Moody's Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter 2014

Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) today announced results for the third quarter 2014.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR THIRD QUARTER 2014

Moody’s reported revenue of $816.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, up 16% from $705.5 million for the third quarter of 2013. Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2014 totaled $466.4 million, a 13% increase from the prior-year period. Operating income for the quarter was $349.7 million, a 20% increase from $291.5 million for the same period last year. Adjusted operating income, defined as operating income before depreciation and amortization, was $372.9 million, an 18% increase from $314.9 million last year. GAAP EPS of $1.00 increased 20% against the same period last year. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.97, which excludes a $0.03 benefit from the resolution of a legacy tax matter, increased 17% from the third quarter of 2013.

"Moody’s achieved strong financial results in the third quarter, with record revenue growth in Moody’s Analytics, and double-digit revenue growth in nearly every line of business in both Moody’s Investors Service and Moody’s Analytics,” said Raymond McDaniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s. “Based on our strong year-to-date performance, we are reaffirming our EPS guidance in the range of $3.95 to $4.05.”

THIRD QUARTER REVENUE

For Moody’s Corporation overall, global revenue of $816.1 million for the third quarter of 2014 was up 16% from the third quarter of 2013. U.S. revenue of $449.1 million and non-U.S. revenue of $367.0 million increased 15% and 17%, respectively, from the third quarter of 2013. Revenue generated outside the U.S. represented 45% of Moody’s total revenue for the quarter, consistent with the year-ago period.

Global revenue for Moody’s Investors Service (“MIS”) for the third quarter of 2014 was $543.1 million, up 14% from the prior-year period. The impact of foreign currency translation on MIS revenue was negligible. U.S. revenue of $329.1 million and non-U.S. revenue of $214.0 million increased 13% and 14%, respectively, from the year-ago period.

Within MIS, global corporate finance revenue of $260.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 increased 12% from the prior-year period, reflecting a favorable mix of bond and bank loan issuance within the quarter, as well as additional monitoring revenue associated with new ratings customers. Corporate finance U.S. and non-U.S. revenue were up 8% and 19%, respectively, compared to the third quarter of 2013.

Global structured finance revenue totaled $102.1 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 22% increase from a year earlier, primarily reflecting increased rating activity for collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Structured finance U.S. and non-U.S. revenue grew 31% and 7%, respectively, from the year-ago period.

Global financial institutions revenue of $91.8 million in the third quarter of 2014 increased 16% compared to the prior-year period. U.S. revenue increased 9% primarily due to increased issuance by insurance companies. Non-U.S. revenue increased 22% due to higher levels of bank issuance from China and Europe.

Global public, project and infrastructure finance revenue was $88.5 million for the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 7% from the third quarter of 2013. U.S. revenue was up 15% primarily due to increased rating activity in public finance and project finance. Non-U.S. revenue decreased 5% from the prior-year period primarily due to lower infrastructure issuance in Europe.

Global revenue for Moody’s Analytics (“MA”) for the third quarter of 2014 was $273.0 million, up 20% from the third quarter of 2013. Foreign currency translation favorably impacted MA revenue by 2 percent. U.S. revenue of $120.0 million and non-U.S. revenue of $153.0 million for the third quarter of 2014 increased 19% and 21%, respectively, from the prior-year period.

Revenue from research, data and analytics of $146.8 million increased by 10% from the prior-year period, driven by strong sales of credit research and content licensing. Enterprise risk solutions revenue of $81.1 million was up 26% over the prior-year period primarily due to growth in subscription and services revenue. Revenue from professional services of $45.1 million was up 54% from the prior-year period, primarily reflecting the December 2013 acquisition of Amba Investment Services.

THIRD QUARTER OPERATING EXPENSES, OPERATING INCOME, AND EFFECTIVE TAX RATE

Third quarter 2014 operating expenses for Moody’s Corporation were $466.4 million, 13% more than the prior-year period. This increase was primarily due to higher compensation and real estate costs attributable to additional headcount, as well as increased incentive compensation accruals. The impact of foreign currency translation on operating expenses was negligible. Operating income of $349.7 million for the quarter increased 20% from $291.5 million for the same period last year. Adjusted operating income, defined as operating income before depreciation and amortization, was $372.9 million, an 18% increase from $314.9 million last year. The impact of foreign currency translation on operating income was negligible. Moody’s operating margin for the third quarter of 2014 was 42.9%, up from 41.3% in the third quarter of 2013. Adjusted operating margin of 45.7% for the third quarter of 2014 was up from 44.6% for the same period last year.

Moody’s effective tax rate was 33.5% for the third quarter of 2014, an increase from 29.1% for the prior-year period, primarily due to higher U.S. and non-U.S. taxes on foreign income and certain discrete items that reduced the effective tax rate in 2013.

YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS

Moody's Corporation revenue for the first nine months of 2014 totaled $2,456.8 million, an increase of 12% from $2,193.3 million for the same period of 2013. The impact of foreign currency translation on revenue for the first nine months was negligible. Revenue at MIS totaled $1,690.6 million for the first nine months of 2014, an increase of 10% from the same period in 2013. MA revenue rose 17% from the first nine months of 2013 to $766.2 million.

Expenses for the first nine months of 2014 totaled $1,362.4 million, 7% higher than the year-ago period, which included costs associated with a first quarter 2013 litigation settlement. The impact of foreign currency translation on expenses for the first nine months was negligible. Year-to-date operating income of $1,094.4 million grew 19% from $922.7 million for the same period of 2013. Adjusted operating income of $1,163.0 million was up 17% from the prior-year period. Moody’s operating margin for the first nine months of 2014 was 44.5%, up from 42.1% for the first nine months of 2013. Adjusted operating margin of 47.3% for the first nine months of 2014 was up from 45.3% for the same period last year.

