Moody's Corp. · Earnings release

MOODY'S CORPORATION REPORTS RESULTS FOR FIRST QUARTER 2025

NEW YORK, NY - April 22, 2025 - Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) today announced results for the first quarter 2025 and updated select metrics within its outlook for full year 20252.

FIRST QUARTER SUMMARY FINANCIALS

Moody’s Corporation

(MCO) Revenue

Moody’s Analytics

(MA) Revenue

Moody’s Investors Service

(MIS) Revenue

MCO Diluted EPS

MCO Adjusted Diluted EPS1

Diluted EPS

Adjusted Diluted EPS1

“Moody’s delivered a very strong quarter across both our businesses, including a record quarter for our Ratings franchise. It is in times of uncertainty when the clarity and transparency we provide matter the most. Though we are facing a period of increased volatility, we run our business across market cycles, harnessing the strength and breadth of our portfolio to deliver value to our stakeholders over the long-term.”

Rob Fauber

President and Chief Executive Officer

“We are proud of Moody’s record first quarter results, with revenue of $1.9 billion up 8% year-on-year, on the back of solid growth in the first quarter of 2024. Considering market volatility, we are updating and widening our full year guidance range. We now expect to deliver Adjusted Diluted EPS1 between $13.25 to $14.002, representing 9% year-over-year growth at the mid-point. We believe our financial strength allows us to continue investing to meet the needs of our customers to help drive durable growth.”

Noémie Heuland

Chief Financial Officer

1 Refer to the tables at the end of this press release for reconciliations of adjusted measures to U.S. GAAP.

2 Guidance as of April 22, 2025. Refer to Table 12 - “2025 Outlook” for table of all items for which the Company provides guidance and page 7 for disclosure regarding the assumptions used by the Company with respect to its guidance.

1

REVENUE

Moody’s Corporation (MCO)

•MCO revenue was $1.9 billion, an 8% increase from the prior-year period.

•Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted MCO revenue by 1%.

•Both MA and MIS revenue increased 8% from the prior-year period.

Moody’s Analytics (MA)

•Revenue grew 8% versus the prior-year period, including 11% growth in Decision Solutions, followed by Research and Insights growth of 6% and Data & Information with 3% growth.

•Recurring revenue, comprising 96% of total MA revenue, grew 9% on both a reported and organic constant currency basis.

•ARR3 of $3.3 billion increased by $260 million during the first quarter, representing 9% growth versus March 31, 2024.

•Transaction revenue declined by 21%, reflecting MA’s ongoing strategic shift towards subscription-based solutions.

•Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted MA revenue by 1%.

3 Refer to Table 10 at the end of this press release for the definition of and further information on the Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) metric.

2

Moody’s Investors Service (MIS)

•Highest quarterly revenue on record, with $1.1 billion reflecting 8% growth compared to the prior-year period.

•Corporate Finance revenue growth was primarily driven by Investment Grade issuers given strong demand for high-quality credits.

•Transactional revenue grew 8% from the prior-year period.

•Structured Finance revenue growth was driven by refinancing activity in CLOs and CMBS, given the attractive spread environment.

•Financial Institutions revenue declined compared to the prior-year period, primarily due to a lower volume of infrequent Insurance issuance, partially offset by higher issuance activity within the Banking sector.

•Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted MIS revenue by 1%.

3

OPERATING EXPENSES AND MARGIN

MCO Operating Expenses

•Operating expenses grew 9% compared to the prior-year period, including 3% from investments and operational costs, 3% from restructuring charges and 2% related to M&A.

•Operating expenses include $33 million in charges related to the Strategic and Operational Efficiency Restructuring Program announced in Q4 2024.

•Foreign currency favorably impacted operating expenses by 1%.

•Operating expenses projected to increase in the low-to-mid-single-digit percent range in 2025.

•Operating expense growth primarily reflects annual compensation increases, organic investments and M&A, partially offset by the reset of incentive compensation accruals and savings associated with cost efficiencies.

