Moody's (MCO Quick QuoteMCO - Free Report) reported $2.02 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 0.8%. EPS of $4.14 for the same period compares to $3.92 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.06 billion, representing a surprise of -2.02%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -2.59%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $4.25.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Moody's performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Revenue- Total external customers- Moody's Analytics: $936 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $938.81 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3%.
• Revenue- Total external customers- Moody's Investor Services: $1.09 billion compared to the $1.12 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -1% year over year.
• Revenue- Moody's Analytics- Data and Information: $250 million compared to the $247.99 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.3% year over year.
• Revenue- Moody's Analytics- Research and Insights: $260 million versus $266.05 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +3.2% change.
• Revenue- Moody's Analytics- Decision Solutions: $426 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $323.04 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.5%.
• Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Recurring: $373 million compared to the $367.78 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.1% year over year.
• Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Transaction: $714 million versus $746.62 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -5.2% change.
• Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Corporate Finance: $530 million versus $524.88 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -8% change.
• Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Structured Finance: $153 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $147.3 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.8%.
• Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Financial Institutions: $213 million versus $217.78 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.4% change.
• Revenue- Moody's Investor Services- Public, Project and Infrastructure Finance: $179 million compared to the $207.38 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.2% year over year.
• Revenue- Moody's Analytics: $939 million versus $938.18 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +3% change.

View all Key Company Metrics for Moody's here>>>

Shares of Moody's have returned +1.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.