Stock of the Day

May 29, 2020

Moody's (MCO)

$504.64
-$10.31 (-2.0%)
Market Cap: $89.19B

About Moody's

Moody's Corporation operates as an integrated risk assessment firm worldwide. It operates in two segments, Moody's Analytics and Moody's Investors Services. The Moody's Analytics segment develops a range of products and services that support the risk management activities of institutional participants in financial markets. It also offers credit research, credit models and analytics, economics data and models, and structured finance solutions; data sets on companies and securities; and SaaS solutions supporting banking, insurance, and know your customer workflows. The Moody's Investors Service segment publishes credit ratings and provides assessment services on various debt obligations, programs and facilities, and entities that issue such obligations, such as various corporate, financial institution, and governmental obligations, as well as structured finance securities. The company was formerly known as Dun and Bradstreet Company and changed its name to Moody's Corporation in September 2000. Moody's Corporation was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Moody's Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Moody's Co.:

  • The company reported strong earnings per share of $4.68 for the latest quarter, significantly exceeding analyst expectations, indicating robust financial health and operational efficiency.
  • Moody's Co. has a high return on equity of 80.35%, suggesting that the company is effective at generating profits from its equity investments, which is attractive to investors looking for strong performance.
  • With a net margin of 34.25%, Moody's Co. demonstrates strong profitability, meaning it retains a significant portion of revenue as profit, which can lead to higher dividends and reinvestment opportunities.
  • The current stock price is around $600, reflecting positive market sentiment and potential for further appreciation, making it an appealing option for growth-oriented investors.
  • Analysts forecast continued growth, with an average earnings per share estimate of 16.89 for the current fiscal year, indicating confidence in the company's future performance.

Moody's Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Moody's Co. for these reasons:

  • The company's dividend yield is relatively low at 0.9%, which may not attract income-focused investors looking for higher returns from dividends.
  • Despite strong performance, the stock has seen fluctuations, and the high valuation could pose risks if market conditions change, potentially leading to a decline in stock price.
  • Moody's Co. is heavily influenced by economic cycles, and any downturn could adversely affect its revenue and profitability, making it a riskier investment during uncertain economic times.
  • With 92.11% of the stock owned by institutional investors, there may be less room for retail investors to influence the stock price, which could limit individual investor engagement.
  • Recent insider selling by executives may raise concerns about their confidence in the company's future performance, which could negatively impact investor sentiment.

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