Moody's Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter 2012
• 3Q12 revenue of $688.5 million up 30% from 3Q11
• 3Q12 operating income of $269.7 million up 38% from 3Q11; adjusted operating income up 36% to $293.8 million
• 3Q12 reported EPS of $0.81 up 42% from 3Q11; 3Q12 pro-forma EPS of $0.75 up 32%
• Raising FY 2012 EPS guidance to a range of $2.95 to $3.05 from previous range of $2.76 to $2.86; FY 2012 pro-forma EPS is now projected to be $2.89 to $2.99, versus the previous range of $2.70 to $2.80
October 26, 2012
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) today announced results for the third quarter 2012.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR THIRD QUARTER 2012
Moody's reported revenue of $688.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, up 30% from $531.3 million for the third quarter of 2011. Expenses for the third quarter of 2012 totaled $418.8 million, 25% higher than in the prior-year period. Operating income for the quarter was $269.7 million, a 38% increase from $196.1 million for the same period last year. Adjusted operating income for the quarter was $293.8 million, a 36% increase from $215.3 million last year. Diluted earnings per share of $0.81 for the third quarter of 2012, which included a $0.06 legacy tax benefit, increased 42% from $0.57 in the third quarter of 2011. Excluding the legacy tax benefit in the current quarter, diluted earnings per share of $0.75 for the third quarter of 2012 were up 32% from the prior-year period.
"Moody's achieved double-digit revenue growth in all lines of businesses at Moody's Investors Service in the third quarter, with particularly strong performance in corporate finance. Moody's also had continued strong growth in all areas of Moody's Analytics," said Raymond McDaniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody's. "Based on third quarter performance, we are raising our full-year 2012 EPS guidance to a range of $2.95 to $3.05, or $2.89 to $2.99 excluding a legacy tax benefit."
THIRD QUARTER REVENUE
For Moody's Corporation overall, global revenue of $688.5 million for the third quarter of 2012 was up 30% from the third quarter of 2011. U.S. revenue of $375.4 million for the third quarter of 2012 increased 37% from the third quarter of 2011, while revenue generated outside the U.S. of $313.1 million increased 22% from the prior-year period.
Global revenue for Moody's Investors Service (MIS) for the third quarter of 2012 was $473.5 million, up 35% from the prior-year period. U.S. revenue of $289.1 million for the third quarter of 2012 increased 45% from the third quarter of 2011. Outside the U.S., revenue of $184.4 million increased 21% from the year-ago period. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted MIS revenue by 4 percent.
Within MIS, global corporate finance revenue of $220.7 million in the third quarter of 2012 increased 71% from the prior-year period, reflecting broad strength in both investment-grade and speculative-grade markets. Corporate finance revenue increased 81% in the U.S. and 53% outside the U.S.
Global structured finance revenue totaled $93.1 million for the third quarter of 2012, an increase of 14% from a year earlier. U.S. structured finance revenue grew 27% from the year-ago period, primarily due to strength in ratings of commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations, while non-U.S. structured finance revenue was essentially flat to the prior-year period.
Global financial institutions revenue of $82.7 million in the third quarter of 2012 increased 15% compared to the prior-year period. U.S. financial institutions revenue was up 22%, primarily reflecting increased insurance company issuance for refinancing and M&A activity, while non-U.S. revenue grew 10% driven by stronger banking activity in Asia and Latin America.
Global public, project and infrastructure finance revenue was $77.0 million for the third quarter of 2012, an increase of 13% from the third quarter of 2011. U.S. revenue was up 11% from the prior-year period, primarily due to gains in public and infrastructure finance, while non-U.S. revenue increased 16%, reflecting growth in infrastructure finance in Europe.
Global revenue for Moody's Analytics (MA) for the third quarter of 2012 was $215.0 million, up 20% from the third quarter of 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, revenue growth was 21 percent. Revenue from research, data and analytics of $123.8 million increased by 7% from the prior-year period, driven primarily by our CreditView offering and new sales of other data and analytic products. Enterprise risk solutions revenue of $64.0 million was up 26% over the prior-year period, reflecting both the acquisition of Barrie & Hibbert in December 2011 and strong growth in products and services that support regulatory and compliance. Revenue from professional services of $27.2 million was up 97% from the prior-year period, reflecting the acquisition of a majority stake in Copal Partners in November 2011.
In the U.S., MA revenue of $86.3 million for the third quarter of 2012 increased 14% from the prior-year period. Outside the U.S., revenue of $128.7 million grew 23% as compared with the same quarter of 2011.
THIRD QUARTER EXPENSES
Third quarter 2012 expenses for Moody's Corporation were $418.8 million, 25% higher than in the prior-year period, primarily due to higher accruals for incentive compensation and Moody's profit sharing plan, as well as increased headcount both from growth in our existing business and from acquisitions in late 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, expenses grew 27 percent. Moody's reported operating margin for the third quarter of 2012 was 39.2%, up from 36.9% in the third quarter of 2011. Adjusted operating margin was 42.7% for the third quarter of 2012, up from 40.5% for the same period last year.