•Foreign currency translation expected to have an immaterial impact on operating growth.

4 Refer to Table 5 - “Financial Information by Segment (Unaudited)” for more information regarding the “Charges Related to Asset Abandonment” category.

4

Operating Margin and Adjusted Operating Margin1

•MCO’s operating margin was 44.0%. MCO’s adjusted operating margin1 was 51.7%, up 100 basis points from the prior-year period.

•MA’s adjusted operating margin was 30.0%, up 30 basis points from the prior-year period, as we balance ongoing strategic investments and operating efficiency initiatives.

•MIS’s adjusted operating margin was 66.0%, up 140 basis points from the prior-year period, demonstrating the operational leverage of the business and a disciplined approach to expense management.

•Foreign currency translation had an immaterial impact on both operating and adjusted operating margins1.

EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

Diluted EPS and Adjusted Diluted EPS1

•Diluted EPS and Adjusted Diluted EPS1 grew 10% and 14%, respectively, from the prior-year period, primarily attributable to an increase in net income derived from strong revenue growth across both segments.

•The Effective Tax Rate (ETR) was 22.3%, lower than the 23.3% reported in the prior-year period, primarily due to the increase in excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

5

CAPITAL ALLOCATION AND LIQUIDITY

Capital Returned to Shareholders & Free Cash Flow1

•Cash flow from operations was $757 million and free cash flow1 was $672 million.

•The decrease in both operating cash flow and free cash flow1 was primarily driven by higher incentive compensation payments versus the prior-year period.

•On April 21, 2025, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.94 per share of MCO Common Stock, an 11% increase from the prior year’s quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share. The dividend will be payable on June 6, 2025, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 16, 2025.

•During the first quarter of 2025, Moody’s repurchased 0.8 million shares at an average cost of $481.77 per share and issued net 0.4 million shares as part of its employee stock-based compensation programs. The net amount included shares withheld for employee payroll taxes.

•As of March 31, 2025, Moody’s had 179.9 million shares outstanding, with approximately $1.2 billion of share repurchase authority remaining. There is no established expiration date for the remaining authorizations.

•As of March 31, 2025, Moody's had $6.8 billion of outstanding debt and an undrawn $1.25 billion revolving credit facility.

6

ASSUMPTIONS AND OUTLOOK

Moody’s updated outlook for full year 2025, as of April 22, 2025, reflects assumptions about numerous factors that could affect its business and is based on currently available information reviewed by management through, and as of, today’s date. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the effects of current economic conditions, including tariff and trade policies, the effects of interest rates, inflation, foreign currency exchange rates, capital markets’ liquidity, and activity in different sectors of the debt markets. This outlook also reflects uncertainties about global GDP growth, and could be affected by the impact of changes in international economic conditions, geopolitical events, and international trade and economic policies. Actual full year 2025 results could differ materially from Moody’s current outlook.

This outlook incorporates various specific macroeconomic assumptions, including:

Forecasted Item

Last Publicly Disclosed Assumption

Current Assumption

U.S. GDP (1) growth

Euro area GDP (1) growth

Global GDP (1) growth

Global policy rates

To continue to normalize throughout 2025, including two cuts by the U.S. Fed

Expecting two cuts from the U.S. Fed in 2H25. Other Central Banks to maintain easing bias.

U.S. high yield spreads

To widen to around 430 bps by year-end, below historical average of

To widen to around 460 bps over the next 12 months, close to historical average of around 500 bps

U.S. inflation rate

To average around 2.0% - 2.5%

Euro area inflation rate

U.S. unemployment rate

To average around 4.2% - 4.5% over the next 12 months

Global high yield default rate

To decline to 3.1% by year-end

Global MIS rated issuance

Increase in the low-single-digit percent range

Decrease in the low-single-digit to high-single-digit percent range

GBP/USD exchange rate

$1.25 for the full year

$1.29 for the remainder of the year

EUR/USD exchange rate

$1.04 for the full year

$1.08 for the remainder of the year

Note: All current assumptions are as of April 22, 2025.

