FactSet Research Systems (FDS) vs Moody's (MCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) has outperformed Moody's (MCO) over the past year, losing 1.5% versus a loss of 7.9%. Over five years, MCO leads with a +21.1% price change compared with -34.3% for FDS. Moody's is the larger company by market cap ($77.87 billion vs $9.70 billion), about 8.0 times the size.
On valuation, FactSet Research Systems trades at a lower forward P/E (12.6x vs 23.8x for Moody's). Moody's pays a dividend yielding 0.88%, while FactSet Research Systems does not currently pay one. Moody's converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 31.9% versus 25.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | FDS | MCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $272.78 | $449.63 |
| Market cap | $9.70B | $77.87B |
| 1-day change | +0.28% | -0.59% |
| YTD return | -6.00% | -11.97% |
| 1-year return | -1.50% | -7.93% |
| 5-year return | -34.25% | +21.14% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.72 | 28.53 |
| Forward P/E | 12.56 | 23.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $14.57 | $15.76 |
| Dividend yield | 1.71% | 0.88% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $3.94 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.32B | $7.72B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.39% | +8.89% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $597.04M | $2.46B |
| Gross margin | 52.72% | 74.44% |
| Operating margin | 32.23% | 43.42% |
| Net margin | 25.72% | 31.86% |
| 52-week high | $320.48 | $546.88 |
| 52-week low | $185.00 | $402.28 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.88% | -17.78% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +1.75% | +24.52% |
| Average volume | 868.78K | 791.99K |
| Shares outstanding | 35.57M | 173.18M |
| Employees | — | 16,000 |
| Sector | Technology | Finance |
| Industry | Computer Software: Programming Data Processing | Finance: Consumer Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Moody's is about 8.0 times larger than FactSet Research Systems by market value ($77.87B vs $9.70B).
- Moody's trades at a higher earnings multiple (28.5x vs 18.7x trailing P/E).
- Moody's is more profitable, keeping 31.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 25.7 cents for FactSet Research Systems.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: FactSet Research Systems in Technology and Moody's in Finance.
About FactSet Research Systems
FDS stock →FactSet Research Systems Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider for the investment community. It offers data, products, and analytical applications; and workstations, portfolio analytics, and enterprise data solutions, as well as managed services for supporting data, performance, risk, and reporting workflows.
Technology · Computer Software: Programming Data Processing
About Moody's
MCO stock →Moody's Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated risk assessment firm in the United States, the rest of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through two segments, Moody's Analytics (MA) and Moody's Investors Service (MIS).
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 16,000 employees
FDS vs MCO FAQ
Which is bigger, FactSet Research Systems or Moody's?
Moody's (MCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $77.87B compared with $9.70B for FactSet Research Systems (FDS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FDS or MCO?
FDS returned -1.50% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.93% for MCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FDS or MCO?
FDS has the lower trailing P/E at 18.7, versus 28.5 for MCO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, FactSet Research Systems or Moody's?
FactSet Research Systems has the higher yield at 1.71%, compared with 0.88% for Moody's.
Are FactSet Research Systems and Moody's in the same industry?
No. FactSet Research Systems is in the Technology sector, while Moody's is in Finance.