UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form			10-Q

(Mark one)

☑			QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

Or

☐			TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-14037

____________________

Moody’s Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware									13-3998945
(State of Incorporation)									(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

7 World Trade Center at 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(212) 553-0300

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

MCO

New York Stock Exchange

1.75% Senior Notes Due 2027

MCO 27

New York Stock Exchange

0.950% Senior Notes Due 2030

MCO 30

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months, or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer

☑

Accelerated filer

☐

Non-accelerated filer

☐

Smaller reporting company

☐

Emerging growth company

☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Shares Outstanding at September 30, 2020
187.8 million

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Table of Contents

			MOODY’S CORPORATION INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
						Page(s)
			Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations			3-7
			PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.			Financial Statements
			Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019			8
			Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019			9
			Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019			10
			Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019			11
			Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019			12-15
			Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)			16-49
Item 2.			Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
			The Company			50
			Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability			50-51
			Critical Accounting Estimates			51-54
			Reportable Segments			54
			Results of Operations			55-83
			Liquidity and Capital Resources			83-90
			Recently Issued Accounting Standards			91
			Contingencies			91
			Regulation			91-92
			Forward-Looking Statements			93
Item 3.			Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			94
Item 4.			Controls and Procedures			94
			PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.			Legal Proceedings			95
Item 1A.			Risk Factors			95
Item 2.			Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			95
Item 5.			Other Information			95
Item 6.			Exhibits			96
SIGNATURES
			Exhibits Filed Herewith
31.1			Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2			Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1			Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2			Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS			Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
101.SCH			Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL			Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF			Inline XBRL Definitions Linkbase Document
101.LAB			Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE			Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104			Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

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Table of Contents

GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

The following terms, abbreviations and acronyms are used to identify frequently used terms in this report:

TERM			DEFINITION
ABS Suite			Business acquired by the Company in October 2019 which includes a software platform used by issuers and trustees for administration of asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities programs
Acquisition-Related Amortization			Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets acquired by the Company from all business combination transactions
Acquire Media (AM)			Business acquired by the Company in October 2020; an aggregator and distributor of curated real-time news, multimedia, data, and alerts.
Acquisition-Related Expenses			Consists of expenses incurred to complete and integrate the acquisition of Bureau van Dijk for which the integration will be a multi-year effort
Adjusted Diluted EPS			Diluted EPS excluding the impact of certain items as detailed in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
Adjusted Net Income			Net Income excluding the impact of certain items as detailed in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
Adjusted Operating Income			Operating income excluding the impact of certain items as detailed in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
Adjusted Operating Margin			Adjusted Operating Income divided by revenue
Americas			Represents countries within North and South America, excluding the U.S.
AOCL			Accumulated other comprehensive loss; a separate component of shareholders’ equity
ASC			The FASB Accounting Standards Codification; the sole source of authoritative GAAP as of July 1, 2009 except for rules and interpretive releases of the SEC, which are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants
Asia-Pacific			Represents Australia and countries in Asia including but not limited to: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand
ASR			Accelerated Share Repurchase
ASU			The FASB Accounting Standards Update to the ASC. It also provides background information for accounting guidance and the bases for conclusions on the changes in the ASC. ASUs are not considered authoritative until codified into the ASC
Board			The board of directors of the Company
BPS			Basis points
Bureau van Dijk			Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing, B.V., a global provider of business intelligence and company information; acquired by the Company on August 10, 2017 via the acquisition of Yellow Maple I B.V., an indirect parent of Bureau van Dijk
CFG			Corporate finance group; an LOB of MIS
CLO			Collateralized loan obligation
CMBS			Commercial mortgage-backed securities; an asset class within SFG
COLI			Corporate-Owned Life Insurance
Common Stock			The Company’s common stock
Company			Moody’s Corporation and its subsidiaries; MCO; Moody’s
Content			A reporting unit within the MA segment that offers subscription-based research, data and analytical products, including credit ratings produced by MIS, credit research, quantitative credit scores and other analytical tools, economic research and forecasts, business intelligence and company information products, and commercial real estate data and analytical tools
COVID-19			An outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus resulting in an international public health crisis and a global pandemic
CP			Commercial Paper

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TERM			DEFINITION
CP Program			A program entered into on August 3, 2016 allowing the Company to privately place CP up to a maximum of $1 billion for which the maturity may not exceed 397 days from the date of issue and which is backstopped by the 2018 Facility
CRAs			Credit rating agencies
DBPP			Defined benefit pension plans
Dodd-Frank Act			Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
EMEA			Represents countries within Europe, the Middle East and Africa
EPS			Earnings per share
ERS			The Enterprise Risk Solutions LOB within MA, which offers risk management software solutions as well as related risk management advisory engagements services
ESG			Environmental, Social, and Governance
ESMA			European Securities and Markets Authority
ETR			Effective tax rate
EU			European Union
EUR			Euros
EURIBOR			The Euro Interbank Offered Rate
Excess Tax Benefits			The difference between the tax benefit realized at exercise of an option or delivery of a restricted share and the tax benefit recorded at the time the option or restricted share is expensed under GAAP
Exchange Act			The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
External Revenue			Revenue excluding any intersegment amounts
FASB			Financial Accounting Standards Board
FIG			Financial institutions group; an LOB of MIS
Four Twenty Seven			A provider of data, intelligence, and analysis related to physical climate risks; acquired by the Company in July 2019
Free Cash Flow			Net cash provided by operating activities less cash paid for capital additions
FX			Foreign exchange
GAAP			U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GBP			British pounds
ICRA			ICRA Limited; a provider of credit ratings and research in India. ICRA is a public company with its shares listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. The Company previously held 28.5% equity ownership and in June 2014, increased that ownership stake to over 50% through the acquisition of additional shares
IRS			Internal Revenue Service
IT			Information technology
KIS Pricing			Korea Investors Service Pricing, Inc; a Korean provider of fixed income securities pricing and consolidated subsidiary of the Company
KIS Research			Korea Investors Service Research; a Korean provider of financial research and consolidated subsidiary of the Company
Korea			Republic of South Korea
LIBOR			London Interbank Offered Rate
LOB			Line of business
MA			Moody’s Analytics - a reportable segment of MCO which provides a wide range of products and services that support financial analysis and risk management activities of institutional participants in global financial markets; consists of two LOBs - RD&A and ERS
Make Whole Amount			The prepayment penalty amount relating to the 2017 Senior Notes due 2021 and 2018 Senior Notes due 2021 which is a premium based on the excess, if any, of the discounted value of the remaining scheduled payments over the prepaid principal

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TERM			DEFINITION
MAKS			Moody’s Analytics Knowledge Services; formerly known as Copal Amba; provided offshore research and analytic services to the global financial and corporate sectors; business was divested in the fourth quarter of 2019 and was formerly part of the PS LOB and a reporting unit within the MA reportable segment
MALS			Moody’s Analytics Learning Solutions; a reporting unit within the MA segment that includes on-line and classroom-based training services as well as credentialing and certification services
MCO			Moody’s Corporation and its subsidiaries; the Company; Moody’s
MD&A			Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
MIS			Moody’s Investors Service - a reportable segment of MCO; consists of five LOBs - SFG, CFG, FIG, PPIF and MIS Other
MIS Other			Consists of non-ratings revenue from ICRA, KIS Pricing, KIS Research and revenue from providing ESG research, data and assessments. These businesses are components of MIS; MIS Other is an LOB of MIS
Moody’s			Moody’s Corporation and its subsidiaries; MCO; the Company
Net Income			Net income attributable to Moody’s Corporation, which excludes net income from consolidated noncontrolling interests belonging to the minority interest holder
New Credit Losses Accounting Standard			Updates to the ASC pursuant to ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”. This new accounting guidance requires the use of an “expected credit loss” impairment model for most financial assets reported at amortized cost, which will require entities to estimate expected credit losses over the lifetime of the instrument.
New Internal Use Software Accounting Standard			Updates to the ASC pursuant to ASU No. 2018-15, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract”. This new accounting guidance requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) to be capitalized under the same premises of authoritative guidance for internal-use software.
NM			Percentage change is not meaningful
Non-GAAP			A financial measure not in accordance with GAAP; these measures, when read in conjunction with the Company’s reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s performance, facilitate comparisons to competitors’ operating results and to provide greater transparency to investors of supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making
NRSRO			Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization, which is a credit rating agency registered with the SEC.
OCI			Other comprehensive income (loss); includes gains and losses on cash flow and net investment hedges, unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities (in periods prior to January 1, 2018), certain gains and losses relating to pension and other retirement benefit obligations and foreign currency translation adjustments
Operating segment			Term defined in the ASC relating to segment reporting; the ASC defines an operating segment as a component of a business entity that has each of the three following characteristics: i) the component engages in business activities from which it may recognize revenue and incur expenses; ii) the operating results of the component are regularly reviewed by the entity’s chief operating decision maker; and iii) discrete financial information about the component is available
Other Retirement Plan			The U.S. retirement healthcare and U.S. retirement life insurance plans
PPIF			Public, project and infrastructure finance; an LOB of MIS
Profit Participation Plan			Defined contribution profit participation plan that covers substantially all U.S. employees of the Company

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TERM			DEFINITION
PS			Professional Services, a former LOB within MA which consisted of MAKS and MALS that provided offshore analytical and research services as well as learning solutions and certification programs. Subsequent to the divestiture of MAKS in 2019, revenue from the MALS reporting unit, which previous to 2020 was reported in the PS LOB, is now reported as part of the RD&A LOB. Prior periods have not been reclassified as the amounts were not material.
RBA International (RBA)			A provider of online retail bank training and certifications; the Company acquired RBA in March 2020
RD&A			An LOB within MA that offers subscription-based research, data and analytical products, including credit ratings produced by MIS, credit research, quantitative credit scores and other analytical tools, economic research and forecasts, business intelligence and company information products, and commercial real estate data and analytical tools
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest			Represents minority shareholders' interest in entities which are controlled but not wholly-owned by Moody's and for which Moody's obligation to redeem the minority shareholders' interest is represented by a put/call relationship
Reform Act			Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006
Regulatory DataCorp Inc. (RDC)			A global leader in risk and compliance intelligence; the Company acquired RDC in February 2020
Reis, Inc. (Reis)			A provider of U.S. commercial real estate data; acquired by the Company in October 2018
Relationship Revenue			For MIS, represents recurring monitoring fees of a rated debt obligation and/or entities that issue such obligations, as well as revenue from programs such as commercial paper, medium-term notes and shelf registrations. For MIS Other, represents subscription-based revenue. For MA, represents subscription-based revenue and software maintenance revenue
Reporting unit			The level at which Moody’s evaluates its goodwill for impairment under U.S. GAAP; defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment
Retirement Plans			Moody’s funded and unfunded pension plans, the healthcare plans and life insurance plans
Revenue Accounting Standard			Updates to the ASC pursuant to ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606)”. This new accounting guidance significantly changes the accounting framework under U.S. GAAP relating to revenue recognition and to the accounting for the deferral of incremental costs of obtaining or fulfilling a contract with a customer
RiskFirst			A company providing risk analytic solutions for the asset management and pension fund communities; acquired by the Company in July 2019
RMBS			Residential mortgage-backed securities; an asset class within SFG
ROU Asset			Assets recorded pursuant to the New Lease Accounting Standard which represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the term of a lease
SEC			U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SFG			Structured finance group; an LOB of MIS
SG&A			Selling, general and administrative expenses
Tax Act			The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” enacted into U.S. law on December 22, 2017 which significantly amends the tax code in the U.S.
Transaction Revenue			For MIS, represents the initial rating of a new debt issuance as well as other one-time fees. For MIS Other, represents revenue from professional services as well as data services, research and analytical engagements. For MA, represents perpetual software license fees and revenue from software implementation services, risk management advisory projects, training and certification services, and research and analytical engagements
U.K.			United Kingdom
U.S.			United States
USD			U.S. dollar
UTPs			Uncertain tax positions