(1) GDP growth represents real GDP.

A full summary of Moody's full year 2025 guidance as of April 22, 2025, is included in Table 12 – “2025 Outlook” at the end of this press release.

TELECONFERENCE DETAILS

Date and Time

Webcast

The webcast and its replay can be accessed through Moody’s Investor Relations website, ir.moodys.com, within “Events & Presentations.”

Dial In

U.S. and Canada

Other callers

Passcode

Dial In Replay

A replay will be available immediately after the call on April 22, 2025 and until April 29, 2025.

U.S. and Canada

Other callers

Passcode

7

ABOUT MOODY’S CORPORATION

In a world shaped by increasingly interconnected risks, Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) 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. Learn more at moodys.com.

“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Certain statements contained in this document are forward-looking statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for Moody’s business and operations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements involve estimates, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other information in this document are made as of the date hereof, and Moody’s undertakes no obligation (nor does it intend) to publicly supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Moody’s is identifying certain factors that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. Those factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the uncertain effects of U.S. and foreign government actions affecting international trade and economic policy, including changes and volatility in tariffs and trade policies and retaliatory actions, on credit markets, customers and customer retention, and demand for our products and services; the impact of general economic conditions (including significant government debt and deficit levels, and inflation or recessions and related monetary policy actions by governments in response thereto) on worldwide credit markets and on economic activity, including on the level of merger and acquisition activity, and their effects on the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets; the uncertain effects of U.S. and foreign government initiatives and monetary policy to respond to the current economic climate, including instability of financial institutions, credit quality concerns, and other potential impacts of volatility in financial and credit markets; the impact of geopolitical events and actions, such as the Russia-Ukraine military conflict and military conflict in the Middle East, and of tensions and disputes in political and global relations, on volatility in world financial markets, on general economic conditions and GDP in the U.S. and worldwide and on Moody’s own operations and personnel; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, including regulation, increased utilization of technologies that have the potential to intensify competition and accelerate disruption and disintermediation in the financial services industry, as well as the number of issuances of securities without ratings or securities which are rated or evaluated by non-traditional parties; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the impact of MIS’s withdrawal of its credit ratings on countries or entities within countries and of Moody’s no longer conducting commercial operations in countries where political instability warrants such actions; concerns in the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency ratings; the introduction or development of competing and/or emerging technologies and products; pricing pressure from competitors and/or customers; the level of success of new product development and global expansion; the impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new U.S., state and local legislation and regulations; the potential for increased competition and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the EU; exposure to litigation related to our rating opinions, as well as any other litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries to which Moody’s may be subject from time to time; provisions in U.S. legislation modifying the pleading standards and EU regulations modifying the liability standards applicable to CRAs in a manner adverse to CRAs; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services and the expansion of supervisory remit to include non-EU ratings used for regulatory purposes; uncertainty regarding the future relationship between the U.S. and China; the possible loss of key employees and the impact of the global labor environment; failures or malfunctions of our operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or other cybersecurity concerns; the timing and effectiveness of our restructuring programs; currency and foreign exchange volatility; the outcome of any review by tax authorities of Moody’s global tax planning initiatives; exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies if Moody’s fails to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable in the jurisdictions in which Moody’s operates, including data protection and privacy laws, sanctions laws, anti-corruption laws, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials; the impact of mergers, acquisitions, or other business combinations and the ability of Moody’s to successfully integrate acquired businesses; the level of future cash flows; the levels of capital investments; and a decline in the demand for credit risk management tools by financial institutions, corporate or government entities.

These factors, risks and uncertainties as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause Moody’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements are described in greater detail under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Moody’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in other filings made by the Company from time to time with the SEC or in materials incorporated herein or therein. Stockholders and investors are cautioned that the occurrence of any of these factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements, which could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

New factors may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict new factors, nor can the Company assess the potential effect of any new factors on it. Forward-looking and other statements in this document may also address our corporate responsibility progress, plans, and goals (including sustainability and environmental matters), and the inclusion of such statements is not an indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors or required to be disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future.

