•
Dec 31, 2021

Moody's Q4 2021 Earnings Report

Moody's reported record revenue driven by growth in both MIS and MA, strategically invested in business, and introduced new medium-term guidance.

Key Takeaways

Moody's Corporation reported a strong Q4 2021 with revenue reaching $1.5 billion, a 19% increase year-over-year, and diluted EPS of $2.28, up 37%. The company strategically invested in its business and introduced new medium-term guidance, expecting revenue to grow by at least 10% on an average annualized basis and adjusted operating margin to be in the low-50s percent range.

Moody's Corporation reported Q4 2021 revenue of $1.5 billion, up 19% from Q4 2020.

Q4 2021 diluted EPS was $2.28, up 37% from Q4 2020, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.33, up 22%.

Moody's Investors Service (MIS) revenue increased by 19% to $871 million.

Moody's Analytics (MA) revenue increased by 20% to $668 million, with recurring revenue growing 22%.

Total Revenue
$1.54B
Previous year: $1.29B
+19.3%
EPS
$2.33
Previous year: $1.91
+22.0%
Operating Margin
33.4%
Previous year: 34.4%
-2.9%
Adjusted Operating Margin
38.3%
Previous year: 41.2%
-7.0%
Gross Profit
$1.05B
Previous year: $881M
+19.6%
Cash and Equivalents
$1.81B
Previous year: $2.6B
-30.3%
Free Cash Flow
$237M
Previous year: $638M
-62.9%
Total Assets
$14.7B
Previous year: $12.4B
+18.3%

Moody's

Moody's

Moody's Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Moody's provided its outlook for full year 2022. They expect revenue to increase in the high-single-digit percent range and adjusted diluted EPS to be in the range of $12.40 to $12.90.

Positive Outlook

  • U.S. and Euro area GDPs to each expand by approximately 3.5% - 4.5%.
  • Global benchmark rates to increase from historic lows.
  • U.S. high yield interest rate spreads to widen, moving slightly above the historical average of approximately 500 bps.
  • Inflation rates to remain above central bank targets in many countries.
  • U.S. unemployment to fall to approximately 3.5%.

Challenges Ahead

  • MIS's full year 2022 global rated issuance will decrease in the low-single-digit percent range.
  • Moody’s outlook assumes that the Company continues to not experience any material negative impact on its ability to conduct its operations as a result of COVID-19.
  • The implications of COVID-19, or other situations or developments, could affect these and many other factors that also could cause actual results to differ materially from Moody’s outlook.
  • These assumptions are subject to uncertainty, and actual full year 2022 results could differ materially from Moody’s current outlook.
  • Moody’s guidance assumes foreign currency translation.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income