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TERM			DEFINITION
Vigeo Eiris			A provider of in ESG research, data and assessments; acquired by the Company on April 12, 2019
2018 Restructuring Program			Restructuring program approved by the chief executive officer of Moody’s on October 26, 2018. This program included relocation of certain functions from high-cost to lower-cost jurisdictions, a reduction of staff, including from acquisitions and pursuant to a review of the business criticality of certain positions, and the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases due to consolidation of various business activities.
2020 Restructuring Program			Restructuring program approved by the chief executive officer of Moody’s on July 29, 2020, primarily in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which revolves around the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases.
2012 Senior Notes			Principal amount of $500 million, 4.50% senior unsecured notes due in September 2022
2013 Senior Notes			Principal amount of the $500 million, 4.875% senior unsecured notes due in February 2024
2014 Senior Notes (30-Year)			Principal amount of $600 million, 5.25% senior unsecured notes due in July 2044
2015 Senior Notes			Principal amount of €500 million, 1.75% senior unsecured notes due in March 2027
2017 Senior Notes Due 2023			Principal amount of $500 million, 2.625% senior unsecured notes due January 15, 2023
2017 Senior Notes Due 2028			Principal amount of $500 million, 3.250% senior unsecured notes due January 15, 2028
2017 Senior Notes Due 2021			Principal amount of $500 million, 2.75% senior unsecured notes originally due in December 2021, but early repaid by the Company in 2020.
2018 Facility			Five-year unsecured revolving credit facility, with capacity to borrow up to $1 billion; backstops CP issued under the CP Program
2018 Senior Notes			Principal amount of $300 million, 3.25% senior unsecured notes originally due in June 2021, but early repaid by the Company in 2020.
2018 Senior Notes (10-year)			Principal amount of $400 million, 4.25% senior unsecured notes due February 1, 2029
2018 Senior Notes (30-year)			Principal amount of $400 million, 4.875% senior unsecured notes due December 17, 2048
2019 Senior Notes			Principal amount of €750 million, 0.950% senior unsecured notes due February 25, 2030
2020 Senior Notes Due 2025			Principal amount of $700 million, 3.75% senior unsecured notes due March 24, 2025
2020 Senior Notes Due 2050			Principal amount of $300 million, 3.25% senior unsecured notes due May 20, 2050
2020 Senior Notes Due 2060			Principal amount of $500 million, 2.55% senior unsecured notes due August 18, 2060

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MOODY’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Revenue			$	1,356					$	1,240					$	4,081					$	3,596
Expenses
Operating			364						350						1,066						1,032
Selling, general and administrative			271						292						879						848
Restructuring			23						(1)						20						58
Depreciation and amortization			56						48						163						150
Acquisition-Related Expenses			—						—						—						3
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			—						2						9						11
Total expenses			714						691						2,137						2,102
Operating income			642						549						1,944						1,494
Non-operating (expense) income, net
Interest expense, net			(53)						(46)						(153)						(149)
Other non-operating income, net			10						10						38						12
Total non-operating expense, net			(43)						(36)						(115)						(137)
Income before provisions for income taxes			599						513						1,829						1,357
Provision for income taxes			132						130						366						290
Net income			467						383						1,463						1,067
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests			—						3						(1)						5
Net income attributable to Moody's			$	467					$	380					$	1,464					$	1,062
Earnings per share attributable to Moody's common shareholders
Basic			$	2.49					$	2.01					$	7.80					$	5.60
Diluted			$	2.47					$	1.99					$	7.73					$	5.54
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Basic			187.8						189.0						187.6						189.6
Diluted			189.3						191.1						189.3						191.8

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions)

			Three Months Ended September 30, 2020																		Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
			Pre-tax amounts						Tax amounts						After-tax amounts						Pre-tax amounts						Tax amounts						After-tax amounts
Net Income															$	467																	$	383
Other Comprehensive Income (loss):
Foreign Currency Adjustments:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net			$	204					$	(17)					187						$	(194)					$	—					(194)
Net (losses) gains on net investment hedges			(191)						48						(143)						136						(34)						102
Net investment hedges - reclassification of gains included in net income			—						—						—						(1)						—						(1)
Pension and Other Retirement Benefits:
Amortization of actuarial losses and prior service costs included in net income			2						—						2						1						—						1
Net actuarial (losses) gains and prior service costs			(9)						2						(7)						—						—						—
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			$	6					$	33					$	39					$	(58)					$	(34)					$	(92)
Comprehensive income															506																		291
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests															1																		3
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Moody's															$	505																	$	288

			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020																		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
			Pre-tax amounts						Tax amounts						After-tax amounts						Pre-tax amounts						Tax amounts						After-tax amounts
Net Income															$	1,463																	$	1,067
Other Comprehensive Income (loss):
Foreign Currency Adjustments:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net			$	107					$	(11)					96						$	(179)					$	—					(179)
Net (losses) gains on net investment hedges			(169)						42						(127)						130						(33)						97
Net investment hedges - reclassification of gains included in net income			—						—						—						(1)						—						(1)
Cash Flow Hedges:
Net losses on cash flow hedges			(68)						18						(50)						—						—						—
Reclassification of losses included in net income			1						—						1						—						—						—
Pension and Other Retirement Benefits:
Amortization of actuarial losses and prior service costs included in net income			5						(1)						4						3						(1)						2
Net actuarial gains (losses) and prior service costs			(1)						—						(1)						(2)						1						(1)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income			$	(125)					$	48					(77)						$	(49)					$	(33)					(82)
Comprehensive income															1,386																		985
Less: comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests															(12)																		15
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Moody's															$	1,398																	$	970

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

			September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			$	2,492					$	1,832
Short-term investments			96						98
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $41 in 2020 and $20 in 2019			1,360						1,419
Other current assets			333						330
Total current assets			4,281						3,679
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $907 in 2020 and $839 in 2019			282						292
Operating lease right-of-use assets			410						456
Goodwill			4,282						3,722
Intangible assets, net			1,717						1,498
Deferred tax assets, net			232						229
Other assets			468						389
Total assets			$	11,672					$	10,265
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			$	712					$	773
Current portion of operating lease liabilities			91						89
Deferred revenue			918						1,050
Total current liabilities			1,721						1,912
Non-current portion of deferred revenue			102						112
Long-term debt			6,363						5,581
Deferred tax liabilities, net			385						357
Uncertain tax positions			471						477
Operating lease liabilities			439						485
Other liabilities			498						504
Total liabilities			9,979						9,428
Contingencies (Note 19)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest			5						6
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding			—						—
Series Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding			—						—
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 342,902,272 shares issued at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.			3						3
Capital surplus			699						642
Retained earnings			10,804						9,656
Treasury stock, at cost; 155,064,080 and 155,215,143 shares of common stock at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019			(9,505)						(9,250)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(504)						(439)
Total Moody's shareholders' equity			1,497						612
Noncontrolling interests			191						219
Total shareholders' equity			1,688						831
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders' equity			$	11,672					$	10,265

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions)

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income			$	1,463					$	1,067
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			163						150
Stock-based compensation			110						103
Deferred income taxes			(1)						(22)
ROU Asset impairment & other non-cash restructuring/impairment charges			23						38
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			9						11
Settlement of treasury rate lock			(68)						—
Prepayment penalty relating to early redemption of debt			24						—
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			73						36
Other current assets			(8)						(8)
Other assets			(89)						(32)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(28)						(100)
Deferred revenue			(171)						(96)
Unrecognized tax benefits and other non-current tax liabilities			(9)						(17)
Other liabilities			(3)						66
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,488						1,196
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital additions			(83)						(61)
Purchases of investments			(130)						(111)
Sales and maturities of investments			57						139
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(699)						(121)
Receipts from settlements of net investment hedges			2						4
Net cash used in investing activities			(853)						(150)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of notes			1,491						—
Repayment of notes			(800)						(450)
Issuance of commercial paper			789						1,307
Repayment of commercial paper			(792)						(1,310)
Proceeds from stock-based compensation plans			41						37
Repurchase of shares related to stock-based compensation			(101)						(76)
Treasury shares			(253)						(728)
Dividends			(315)						(284)
Debt issuance costs, extinguishment costs and related fees			(39)						—
Dividends to noncontrolling interest			(1)						(1)
Payment to acquire noncontrolling interests			(17)						(12)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			3						(1,517)
Reclassification of cash to assets held for sale			—						(11)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			22						(25)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			660						(507)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			1,832						1,685
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			$	2,492					$	1,178

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

Shareholders of Moody's Corporation
			Common Stock												Capital Surplus						Retained Earnings						Treasury Stock												Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss						Total Moody's Shareholders' Equity						Non- Controlling Interests						Total Shareholders' Equity
			Shares						Amount																		Shares						Amount
Balance at June 30, 2019			342.9						$	3					$	575					$	9,108					(153.7)						$	(8,887)					$	(446)					$	353					$	222					$	575
Net income																					380																								380						3						383
Dividends ($0.50 per share)																					(97)																								(97)						—						(97)
Stock-based compensation															33																														33												33
Shares issued for stock-based compensation plans at average cost, net															—												0.2						7												7												7
Treasury shares repurchased															—												(0.7)						(113)												(113)												(113)
Currency translation adjustment, net of net investment hedge activity (net of tax of $34 million)																																							(92)						(92)						—						(92)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses																																							1						1												1
Balance at September 30, 2019			342.9						$	3					$	608					$	9,391					(154.2)						$	(8,993)					$	(537)					$	472					$	225					$	697

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY'S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

Shareholders of Moody's Corporation
			Common Stock												Capital Surplus						Retained Earnings						Treasury Stock												Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss						Total Moody's Shareholders' Equity						Non- Controlling Interests						Total Shareholders' Equity
			Shares						Amount																		Shares						Amount
Balance at December 31, 2018			342.9						$	3					$	601					$	8,594					(151.6)						$	(8,313)					$	(426)					$	459					$	197					$	656
Net income																					1,062																								1,062						5						1,067
Dividends ($1.50 per share)																					(285)																								(285)						(1)						(286)
Adoption of ASU 2018-02, relating to the Tax Act																					20																		(20)						—												—
Stock-based compensation															103																														103												103
Shares issued for stock-based compensation plans at average cost, net															(71)												1.5						32												(39)												(39)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest															(9)																														(9)						(3)						(12)
Non-controlling interest resulting from majority acquisition of Vigeo Eiris																																													—						17						17
Treasury shares repurchased															(16)												(4.1)						(712)												(728)												(728)
Currency translation adjustment, net of net investment hedge activity (net of tax of $33 million)																																							(92)						(92)						10						(82)
Net actuarial gains and prior service cost																																							(1)						(1)												(1)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses (net of tax of $1 million)																																							2						2												2
Balance at September 30, 2019			342.9						$	3					$	608					$	9,391					(154.2)						$	(8,993)					$	(537)					$	472					$	225					$	697

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY'S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

Shareholders of Moody's Corporation
			Common Stock												Capital Surplus						Retained Earnings						Treasury Stock												Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss						Total Moody's Shareholders' Equity						Non- Controlling Interests						Total Shareholders' Equity
			Shares						Amount																		Shares						Amount
Balance at June 30, 2020			342.9						$	3					$	651					$	10,442					(155.2)						$	(9,513)					$	(542)					$	1,041					$	191					$	1,232
Net income																					467																								467						—						467
Dividends ($0.56 per share)																					(105)																								(105)						(1)						(106)
Stock-based compensation															38																														38												38
Shares issued for stock-based compensation plans at average cost, net															10												0.1						8												18												18
Currency translation adjustment, net of net investment hedge activity (net of tax of $31 million)																																							43						43						1						44
Net actuarial gains and prior service cost (net of tax of $2 million)																																							(7)						(7)												(7)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses																																							2						2												2
Balance at September 30, 2020			342.9						$	3					$	699					$	10,804					(155.1)						$	(9,505)					$	(504)					$	1,497					$	191					$	1,688

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY'S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

Shareholders of Moody's Corporation
			Common Stock												Capital Surplus						Retained Earnings						Treasury Stock												Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss						Total Moody's Shareholders' Equity						Non- Controlling Interests						Total Shareholders' Equity
			Shares						Amount																		Shares						Amount
Balance at December 31, 2019			342.9						$	3					$	642					$	9,656					(155.2)						$	(9,250)					$	(439)					$	612					$	219					$	831
Net income																					1,464																								1,464						—						1,464
Dividends ($1.68 per share)																					(314)																								(314)						(1)						(315)
Adoption of New Credit Losses Accounting Standard																					(2)																								(2)												(2)
Stock-based compensation															110																														110												110
Shares issued for stock-based compensation plans at average cost, net															(51)												1.2						(2)												(53)												(53)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest															(2)																														(2)						(15)						(17)
Treasury shares repurchased																											(1.1)						(253)												(253)												(253)
Currency translation adjustment, net of net investment hedge activity (net of tax of $31 million)																																							(19)						(19)						(12)						(31)
Net actuarial losses and prior service cost																																							(1)						(1)												(1)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses (net of tax of $1 million)																																							4						4												4
Net realized and unrealized gain on cash flow hedges (net of tax of $18 million)																																							(49)						(49)												(49)
Balance at September 30, 2020			342.9						$	3					$	699					$	10,804					(155.1)						$	(9,505)					$	(504)					$	1,497					$	191					$	1,688

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MOODY’S CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(tabular dollar and share amounts in millions, except per share data)

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Moody’s is a provider of (i) credit ratings and assessment services; (ii) credit, capital markets and economic research, data and analytical tools; (iii) software solutions that support financial risk management activities; (iv) quantitatively derived credit scores; (v) learning solutions and certification services; and (vi) company information and business intelligence products. Moody’s reports in two reportable segments: MIS and MA.