8

Table 1 - Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Amounts in millions, except per share amounts

Revenue

$

$

Expenses:

Operating

Selling, general and administrative

Depreciation and amortization

Restructuring

5

Charges related to asset abandonment

2

—

Total expenses

Operating income

Non-operating (expense) income, net

Interest expense, net

Other non-operating income, net

Total non-operating (expense) income, net

Income before provision for income taxes

Provision for income taxes

Net income attributable to Moody's

$

$

Earnings per share attributable to Moody's common shareholders

Basic

$

$

Diluted

$

$

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

Basic

Diluted

9

Table 2 - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited)

Amounts in millions

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

$

Short-term investments

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $34 in 2025 and $32 in 2024

Other current assets

Total current assets

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,511 in 2025 and $1,453 in 2024

Operating lease right-of-use assets

Goodwill

Intangible assets, net

Deferred tax assets, net

Other assets

Total assets

$

$

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

$

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

Current portion of long-term debt

—

Deferred revenue

Total current liabilities

Non-current portion of deferred revenue

Long-term debt

Deferred tax liabilities, net

Uncertain tax positions

Operating lease liabilities

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Total Moody's shareholders' equity

Noncontrolling interests

Total shareholders' equity

Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders' equity

$

$

Table 3 - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Amounts in millions

Cash flows from operating activities

Net income

$

$

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

Stock-based compensation

Deferred income taxes

Non-cash restructuring charges

3

—

Provision for credit losses on accounts receivable

5

4

Net changes in other operating assets and liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Capital additions

Purchases of investments

Sales and maturities of investments

Purchases of investments in non-consolidated affiliates

(2)

Receipts from settlement of net investment hedges

—

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Repayment of notes

—

Proceeds from stock-based compensation plans

Repurchase of shares related to stock-based compensation

Treasury shares

Dividends

Net cash used in financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

$

Table 4 - Non-Operating (Expense) Income, Net (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Amounts in millions

Interest:

Income

$

$

Expense on borrowings(1)

Expense on UTPs and other tax related liabilities

(6)

(4)

Net periodic pension costs - interest component

(7)

(6)

Interest expense, net

$

$

Other non-operating income, net:

FX loss

$

(5)

$

(3)

Net periodic pension income - non-service and non-interest cost components

9

8

Income from investments in non-consolidated affiliates

—

Gain on investments

3

3

Other

1

5

Other non-operating income, net

$

$

Total non-operating (expense) income, net

$

$

(1) Expense on borrowings includes interest on long-term debt and realized gains/losses related to interest rate swaps and cross currency swaps.

Table 5 - Financial Information by Segment (Unaudited)

The table below shows revenue and Adjusted Operating Income by reportable segment. Adjusted Operating Income is a financial metric utilized by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to assess the profitability of each reportable segment.

Three Months Ended March 31,

Amounts in millions

MA

MIS

Eliminations

Consolidated

MA

MIS

Eliminations

Consolidated

Total external revenue

$

$

$

—

$

$

$

$

—

$

Intersegment revenue

3

—

3

—

Total revenue

Compensation expense

—

—

Non-compensation expense

—

—

Intersegment expense

3

—

3

—

Operating, SG&A

Adjusted Operating Income

$

$

$

—

$

$

$

$

—

$

Adjusted Operating Margin

%

%

%

%

%

%

Depreciation and amortization

—

—

Restructuring

7

—

2

3

—

5

Charges related to asset abandonment (1)

2

—

—

2

—

—

—

—

Operating income

$

$

Operating margin

%

%

(1) During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recorded charges related to asset abandonment of $2 million. These charges were related to severance incurred pursuant to a reduction in staff due to the Company's decision in 2024 to outsource the production of certain sustainability content utilized in our product offerings.

