Moody's 10-Q 2025-09-30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark one)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2025

Or

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-14037

____________________

Moody’s Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

7 World Trade Center at 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(212) 553-0300

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

The following terms, abbreviations and acronyms are used to identify frequently used terms in this report:

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

MOODY’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

MOODY’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions)

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This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Moody’s Corporation consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10–Q.

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains Forward-Looking Statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements” commencing on page 86 for a discussion of uncertainties, risks and other factors associated with these statements.

THE COMPANY

In a world shaped by increasingly interconnected risks, Moody's data, insights, and innovative technologies help customers develop a holistic view of their world and unlock opportunities. With a rich history of experience in global markets and a diverse workforce of approximately 16,000 across more than 40 countries, Moody's gives customers the comprehensive perspective needed to act with confidence and thrive. Moody’s has two reportable segments: MA and MIS.

MA is comprised of: i) a premier fixed income and economic research business (Research & Insights); ii) a data business powered by the world’s largest database on companies and credit (Data & Information); and iii) three cloud-based subscription businesses serving banking, insurance and KYC workflows (Decision Solutions).

MIS publishes credit ratings and provides assessment services on a wide range of debt obligations, programs and facilities, and the entities that issue such obligations in markets worldwide, including various corporate, financial institution and governmental obligations, and structured finance securities.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Moody’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires Moody’s to make estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates are based on historical experience and on other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, Moody’s evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, contingencies, goodwill and acquired intangible assets, pension and other retirement benefits, investments in non-consolidated affiliates, and income taxes. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Item 7, MD&A, in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, includes descriptions of some of the judgments that Moody’s makes in applying its accounting estimates in these areas. Since the date of the annual report on Form 10-K, there have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting estimates disclosures other than the update below relating to the Company's assessment of goodwill for impairment.

Goodwill

At July 31st of each year, Moody’s evaluates its goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, defined as an operating segment (i.e., MA and MIS), or one level below an operating segment (i.e., a component of an operating segment).

Prior to 2025, MA's reporting unit structure consisted of two reporting units comprised of businesses that offer: i) data and data-driven analytical solutions; and ii) risk-management software, workflow and CRE solutions. During the first quarter of 2025, MA reorganized its management and reporting structure, which affected the composition of the reporting units within the MA reportable segment. As a result, MA's reporting unit structure now consists of one reporting unit, which is consistent with the segment's current management structure and operating model. This reorganization did not result in a change to the Company's reportable segments. The Company performed assessments of the reporting units impacted by the reorganization immediately before and after the reorganization became effective and determined that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

Subsequent to the aforementioned reorganization of the MA reporting unit structure, the Company now has three reporting units: two within the Company’s ratings business (one for the ICRA business and one that encompasses all of Moody’s other ratings operations) and one reporting unit within MA.

At July 31, 2025, the Company performed qualitative assessments for each of the three reporting units. These qualitative assessments resulted in the Company determining that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

Reportable Segments

The Company is organized into two reportable segments as of September 30, 2025: MA and MIS, which are more fully described in the section entitled “The Company” above and in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following footnotes are applicable throughout the discussion of the Company's results of operations:

(1) Refer to the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this MD&A for the definition and methodology that the Company utilizes to calculate this metric.

(2) Refer to the section entitled "Key Performance Metrics" of this MD&A for the definition and methodology that the Company utilizes to calculate this metric.

Three months ended September 30, 2025 compared with three months ended September 30, 2024

Executive Summary

The following table provides an executive summary of key operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Following this executive summary is a more detailed discussion of the Company’s operating results as well as a discussion of the operating results of the Company’s reportable segments.

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In the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company entered into new cross-currency swap hedging transactions designated as net investment hedges, which are disclosed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. The related sensitivity analysis disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 for our derivatives and non-derivatives designated as net investment hedges has been updated below to reflect the Company's exposure to market risk as of September 30, 2025. There have been no material changes to the Company's market risk other than the aforementioned cross-currency swaps during the nine months ended September 30, 2025. For a discussion of the Company’s exposure to market risk, refer to the Company’s market risk disclosures set forth in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Derivatives and non-derivatives designated as net investment hedges:

The Company designates derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated debt as hedges of foreign currency risk of net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries (net investment hedges) under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

Cross-currency swaps

As of September 30, 2025, the Company had cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges to mitigate FX exposure related to a portion of the Company’s net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries against changes in exchange rates. The notional values and corresponding interest rates are disclosed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements located in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

• If the euro were to strengthen 10% relative to the U.S. dollar, there would be an approximate $433 million unfavorable impact to the fair value of the cross-currency swaps recognized in OCI.

• If the Hong Kong dollar were to strengthen 10% relative to the U.S. dollar, there would be an approximate $50 million unfavorable impact to the fair value of the cross-currency swaps recognized in OCI.

• If the Singapore dollar were to strengthen 10% relative to the Hong Kong dollar, there would be an approximate $31 million unfavorable impact to the fair value of the cross-currency swaps recognized in OCI.

The aforementioned unfavorable impacts recognized within OCI would be offset by favorable currency translation gains on the Company’s hedged net investments in those foreign subsidiaries.

Euro-denominated debt

As of September 30, 2025 the Company has designated €500 million of the 2015 Senior Notes and €750 million of the 2019 Senior Notes as a net investment hedge to mitigate FX exposure relating to euro denominated net investments in subsidiaries. If the euro were to strengthen 10% relative to the U.S. dollar, there would be an approximate $147 million unfavorable adjustment to OCI related to these net investment hedges. This adjustment would be offset by favorable translation adjustments on the Company’s euro net investment in subsidiaries.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures: The Company carried out an evaluation, as required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the communication to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has determined that there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, these internal controls over financial reporting during the three-month period ended September 30, 2025.

The Company's disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives as specified above. The Company's management does not expect, however, that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent or detect all instances of error and fraud. Any control system, regardless of how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions, and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For information regarding legal proceedings, see Item 1 – “Financial Statements – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited),” Note 16 “Contingencies” in this Form 10-Q.

There have been no material changes from the significant risk factors and uncertainties previously disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, that if they were to occur, could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and/or cash flow. For a discussion of the Company’s risk factors, refer to Item 1A. “Risk Factors” contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

MOODY'S PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

For the three months ended September 30, 2025

(1) Includes surrender to the Company of 5,638; 248; and 888 shares of common stock in July, August, and September, respectively, to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock issued to employees.

(2) As of the last day of each of the months. On October 15, 2024, the Board authorized $1.5 billion in share repurchase authority. At September 30, 2025 there was approximately $0.4 billion of share repurchase authority remaining under this authorization. On October 21, 2025, the Board authorized an additional $4 billion in share repurchase authority. There is no established expiration date for the remaining authorization.

During the third quarter of 2025, Moody’s issued a net 53 thousand shares under employee stock-based compensation plans.

Rule 10b5-1 Plans

On July 30, 2025, Robert Fauber, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, adopted a trading plan intended to satisfy Rule 10b5-1(c). The plan relates to the sale of up to 43,204 shares of Moody’s Corporation common stock between October 28, 2025, and October 30, 2026. The shares include: i) shares which will be acquired upon the exercise of employee stock options; ii) vested restricted stock units; and iii) vested performance share units.

On July 29, 2025, Richard Steele, the Company's General Counsel, adopted a trading plan intended to satisfy Rule 10b5-1(c). The plan relates to the sale of up to 1,399 shares of Moody’s Corporation common stock between October 28, 2025 and July 31, 2026. The shares include: i) vested restricted stock units; and ii) vested performance share units.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.