MIS, the credit rating agency, publishes credit ratings and provides assessment services on a wide range of debt obligations and the entities that issue such obligations in markets worldwide. Revenue is primarily derived from the originators and issuers of such transactions who use MIS ratings in the distribution of their debt issues to investors. Additionally, MIS earns revenue from certain non-ratings-related operations which consist primarily of financial instrument pricing services in the Asia-Pacific region, revenue from ICRA’s non-ratings operations and revenue from providing ESG research, data and assessments. The revenue from these operations is included in the MIS Other LOB and is not material to the results of the MIS segment.

MA provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to assist businesses in making decisions. MA’s portfolio of solutions consists of specialized research, data, software, and professional services, which are assembled to support the financial analysis and risk management activities of institutional customers worldwide.

These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes in the Company’s 2019 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2020. The results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any subsequent period. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included. The year-end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current presentation.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The Company has implemented policies and procedures in compliance with the “expected credit loss” impairment model, which included (1) refinement of the grouping of receivables with similar risk characteristics; and (2) processes to identify information that can be used to develop reasonable and supportable forecasts of factors that could affect the collectability of the reported amount of the receivable. As the Company's accounts receivable are short-term in nature, the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to the Company's allowance for bad debts or its policies and procedures for determining the allowance. Refer to Note 2 for further information on how the Company determines its reserves for expected credit losses. The Company recorded a $2 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings to increase its allowance for credit losses upon adoption.

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2018-15, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract.” This ASU requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) to be capitalized under the same provisions of authoritative guidance for internal-use software, and amortized over the non-cancellable term of the cloud computing arrangements plus any option renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or for which the exercise is controlled by the service provider. The Company will be required to present the amortization of capitalized implementation costs in the same line item in the statement of operations as the fees associated with the hosting service (i.e. operating and SG&A expense) and classify the related payments in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting service (i.e. cash flows from operating activities). This ASU also requires capitalization of implementation costs in the balance sheet to be consistent with the location of prepayment of fees for the hosting element (i.e. within other current assets or other assets). The Company adopted this ASU prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption and it did not have a material impact on the Company's current financial statements. The future impact to the Company's financial statements will relate to the aforementioned classification of these capitalized costs and related amortization.

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In March 2020, FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, "Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting". The ASU provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022 as the transition from LIBOR is completed.

COVID-19

The Company is closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of its business. While the Company has selectively reopened certain of its offices, Moody’s continues to require remote work for most employees globally. The Company continues to monitor regional developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic to inform decisions on office re-openings.

The Company experienced disruption in certain sectors of its business beginning late in the first quarter of 2020 resulting from market volatility associated with the COVID-19 crisis. However, at the date of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Company is unable to predict either the potential near-term or longer-term impact that the COVID-19 crisis may have on its financial position and operating results due to numerous uncertainties regarding the duration and severity of the crisis. As a result, it is reasonably possible that the Company could experience material impacts including, but not limited to: reductions in revenue and cash flows; additional credit losses related to accounts receivables; asset impairment charges; and changes in the funded status of defined benefit pension plans. While it is reasonably possible that the COVID-19 crisis will have a material impact on the results of operations and cash flows of the Company in the near term, Moody's believes that it has adequate liquidity to maintain its operations with minimal disruption and to maintain compliance with its debt covenants.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, in order to maximize liquidity and to increase available cash on hand through this period of uncertainty, the Company increased its long-term borrowings by $700 million and began borrowing under its CP Program as more fully discussed in Note 17. At September 30, 2020, the Company had repaid all CP outstanding. In addition, the Company reduced discretionary spending, including temporarily suspending its share repurchase program beginning late in the first quarter of 2020 and spanning through the third quarter. The Company anticipates resuming its share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted on March 27, 2020 in the United States. The Company is utilizing certain provisions in the CARES Act and other IRS guidance which permit the deferral of certain income and payroll tax remittances.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the New Credit Losses Accounting Standard as more fully discussed in Note 1. Accordingly, the Company revised its accounts receivable allowances accounting policy to reflect the provisions of the new standard, which is discussed below along with the capitalized software accounting policy, which was also updated to reflect the New Internal Use Software Accounting Standard. All other significant accounting policies described in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 remain unchanged.

Accounts Receivable Allowances

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” as more fully described in Note 1. As the Company's accounts receivable are short-term in nature, the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to the Company's allowance for bad debts or its policies and procedures for determining the allowance.

In order to determine an estimate of expected credit losses, receivables are segmented based on similar risk characteristics including historical credit loss patterns and industry or class of customers to calculate reserve rates. The Company uses an aging method for developing its allowance for credit losses by which receivable balances are stratified based on aging category. A reserve rate is calculated for each aging category which is generally based on historical information. The reserve rate is adjusted, when necessary, for current conditions (e.g., macroeconomic or industry related) and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The Company also considers customer specific information (e.g., bankruptcy or financial difficulty) when estimating its expected credit losses, as well as the economic environment of the customers, both from an industry and geographic perspective, in evaluating the need for allowances. Expected credit losses are reflected as additions to the accounts receivable allowance. Actual uncollectible account write-offs are recorded against the allowance.

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As of September 30, 2020, Moody's assessment included consideration of the current COVID-19 pandemic and its estimated impact on the Company's accounts receivable allowances. This assessment involved the utilization of significant judgment regarding the expected severity and duration of the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as judgment regarding which industries, classes of customers and geographies would be most significantly impacted.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded a net provision for expected credit losses of $31 million. The increase in the provision for expected credit losses for the current period was primarily attributable to the aforementioned estimated effects of COVID-19.

Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use

The Company capitalizes costs related to software developed or obtained for internal use. These assets, included in property and equipment in the consolidated balance sheets, relate to the Company’s financial systems, website and other systems. Such costs generally consist of direct costs for third-party perpetual license fees, professional services provided by third parties and employee compensation, in each case incurred either during the application development stage or in connection with upgrades and enhancements that increase functionality. Such costs are depreciated over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage of development as well as maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

The Company also capitalizes implementation costs incurred in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) and depreciates the costs over the non-cancellable term of the cloud computing arrangements plus any option renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised or for which the exercise is controlled by the service provider. Following the January 1, 2020 adoption of ASU No. 2018-15, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract" (as further discussed in Note 1), the Company classifies the amortization of capitalized implementation costs in the same line item in the statement of operations as the fees associated with the hosting service (i.e., operating and SG&A expense) and classifies the related payments in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting service (i.e. cash flows from operating activities). In addition, the capitalization of implementation costs is reflected in the balance sheet consistent with the location of prepayment of fees for the hosting element (i.e., within other current assets or other assets). The implementation costs incurred prior to adoption of this ASU have been included within property and equipment, net in the balance sheet with the amortization of such balance included within depreciation and amortization in the statement of operations.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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NOTE 3. REVENUES

Revenue by Category

The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by LOB:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
MIS:
Corporate finance (CFG)
Investment-grade			$	141					$	106					$	576					$	299
High-yield			101						56						275						182
Bank loans			73						90						205						246
Other accounts (1)			146						140						430						408
Total CFG			461						392						1,486						1,135
Structured finance (SFG)
Asset-backed securities			25						25						70						74
RMBS			24						21						74						69
CMBS			15						18						45						56
Structured credit			24						40						74						116
Other accounts			—						1						2						3
Total SFG			88						105						265						318
Financial institutions (FIG)
Banking			95						80						269						244
Insurance			31						31						105						88
Managed investments			6						6						20						20
Other accounts			2						3						7						9
Total FIG			134						120						401						361
Public, project and infrastructure finance (PPIF)
Public finance / sovereign			71						58						192						157
Project and infrastructure			62						62						183						164
Total PPIF			133						120						375						321
Total ratings revenue			816						737						2,527						2,135
MIS Other			9						9						30						20
Total external revenue			825						746						2,557						2,155
Intersegment royalty			38						35						110						100
Total MIS			863						781						2,667						2,255
MA:
Research, data and analytics (RD&A)			386						317						1,110						940
Enterprise risk solutions (ERS)			145						134						414						373
Professional services (PS) (2)			—						43						—						128
Total external revenue			531						494						1,524						1,441
Intersegment revenue			1						2						5						7
Total MA			532						496						1,529						1,448
Eliminations			(39)						(37)						(115)						(107)
Total MCO			$	1,356					$	1,240					$	4,081					$	3,596

(1) Other includes: recurring monitoring fees of a rated debt obligation and/or entities that issue such obligations as well as fees from programs such as commercial paper, medium term notes, and ICRA corporate finance revenue.

(2) Subsequent to the divestiture of MAKS in 2019, revenue from the MALS reporting unit, which previous to 2020 was reported in the PS LOB, is now reported as part of the RD&A LOB. Prior periods have not been reclassified as the amounts were not material.

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The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by LOB and geographic area:

			Three Months Ended September 30, 2020																		Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
			U.S.						Non-U.S						Total						U.S.						Non-U.S						Total
MIS:
Corporate finance (CFG)			$	311					$	150					$	461					$	259					$	133					$	392
Structured finance (SFG)			54						34						88						68						37						105
Financial institutions (FIG)			59						75						134						54						66						120
Public, project and infrastructure finance (PPIF)			82						51						133						73						47						120
Total ratings revenue			506						310						816						454						283						737
MIS Other			—						9						9						—						9						9
Total MIS			506						319						825						454						292						746
MA:
Research, data and analytics (RD&A)			167						219						386						139						178						317
Enterprise risk solutions (ERS)			56						89						145						49						85						134
Professional services (PS) (1)			—						—						—						18						25						43
Total MA			223						308						531						206						288						494
Total MCO			$	729					$	627					$	1,356					$	660					$	580					$	1,240

			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020																		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
			U.S.						Non-U.S						Total						U.S.						Non-U.S						Total
MIS:
Corporate finance (CFG)			$	1,038					$	448					$	1,486					$	744					$	391					$	1,135
Structured finance (SFG)			160						105						265						202						116						318
Financial institutions (FIG)			189						212						401						152						209						361
Public, project and infrastructure finance (PPIF)			237						138						375						202						119						321
Total ratings revenue			1,624						903						2,527						1,300						835						2,135
MIS Other			1						29						30						1						19						20
Total MIS			1,625						932						2,557						1,301						854						2,155
MA:
Research, data and analytics (RD&A)			492						618						1,110						412						528						940
Enterprise risk solutions (ERS)			163						251						414						143						230						373
Professional services (PS) (1)			—						—						—						54						74						128
Total MA			655						869						1,524						609						832						1,441
Total MCO			$	2,280					$	1,801					$	4,081					$	1,910					$	1,686					$	3,596

(1) Subsequent to the divestiture of MAKS in 2019, the RD&A LOB now includes revenue from MALS beginning in the first quarter of 2020. MALS revenue was previously reported as part of the PS LOB and prior year revenue by LOB has not been reclassified as the amounts were not material.

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The following table presents the Company’s reportable segment revenues disaggregated by segment and geographic region:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
MIS:
U.S.			$	506					$	454					$	1,625					$	1,301
Non-U.S.:
EMEA			188						175						542						502
Asia-Pacific			99						78						270						241
Americas			32						39						120						111
Total Non-U.S.			319						292						932						854
Total MIS			825						746						2,557						2,155
MA:
U.S.			223						206						655						609
Non-U.S.:
EMEA			213						187						595						555
Asia-Pacific			57						64						166						174
Americas			38						37						108						103
Total Non-U.S.			308						288						869						832
Total MA			531						494						1,524						1,441
Total MCO			$	1,356					$	1,240					$	4,081					$	3,596

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The following tables summarize the split between transaction and relationship revenue. In the MIS segment, excluding MIS Other, transaction revenue represents the initial rating of a new debt issuance as well as other one-time fees while relationship revenue represents the recurring monitoring fees of a rated debt obligation and/or entities that issue such obligations, as well as revenue from programs such as commercial paper, medium-term notes and shelf registrations. In MIS Other, transaction revenue represents revenue from professional services and outsourcing engagements and relationship revenue represents subscription-based revenues. In the MA segment, relationship revenue represents subscription-based revenues and software maintenance revenue. Transaction revenue in MA represents perpetual software license fees and revenue from software implementation services, risk management advisory projects, training and certification services, and outsourced research and analytical engagements.