Table 6 - Transaction and Recurring Revenue (Unaudited)

The following tables summarize the split between transaction revenue and recurring revenue. In the MA segment, recurring revenue represents subscription-based revenue and software maintenance revenue. Transaction revenue in MA represents perpetual software license fees and revenue from software implementation services, risk management advisory projects, and training and certification services. In the MIS segment, excluding MIS Other, transaction revenue represents the initial rating of a new debt issuance, as well as other one-time fees, while recurring revenue represents recurring monitoring fees of a rated debt obligation and/or entities that issue such obligations, as well as revenue from programs such as commercial paper, medium-term notes and shelf registrations. In MIS Other, transaction revenue represents revenue from professional services, while recurring revenue represents financial instrument pricing services.

Three Months Ended March 31,

Amounts in millions

Transaction

Recurring

Total

Transaction

Recurring

Total

Decision Solutions

Banking

$

$

$

$

$

$

%

%

%

%

%

%

Insurance

$

6

$

$

$

$

$

4

%

%

%

7

%

%

%

KYC

$

—

$

$

$

2

$

$

—

%

%

%

2

%

%

%

Total Decision Solutions

$

$

$

$

$

$

8

%

%

%

%

%

%

Research & Insights

$

3

$

$

$

3

$

$

1

%

%

%

1

%

%

%

Data & Information

$

2

$

$

$

3

$

$

1

%

%

%

1

%

%

%

Total MA

$

$

$

$

$

$

4

%

%

%

6

%

%

%

Corporate Finance

$

$

$

$

$

$

%

%

%

%

%

%

Structured Finance

$

$

$

$

$

$

%

%

%

%

%

%

Financial Institutions

$

$

$

$

$

$

%

%

%

%

%

%

Public, Project and Infrastructure Finance

$

$

$

$

$

$

%

%

%

%

%

%

MIS Other

$

2

$

7

$

9

$

1

$

7

$

8

%

%

%

%

%

%

Total MIS

$

$

$

$

$

$

%

%

%

%

%

%

Total Moody's Corporation

$

$

$

$

$

$

%

%

%

%

%

%

Table 7 - Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin (Unaudited)

The Company presents Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin because management deems these metrics to be useful measures to provide additional perspective on Moody's operating performance. Adjusted Operating Income excludes the impact of: i) depreciation and amortization; ii) restructuring charges/adjustments; and iii) charges related to asset abandonment. Depreciation and amortization are excluded because companies utilize productive assets of different estimated useful lives and use different methods of acquiring and depreciating productive assets. Restructuring charges/adjustments and charges related to asset abandonment, which the Company believes are not reflective of its ongoing operating cost structure, are excluded as the frequency and magnitude of these charges may vary widely across periods and companies.

Management believes that the exclusion of the aforementioned items, as detailed in the reconciliation below, allows for an additional perspective on the Company’s operating results from period to period and across companies. The Company defines Adjusted Operating Margin as Adjusted Operating Income divided by revenue.

Below is a reconciliation of these measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures:

Three Months Ended March 31,

Amounts in millions

Operating income

$

$

Depreciation and amortization

Restructuring

5

Charges related to asset abandonment

2

—

Adjusted Operating Income

$

$

Operating margin

%

%

Adjusted Operating Margin

%

%

Table 8 - Free Cash Flow (Unaudited)

The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities minus cash paid for capital additions. Management believes that Free Cash Flow is a useful metric in assessing the Company’s cash flows to service debt, pay dividends and to fund acquisitions and share repurchases. Management deems capital expenditures essential to the Company’s product and service innovations and maintenance of Moody’s operational capabilities. Accordingly, capital expenditures are deemed to be a recurring use of Moody’s cash flow.

