Moody's (MCO) vs MSCI (MSCI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
MSCI (MSCI) has outperformed Moody's (MCO) over the past year, losing 2.4% versus a loss of 7.9%. Over five years, MCO leads with a +21.1% price change compared with -9.9% for MSCI. Moody's is the larger company by market cap ($78.05 billion vs $40.43 billion), about 1.9 times the size, while MSCI is growing revenue faster (+9.7% vs +8.9%).
On valuation, Moody's trades at a lower forward P/E (23.8x vs 24.7x for MSCI). MSCI offers the higher dividend yield (1.38% vs 0.87%). MSCI converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 38.4% versus 31.9%.
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 | MCO | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $450.68 | $556.15 |
| Market cap | $78.05B | $40.43B |
| 1-day change | +0.23% | +0.14% |
| YTD return | -11.98% | -3.20% |
| 1-year return | -7.94% | -2.41% |
| 5-year return | +21.14% | -9.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.60 | 30.39 |
| Forward P/E | 23.82 | 24.71 |
| EPS (TTM) | $15.76 | $18.30 |
| Dividend yield | 0.87% | 1.38% |
| Annual dividend | $3.94 | $7.70 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $7.72B | $3.13B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.89% | +9.75% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.46B | $1.20B |
| Gross margin | 74.44% | 82.44% |
| Operating margin | 43.42% | 54.67% |
| Net margin | 31.86% | 38.36% |
| 52-week high | $546.88 | $644.77 |
| 52-week low | $402.28 | $501.08 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.59% | -13.74% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +24.24% | +23.78% |
| Average volume | 792.75K | 622.95K |
| Shares outstanding | 173.18M | 72.70M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 6,327 |
| Sector | Finance | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Business 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
- MSCI is more profitable, keeping 38.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 31.9 cents for Moody's.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Moody's in Finance and MSCI in Consumer Discretionary.
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
About MSCI
MSCI stock →MSCI Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides research-based data, analytics, and indexes, supported by advanced technology worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial products, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 6,327 employees
MCO vs MSCI FAQ
Which is bigger, Moody's or MSCI?
Moody's (MCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $78.05B compared with $40.43B for MSCI (MSCI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MCO or MSCI?
MSCI returned -2.41% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.94% for MCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MCO or MSCI?
MCO has the lower trailing P/E at 28.6, versus 30.4 for MSCI. 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, Moody's or MSCI?
MSCI has the higher yield at 1.38%, compared with 0.87% for Moody's.
Are Moody's and MSCI in the same industry?
No. Moody's is in the Finance sector, while MSCI is in Consumer Discretionary.