MCOQ3 2026 PreviewExpected October 20, 2026 · before market open
MCO Q3 2026 Earnings Preview — What to Watch
At the archive date, MOODYS CORP /DE/ was expected to release its Q3 2026 10-Q filing on October 20, 2026, before market open. Last quarter: Moody's delivered a strong Q2 FY2026 with total revenue up 15% YoY to $2,185M and net income up 52% to $878M, driven by 25% growth in MIS ratings revenue (particularly strong CFG issuance) and a $181M gain on the divestiture of the MA Regulatory Solutions business, even as stockholders' equity fell 23% YoY due to aggressive share buybacks ($2,165M YTD).
Analyst consensus captured from Finnhub and Financial Modeling Prep. This archived preview is no longer updated with later results; see the MCO page for retained reports.
What to Watch in Q3 2026
Drawn from management commentary in the Q2 2026 10-Q:
MIS Segment Drove Revenue Growth on Strong Debt Issuance
MIS external revenue grew 25% YoY to $1,260M, driven by strong leveraged finance issuance in the U.S., investment-grade issuance tied to AI-related financing by hyperscalers, and strong Project and Infrastructure Finance issuance related to data centers and technology infrastructure build-out. Within MIS, PPIF revenue grew 38%, CFG grew 27%, FIG grew 16%, and SFG grew 12%.
MA Regulatory Solutions Divestiture Boosted Non-Operating Income
The company recorded a $181M gain on the divestiture of the MA Regulatory Solutions business, which drove non-operating income to $125M from an expense of $(46)M in the prior-year quarter, and directly contributed to the 57% increase in diluted EPS to $5.03.
Operating Margin Expanded 480 Basis Points
Operating margin rose to 47.9% from 43.1% a year ago, and Adjusted Operating Margin rose to 55.3% from 50.9%, reflecting the 15% revenue increase partially offset by only a 5% growth in operating and SG&A expenses, aided by disciplined cost management.