Moody's (MCO) vs Nasdaq (NDAQ)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Nasdaq (NDAQ) has outperformed Moody's (MCO) over the past year, gaining 2.8% versus a loss of 6.4%. Over five years, NDAQ leads with a +36.5% price change compared with +23.6% for MCO. Moody's is the larger company by market cap ($80.40 billion vs $52.35 billion), about 1.5 times the size, while Nasdaq is growing revenue faster (+11.6% vs +8.9%).
On valuation, Nasdaq trades at a lower forward P/E (20.0x vs 24.5x for Moody's). Nasdaq offers the higher dividend yield (1.20% vs 0.85%). Moody's converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 31.9% versus 21.6%.
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 | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $464.23 | $93.65 |
| Market cap | $80.40B | $52.35B |
| 1-day change | +1.21% | +1.39% |
| YTD return | -10.21% | -4.90% |
| 1-year return | -6.41% | +2.78% |
| 5-year return | +23.58% | +36.49% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 29.46 | 27.30 |
| Forward P/E | 24.53 | 20.04 |
| EPS (TTM) | $15.76 | $3.43 |
| Dividend yield | 0.85% | 1.20% |
| Annual dividend | $3.94 | $1.12 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $7.72B | $8.26B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.89% | +11.65% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.46B | $1.79B |
| Gross margin | 74.44% | 63.53% |
| Operating margin | 43.42% | 28.21% |
| Net margin | 31.86% | 21.64% |
| 52-week high | $546.88 | $101.79 |
| 52-week low | $402.28 | $76.55 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.11% | -8.00% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +20.61% | +16.45% |
| Average volume | 792.72K | 3.28M |
| Shares outstanding | 173.18M | 558.98M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 9,630 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service |
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 more profitable, keeping 31.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 21.6 cents for Nasdaq.
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 Nasdaq
NDAQ stock →Nasdaq, Inc. operates as a technology company that serves capital markets and other industries in the United States and internationally.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 9,630 employees
MCO vs NDAQ FAQ
Which is bigger, Moody's or Nasdaq?
Moody's (MCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $80.40B compared with $52.35B for Nasdaq (NDAQ).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MCO or NDAQ?
NDAQ returned +2.78% over the past 12 months, compared with -6.41% for MCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MCO or NDAQ?
NDAQ has the lower trailing P/E at 27.3, versus 29.5 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, Moody's or Nasdaq?
Nasdaq has the higher yield at 1.20%, compared with 0.85% for Moody's.
Are Moody's and Nasdaq in the same industry?
Both are in the Finance sector, but in different industries: Finance: Consumer Services for Moody's and Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service for Nasdaq.