Jefferies cuts target for Moody's stock to USD 560
Published on 10/20/2026 at 11:15 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSUpcoming earnings shape the setup
- Jefferies lowered its Moody's target from USD 610.00 to USD 560.00 on October 16, 2026.
- Second-quarter 2026 revenue was USD 2.19 billion, up 15.10 percent year over year.
- Moody's stock trades at EUR 432.00 at 11:06 a.m. CEST at Lang & Schwarz on October 20, 2026, 0.47 percent above the Xetra close of October 19, 2026.
- Moody's will release third-quarter 2026 results before NYSE trading on October 21, 2026.
Moody's Corporation (ISIN US6153691059) faces a Jefferies price target of USD 560.00, cut from USD 610.00 on October 16, 2026, according to Investing.com. Moody's stock was trading at EUR 432.00 at Lang & Schwarz on October 20, 2026 at 11:06 a.m. CEST, up EUR 2.00, or 0.47 percent, versus the Xetra close of October 19, 2026 at EUR 430.00.
Why the target was cut
Jefferies kept a Buy rating while lowering its target, citing fourth-quarter outlook risk. The firm lifted its third-quarter 2026 revenue estimate by USD 45 million to USD 2,126 million, or 5.90 percent year over year, and raised its adjusted earnings-per-share estimate by USD 0.15 to USD 4.21, according to Investing.com. The combination points to stronger near-term ratings activity but a more cautious view of the quarter that follows.
What does the target cut imply?
The revised USD 560.00 target remains above the USD 481.26 primary-market price cited for October 19, 2026, but the target change reduces the valuation cushion. Jefferies maintained its full-year 2026 revenue growth estimate at 7.20 percent and said fourth-quarter weakness could offset better third-quarter performance.
Three milestones frame the stock
On July 22, 2026, Moody's reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of USD 2.19 billion and adjusted earnings per share of USD 4.68, according to MarketBeat. On September 30, 2026, Moody's announced that it would release third-quarter results on October 21, 2026, through an investor-relations release. On October 16, 2026, Jefferies cut its price target from USD 610.00 to USD 560.00 while retaining its Buy rating.
The next dates carry two events
Moody's will release third-quarter 2026 results before NYSE trading on October 21, 2026, and its conference call will start at 9:00 a.m. ET that day, according to Moody's Investor Relations. The scheduled release gives investors a near-term test for the revenue growth and ratings-demand assumptions behind the revised target.
EUR 432.00 versus the Xetra close
Moody's stock stood at EUR 432.00 at Lang & Schwarz on October 20, 2026 at 11:06 a.m. CEST, up EUR 2.00, or 0.47 percent, versus the Xetra close of October 19, 2026 at EUR 430.00. Moody's primary listing is on the NYSE, where the stock last stood at USD 481.26 on October 19, 2026, while its market capitalization was USD 83.4 billion as of that date. The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Moody's stock.
Moody's Corporation stock facts
- Company: Moody's Corporation
- ISIN: US6153691059
- Ticker: MCO
- Primary exchange: NYSE
- Price Lang & Schwarz (as of October 20, 2026, 11:06 a.m. CEST): EUR 432.00
- Change versus Xetra close: plus 0.47 percent
- Xetra close (October 19, 2026): EUR 430.00
- Market capitalization: USD 83.4 billion (as of October 19, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Financial Services / Financial - Data and Stock Exchanges
Market context: Market report S&P 500.
