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Moody’s Corporation is a United States–based company operating in the financial sector within the credit-rating, financial-research and risk-analytics industry. The company is one of the world’s leading providers of credit ratings, economic analysis, data intelligence and enterprise-risk software.
Moody’s originated in 1909 when John Moody published the first comprehensive analytical manual evaluating U.S. railroad securities. Its founding was driven by the rapid expansion of debt markets and the need for standardized, reliable information to support investor decision-making.
Moody’s operates through two major segments: Moody’s Investors Service (MIS), which issues credit ratings for corporates, financial institutions, structured products, municipalities and sovereigns; and Moody’s Analytics (MA), which provides risk-management software, economic research, data platforms, regulatory-compliance tools, ESG metrics and climate-risk solutions.
The company’s offerings support banks, insurers, institutional investors, governments and corporations across global financial markets. The company has a global footprint across North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Its operational structure includes analytical teams, economists, quantitative modeling experts, data scientists, regulatory specialists, R&D centers and commercial units. Moody’s adheres to strict governance standards intended to ensure analytical independence and transparency.
Market forces affecting the company include global debt-issuance volumes, interest-rate cycles, credit-market conditions, regulatory requirements, adoption of data analytics, demand for ESG and climate-risk evaluation, competition from other rating agencies and the digital transformation of financial services.
The company also adapts to emerging fields such as AI-driven modeling, cybersecurity risk and integrated financial-data ecosystems.
Moody’s Corporation’s shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker MCO.
History and when Moody’s Corporation was founded
Moody’s traces its origin to 1909, when John Moody released Moody’s Manual, a structured analytical guide that evaluated railroad securities in the United States. In 1914, Moody’s began issuing formal credit ratings, establishing a systematic approach to evaluating issuer risk amid rapidly expanding capital markets.
This positioned the company as a pioneer in the development of modern credit analysis.
Through the 1920s and 1930s, Moody’s expanded its ratings to include industrial issuers, public utilities and municipalities. In the postwar era, the company grew alongside global economic expansion, broadening coverage across industries and geographies.
In the 1960s, Moody’s was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet, enabling stronger investment in technology and international operations. During the 1980s and 1990s, the company enhanced its methodologies, adopted quantitative analysis and responded to evolving regulatory frameworks governing rating agencies.
In 2000, Moody’s was spun off from Dun & Bradstreet, becoming an independent, publicly traded corporation.
This marked a new phase of growth, characterized by further international expansion and diversification of analytical capabilities. In 2007, the company established Moody’s Analytics, a major strategic shift that extended its offerings beyond ratings to include risk software, economic research and large-scale financial-data solutions.
From 2010 to 2020, Moody’s pursued acquisitions and investments in climate analytics, ESG data, cyber-risk evaluation and artificial intelligence, reflecting increasingly complex demands from financial institutions and regulators. Technological integration became a central component of its long-term strategy.
Between 2020 and 2024, Moody’s navigated a volatile macroeconomic environment shaped by shifting interest rates, elevated debt issuance and heightened regulatory expectations.
The company advanced its risk platforms, expanded climate and ESG analytics, strengthened digital infrastructure and refined rating methodologies to align with global economic trends. Moody’s also broadened its presence in emerging markets and integrated advanced analytics across its service portfolio.
By 2024, Moody’s Corporation had solidified its position as one of the world’s foremost authorities in credit ratings and financial-risk intelligence, offering essential tools for transparency, stability and informed decision-making across global capital markets.
Additional Information
The Company Moody's Corporation (United States), is listed on NYSE with a market value of $ 89.32 Billions, having an equity of $ 4.11 Billions.
With a total of 11.000 employees, the company is listed in the sector of Services and categorized in industry of Commercial Services.
In the last 12 months the Company had a revenue of $ 7.50 Billions, which generated a profit in the amount of $ 2.24 Billions.
As for its main indicators, the Company has a P/E ratio of 39.80, a P/BV ratio of 21.72 and in the last 12 months the dividend yield of MCO was at 0.75%.
The Company is traded internationally through the ticker MCO.
