $10.25.

Revenue increased 15% from the prior-year period.

Moody’s Analytics (MA) revenue grew 13% from the prior-year period, and included double-digit growth across all lines of business.

Moody’s Investors Service (MIS) revenue grew 18%, relative to issuance growth of 12%, and benefitted from a favorable mix of leveraged finance and infrequent banking issuer activity.

Diluted and adjusted diluted EPS increased from the prior-year period on higher operating income, reflecting MA and MIS’s revenue growth and a disciplined approach to expense management.

Total Revenue
$1.47B
Previous year: $1.28B
+15.5%
EPS
$2.43
Previous year: $1.85
+31.4%
Operating Margin
36.3%
Adjusted Operating Margin
44.6%
Gross Profit
$1.06B
Previous year: $882M
+20.2%
Cash and Equivalents
$2.08B
Previous year: $1.66B
+25.5%
Free Cash Flow
$391M
Previous year: $265M
+47.5%
Total Assets
$14.2B
Previous year: $13.9B
+1.8%

Moody's

Moody's

Moody's Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Moody's updated outlook for full year 2023 reflects assumptions about numerous factors that could affect its business and is based on currently available information reviewed by management.

Positive Outlook

  • Revenue: Increase in the high-single-digit percent range
  • Operating expenses: Increase in the mid-single-digit percent range
  • Adjusted Operating Margin: 44% to 45%
  • Effective tax rate: 16% to 18%
  • Adjusted Diluted EPS: $9.75 to $10.25

Challenges Ahead

  • Interest expense, net: $250 to $260 million
  • U.S. high yield spreads: To fluctuate around 400 - 450 bps, with periodic volatility
  • Global high yield default rate: Rise to 4.5% - 5.0% by year-end
  • U.S. unemployment rate: Rise toward 3.8% by year-end
  • Euro area inflation rate: Large economies decline to between 3% and 4% by year-end

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income