			Three Months Ended September 30,
			2020																		2019
			Transaction						Relationship						Total						Transaction						Relationship						Total
Corporate Finance			$	347					$	114					$	461					$	282					$	110					$	392
			75		%				25		%				100		%				72		%				28		%				100		%
Structured Finance			$	41					$	47					$	88					$	58					$	47					$	105
			47		%				53		%				100		%				55		%				45		%				100		%
Financial Institutions			$	67					$	67					$	134					$	56					$	64					$	120
			50		%				50		%				100		%				47		%				53		%				100		%
Public, Project and Infrastructure Finance			$	92					$	41					$	133					$	82					$	38					$	120
			69		%				31		%				100		%				68		%				32		%				100		%
MIS Other			$	1					$	8					$	9					$	—					$	9					$	9
			11		%				89		%				100		%				—		%				100		%				100		%
Total MIS			$	548					$	277					$	825					$	478					$	268					$	746
			66		%				34		%				100		%				64		%				36		%				100		%
Research, data and analytics			$	19					$	367					$	386					$	3					$	314					$	317
			5		%				95		%				100		%				1		%				99		%				100		%
Enterprise risk solutions			$	32					$	113					$	145					$	32					$	102					$	134
			22		%				78		%				100		%				24		%				76		%				100		%
Professional services(2)			$	—					$	—					$	—					$	43					$	—					$	43
			—		%				—		%				—		%				100		%				—		%				100		%
Total MA			$	51					$	480					$	531					$	78					$	416					$	494
			10		%				90		%				100		%				16		%				84		%				100		%
Total Moody's Corporation			$	599					$	757					$	1,356					$	556					$	684					$	1,240
			44		%				56		%				100		%				45		%				55		%				100		%

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			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020																		2019
			Transaction						Relationship						Total						Transaction						Relationship						Total
Corporate Finance			$	1,142					$	344					$	1,486					$	808					$	327					$	1,135
			77		%				23		%				100		%				71		%				29		%				100		%
Structured Finance			$	126					$	139					$	265					$	184					$	134					$	318
			48		%				52		%				100		%				58		%				42		%				100		%
Financial Institutions			$	203					$	198					$	401					$	165					$	196					$	361
			51		%				49		%				100		%				46		%				54		%				100		%
Public, Project and Infrastructure Finance			$	257					$	118					$	375					$	208					$	113					$	321
			69		%				31		%				100		%				65		%				35		%				100		%
MIS Other			$	3					$	27					$	30					$	1					$	19					$	20
			10		%				90		%				100		%				5		%				95		%				100		%
Total MIS			$	1,731					$	826					$	2,557					$	1,366					$	789					$	2,155
			68		%				32		%				100		%				63		%				37		%				100		%
Research, data and analytics			$	53					$	1,057					$	1,110					$	12					$	928					$	940
			5		%				95		%				100		%				1		%				99		%				100		%
Enterprise risk solutions			$	90					$	324					$	414					$	79					$	294					$	373
			22		%				78		%				100		%				21		%				79		%				100		%
Professional services(2)			$	—					$	—					$	—					$	128					$	—					$	128
			—		%				—		%				—		%				100		%				—		%				100		%
Total MA			$	143		(1)			$	1,381					$	1,524					$	219		(1)			$	1,222					$	1,441
			9		%				91		%				100		%				15		%				85		%				100		%
Total Moody's Corporation			$	1,874					$	2,207					$	4,081					$	1,585					$	2,011					$	3,596
			46		%				54		%				100		%				44		%				56		%				100		%

(1) Revenue from software implementation services and risk management advisory projects, while classified by management as transactional revenue, is recognized over time under the Revenue Accounting Standard (please also refer to the following table).

(2) Subsequent to the divestiture of MAKS in 2019, the RD&A LOB now includes revenue from MALS beginning in the first quarter of 2020. MALS revenue was previously reported as part of the PS LOB and prior year revenue by LOB has not been reclassified as the amounts were not material.

The following table presents the timing of revenue recognition:

			Three Months Ended September 30, 2020																		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
			MIS						MA						Total						MIS						MA						Total
Revenue recognized at a point in time			$	548					$	30					$	578					$	1,731					$	89					$	1,820
Revenue recognized over time			277						501						778						826						1,435						2,261
Total			$	825					$	531					$	1,356					$	2,557					$	1,524					$	4,081

			Three Months Ended September 30, 2019																		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
			MIS						MA						Total						MIS						MA						Total
Revenue recognized at a point in time			$	478					$	31					$	509					$	1,366					$	83					$	1,449
Revenue recognized over time			268						463						731						789						1,358						2,147
Total			$	746					$	494					$	1,240					$	2,155					$	1,441					$	3,596

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Unbilled receivables, deferred revenue and remaining performance obligations

Unbilled receivables

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, accounts receivable, net included $404 million and $346 million, respectively, of unbilled receivables, net related to the MIS segment. Certain MIS arrangements contain contractual terms whereby the customers are billed in arrears for annual monitoring services, requiring revenue to be accrued as an unbilled receivable as such services are provided.

In addition, for certain MA arrangements, the timing of when the Company has the unconditional right to consideration and recognizes revenue occurs prior to invoicing the customer. Consequently, at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, accounts receivable, net included $89 million and $53 million, respectively, of unbilled receivables, net related to the MA segment.

Deferred revenue

The Company recognizes deferred revenue when a contract requires a customer to pay consideration to the Company in advance of when revenue related to that contract is recognized. This deferred revenue is relieved when the Company satisfies the related performance obligation and revenue is recognized.

Significant changes in the deferred revenue balances during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 are as follows:

			Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
			MIS						MA						Total
Balance at June 30, 2020			$	365					$	740					$	1,105
Changes in deferred revenue
Revenue recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period			(118)						(347)						(465)
Increases due to amounts billable excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period			83						273						356
Effect of exchange rate changes			5						19						24
Total changes in deferred revenue			(30)						(55)						(85)
Balance at September 30, 2020			$	335					$	685					$	1,020

			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
			MIS						MA						Total
Balance at January 1, 2020			$	322					$	840					$	1,162
Changes in deferred revenue
Revenue recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period			(207)						(781)						(988)
Increases due to amounts billable excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period			219						607						826
Increases due to RDC acquisition during the period			—						20						20
Effect of exchange rate changes			1						(1)						—
Total changes in deferred revenue			13						(155)						(142)
Balance at September 30, 2020			$	335					$	685					$	1,020
Deferred revenue - current			$	237					$	681					$	918
Deferred revenue - noncurrent			$	98					$	4					$	102

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			Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
			MIS						MA						Total
Balance at June 30, 2019			$	376					$	695					$	1,071
Changes in deferred revenue
Revenue recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period			(111)						(344)						(455)
Increases due to amounts billable excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period			82						290						372
Effect of exchange rate changes			(3)						(14)						(17)
Total changes in deferred revenue			(32)						(68)						(100)
Balance at September 30, 2019			$	344					$	627					$	971

			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
			MIS						MA						Total
Balance at January 1, 2019			$	326					$	750					$	1,076
Changes in deferred revenue
Revenue recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period			(191)						(687)						(878)
Increases due to amounts billable excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period			212						576						788
Amount included in liabilities reclassified as held for sale			—						(3)						(3)
Effect of exchange rate changes			(3)						(9)						(12)
Total changes in deferred revenue			18						(123)						(105)
Balance at September 30, 2019			$	344					$	627					$	971
Deferred revenue - current			$	234					$	622					856
Deferred revenue - noncurrent			$	110					$	5					115

For the MIS segment, the changes in the deferred revenue balance during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were primarily related to the significant portion of contract renewals that occur during the first quarter of each year and are generally recognized over a one-year period.

For the MA segment, the decrease in deferred revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was primarily due to the recognition of annual subscription and maintenance billings from December and January of each year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the decrease in the deferred revenue balance is attributable to recognition of revenues related to the aforementioned December billings being partially offset by the impact of the high concentration of January billings.

Remaining performance obligations

Remaining performance obligations in the MIS segment largely reflect deferred revenue related to monitoring fees for certain structured finance products, primarily CMBS, where the issuers can elect to pay the monitoring fees for the life of the security in advance. As of September 30, 2020, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $136 million. The Company expects to recognize into revenue approximately 20% of this balance within one year, approximately 50% of this balance between one to five years and the remaining amount thereafter. With respect to the remaining performance obligations for the MIS segment, the Company has applied a practical expedient set forth in ASC Topic 606 permitting the omission from the amounts stated above relating to unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less.

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Remaining performance obligations in the MA segment include both amounts recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet as of September 30, 2020 as well as amounts not yet invoiced to customers as of September 30, 2020, largely reflecting future revenue related to signed multi-year arrangements for hosted and installed subscription-based products. As of September 30, 2020, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $1.8 billion. The Company expects to recognize into revenue approximately 60% of this balance within one year, approximately 25% of this balance between one to two years and the remaining amount thereafter.

NOTE 4. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Presented below is a summary of the stock-based compensation cost and associated tax benefit included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Stock-based compensation cost			$	38					$	33					$	110					$	103
Tax benefit			$	8					$	7					$	22					$	22

During the first nine months of 2020, the Company granted 0.1 million employee stock options, which had a weighted average grant date fair value of $60.66 per share based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company also granted 0.5 million shares of restricted stock in the first nine months of 2020, which had a weighted average grant date fair value of $278.92 per share. Both the employee stock options and restricted stock generally vest ratably over four years. Additionally, the Company granted 0.1 million shares of performance-based awards whereby the number of shares that ultimately vest are based on the achievement of certain non-market-based performance metrics of the Company over three years. The weighted average grant date fair value of these awards was $273.81 per share.

The following weighted average assumptions were used in determining the fair value for options granted in 2020:

Expected dividend yield			0.80 %
Expected stock volatility			22.52 %
Risk-free interest rate			1.43 %
Expected holding period			5.7 years

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense at September 30, 2020 was $8 million and $192 million for stock options and unvested restricted stock, respectively, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years and 2.5 years, respectively. Additionally, there was $34 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense relating to the aforementioned non-market-based performance-based awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.

The following tables summarize information relating to stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting:

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019
Exercise of stock options:
Proceeds from stock option exercises			$	32					$	29
Aggregate intrinsic value			$	102					$	99
Tax benefit realized upon exercise			$	24					$	24
Number of shares exercised			0.5						0.7
Vesting of restricted stock:
Fair value of shares vested			$	195					$	153
Tax benefit realized upon vesting			$	45					$	36
Number of shares vested			0.8						0.8
Vesting of performance-based restricted stock:
Fair value of shares vested			$	70					$	48
Tax benefit realized upon vesting			$	17					$	12
Number of shares vested			0.3						0.3

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NOTE 5. INCOME TAXES

Moody’s ETR was 22.0% and 25.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 20.0% and 21.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in the ETR for the three month period ended September 30, 2020 was primarily due to a tax benefit recognized from a corporate reorganization outside of the U.S. in the third quarter of 2020 and a detriment from a non-U.S. tax rate change in the third quarter of 2019 which did not recur to the same extent in 2020. The Company’s year to date tax expense differs from the tax computed by applying its estimated annual effective tax rate to the year to date pre-tax earnings due to Excess Tax Benefits from stock compensation of $52 million and net reductions to tax positions of $43 million.

The Company classifies interest related to UTPs in interest expense, net in its consolidated statements of operations. Penalties, if incurred, would be recognized in other non-operating (expense) income, net. The Company had an increase in its UTPs of $17 million ($16 million, net of federal tax) during the third quarter of 2020 and a net decrease in UTPs during the first nine months of 2020 of $6 million ($7 million, net of federal tax).

Moody’s Corporation and subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for 2019 remains open to examination and 2017 and 2018 are currently under examination. The Company’s New York State tax returns for 2011 through 2016 are currently under examination and the Company’s New York City tax return for 2014 through 2017 are currently under examination. The Company’s U.K. tax return for 2012 is currently under examination and its returns for 2013 through 2018 remain open to examination.

For ongoing audits, it is possible the balance of UTPs could decrease in the next twelve months as a result of the settlement of these audits, which might involve the payment of additional taxes, the adjustment of certain deferred taxes and/or the recognition of tax benefits. It is also possible that new issues might be raised by tax authorities which could necessitate increases to the balance of UTPs. As the Company is unable to predict the timing or outcome of these audits, it is therefore unable to estimate the amount of changes to the balance of UTPs at this time. However, the Company believes that it has adequately provided for its financial exposure relating to all open tax years by tax jurisdiction in accordance with the applicable provisions of Topic 740 of the ASC regarding UTPs.

The following table shows the amount the Company paid for income taxes:

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019
Income taxes paid			$	374					$	303

NOTE 6. WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

Below is a reconciliation of basic to diluted shares outstanding:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Basic			187.8						189.0						187.6						189.6
Dilutive effect of shares issuable under stock-based compensation plans			1.5						2.1						1.7						2.2
Diluted			189.3						191.1						189.3						191.8
Anti-dilutive options to purchase common shares and restricted stock as well as contingently issuable restricted stock which are excluded from the table above			0.3						0.2						0.3						0.3

The calculation of diluted EPS requires certain assumptions regarding the use of both cash proceeds and assumed proceeds that would be received upon the exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.