Moody's effective tax rate was 29.5% for the third quarter of 2012, compared with 28.5% for the prior-year period. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to lower taxes in 2011 resulting from the settlement of state tax audits, partially offset by the favorable impact of foreign tax planning initiatives in 2012.
YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS
Moody's Corporation revenue for the first nine months of 2012 totaled $1,976.1 million, an increase of 15% from $1,713.6 million for the same period of 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, revenue growth was 18 percent. Revenue at Moody's Investors Service totaled $1,367.4 million for the first nine months of 2012, an increase of 14% from the same period in 2011. Moody's Analytics revenue rose 19% from the first nine months of 2011 to $608.7 million.
Expenses for the first nine months of 2012 totaled $1,158.9 million, 16% higher than a year ago. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, expense growth was 18 percent. Year-to-date operating income of $817.2 million grew 14% from $716.3 million for the same period of 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, operating income grew 17 percent. Diluted earnings per share of $2.34 for the first nine months of 2012, which included a $0.06 legacy tax benefit, increased 14% from $2.06 in the first nine months of 2011. Excluding legacy tax benefits in both periods, diluted earnings per share of $2.28 for the first nine months of 2012 grew 12% from $2.03 for the same period in 2011.
CAPITAL ALLOCATION AND LIQUIDITY
During the third quarter of 2012, Moody's repurchased 0.6 million shares at a total cost of $25.1 million and issued 1.2 million shares under employee stock-based compensation plans. Outstanding shares as of September 30, 2012 totaled 222.9 million, essentially flat to the prior-year period. As of September 30, 2012, Moody's had $0.7 billion of share repurchase authority remaining under its current program. At quarter-end, Moody's had $1.7 billion of outstanding debt and $1.0 billion of additional debt capacity available under its revolving credit facility. Total cash and cash equivalents at quarter-end were $1.5 billion, an increase of $664.3 million from a year earlier, primarily reflecting Moody's August 2012 bond offering of $500 million of unsecured notes. For the first nine months of 2012, free cash flow was $460.8 million, a decrease of $151.9 million from a year ago, due in part to payments of approximately $121 million related to the settlement of state and local tax matters, as well as movement in other working capital accounts.
ASSUMPTIONS AND OUTLOOK FOR FULL-YEAR 2012
Moody's outlook for 2012 is based on assumptions about many macroeconomic and capital market factors, including interest rates, corporate profitability and business investment spending, merger and acquisition activity, consumer borrowing and securitization, and the amount of debt issued. There is an important degree of uncertainty surrounding these assumptions, especially as they relate to Europe, and, if actual conditions differ, Moody's results for the year may differ materially from the current outlook. Our guidance assumes foreign currency translation at end-of-quarter exchange rates.
Moody's is raising its EPS guidance for the full-year 2012 to a range of $2.95 to $3.05 from the previous range of $2.76 to $2.86. Full-year pro-forma EPS, which excludes the impact of a legacy tax benefit, is now expected to be in the range of $2.89 to $2.99, versus the previous range of $2.70 to $2.80. Certain components of 2012 guidance have also been modified to reflect our current view of credit market conditions. For Moody's overall, the Company now expects full-year 2012 revenue to grow in the mid-teens percent range. Full-year 2012 expenses are also now projected to increase in the mid-teens percent range. Full-year 2012 operating margin is now projected to be approximately 40 percent and adjusted operating margin for the year is still expected to be approximately 43 percent. The effective tax rate is still expected to be approximately 32 percent.
For the global MIS business, revenue for full-year 2012 is now expected to increase in the mid-teens percent range. Within the U.S., MIS revenue is now expected to increase in the low-20s percent range, while non-U.S. revenue is now expected to increase in the mid-single-digit percent range. Corporate finance revenue is now projected to grow in the mid-20s percent range. Revenue from structured finance is still expected to grow in the mid-single-digit percent range. Financial institutions revenue is now expected to grow in the mid-single-digit percent range. Public, project and infrastructure finance revenue is now expected to increase in the mid-teens percent range.
For MA, full-year 2012 revenue is still expected to increase in the high-teens percent range. Within the U.S., MA revenue is still expected to increase in the high-teens to 20 percent range. Non-U.S. revenue is now expected to increase in the high-teens percent range. Revenue from research, data and analytics is now projected to grow in the high-single-digit percent range, while revenue for enterprise risk solutions is still expected to grow in the low 20s percent range, reflecting the December 2011 acquisition of Barrie & Hibbert, as well as growth in the base business. Professional services revenue is now projected to grow by approximately 70%, reflecting revenue from the late 2011 acquisition of a majority stake in Copal Partners.
CONFERENCE CALL
A conference call to discuss third quarter 2012 results will be held this morning, October 26, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time
https://ir.moodys.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=716533
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