RBC maintains Moody’s stock Outperform rating, $550 price target

Published 27/05/2025, 14:26
RBC maintains Moody’s stock Outperform rating, $550 price target

On Tuesday, RBC Capital Markets maintained a positive outlook on Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO), reiterating an Outperform rating with a steady price target of $550.00. The endorsement comes after a marketing session with Moody’s CFO, Noémie Heuland, who highlighted the company’s resilience in the face of short-term economic headwinds. With a market capitalization of $84.5 billion and trading near $470, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is trading above its Fair Value, despite achieving a perfect Piotroski Score of 9, indicating strong financial health.

Heuland pointed out that Moody’s continues to benefit from secular growth trends in various sectors, including Lending Solutions, Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, Insurance Risk Platforms, and Private Credit markets. She also noted the shift towards solution-based selling, which is expected to create significant cross-selling opportunities within the Banking sector by providing comprehensive, end-to-end solutions. The company’s strong market position is reflected in its impressive 72.8% gross profit margin and 16% revenue growth over the last twelve months.

In addition to the strengths identified in the banking segment, Heuland sees untapped growth potential in the Corporate division. Innovation remains a key focus for Moody’s, particularly in the areas of General AI and Agentic AI, which are anticipated to improve efficiency and contribute to revenue growth through better pricing, customer retention, and the development of standalone solutions.

RBC Capital also highlighted Moody’s medium-term margin guidance, which suggests a robust opportunity for margin expansion, aiming for mid-to-high 30 percent margins. Heuland’s commentary underscores Moody’s commitment to not just meet but exceed these targets, indicating a proactive approach to growth and profitability.

The reaffirmation of the Outperform rating and the $550.00 price target by RBC Capital Markets reflects confidence in Moody’s strategic direction and its ability to leverage technological advancements to sustain its competitive edge and financial performance. Analyst targets currently range from $420 to $572, with InvestingPro offering additional insights through its comprehensive Pro Research Report, which includes detailed analysis of Moody’s financial health, valuation metrics, and growth prospects among 1,400+ top US stocks.

In other recent news, Moody’s Corporation reported a strong start to 2025, exceeding earnings expectations for the first quarter. The company’s adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reached $3.83, surpassing the projected $3.56, while revenue increased by 8% year-over-year to $1.9 billion. Despite these positive results, Moody’s revised its full-year 2025 guidance downward due to a forecasted decline in GDP growth and market volatility. Several analyst firms adjusted their outlooks for Moody’s, with BMO Capital, Oppenheimer, and Stifel all reducing their price targets. BMO Capital cut its price target to $456, citing Moody’s lowered issuance guidance and market conditions. Oppenheimer reduced its target to $489, maintaining an Outperform rating, while Stifel set its new target at $468, maintaining a Hold rating. These adjustments reflect the broader economic uncertainties impacting Moody’s projections. Additionally, Moody’s launched new AI-powered solutions and acquired Cape Analytics, aiming to enhance its product offerings and market position.

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