Below is a reconciliation of the Company’s net cash flows from operating activities to Free Cash Flow:

Three Months Ended March 31,

Amounts in millions

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

$

Capital additions

Free Cash Flow

$

$

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

$

$

Net cash used in financing activities

$

$

Table 9 - Organic Constant Currency Revenue Growth (Unaudited)

The Company presents organic constant currency revenue growth (decline) as its non-GAAP measure of revenue growth (decline). Management deems this measure to be useful in providing additional perspective in assessing the Company's revenue growth (decline) excluding both the inorganic revenue impacts from certain acquisition activity and the impacts of changes in foreign exchange rates. The Company calculates the dollar impact of foreign exchange as the difference between the translation of its current period non-USD functional currency results using comparative prior period weighted average foreign exchange translation rates and current year reported results.

Below is a reconciliation of the Company's reported revenue and growth (decline) rates to its organic constant currency revenue growth (decline) measures:

Three Months Ended March 31,

Amounts in millions

Change

Growth

MCO revenue

$

$

$

8%

FX impact

—

Inorganic revenue from acquisitions

—

Organic constant currency MCO revenue

$

$

$

8%

MA revenue

$

$

$

8%

FX impact

8

—

8

Inorganic revenue from acquisitions

—

Organic constant currency MA revenue

$

$

$

7%

Decision Solutions revenue

$

$

$

FX impact

3

—

3

Inorganic revenue from acquisitions

—

Organic constant currency Decision Solutions revenue

$

$

$

9%

Research and Insights revenue

$

$

$

6%

FX impact

1

—

1

Constant currency Research and Insights revenue

$

$

$

7%

Data and Information revenue

$

$

$

6

3%

FX impact

4

—

4

Constant currency Data and Information revenue

$

$

$

5%

MA recurring revenue

$

$

$

9%

FX impact

7

—

7

Inorganic recurring revenue from acquisitions

—

Organic constant currency MA recurring revenue

$

$

$

9%

MIS revenue

$

$

$

8%

FX impact

6

—

6

Inorganic revenue from acquisitions

(4)

—

(4)

Organic constant currency MIS revenue

$

$

$

8%

Table 10 - Key Performance Metrics - Annualized Recurring Revenue (Unaudited)

The Company presents Annualized Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) on an organic constant currency basis for its MA business as a supplemental performance metric to provide additional insight on the estimated value of MA's recurring revenue contracts at a given point in time. The Company uses ARR to manage and monitor performance of its MA operating segment and believes that this metric is a key indicator of the trajectory of MA's recurring revenue base.

The Company calculates ARR by taking the total recurring contract value for each active renewable contract as of the reporting date, divided by the number of days in the contract and multiplied by 365 days to create an annualized value. The Company defines renewable contracts as subscriptions, term licenses, maintenance and renewable services. ARR excludes transaction sales including one-time training, services and perpetual licenses. In order to compare period-over-period ARR excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, the Company bases the calculation on currency rates utilized in its current year operating budget and holds these FX rates constant for the duration of all current and prior periods being reported. Additionally, ARR excludes contracts related to acquisitions to provide additional perspective in assessing growth excluding the impacts from certain acquisition activity.

The Company’s definition of ARR may differ from definitions utilized by other companies reporting similarly named measures, and this metric should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Amounts in millions

Change

Growth

MA ARR

Decision Solutions

Banking

$

$

$

8%

Insurance

KYC

Total Decision Solutions

$

$

$

Research and Insights

7%

Data and Information

6%

Total MA ARR

$

$

$

9%

Table 11 - Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS Attributable to Moody's Common Shareholders (Unaudited)

The Company presents Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS because management deems these metrics to be useful measures to provide additional perspective on Moody’s operating performance. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS exclude the impact of: i) amortization of acquired intangible assets; ii) restructuring charges/adjustments; and iii) charges related to asset abandonment.

The Company excludes the impact of amortization of acquired intangible assets as companies utilize intangible assets with different estimated useful lives and have different methods of acquiring and amortizing intangible assets. These intangible assets were recorded as part of acquisition accounting and contribute to revenue generation. The amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Furthermore, the timing and magnitude of business combination transactions are not predictable and the purchase price allocated to amortizable intangible assets and the related amortization period are unique to each acquisition and can vary significantly from period to period and across companies.

