Moody's (MCO) Stock Buyback History
TTM buyback yield 3.96% · Shareholder yield (TTM) 3.96%.
MCO
TTM buyback yield
3.96%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
3.96%
5Y share count change
-5.0%
TTM buyback spend
$3.06B
SBC coverage (TTM)
13.17x
YoY change in spend
+23.4%
5Y CAGR of spend
+23.0%
Peak year (2007)
$1.74B
Cumulative spend
$18.38B
TTM metrics calculated from the four most recent reported quarters, ending (reported ).
Key takeaways
- Moody's (MCO) repurchased about $3.06B of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is down 5.0% over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are net-shrinking the share base.
- TTM buyback ÷ stock-based-comp ratio of 13.17× — repurchases more than cover SBC dilution.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at +23.0% per year over the latest 5-year window.
- TTM repurchases used about 133% of free cash flow remaining after dividends.
Buyback context per fiscal year
Annual repurchases alongside stock-based compensation, diluted share count and the year-over-year change — useful for SBC-coverage and dilution-offset reading at a glance.
| Year | Buybacks | SBC | Net | Shares (dil.) | YoY shares | Buyback yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.71B | $232.00M | $1.47B | 0.18B | -1.5% | 1.88% |
| 2024 | $1.38B | $0.00 | $1.38B | 0.18B | -0.7% | 1.61% |
| 2023 | $561.00M | $0.00 | $561.00M | 0.18B | -0.4% | 0.79% |
| 2022 | $1.07B | $0.00 | $1.07B | 0.18B | -1.7% | 2.10% |
| 2021 | $833.00M | $0.00 | $833.00M | 0.19B | -0.7% | 1.15% |
| 2020 | $607.00M | $0.00 | $607.00M | 0.19B | -1.2% | 1.11% |
| 2019 | $1.07B | $0.00 | $1.07B | 0.19B | -1.4% | 2.39% |
| 2018 | $264.80M | $0.00 | $264.80M | 0.19B | 0.1% | 0.99% |
| 2017 | $248.50M | $0.00 | $248.50M | 0.19B | -0.6% | 0.88% |
| 2016 | $783.20M | $0.00 | $783.20M | 0.20B | -3.9% | 4.35% |
| 2015 | $1.16B | $0.00 | $1.16B | 0.20B | -5.3% | 5.86% |
| 2014 | $1.22B | $0.00 | $1.22B | 0.21B | -3.9% | 6.17% |
| 2013 | $893.10M | $0.00 | $893.10M | 0.22B | -1.4% | 5.31% |
| 2012 | $196.50M | $0.00 | $196.50M | 0.23B | -1.2% | 1.75% |
| 2011 | $333.80M | $0.00 | $333.80M | 0.23B | -3.0% | 4.46% |
| 2010 | $223.60M | $0.00 | $223.60M | 0.24B | -0.5% | 3.68% |
| 2009 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.24B | -3.1% | — |
| 2008 | $592.90M | $63.20M | $529.70M | 0.25B | -9.9% | 12.54% |
| 2007 | $1.74B | $0.00 | $1.74B | 0.27B | -6.7% | 19.68% |
| 2006 | $1.09B | $0.00 | $1.09B | 0.29B | -4.5% | 5.75% |
| 2005 | $691.70M | $0.00 | $691.70M | 0.31B | 0.3% | 3.88% |
| 2004 | $221.30M | $0.00 | $221.30M | 0.30B | 0.0% | 1.72% |
| 2003 | $172.80M | $10.80M | $162.00M | 0.30B | -3.3% | 1.91% |
| 2002 | $369.90M | $0.00 | $369.90M | 0.32B | -1.7% | 6.05% |
| 2001 | $267.60M | $0.00 | $267.60M | 0.32B | -1.7% | 4.35% |
| 2000 | $223.90M | $0.00 | $223.90M | 0.33B | -0.8% | — |
| 1999 | $237.90M | $0.00 | $237.90M | 0.33B | -4.3% | — |
| 1998 | $220.20M | $0.00 | $220.20M | 0.34B | — | — |
Cash buyback spend (USD) — annual & quarterly history
Trailing-twelve-month and per-period cash repurchases for Moody's (MCO) from the consolidated cash flow statement (line: common stock repurchased), in USD as filed.