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NOTE 7. ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

On February 20, 2019, the Company entered into an ASR agreement with a financial institution counterparty to repurchase $500 million of its outstanding common stock. The Company paid $500 million to the counterparty and received an initial delivery of 2.2 million shares of its common stock. Final settlement of the ASR agreement was completed on April 26, 2019 and the Company received delivery of an additional 0.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock.

In total, the Company repurchased 2.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock during the term of the ASR Agreement, based on the volume-weighted average price (net of discount) of $180.33 per share over the duration of the program. The initial share repurchase and final share settlement were recorded as a reduction to shareholders’ equity.

NOTE 8. CASH EQUIVALENTS AND INVESTMENTS

The table below provides additional information on the Company’s cash equivalents and investments:

			As of September 30, 2020
																					Balance sheet location
			Cost						Gains/(Losses)						Fair Value						Cash and cash equivalents						Short-term investments						Other assets
Certificates of deposit and money market deposit accounts (1)			$	1,387					$	—					$	1,387					$	1,284					$	96					$	7
Mutual funds			$	47					$	3					$	50					$	—					$	—					$	50

			As of December 31, 2019
																					Balance sheet location
			Cost						Gains/(Losses)						Fair Value						Cash and cash equivalents						Short-term investments						Other assets
Certificates of deposit and money market deposit accounts (1)			$	971					$	—					$	971					$	866					$	95					$	10
Mutual funds			$	3					$	—					$	3					$	—					$	3					$	—

(1) Consists of time deposits and money market deposit accounts. The remaining contractual maturities for the certificates of deposits classified as short-term investments were one month to 12 months at both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The remaining contractual maturities for the certificates of deposits classified in other assets are 13 months to 22 months at September 30, 2020 and 13 months to 18 months at December 31, 2019. Time deposits with a maturity of less than 90 days at time of purchase are classified as cash and cash equivalents.

In addition, the Company invested in Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (COLI) in the first quarter of 2020. As of September 30, 2020, the contract value of the COLI was $14 million.

NOTE 9. ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

The business combinations described below are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting whereby assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recognized at fair value on the date of the transaction. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded to goodwill. Goodwill typically results through expected synergies from combining operations of an acquiree and an acquirer, anticipated new customer acquisition and products, as well as from intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition.

RDC

On February 13, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of RDC, a provider of anti-money laundering and know-your-customer data and due diligence services.

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The table below details the total consideration relating to the acquisition:

Cash paid at closing						$	700
Additional consideration paid to sellers in 2020 (1)						2
Total consideration						$	702

(1) Represents additional consideration paid to the sellers following finalization of customary post-closing completion adjustments.

Shown below is the preliminary purchase price allocation, which summarizes the fair value of the assets and liabilities assumed, at the date of acquisition:

(Amounts in millions)
Current assets									$	24
Intangible assets:
Customer relationships (25 year weighted average life)			$	174
Database (10 year weighted average life)			86
Product technology (4 year weighted average life)			17
Trade name (3 year weighted average life)			3
Total intangible assets (19 year weighted average life)									280
Goodwill									494
Other assets									2
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			$	(5)
Deferred revenue			(20)
Deferred tax liabilities			(71)
Other liabilities			(2)
Total liabilities									(98)
Net assets acquired									$	702

The Company has performed a preliminary valuation analysis of the fair market value of assets and liabilities of the RDC business. The final purchase price allocation will be determined when the Company has completed and fully reviewed the detailed valuations. The final allocation could differ materially from the preliminary allocation. The final allocation may include changes in allocations to acquired intangible assets as well as goodwill and other changes to assets and liabilities including reserves for UTPs and deferred tax liabilities. The estimated useful lives of acquired intangibles assets are also preliminary.

Current assets in the table above include acquired cash of $6 million. Additionally, current assets include accounts receivable of approximately $14 million.

Goodwill

The goodwill recognized as a result of this acquisition includes, among other things, the value of combining the complementary product portfolios of the Company and RDC, which is expected to extend the Company’s reach to new and evolving market segments as well as cost savings synergies, expected new customer acquisitions and products.

Goodwill, which has been assigned to the MA segment, is not deductible for tax purposes.

RDC is a component of the Bureau van Dijk reporting unit for purposes of the Company’s annual goodwill impairment assessment.

Transaction costs

Transaction costs directly related to the RDC acquisition were not material.

Other Acquisitions and Strategic Initiatives

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company increased its stake in Vigeo Eiris, a provider of ESG research, data and assessments, from 69.2% to 99.8%. The purchase price for the additional stake was not material. Vigeo Eiris revenue is reported in the MIS Other LOB.

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NOTE 10. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company is exposed to global market risks, including risks from changes in FX rates and changes in interest rates. Accordingly, the Company uses derivatives in certain instances to manage the aforementioned financial exposures that occur in the normal course of business. The Company does not hold or issue derivatives for speculative purposes.

Derivatives and non-derivative instruments designated as accounting hedges:

Fair Value Hedges

Interest Rate Swaps

The Company has entered into interest rate swaps to convert the fixed interest rate on certain of its long-term debt to a floating interest rate based on the 3-month LIBOR and 6-month LIBOR. The purpose of these hedges is to mitigate the risk associated with changes in the fair value of the long-term debt, thus the Company has designated these swaps as fair value hedges. The fair value of the swaps is adjusted quarterly with a corresponding adjustment to the carrying value of the debt. The changes in the fair value of the swaps and the underlying hedged item generally offset and the net cash settlements on the swaps are recorded each period within interest expense, net in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

The following table summarizes the Company’s interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges:

												Notional Amount
Hedged Item						Nature of Swap						As of September 30, 2020						As of December 31, 2019						Floating Interest Rate
2012 Senior Notes due 2022						Pay Floating/Receive Fixed						$	330					$	330					3-month USD LIBOR
2017 Senior Notes due 2021(1)						Pay Floating/Receive Fixed						$	—					$	500					3-month USD LIBOR
2017 Senior Notes due 2023						Pay Floating/Receive Fixed						$	250					$	250					3-month USD LIBOR
2017 Senior Notes due 2028						Pay Floating/Receive Fixed						$	500					$	—					3-month USD LIBOR
2020 Senior Notes due 2025 (2)						Pay Floating/Receive Fixed						$	300					$	—					6-month USD LIBOR
Total												$	1,380					$	1,080

(1) These interest rates swaps were terminated in conjunction with the repayment of the 2017 Senior Notes due 2021 in the third quarter of 2020.

(2) These interest rate swaps were executed in the third quarter of 2020.

Refer to Note 17 for information on the cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments included in the carrying amount of the above hedged items.

The following table summarizes the impact to the statement of operations of the Company’s interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges:

Total amounts of financial statement line item presented in the statements of operations in which the effects of fair value hedges are recorded												Amount of income/(loss) recognized in the consolidated statements of operations
												Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
												2020						2019						2020						2019
Interest expense, net												$	(53)					$	(46)					$	(153)					$	(149)
Descriptions						Location on Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net interest settlements and accruals on interest rate swaps						Interest expense, net						$	6					$	1					$	14					$	1
Fair value changes on interest rate swaps						Interest expense, net						$	(7)					$	2					$	53					$	33
Fair value changes on hedged debt						Interest expense, net						$	7					$	(2)					$	(53)					$	(33)

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Net investment hedges

The Company has designated €500 million of the 2015 Senior Notes Due 2027 and €750 million of the 2019 Senior Notes due 2030 as net investment hedges to mitigate FX exposure related to a portion of the Company’s euro net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries against changes in euro/USD exchange rates. These hedges are designated as accounting hedges under the applicable sections of ASC Topic 815 and will end upon the repayment of the notes in 2027 and 2030, respectively, unless terminated early at the discretion of the Company.

The Company enters into cross-currency swaps to mitigate FX exposure related to a portion of the Company’s euro net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries against changes in euro/USD exchange rates. The following table provides information on the cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges under ASC Topic 815:

September 30, 2020
						Pay												Receive
Nature of Swap						Notional Amount						Weighted Average Interest Rate						Notional Amount						Weighted Average Interest Rate
Pay Fixed/Receive Fixed						€	1,079					1.43%						$	1,220					3.96%
Pay Floating/Receive Floating						959						Based on 3-month EURIBOR						1,080						Based on 3-month USD LIBOR
Total						€	2,038											$	2,300

December 31, 2019
						Pay												Receive
Nature of Swap						Notional Amount						Weighted Average Interest Rate						Notional Amount						Weighted Average Interest Rate
Pay Fixed/Receive Fixed						€	1,079					1.43%						$	1,220					3.96%
Pay Floating/Receive Floating						931						Based on 3-month EURIBOR						1,080						Based on 3-month USD LIBOR
Total						€	2,010											$	2,300

As of September 30, 2020, these hedges will expire and be settled in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026 for €265 million, €438 million, €442 million, €443 million, and €450 million of the total notional amount, respectively, unless terminated early at the discretion of the Company.

During the third quarter of 2020, the Company early-terminated €422.5 million notional value of cross-currency swaps (set to expire in 2021), resulting in immaterial cash proceeds.

The Company also enters into forward contracts to mitigate FX exposure related to a portion of the Company’s euro net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries against changes in euro/USD exchange rates. The following table summarizes the notional amounts of the Company's outstanding forward contract that was designated as a net investment hedge:

						September 30, 2020												December 31, 2019
Notional amount of net investment hedges						Sell						Buy						Sell						Buy
Contract to sell EUR for USD						€	247					$	292					—						—

This forward contract will expire in November 2020.

Cash Flow Hedge

Interest Rate Forward Contracts

In January 2020, the Company entered into $300 million notional amount treasury rate locks with an average locked-in U.S. 30-year Treasury rate of 2.0103%, which were designated as cash flow hedges and used to manage the Company’s interest rate risk during the period prior to an anticipated issuance of 30-year debt. The treasury lock interest rate forward contracts matured on April 30, 2020, resulting in a cumulative loss of $68 million, which was recognized in AOCL. The loss on the Treasury rate lock will be reclassified from AOCL to earnings in the same period that the hedged transaction (i.e. interest payments on the 3.25% 2020 Senior Notes, due 2050) impacts earnings.

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The following tables provide information on the gains/(losses) on the Company’s net investment and cash flow hedges:

Derivative and Non-Derivative Instruments in Net Investment Hedging Relationships						Amount of Gain/(Loss) Recognized in AOCL on Derivative, net of Tax												Amount of Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income, net of Tax												Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
						Three Months Ended September 30,												Three Months Ended September 30,												Three Months Ended September 30,
						2020						2019						2020						2019						2020						2019
FX forward contracts						$	1					$	5					$	—					$	1					$	—					$	—
Cross currency swaps						(98)						79						—						—						10						15
Long-term debt						(46)						18						—						—						—						—
Total net investment hedges						$	(143)					$	102					$	—					$	1					$	10					$	15
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Interest rate contracts						(1)						—						(1)						—						—						—
Total cash flow hedges						$	(1)					$	—					$	(1)					$	—					$	—					$	—
Total						$	(144)					$	102					$	(1)					$	1					$	10					$	15

Derivative and Non-Derivative Instruments in Net Investment Hedging Relationships						Amount of Gain/(Loss) Recognized in AOCL on Derivative, net of Tax												Amount of Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income, net of Tax												Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
						Nine Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
						2020						2019						2020						2019						2020						2019
FX forward contracts						$	1					$	5					$	—					$	1					$	—					$	—
Cross currency swaps						(81)						75						—						—						40						37
Long-term debt						(47)						17						—						—						—						—
Total net investment hedges						$	(127)					$	97					$	—					$	1					$	40					$	37
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Interest rate contracts						(51)						—						(2)						—						—						—
Total cash flow hedges						$	(51)					$	—					$	(2)					$	—					$	—					$	—
Total						$	(178)					$	97					$	(2)					$	1					$	40					$	37

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The cumulative amount of net investment hedge and cash flow hedge gains (losses) remaining in AOCL is as follows:

			Cumulative Gains/(Losses), net of tax
			September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
Net investment hedges
Cross currency swaps			$	(40)					$	41
FX forwards			27						26
Long-term debt			(60)						(13)
Total net investment hedges			$	(73)					$	54
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate contracts			$	(51)					$	(2)
Cross currency swaps			2						2
Total cash flow hedges			(49)						—
Total net (loss) gain in AOCL			$	(122)					$	54

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges:

Foreign exchange forwards

The Company also enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to mitigate the change in fair value on certain assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than a subsidiary’s functional currency. These forward contracts are not designated as accounting hedges under the applicable sections of Topic 815 of the ASC. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these contracts are recognized immediately in other non-operating income, net in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations along with the FX gain or loss recognized on the assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the subsidiary’s functional currency. These contracts have expiration dates at various times through November 2020.

