Generation Investment Management LLP Makes New $135.97 Million Investment in Moody’s Corporation $MCO

Generation Investment Management LLP purchased a new position in Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 271,074 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $135,968,000. Moody’s makes up approximately 0.9% of Generation Investment Management LLP’s portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Generation Investment Management LLP owned 0.15% of Moody’s at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Saudi Central Bank bought a new stake in Moody’s during the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. ORG Partners LLC lifted its position in Moody’s by 50.0% in the 2nd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 66 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division boosted its stake in Moody’s by 42.9% in the 2nd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 80 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Moody’s in the 2nd quarter valued at about $47,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Moody’s by 132.6% in the first quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 107 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.11% of the company’s stock.

Moody’s Stock Performance

Moody’s stock opened at $487.81 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.84, a current ratio of 1.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70. The stock has a market cap of $87.03 billion, a PE ratio of 39.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.40. Moody’s Corporation has a 12-month low of $378.71 and a 12-month high of $531.93. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $487.99 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $490.06.

Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The business services provider reported $3.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.70 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $2.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.92 billion. Moody’s had a net margin of 29.92% and a return on equity of 63.58%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.21 earnings per share. Moody’s has set its FY 2025 guidance at 14.500-14.750 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Moody’s Corporation will post 13.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Moody’s Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.94 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 21st. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Moody’s’s dividend payout ratio is 30.23%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently commented on MCO shares. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Moody’s to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $528.00 price objective on shares of Moody’s and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Moody’s from $526.00 to $471.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Moody’s from $580.00 to $560.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Moody’s from $520.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $543.07.

Insider Activity at Moody’s

In related news, CEO Robert Fauber sold 1,167 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $478.95, for a total transaction of $558,934.65. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 61,082 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $29,255,223.90. This trade represents a 1.87% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders sold 2,984 shares of company stock valued at $1,470,249. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Moody’s Company Profile

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.