Cash buyback spend over time for Moody's (MCO)
Per-period cash repurchases
Cash buyback spend annual + quarterly history for Moody's (MCO)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Buyback Spend | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.71B | +23.4% | +$323.00M | ||
| 2024 | $1.38B | +146.5% | +$822.00M | ||
| 2023 | $561.00M | -47.6% | -$509.00M | ||
| 2022 | $1.07B | +28.5% | +$237.00M | ||
| 2021 | $833.00M | +37.2% | +$226.00M | ||
| 2020 | $607.00M | -43.2% | -$461.00M | ||
| 2019 | $1.07B | +303.3% | +$803.20M | ||
| 2018 | $264.80M | +6.6% | +$16.30M | ||
| 2017 | $248.50M | -68.3% | -$534.70M | ||
| 2016 | $783.20M | -32.3% | -$374.40M | ||
| 2015 | $1.16B | -5.2% | -$62.90M | ||
| 2014 | $1.22B | +36.7% | +$327.40M | ||
| 2013 | $893.10M | +354.5% | +$696.60M | ||
| 2012 | $196.50M | -41.1% | -$137.30M | ||
| 2011 | $333.80M | +49.3% | +$110.20M | ||
| 2010 | $223.60M | — | +$223.60M | ||
| 2009 | $0 | -100.0% | -$592.90M | ||
| 2008 | $592.90M | -65.9% | -$1.15B | ||
| 2007 | $1.74B | +59.0% | +$644.80M | ||
| 2006 | $1.09B | +58.1% | +$401.90M | ||
| 2005 | $691.70M | +212.6% | +$470.40M | ||
| 2004 | $221.30M | +28.1% | +$48.50M | ||
| 2003 | $172.80M | -53.3% | -$197.10M | ||
| 2002 | $369.90M | +38.2% | +$102.30M | ||
| 2001 | $267.60M | +19.5% | +$43.70M | ||
| 2000 | $223.90M | -5.9% | -$14.00M | ||
| 1999 | $237.90M | +8.0% | +$17.70M | ||
| 1998 | $220.20M | — | — |
As of the 2025 fiscal year, Moody's (MCO) reported buyback spend of $1.71B – grew 23.4% year-over-year.
Across 2020–2025 (5 years), Moody's buyback spend produced a CAGR of +23.0% – sustaining 2 straight years of year-over-year growth.
Between 2007 and 2025, Moody's buyback spend edged down 1.9%, falling from $1.74B to $1.71B.
Across the available history, buyback spend reached its high of $1.74B in 2007 and its low of $0 in 2009.
Moody's (MCO) sits 8th of 8 Financial Services peers we track on this metric, against a peer median of $12.87B.
Moody's Buyback Spend 2025: $1.71B
Moody's buyback spend in 2025 was $1.71B, grew 23.4% from 2024.
Moody's Buyback Spend 2024: $1.38B
Moody's buyback spend in 2024 was $1.38B, surged 146.5% from 2023.
Moody's Buyback Spend 2023: $561.00M
Moody's buyback spend in 2023 was $561.00M, plunged 47.6% below 2022.
Moody's Buyback Spend 2022: $1.07B
Moody's buyback spend in 2022 was $1.07B, grew 28.5% from 2021.
Moody's Buyback Spend 2021: $833.00M
Moody's buyback spend in 2021 was $833.00M.
See more financial history for Moody's (MCO).
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as Moody's, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| Company | Buyback Spend | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase (JPM) | $34.59B | Financial Services |
| Bank of America (BAC) | $21.43B | Financial Services |
| Wells Fargo (WFC) | $19.52B | Financial Services |
| Visa (V) | $13.39B | Financial Services |
| Goldman Sachs (GS) | $12.36B | Financial Services |
| Mastercard (MA) | $11.73B | Financial Services |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | $5.83B | Financial Services |
| Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) | $0 | Financial Services |
Share count history
Diluted weighted-average shares drive the EPS denominator and per-share capital-return maths. A falling diluted share count means buybacks are outpacing dilution from stock-based compensation and option exercises.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual)
Year-over-year change in diluted shares
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Dividend & buyback yield over time
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: 13.17×.