The following table summarizes the notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding foreign exchange forwards:

			September 30, 2020												December 31, 2019
Notional amount of currency pair:			Sell						Buy						Sell						Buy
Contracts to sell USD for GBP			$	320					£	254					$	235					£	178
Contracts to sell USD for Japanese Yen			$	10					¥	1,000					$	29					¥	3,200
Contracts to sell USD for Canadian dollars			$	105					C$	140					$	83					C$	110
Contracts to sell USD for Singapore dollars			$	58					S$	79					$	41					S$	56
Contracts to sell USD for Euros			$	530					€	452					$	421					€	378
Contracts to sell Euros for GBP			€	53					£	48					€	25					£	21
Contracts to sell USD for Russian Ruble			$	9					₽	670					$	—					₽	—
Contracts to sell USD for Indian Rupee			$	18					₹	1,350					$	—					₹	—

NOTE: € = Euro, £ = British pound, $ = U.S. dollar, ¥ = Japanese Yen, C$ = Canadian dollar, S$= Singapore dollars, ₽= Russian Ruble, ₹= Indian Rupee

The following table summarizes the impact to the consolidated statements of operations relating to the net losses on the Company’s derivatives which are not designated as hedging instruments:

Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges						Location on Statement of Operations						Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
												2020						2019						2020						2019
Foreign exchange forwards						Other non-operating income, net						$	36					$	(26)					$	1					$	(35)

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The table below shows the classification between assets and liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the fair value of the derivative instrument as well as the carrying value of its non-derivative debt instruments designated and qualifying as net investment hedges:

						Derivative and Non-Derivative Instruments
						Balance Sheet Location						September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
Assets:
Derivatives designated as accounting hedges:
Cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges						Other assets						$	9					$	56
Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges						Other assets						63						27
FX forwards designated as net investment hedges						Other current assets						2						—
Total derivatives designated as accounting hedges												74						83
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges:
FX forwards on certain assets and liabilities						Other current assets						5						9
Total assets												$	79					$	92
Liabilities:
Derivatives designated as accounting hedges:
Cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges						Other liabilities						$	63					$	—
Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges						Other liabilities						1						—
Total derivatives designated as accounting hedges												64						—
Non-derivatives designated as accounting hedges:
Long-term debt designated as net investment hedge						Long-term debt						1,465						1,403
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges:
FX forwards on certain assets and liabilities						Accounts payable and accrued liabilities						5						—
Total liabilities												$	1,534					$	1,403

NOTE 11. GOODWILL AND OTHER ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following table summarizes the activity in goodwill for the periods indicated:

			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
			MIS																		MA																		Consolidated
			Gross goodwill						Accumulated impairment charge						Net goodwill						Gross goodwill						Accumulated impairment charge						Net goodwill						Gross goodwill						Accumulated impairment charge						Net goodwill
Balance at beginning of year			$	315					$	—					$	315					$	3,419					$	(12)					$	3,407					$	3,734					$	(12)					$	3,722
Additions/ adjustments (1)			(2)						—						(2)						497						—						497						495						—						495
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(11)						—						(11)						76						—						76						65						—						65
Ending balance			$	302					$	—					$	302					$	3,992					$	(12)					$	3,980					$	4,294					$	(12)					$	4,282

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			Year Ended December 31, 2019
			MIS																		MA																		Consolidated
			Gross goodwill						Accumulated impairment charge						Net goodwill						Gross goodwill						Accumulated impairment charge						Net goodwill						Gross goodwill						Accumulated impairment charge						Net goodwill
Balance at beginning of year			$	258					$	—					$	258					$	3,535					$	(12)					$	3,523					$	3,793					$	(12)					$	3,781
Additions/ adjustments (2)			53						—						53						61						—						61						114						—						114
Foreign currency translation adjustments			4						—						4						(14)						—						(14)						(10)						—						(10)
Divestiture of MAKS			—						—						—						(163)						—						(163)						(163)						—						(163)
Ending balance			$	315					$	—					$	315					$	3,419					$	(12)					$	3,407					$	3,734					$	(12)					$	3,722

(1) The 2020 additions/adjustments for the MA segment in the table above primarily relate to the acquisitions of RDC and RBA.

(2) The 2019 additions/adjustments for the MIS segment in the table above relate to the acquisitions of Vigeo Eiris and Four Twenty Seven. The 2019 additions/adjustments for the MA segment in the table above relate to the acquisition of RiskFirst and ABS Suite.

Acquired intangible assets and related amortization consisted of:

			September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
Customer relationships			$	1,524					$	1,325
Accumulated amortization			(287)						(235)
Net customer relationships			1,237						1,090
Trade secrets			30						30
Accumulated amortization			(29)						(29)
Net trade secrets			1						1
Software/product technology			378						372
Accumulated amortization			(152)						(131)
Net software/product technology			226						241
Trade names			152						150
Accumulated amortization			(35)						(30)
Net trade names			117						120
Other (1)			182						80
Accumulated amortization			(46)						(34)
Net other			136						46
Total acquired intangible assets, net			$	1,717					$	1,498

(1) Other intangible assets primarily consist of databases, covenants not to compete, and acquired ratings methodologies and models.

Amortization expense relating to acquired intangible assets is as follows:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Amortization expense			$	31					$	24					$	90					$	77

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Estimated future amortization expense for acquired intangible assets subject to amortization is as follows:

Year Ending December 31,
2020 (After September 30,)						$	31
2021						121
2022						120
2023						116
2024						108
Thereafter						1,221
Total estimated future amortization						$	1,717

Matters concerning the ICRA reporting unit

On August 29, 2019, the board of directors of ICRA terminated the employment of ICRA's CEO and on September 28, 2019, the shareholders of ICRA voted to remove the former CEO from his position on ICRA's board of directors. ICRA appointed a new Managing Director & Group CEO effective August 10, 2020. ICRA has reported that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued an adjudication order dated December 26, 2019 imposing a penalty of INR 25 lakh (approximately $35,000) on ICRA in connection with credit ratings assigned to one of ICRA’s customers and the customer’s subsidiaries. ICRA has further reported that: (i) it is appealing that order; and (ii) it had received a related "show cause" notice from SEBI asking ICRA to demonstrate why the penalty imposed should not be increased. In an order dated September 22, 2020, SEBI increased the penalty imposed on ICRA from INR 25 lakh to INR 1 crore (approximately $140,000). In addition, ICRA has disclosed that it has completed its internal examinations into anonymous allegations that were forwarded to ICRA by SEBI and certain additional allegations made during the course of that examination while an examination into a separate anonymous complaint is ongoing. ICRA reported that its Board of Directors is in the process of taking appropriate actions based on the findings of the completed examinations. As of the date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Company is unable to estimate the financial impact, if any, that may result from a potential unfavorable conclusion of these matters or any other ICRA inquiry. An unfavorable resolution of such matters may negatively impact ICRA’s future operating results, which could result in an impairment of goodwill and amortizable intangible assets in future quarters.

NOTE 12. RESTRUCTURING

On July 29, 2020, the chief executive officer of Moody’s approved a restructuring program (the “2020 Restructuring Program”) primarily in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which revolves around the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases. The exit from certain leased office space began in the third quarter of 2020 and is anticipated to be substantially completed during the first half of 2021. The 2020 Restructuring Program is estimated to result in total pre-tax charges of $25 to $35 million, which primarily reflect non-cash charges related to the impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets and leasehold improvements. Approximately $25 to $30 million of this amount is expected to be recorded in the second half of 2020. The 2020 Restructuring Program is expected to result in an estimated annualized savings of approximately $5 to $6 million a year.

On October 26, 2018, the chief executive officer of Moody’s approved a restructuring program (the “2018 Restructuring Program”) that the Company estimates will result in annualized savings of approximately $60 million per year. The 2018 Restructuring Program, the scope of which was expanded in the second quarter of 2019, is estimated to result in total pre-tax charges of $105 to $110 million. The 2018 Restructuring Program included relocation of certain functions from high-cost to lower-cost jurisdictions, a reduction of staff, including from acquisitions and pursuant to a review of the business criticality of certain positions, and the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases due to consolidation of various business activities. The exit from certain leased office space began in the fourth quarter of 2018 and resulted in approximately $50 million of the charges to either terminate or sublease the affected real estate leases. The 2018 Restructuring Program also included approximately $60 million of personnel-related restructuring charges, an amount that includes severance and related costs primarily determined under the Company’s existing severance plans. Cash outlays associated with the employee termination cost component of the 2018 Restructuring Program are anticipated to be approximately $60 million, which will be paid through 2021. The remaining restructuring liability relating to the 2018 Restructuring Program was not material as of September 30, 2020.

Total expenses included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations relating to the 2018 Restructuring Program and 2020 Restructuring Program are as follows:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
2018 Restructuring Program			$	—					$	(1)					$	(3)					$	58
2020 Restructuring Program (1)			23						—						23						—
Total Restructuring			$	23					$	(1)					$	20					$	58

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(1) Consists of a non-cash charge relating to the impairment of leasehold improvements and ROU Assets. The fair value of the impaired ROU Assets was determined by utilizing the present value of the estimated future cash flows attributable to the assets. The fair value of these ROU assets immediately subsequent to the impairment was $10 million, and is categorized as Level 3 within the ASC Topic 820 fair value hierarchy.

NOTE 13. FAIR VALUE    

The table below presents information about items that are carried at fair value at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

			Fair value Measurement as of September 30, 2020
Description			Balance						Level 1						Level 2
Assets:
Derivatives (1)			$	79					$	—					$	79
Mutual funds			50						50						—
Total			$	129					$	50					$	79
Liabilities:
Derivatives (1)			$	69					$	—					$	69
Total			$	69					$	—					$	69

			Fair value Measurement as of December 31, 2019
Description			Balance						Level 1						Level 2
Assets:
Derivatives (1)			$	92					$	—					$	92
Mutual funds			3						3						—
Total			$	95					$	3					$	92

(1)Represents FX forwards on certain assets and liabilities as well as interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps and forward contracts as more fully described in Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The following are descriptions of the methodologies utilized by the Company to estimate the fair value of its derivative contracts, mutual funds and money market mutual funds:

Derivatives:

In determining the fair value of the derivative contracts in the table above, the Company utilizes industry standard valuation models. Where applicable, these models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using spot rates, forward points, currency volatilities, interest rates as well as the risk of non-performance of the Company and the counterparties with whom it has derivative contracts. The Company established strict counterparty credit guidelines and only enters into transactions with financial institutions that adhere to these guidelines. Accordingly, the risk of counterparty default is deemed to be minimal.

Mutual funds and money market mutual funds:

The mutual funds in the table above are deemed to be equity securities with readily determinable fair values with changes in the fair value recognized through net income under ASC Topic 321. The fair value of these instruments is determined using Level 1 inputs as defined in the ASC Topic 820.

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NOTE 14. OTHER BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION

The following tables contain additional detail related to certain balance sheet captions:

			September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
Other current assets:
Prepaid taxes			$	121					$	79
Prepaid expenses			77						71
Capitalized costs to obtain and fulfill sales contracts			80						91
Other			55						89
Total other current assets			$	333					$	330
Other assets:
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates			$	123					$	117
Deposits for real-estate leases			16						13
Indemnification assets related to acquisitions			16						16
Mutual funds and fixed deposits			54						10
Company owned life insurance (at contract value)			14						—
Costs to obtain sales contracts			118						119
Cross currency and interest rate swaps			72						83
Other			55						31
Total other assets			$	468					$	389
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Salaries and benefits			$	131					$	152
Incentive compensation			160						208
Customer credits, advanced payments and advanced billings			44						28
Dividends			7						7
Professional service fees			51						43
Interest accrued on debt			43						63
Accounts payable			26						38
Income taxes			97						73
Pension and other retirement employee benefits			7						7
Accrued royalties			13						25
Foreign exchange forwards on certain assets and liabilities			5						—
Restructuring liability			4						21
Other			124						108
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities			$	712					$	773

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			September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
Other liabilities:
Pension and other retirement employee benefits			$	214					$	299
Interest accrued on UTPs			107						82
MAKS indemnification provisions			33						43
Income tax liability - non-current portion			51						51
Cross currency and interest rate swaps			64						—
Restructuring liability			2						3
Other			27						26
Total other liabilities			$	498					$	504

Loss pursuant to the Divestiture of MAKS:

The $2 million and $11 million loss during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $9 million loss during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 relates to the strategic divestiture of MAKS.