GAAP EPS of $3.48 for the first nine months of 2014 increased 31% from $2.66 for the same period in 2013. Non-GAAP EPS of $3.09 for the first nine months of 2014 grew 10% from $2.80 for the same period in 2013. Year-to-date 2014 non-GAAP EPS excludes a $0.36 gain resulting from Moody’s acquisition of a controlling interest in ICRA Ltd. in the second quarter and the $0.03 legacy tax benefit in the third quarter. Year-to-date 2013 non-GAAP EPS excludes the first quarter litigation settlement charge of $0.14.

CAPITAL ALLOCATION AND LIQUIDITY

During the third quarter of 2014, Moody’s repurchased 3.5 million shares at a total cost of $320.5 million, and issued 0.9 million shares under our annual employee stock-based compensation plans. Outstanding shares as of September 30, 2014 were 208.6 million, a 3% decline from a year earlier. As of September 30, 2014, Moody’s had $1.0 billion of share repurchase authority remaining under its current programs. At quarter-end, Moody’s had $2.5 billion of outstanding debt and $1.0 billion of additional debt capacity available under its revolving credit facility. Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at quarter-end were $2.1 billion, an increase of $60.9 million from a year earlier. Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2014 of $653.0 million increased $30.5 million, or 5%, from the same period a year ago.

ASSUMPTIONS AND OUTLOOK FOR FULL-YEAR 2014

Moody's outlook for 2014 is based on assumptions about many macroeconomic and capital market factors, including interest rates, corporate profitability and business investment spending, merger and acquisition activity, consumer borrowing and securitization, and the amount of debt issued. There is an important degree of uncertainty surrounding these assumptions, and, if actual conditions differ, Moody's results for the year may differ materially from the current outlook. Our guidance assumes foreign currency translation at end-of-quarter exchange rates.

Moody’s full-year 2014 non-GAAP EPS guidance remains in the range of $3.95 to $4.05, which excludes the $0.36 gain resulting from Moody’s acquisition of a controlling interest in ICRA Ltd. in the second quarter and the $0.03 legacy tax benefit in the third quarter.

Certain components of Moody’s 2014 revenue guidance have been modified to reflect the Company’s current view of business conditions. While global MIS revenue for full-year 2014 is still expected to increase in the high-single-digit percent range, non-U.S. MIS revenue is now expected to increase approximately 10 percent. Within MIS, corporate finance revenue is now expected to increase approximately 10%; structured finance revenue is now expected to increase in the high-single-digit percent range; and public, project and infrastructure finance revenue is now expected to increase in the mid-single-digit percent range.

A full summary of Moody’s guidance as of October 24, 2014 is included in the 2014 Outlook table at the end of this press release.

CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call to discuss third quarter 2014 results will be held this morning, October 24, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Individuals within the U.S. and Canada can access the call by dialing 1-877-400-0505. Other callers should dial +1-719-234-7477. Please dial into the call by 11:20 a.m. Eastern Time. The passcode for the call is “Moody’s Corporation.”

The teleconference will be webcast with a slide presentation and can be accessed on Moody's Investor Relations website, http://ir.moodys.com, until 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, November 22, 2014.

A replay of the teleconference will be available from 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, October 24, 2014 until 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, November 22, 2014. The replay can be accessed from within the United States and Canada by dialing 1-888-203-1112. Other callers can access the replay at +1-719-457-0820. The replay confirmation code is 9971396.

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ABOUT MOODY'S CORPORATION

Moody's is an essential component of the global capital markets, providing credit ratings, research, tools and analysis that contribute to transparent and integrated financial markets. Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) is the parent company of Moody's Investors Service, which provides credit ratings and research covering debt instruments and securities, and Moody's Analytics, which offers leading-edge software, advisory services and research for credit and economic analysis and financial risk management. The Corporation, which reported revenue of $3.0 billion in 2013, employs approximately 9,700 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 33 countries. Further information is available at www.moodys.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements contained in this release 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. Moody’s outlook for 2014 and other forward-looking statements in this release are made as of October 24, 2014, and the Company disclaims any duty to supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or otherwise. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company 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 current world-wide credit market disruptions and economic slowdown, which is affecting and could continue to affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, including credit quality concerns, changes in interest rates and other volatility in the financial markets; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the uncertain effectiveness and possible collateral consequences of U.S. and foreign government initiatives to respond to the current world-wide credit market disruptions and economic slowdown; concerns in the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency ratings; the introduction of competing products or technologies by other companies; 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, including provisions in the Financial Reform Act and anticipated regulations resulting from that Act; the potential for increased competition and regulation in the EU and other foreign jurisdictions; exposure to litigation related to our rating opinions, as well as any other litigation to which the Company may be subject from time to time; provisions in the Financial Reform Act legislation modifying the pleading standards, and EU regulations modifying the liability standards, applicable to credit rating agencies in a manner adverse to credit rating agencies; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services; the possible loss of key employees; failures or malfunctions of our operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or other cybersecurity concerns; the outcome of any review by controlling tax authorities of the Company’s global tax planning initiatives; the outcome of those Legacy Tax Matters and legal contingencies that relate to the Company, its predecessors and their affiliated companies for which Moody’s has assumed portions of the financial responsibility; the impact of mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations and the ability of the Company to successfully integrate acquired businesses; currency and foreign exchange volatility; 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; and other risk factors as discussed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and in other filings made by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.