Capital allocation mix
How Moody's splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks, plus the headroom on free cash flow that's still available for additional repurchases.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned)
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $2.30B (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Data & methodology
Where do buyback, dividend and compensation figures come from?
Cash buyback spend (common stock repurchased), dividends paid and stock-based compensation come from Moody's's consolidated cash flow statements — quarterly 10-Q and annual 10-K SEC filings, in USD as reported.
How are diluted shares and yields calculated?
Diluted weighted-average share counts come from the income statement (EPS denominator). Trailing twelve-month (TTM) aggregates sum the four most recent reported quarters. Buyback and dividend yields divide TTM cash flows by market capitalisation at the latest quarter-end.
How is buyback capacity defined?
Capacity compares TTM repurchases to free cash flow after dividends: operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, minus dividends paid, versus actual buybacks over the same trailing window.
Is this investment advice?
No. Figures are for informational and educational use only. Past buybacks and dividends do not predict future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Does Moody's buy back its own stock?
Yes, Moody's (MCO) has repurchased shares in recent periods. See the history table and charts on this page for amounts and trends.
How much does Moody's spend on share buybacks?
Trailing twelve months (TTM) buyback spend is about $3.06B (sum of the last four quarterly cash-flow periods in our data). Figures are illustrative; verify in filings.
What is Moody's's buyback yield?
TTM buyback yield is about 3.96% (TTM buyback spend divided by market cap at the latest quarter-end in our data).
What is Moody's's shareholder yield?
Shareholder yield combines dividend yield and buyback yield. For the latest period we show approximately 3.96% combined (TTM-based where available).
Is Moody's diluting shareholders?
Compare stock-based compensation (SBC) to buybacks in the chart above. Net effect varies by year; see annual buyback vs SBC bars and the history table.
How has Moody's's share count changed?
Diluted weighted average shares changed by about -5.0% over roughly five fiscal years (annual income statement data).
What is Moody's's buyback spend?
Latest reported buyback spend for Moody's (MCO) is $3.06B (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has Moody's buyback spend changed year-over-year?
Moody's (MCO) buyback spend changed +23.4% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of Moody's buyback spend?
Moody's (MCO) buyback spend compound annual growth rate is +23.0% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did Moody's buyback spend hit its highest annual value?
Moody's buyback spend reached its highest annual value of $1.74B in 2007.
What was Moody's buyback spend in 2024?
Moody's (MCO) buyback spend in 2024 was $1.38B.
What was Moody's buyback spend in 2025?
Moody's (MCO) buyback spend in 2025 was $1.71B.
Explore more
MCO Overview
Company profile, financial tools, and key metrics
MCO Revenue Counter
Earns $249.65 every second. See per minute, hour, and day.
MCO Earnings Counter
Earns $79.12 per second net profit. See per minute, hour, and day.
MCO Economic Scale
Exceeds Barbados's GDP. Compare with world economies.
MCO What If Invested
What if you had invested $1,000? See historical returns from any date.
MCO How It Makes Money
Discover visual breakdown of $7.87B in revenue — where it comes from and where it goes.
MCO Stock Seasonality
Best and worst months to invest. Historical monthly returns heatmap.
MCO Price Target Scenarios
Model bear, base, and bull cases with EPS growth and exit P/E — pre-filled from analysts and history.
MCO Daily Price Character
Balanced · 50.4% historical win rate (green days). Streaks & record days.
MCO Stock Split History
1 split on record. Dates, ratios, and cumulative multiple.
MCO Dividend Profile
Yield: 0.89%. Safety: 7/8. See full history.
MCO Dividend Calculator
How much dividend income would $1,000 have earned? Calculate from any date.
MCO Dividend Forecast
Project future income with DRIP, growth assumptions, and optional monthly contributions.
MCO Dividend Capture
Historical pre-ex touch stats, gap distribution, after-tax calculator, and a backtest simulator (limit-order vs MOC exit).
MCO Financials
Revenue, EPS, EBITDA, market cap, debt and balance sheet history with annual and quarterly data.