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense):

The following table summarizes the components of other non-operating income (expense):

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
FX gain (loss)			$	2					$	1					$	7					$	(15)
Net periodic pension costs - other components			3						4						10						13
Income from investments in non-consolidated affiliates			4						4						4						11
Other			1						1						17						3
Total			$	10					$	10					$	38					$	12

NOTE 15. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

The following table provides details about the reclassifications out of AOCL:

Losses on cash flow hedges			Three Months Ended September 30, 2020						Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020						Location in the consolidated statement of operations
Interest rate contract			$	—					$	(1)					Other non-operating expense, net
Income tax effect of items above			—						—						Provision for income taxes
Total net losses on cash flow hedges			—						(1)
Pension and other retirement benefits
Amortization of actuarial losses and prior service costs included in net income			(1)						(3)						Operating expense
Amortization of actuarial losses and prior service costs included in net income			(1)						(2)						SG&A expense
Total before income taxes			(2)						(5)
Income tax effect of item above			—						1						Provision for income taxes
Total pension and other retirement benefits			(2)						(4)
Total net losses included in Net Income attributable to reclassifications out of AOCL			$	(2)					$	(5)

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															Location in the consolidated statement of operations
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges			Three Months Ended September 30, 2019						Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Cross-currency swap			$	—					$	—					Other non-operating income, net
Interest rate contract			—						—						Interest expense, net
Total before income taxes			—						—
Income tax effect of items above			—						—						Provision for income taxes
Total net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges			—						—
Gains on net investment hedges
FX forwards			1						1						Other non-operating income, net
Income tax effect of item above			—						—						Provision for income taxes
Total net gains on net investment hedges			1						1
Pension and other retirement benefits
Amortization of actuarial losses and prior service costs included in net income			(1)						(2)						Operating expense
Amortization of actuarial losses and prior service costs included in net income			—						(1)						SG&A expense
Total before income taxes			(1)						(3)
Income tax effect of item above			—						1						Provision for income taxes
Total pension and other retirement benefits			(1)						(2)
Total net losses included in Net Income attributable to reclassifications out of AOCL			$	—					$	(1)

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The following tables show changes in AOCL by component (net of tax):

			Three Months Ended
			September 30, 2020																		September 30, 2019
Gains/(Losses)			Pension and Other Retirement Benefits			Cash Flow Hedges			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Net Investment Hedges			Total						Pension and Other Retirement Benefits			Cash Flow Hedges			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Net Investment Hedges						Total
Balance June 30,			$	(84)		$	(49)		$	(479)		$	70		$	(542)					$	(70)		$	—		$	(401)		$	25					$	(446)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications			(7)			—			186			(143)			36						—			—			(193)			102						(91)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL			2			—			—			—			2						1			—			—			(1)						—
Other comprehensive income/(loss)			(5)			—			186			(143)			38						1			—			(193)			101						(91)
Balance September 30,			$	(89)		$	(49)		$	(293)		$	(73)		$	(504)					$	(69)		$	—		$	(594)		$	126					$	(537)

			Nine Months Ended
			September 30, 2020																		September 30, 2019
Gains/(Losses)			Pension and Other Retirement Benefits			Cash Flow Hedges			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Net Investment Hedges			Total						Pension and Other Retirement Benefits			Cash Flow Hedges			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Net Investment Hedges			Total
Balance December 31,			$	(92)		$	—		$	(401)		$	54		$	(439)					$	(53)		$	—		$	(406)		$	33		$	(426)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications			(1)			(50)			108			(127)			(70)						(1)			—			(188)			97			(92)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL			4			1			—			—			5						2			—			—			(1)			1
Adoption of ASU 2018-02			—			—			—			—			—						(17)			—			—			(3)			(20)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)			3			(49)			108			(127)			(65)						(16)			—			(188)			93			(111)
Balance September 30,			$	(89)		$	(49)		$	(293)		$	(73)		$	(504)					$	(69)		$	—		$	(594)		$	126		$	(537)

NOTE 16. PENSION AND OTHER RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Moody’s maintains funded and unfunded noncontributory DBPPs. The U.S. plans provide defined benefits using a cash balance formula based on years of service and career average salary for its employees or final average pay for selected executives. The Company also provides certain healthcare and life insurance benefits for retired U.S. employees. The retirement healthcare plans are contributory; the life insurance plans are noncontributory. Moody’s funded and unfunded U.S. pension plans, the U.S. retirement healthcare plans and the U.S. retirement life insurance plans are collectively referred to herein as the “Retirement Plans”. The U.S. retirement healthcare plans and the U.S. retirement life insurance plans are collectively referred to herein as the “Other Retirement Plans”. The non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans are immaterial.

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company no longer offers DBPPs to U.S. employees hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2008. New U.S. employees will instead receive a retirement contribution of similar benefit value under the Company’s Profit Participation Plan. Current participants of the Company’s DBPPs continue to accrue benefits based on existing plan formulas.

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The components of net periodic benefit expense related to the Retirement Plans are as follows:

			Three Months Ended September 30,
			Pension Plans												Other Retirement Plans
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Components of net periodic expense
Service cost			$	5					$	4					$	—					$	1
Interest cost			4						5						1						—
Expected return on plan assets			(5)						(5)						—						—
Amortization of net actuarial loss from earlier periods			2						1						—						—
Net periodic expense			$	6					$	5					$	1					$	1

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			Pension Plans												Other Retirement Plans
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Components of net periodic expense
Service cost			$	13					$	12					$	2					$	2
Interest cost			13						15						1						1
Expected return on plan assets			(15)						(15)						—						—
Amortization of net actuarial loss from earlier periods			5						3						—						—
Net periodic expense			$	16					$	15					$	3					$	3

The Company contributed $99 million to its funded pension plan, $8 million related to its unfunded U.S. DBPPs and $1 million to its U.S. other retirement plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Additionally, the Company anticipates making payments of $1 million to its unfunded U.S. DBPPs, during the remainder of 2020.

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NOTE 17. INDEBTEDNESS

The Company’s debt is recorded at its carrying amount, which represents the issuance amount plus or minus any issuance premium or discount, except for the 2012 Senior Notes, the 2017 Senior Notes due 2023, the 2017 Senior Notes due 2028 and the 2020 Senior Notes due 2025 which are recorded at the carrying amount adjusted for the fair value of an interest rate swap used to hedge the fair value of the note.

The following table summarizes total indebtedness:

September 30, 2020
Notes Payable:			Principal Amount						Fair Value of Interest Rate Swaps (1)						Unamortized (Discount) Premium						Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs						Carrying Value
4.50% 2012 Senior Notes, due 2022			$	500					$	16					$	(1)					$	(1)					$	514
4.875% 2013 Senior Notes, due 2024			500						—						(1)						(1)						498
5.25% 2014 Senior Notes (30-Year), due 2044			600						—						4						(5)						599
1.75% 2015 Senior Notes, due 2027			586						—						—						(2)						584
2.625% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2023			500						13						(1)						(2)						510
3.25% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2028			500						34						(4)						(3)						527
4.25% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2029			400						—						(2)						(3)						395
4.875% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2048			400						—						(7)						(4)						389
0.950% 2019 Senior Notes, due 2030			879						—						(3)						(6)						870
3.75% 2020 Senior Notes, due 2025			700						(1)						(1)						(5)						693
3.25% 2020 Senior Notes, due 2050			300						—						(4)						(3)						293
2.55% 2020 Senior Notes, due 2060			500						—						(4)						(5)						491
Total long-term debt			$	6,365					$	62					$	(24)					$	(40)					$	6,363

December 31, 2019
Notes Payable:			Principal Amount						Fair Value of Interest Rate Swaps (1)						Unamortized (Discount) Premium						Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs						Carrying Value
4.50% 2012 Senior Notes, due 2022			$	500					$	9					$	(1)					$	(1)					$	507
4.875% 2013 Senior Notes, due 2024			500						—						(1)						(2)						497
5.25% 2014 Senior Notes (30-Year), due 2044			600						—						4						(5)						599
1.75% 2015 Senior Notes, due 2027			561						—						—						(3)						558
2.75% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2021			500						11						(1)						(2)						508
2.625% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2023			500						7						(1)						(2)						504
3.25% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2028			500						—						(4)						(3)						493
3.25% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2021			300						—						—						(1)						299
4.25% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2029			400						—						(3)						(3)						394
4.875% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2048			400						—						(7)						(4)						389
0.950% 2019 Senior Notes, due 2030			842						—						(3)						(6)						833
Total long-term debt			$	5,603					$	27					$	(17)					$	(32)					$	5,581

(1) The fair value of interest rate swaps in the table above represents the cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments included in the carrying amount of the hedged debt.

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Notes Payable

In the first nine months of 2020, the Company issued the 2020 Senior Notes (5-year), the 2020 Senior Notes (30-year) and the 2020 Senior Notes (40-year). The key terms of these debt issuances are set forth in the table above.

The Company may prepay certain amounts of its senior notes, in whole or in part, but may incur a Make-Whole Amount penalty.

In the second quarter of 2020, the Company fully repaid $300 million of the 2018 Senior Notes due 2021 along with a Make-Whole Amount of approximately $8 million. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company fully repaid $500 million of the 2017 Senior Notes due 2021 along with a Make-Whole Amount of approximately $16 million. Additionally, in the third quarter of 2020, the Company recognized into interest expense, net, $17 million of carrying value adjustments relating to the early termination of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges that were associated with the 2017 Senior Notes due 2021.

At September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained within all of the debt agreements. All the debt agreements contain cross default provisions which state that default under one of the aforementioned debt instruments could in turn permit lenders under other debt instruments to declare borrowings outstanding under those instruments to be immediately due and payable. As of September 30, 2020, there were no such cross defaults.

The repayment schedule for the Company’s borrowings is as follows:

Year Ending December 31,			2012 Senior Notes due 2022						2013 Senior Notes due 2024						2014 Senior Notes (30-Year) due 2044						2015 Senior Notes due 2027						2017 Senior Notes due 2023						2017 Senior Notes due 2028						2018 Senior Notes due 2029						2018 Senior Notes due 2048						2019 Senior Notes due 2030						2020 Senior Notes due 2025						2020 Senior Notes due 2050						2020 Senior Notes due 2060												Total
2020 (After September 30,)			$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—											$	—
2021			—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—												—
2022			500						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—												500
2023			—						—						—						—						500						—						—						—						—						—						—						—												500
2024			—						500						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—						—												500
Thereafter			—						—						600						586						—						500						400						400						879						700						300						500												4,865
Total			$	500					$	500					$	600					$	586					$	500					$	500					$	400					$	400					$	879					$	700					$	300					$	500											$	6,365

Interest expense, net

The following table summarizes the components of interest as presented in the consolidated statements of operations:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Income			$	2					$	3					$	9					$	12
Expense on borrowings			(42)						(37)						(121)						(125)
UTPs and other tax related liabilities			(9)						(7)						(27)						(20)
Net periodic pension costs - interest component			(4)						(6)						(14)						(17)
Capitalized			—						1						—						1
Total			$	(53)					$	(46)					$	(153)					$	(149)

The following table shows the cash paid for interest:

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019
Interest paid			$	119					$	149

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The fair value and carrying value of the Company’s debt as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are as follows:

			September 30, 2020												December 31, 2019
			Carrying Amount						Estimated Fair Value						Carrying Amount						Estimated Fair Value
4.50% 2012 Senior Notes, due 2022			$	514					$	535					$	507					$	531
4.875% 2013 Senior Notes, due 2024			498						565						497						551
5.25% 2014 Senior Notes (30-Year), due 2044			599						822						599						757
1.75% 2015 Senior Notes, due 2027			584						643						558						604
2.75% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2021			—						—						508						507
2.625% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2023			510						523						504						507
3.25% 2017 Senior Notes, due 2028			527						566						493						523
3.25% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2021			—						—						299						306
4.25% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2029			395						479						394						453
4.875% 2018 Senior Notes, due 2048			389						540						389						492
0.950% 2019 Senior Notes, due 2030			870						923						833						847
3.75% 2020 Senior Notes, due 2025			693						789						—						—
3.25% 2020 Senior Notes, due 2050			293						320						—						—
2.55% 2020 Senior Notes, due 2060			491						458						—						—
Total			$	6,363					$	7,163					$	5,581					$	6,078

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on quoted market prices for similar instruments. Accordingly, the inputs used to estimate the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt are classified as Level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy.

NOTE 18. LEASES

The Company has operating leases, substantially all of which relate to the lease of office space. The Company’s leases which are classified as finance leases are not material to the consolidated financial statements. Certain of the Company’s leases include options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one year to 20 years at the Company’s discretion.

