Moody's (NYSE: MCO) Posts Record Q1 2026 Results, Raises Full-Year Forecast

NYSE: MCO · April 22, 2026 · 3 min read

Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) shares rose $16.74, or 3.64%, to $476.33 on Tuesday after the company reported record first-quarter results and lifted its full-year earnings forecast. Revenue climbed 8.1% year over year to $2.08 billion, topping Wall Street expectations, while non-GAAP earnings per share of $4.33 came in 2.6% above the analyst consensus.

Q1 2026 At a Glance

• Revenue: $2.08 billion, up 8.1% year over year (vs. $1.924 billion in Q1 2025)
• Non-GAAP EPS: $4.33, beating estimates by 2.6%
• Market cap: $85.2 billion
• Trailing P/E: 35.1x | Forward P/E: 25.6x
• Net margin: 31.9% | Operating margin: 42.1%
• Gross margin: 74.4%
• Revenue growth (YoY): 13.0% | Earnings growth (YoY): 57.6%
• 52-week range: $402.28 – $546.88

What Drove the Results

Strong demand for Moody's research and analytics products was the primary engine behind the quarter, according to reporting from Finnhub. The analytics segment's momentum helped offset any softness elsewhere, and the breadth of that demand gave management enough confidence to raise the company's 2026 earnings forecast — a notable signal given the current macro uncertainty.

The underlying fundamentals reinforce the operational strength. An operating margin of 42.1% and a net margin of 31.9% reflect the company's pricing power and relatively fixed cost base, characteristics typical of scaled data and ratings franchises. Year-over-year earnings growth of 57.6% — well ahead of revenue growth — points to meaningful operating leverage in the business. The results were confirmed via an 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2026, classified as a Results of Operations disclosure.

Wall Street View

Analyst sentiment on (NYSE: MCO) is firmly constructive. As of April 1, 2026, the consensus stands at 8 Strong Buy, 14 Buy, 8 Hold, and 0 Sell ratings. Compared to the prior month's tally of 8 Strong Buy, 13 Buy, and 9 Hold, there was a net shift of one analyst moving from Hold to Buy — a modest but directionally positive adjustment heading into the earnings release.

Investor Takeaway

Moody's (NYSE: MCO) delivered a clean beat across revenue and earnings in Q1 2026, with record results and a raised full-year forecast underpinning the day's move higher. The combination of 57.6% earnings growth, a 42.1% operating margin, and an overwhelming analyst buy-side consensus suggests the market continues to view the company's analytics-driven model as durable. With the stock trading at $476.33 — within a 52-week range of $402.28 to $546.88 — investors will be watching whether the raised guidance holds as the year progresses.