Restructuring charges/adjustments and charges related to asset abandonment, which the Company believes are not reflective of its ongoing operating cost structure, are excluded as the frequency and magnitude of these items may vary widely across periods and companies.

The Company excludes the aforementioned items to provide additional perspective when comparing net income and diluted EPS from period to period and across companies as the frequency and magnitude of similar transactions may vary widely across periods.

Below is a reconciliation of these measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures:

Three Months Ended March 31,

Amounts in millions

Net Income attributable to Moody's common shareholders

$

$

Pre-tax Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses

$

$

Tax on Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses

Net Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses

Pre-tax restructuring

$

$

5

Tax on restructuring

(8)

(1)

Net restructuring

4

Pre-tax charges related to asset abandonment

$

2

$

—

Tax on charges related to asset abandonment

—

—

Net charges related to asset abandonment

2

—

Adjusted Net Income

$

$

Three Months Ended March 31,

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Moody's common shareholders

$

$

Pre-tax Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses

$

$

Tax on Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses

Net Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses

Pre-tax restructuring

$

$

Tax on restructuring

Net restructuring

Pre-tax charges related to asset abandonment

$

$

—

Tax on charges related to asset abandonment

—

—

Net charges related to asset abandonment

—

Adjusted Diluted EPS

$

$

Note: The tax impacts in the tables above were calculated using tax rates in effect in the jurisdiction for which the item relates.

Moody’s updated outlook for full year 2025, as of April 22, 2025, reflects assumptions about numerous factors that could affect its business and is based on currently available information reviewed by management through, and as of, today’s date. For a complete list of these assumptions, please refer to “Assumptions and Outlook” on page 7 of this earnings release.

Moody's Corporation (MCO)

Last Publicly Disclosed Guidance

Current Guidance

Revenue

Increase in the high-single-digit percent range

Increase in the mid-single-digit percent range

Operating Expenses

Increase in the low-to-mid-single-digit percent range

NC

G1Operating Margin

Approximately 43%

G2Adjusted Operating Margin (1)

Approximately 50%

G3Interest Expense, Net

NC

G4Effective Tax Rate

NC

G5Diluted EPS

G6Adjusted Diluted EPS (1)

G7Operating Cash Flow

G8Free Cash Flow (1)

G9Share Repurchases

At least $1.3 billion

(subject to available cash, market conditions, M&A opportunities

and other ongoing capital allocation decisions)

NC

Moody's Analytics (MA)

Last Publicly Disclosed Guidance

Current Guidance

MA Revenue

Increase in the high-single-digit percent range

NC

ARR (2)

Increase in the high-single-digit to low-double-digit percent range

Increase in the high-single-digit percent range

G10MA Adjusted Operating Margin

NC

Moody's Investors Service (MIS)

Last Publicly Disclosed Guidance

Current Guidance

MIS Revenue

Increase in the mid-to-high-single-digit percent range

Flat to increase in the mid-single-digit percent range

G11MIS Adjusted Operating Margin

NC - There is no difference between the Company’s current guidance and the last publicly disclosed guidance for this item.

Note: All current guidance as of April 22, 2025.

(1) These metrics are adjusted measures. See below for reconciliation of these measures to their comparable U.S. GAAP measure.

(2) Refer to Table 10 within this earnings release for the definition of and further information on the ARR metric.

The following are reconciliations of the Company's adjusted forward-looking measures to their comparable U.S. GAAP measure:

Projected for the Year Ended December 31, 2025

Operating margin guidance

Depreciation and amortization

Approximately 6%

Restructuring

Approximately 1%

Charges Related to Asset Abandonment

Negligible

Adjusted Operating Margin guidance

Projected for the Year Ended December 31, 2025

Operating cash flow guidance

Less: Capital expenditures

Approximately $350 million

Free Cash Flow guidance

Projected for the Year Ended December 31, 2025

Diluted EPS guidance

Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization

Restructuring

Charges Related to Asset Abandonment

Negligible

Adjusted Diluted EPS guidance