Moody's stock: BofA lowers Moody's stock target to USD 575 from USD 580
Published on 10/23/2026 at 04:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSAnalyst target and quarterly outlook
- BofA cut its Moody's target to USD 575.00 from USD 580.00 on October 22, 2026.
- Moody's reported adjusted earnings per share of USD 4.14 versus USD 4.25 consensus for the third quarter of 2026.
- Fiscal-year 2026 guidance calls for adjusted earnings per share of USD 16.50-17.00 and a 52.00-53.00 percent adjusted operating margin.
Moody's Corporation (ISIN US6153691059) saw BofA lower its price target to USD 575.00 from USD 580.00 on October 22, 2026, while retaining a Buy rating, according to Markets Insider. The move followed Moody's third-quarter results released on October 21, 2026, according to Moody's Corporation.
Quarterly results missed expectations
For the third quarter of 2026, Moody's reported adjusted earnings per share of USD 4.14 against consensus of USD 4.25. Revenue reached USD 2.02 billion, below the USD 2.08 billion estimate, according to MarketBeat. The quarter still marked Moody's third consecutive period with revenue above USD 2.00 billion.
The operating picture was mixed rather than uniformly weak. Adjusted operating margin was 52.60 percent, while Moody's Analytics annualized recurring revenue rose 8.00 percent year over year to USD 3.70 billion. The same report said free cash flow for the first nine months of 2026 reached USD 2.20 billion, up 22.00 percent from the prior-year period.
What does the guidance mean for margins?
Management maintained fiscal-year 2026 guidance for high-single-digit revenue growth, an adjusted operating margin of 52.00-53.00 percent and adjusted earnings per share of USD 16.50-17.00, according to MarketBeat. That range gives the margin more room than the quarterly result alone suggests, but the near-term counterfactor is weaker leveraged-finance activity and a projected mid-teens decline in fourth-quarter issuance.
Stock context after the report
Moody's stock was last at USD 491.05 on the NYSE on October 22, 2026 at 4:02 p.m. ET. The quote was 13.10 percent below the 52-week high of USD 546.88 and 22.06 percent above the 52-week low of USD 402.28, using the same dated market snapshot.
The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Moody's stock.
Moody's stock facts
- Company: Moody's Corporation
- ISIN: US6153691059
- Ticker: MCO
- Primary exchange: NYSE
- Market capitalization: USD 85.0 billion (as of October 22, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Financial Services / Financial Data and Stock Exchanges
Market context: Market report S&P 500.