The following table presents the components of the Company’s lease cost:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Operating lease cost			$	24					$	24					$	72					$	73
Sublease income			(1)						—						(3)						—
Variable lease cost			4						5						14						13
Total lease cost			$	27					$	29					$	83					$	86

During the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded $11 million of ROU Asset impairment charges related to the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases pursuant to the 2020 Restructuring Program. The impairment charges were recorded within the Restructuring caption on the consolidated statement of operations. Refer to Note 12 for further details on the Company's 2020 Restructuring Program.

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The following tables present other information related to the Company’s operating leases:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities			$	27					$	27					$	80					$	80
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities			$	7					$	12					$	26					$	28

			September 30, 2020						September 30, 2019
Weighted-average remaining lease term			6.3 years						6.9 years
Weighted-average discount rate applied to operating leases			3.6		%				3.6		%

The following table presents a maturity analysis of the future minimum lease payments included within the Company’s operating lease liabilities at September 30, 2020:

Year Ending December 31,						Operating Leases
2020 (After September 30)						$	27
2021						107
2022						96
2023						90
2024						81
After 2024						191
Total lease payments (undiscounted)						592
Less: Interest						62
Present value of lease liabilities:						$	530
Lease liabilities - current						$	91
Lease liabilities - noncurrent						$	439

NOTE 19. CONTINGENCIES

Given the nature of the Company's activities, Moody’s and its subsidiaries are subject to legal and tax proceedings, governmental, regulatory and legislative investigations, subpoenas and other inquiries, and claims and litigation by governmental and private parties that are based on ratings assigned by MIS or that are otherwise incidental to the Company’s business. Moody’s and MIS also are subject to periodic reviews, inspections, examinations and investigations by regulators in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, any of which may result in claims, legal proceedings, assessments, fines, penalties or restrictions on business activities. Moody’s also is subject to ongoing tax audits as addressed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

Management periodically assesses the Company’s liabilities and contingencies in connection with these matters based upon the latest information available. For claims, litigation and proceedings and governmental investigations and inquiries not related to income taxes, the Company records liabilities in the consolidated financial statements when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated and periodically adjusts these as appropriate. When the reasonable estimate of the loss is within a range of amounts, the minimum amount of the range is accrued unless some higher amount within the range is a better estimate than another amount within the range. In instances when a loss is reasonably possible but uncertainties exist related to the probable outcome and/or the amount or range of loss, management does not record a liability but discloses the contingency if material. As additional information becomes available, the Company adjusts its assessments and estimates of such matters accordingly. Moody’s also discloses material pending legal proceedings pursuant to SEC rules and other pending matters as it may determine to be appropriate.

In view of the inherent difficulty of assessing the potential outcome of legal proceedings, governmental, regulatory and legislative investigations and inquiries, claims and litigation and similar matters and contingencies, particularly when the claimants seek large or indeterminate damages or assert novel legal theories or the matters involve a large number of parties, the

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Company often cannot predict what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be or the timing of any resolution of such matters. The Company also may be unable to predict the impact (if any) that any such matters may have on how its business is conducted, on its competitive position or on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. As the process to resolve any pending matters progresses, management will continue to review the latest information available and assess its ability to predict the outcome of such matters and the effects, if any, on its operations and financial condition and to accrue for and disclose such matters as and when required. However, because such matters are inherently unpredictable and unfavorable developments or resolutions can occur, the ultimate outcome of such matters, including the amount of any loss, may differ from those estimates.

NOTE 20. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company is organized into two operating segments: MIS and MA and accordingly, the Company reports in two reportable segments: MIS and MA.

The MIS segment consists of five LOBs. The CFG, SFG, FIG and PPIF LOBs generate revenue principally from fees for the assignment and ongoing monitoring of credit ratings on debt obligations and the entities that issue such obligations in markets worldwide. The MIS Other LOB primarily consists of financial instruments pricing services in the Asia-Pacific region, ICRA non-ratings revenue and revenue from providing ESG research, data and assessments.

The MA segment develops a wide range of products and services that support the risk management activities of institutional participants in global financial markets. Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the MA segment now consists of two LOBs - RD&A and ERS. Subsequent to the divestiture of MAKS in the fourth quarter of 2019, the MALS business, which was historically part of the PS LOB through December 31, 2019, was reclassified to the RD&A LOB. Prior year revenue by LOB has not been reclassified as the amounts relating to the MALS business were not material.

Revenue for MIS and expenses for MA include an intersegment royalty charged to MA for the rights to use and distribute content, data and products developed by MIS. The royalty rate charged by MIS approximates the fair value of the aforementioned content, data and products and is generally based on comparable market transactions. Also, revenue for MA and expenses for MIS include an intersegment fee charged to MIS from MA for certain MA products and services utilized in MIS’s ratings process. These fees charged by MA are generally equal to the costs incurred by MA to produce these products and services.

Overhead expenses include costs such as rent and occupancy, information technology and support staff such as finance, human resources and legal. Such costs and corporate expenses that exclusively benefit one segment are fully charged to that segment.

For overhead costs and corporate expenses that benefit both segments, costs are allocated to each segment based on the segment’s share of full-year 2018 actual revenue which comprises a “Baseline Pool” that will remain fixed over time. In subsequent periods, incremental overhead costs (or reductions thereof) will be allocated to each segment based on the prevailing shares of total revenue represented by each segment.

“Eliminations” in the following table represent intersegment revenue/expense. Moody’s does not report the Company’s assets by reportable segment, as this metric is not used by the chief operating decision maker to allocate resources to the segments. Consequently, it is not practical to show assets by reportable segment.

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Financial Information by Segment

The table below shows revenue, operating income and Adjusted Operating Income by reportable segment. Adjusted Operating Income is a financial metric utilized by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to assess the profitability of each reportable segment. Refer to Note 3 for further details on the components of the Company’s revenue.

			Three Months Ended September 30,
			2020																								2019
			MIS						MA						Eliminations						Consolidated						MIS						MA						Eliminations						Consolidated
Revenue			$	863					$	532					$	(39)					$	1,356					$	781					$	496					$	(37)					$	1,240
Total Expense			339						414						(39)						714						340						388						(37)						691
Operating income			524						118						—						642						441						108						—						549
Add:
Restructuring			13						10						—						23						—						(1)						—						(1)
Depreciation and amortization			17						39						—						56						18						30						—						48
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			—						—						—						—						—						2						—						2
Captive insurance company settlement			—						—						—						—						10						6						—						16
Adjusted Operating Income			$	554					$	167					$	—					$	721					$	469					$	145					$	—					$	614

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020																								2019
			MIS						MA						Eliminations						Consolidated						MIS						MA						Eliminations						Consolidated
Revenue			$	2,667					$	1,529					$	(115)					$	4,081					$	2,255					$	1,448					$	(107)					$	3,596
Total Expenses			1,051						1,201						(115)						2,137						1,028						1,181						(107)						2,102
Operating income			1,616						328						—						1,944						1,227						267						—						1,494
Add:
Restructuring			12						8						—						20						29						29						—						58
Depreciation and amortization			52						111						—						163						53						97						—						150
Acquisition-Related Expenses			—						—						—						—						—						3						—						3
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			—						9						—						9						—						11						—						11
Captive insurance company settlement			—						—						—						—						10						6						—						16
Adjusted Operating Income			$	1,680					$	456					$	—					$	2,136					$	1,319					$	413					$	—					$	1,732

The cumulative restructuring charges related to the 2018 Restructuring Program, as more fully discussed in Note 12, for the MIS and MA reportable segments are $62 million and $44 million, respectively.

The cumulative restructuring charges related to the 2020 Restructuring Program, as more fully discussed in Note 12, for the MIS and MA reportable segments are $13 million and $10 million, respectively.

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Consolidated Revenue Information by Geographic Area

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
United States			$	729					$	660					$	2,280					$	1,910
Non-U.S.:
EMEA			401						362						1,137						1,057
Asia-Pacific			156						142						436						415
Americas			70						76						228						214
Total Non-U.S.			627						580						1,801						1,686
Total			$	1,356					$	1,240					$	4,081					$	3,596

NOTE 21. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715- 20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans”. This ASU eliminates requirements for certain disclosures and requires additional disclosures under defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans. The ASU is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 on a retrospective basis to all periods presented, with early adoption permitted. The Company will comply with the new disclosure requirements set forth in this ASU upon adoption.

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825 Financial Instruments”. This ASU clarifies and improves guidance related to the recently issued standards updates on credit losses, hedging, and recognition and measurement of financial instruments. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes". This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740, Income Taxes, and clarifies certain aspects of the existing guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. Most amendments within this ASU are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 21, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of Acquire Media (AM), an aggregator and distributor of curated real-time news, multimedia, data, and alerts. The purchase price for this acquisition was not material and the near-term impact to the Company's financial statements is not expected to be material.

On October 27, 2020, the Board approved the declaration of a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share of Moody’s common stock, payable on December 14, 2020 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 23, 2020.

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Item 2.        MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Moody’s Corporation condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains Forward-Looking Statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements” commencing on page 91 for a discussion of uncertainties, risks and other factors associated with these statements.

THE COMPANY

Moody’s is a provider of (i) credit ratings and assessment services; (ii) credit, capital markets and economic research, data and analytical tools; (iii) software solutions that support financial risk management activities; (iv) quantitatively derived credit scores; (v) learning solutions and certification services; and (vi) company information and business intelligence products. Moody’s reports in two reportable segments: MIS and MA.

MIS, the credit rating agency, publishes credit ratings and provides assessment services on a wide range of debt obligations and the entities that issue such obligations in markets worldwide. Revenue is primarily derived from the originators and issuers of such transactions who use MIS ratings in the distribution of their debt issues to investors. Additionally, MIS earns revenue from certain non-ratings-related operations, which consist primarily of financial instrument pricing services in the Asia-Pacific region, revenue from ICRA’s non-ratings operations and revenue from providing ESG research, data and assessments. The revenue from these operations is included in the MIS Other LOB and is not material to the results of the MIS segment.

MA provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to assist businesses in making decisions. MA’s portfolio of solutions consists of specialized research, data, software, and professional services, which are assembled to support the financial analysis and risk management activities of institutional customers worldwide.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Moody’s believes that knowledge fuels opportunity. The core of Moody’s business is to provide credit ratings, research, tools and analysis that help to equip participants in the global financial markets to understand risks and make important investment decisions with critical insight. Moody’s global corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts are rooted in that same approach. Moody’s is committed to working to empower people with the knowledge, resources and confidence they need to create a better future – for themselves, their communities and the environment.

The CSR Council, chaired by President and CEO Raymond W. McDaniel, Jr. and comprised of members of the management team, evaluates the Company’s CSR progress and generates recommendations on its CSR strategy. The CSR Working Group, comprised of senior executives, is then charged with implementing the Company’s CSR strategy. In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors oversees sustainability matters, with assistance from the Governance & Nominating Committee, as part of its oversight of management and the Company’s overall strategy. For more information on Moody’s approach to CSR, see moodys.com/csr. The content of this website is not incorporated by reference herein.

Sustainability

Moody’s advances sustainability by considering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors throughout its operations and two business segments. It uses its expertise and assets to make a positive difference through technology tools, research and analytical services that help other organizations and the investor community better understand the links between sustainability considerations and the global markets. Moody’s efforts to promote sustainability-related thought leadership, assessments and data to market participants include following the policies of recognized sustainability and corporate social responsibility parties that develop standards or frameworks and/or evaluate and assess performance, including Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). Moody’s sustainability-related achievements have included the following: (i) reporting using recommendations from SASB; (ii) becoming a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment; (iii) joining the United Nations Global Compact; and (iv) issuing annual reports on how the Company has implemented the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

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COVID-19

The Company is closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of its business. While the Company has selectively reopened certain of its offices, Moody’s continues to require remote work for most employees globally and has operated effectively to date. The Company continues to monitor regional developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic to inform decisions on the reopening of its offices.

The Company experienced disruption in certain sectors of its business beginning late in the first quarter of 2020 resulting from market volatility associated with the COVID-19 crisis. However, at the date of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Company is unable to predict either the potential near-term or longer-term impact that the COVID-19 crisis may have on its financial position and operating results due to numerous uncertainties regarding the duration and severity of the crisis. As a result, it is reasonably possible that the Company could experience material impacts including, but not limited to: reductions in revenue and cash flows; additional credit losses related to accounts receivables; asset impairment charges; and changes in the funded status of defined benefit pension plans. While it is reasonably possible that the COVID-19 crisis will have a material impact on the results of operations and cash flows of the Company in the near term, Moody's believes that it has adequate liquidity to maintain its operations with minimal disruption and to maintain compliance with its debt covenants.

In the first nine months of 2020, in order to maximize liquidity and to increase available cash on hand through this period of uncertainty, the Company added $700 million in additional long-term borrowings as more fully discussed in the section entitled "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below and in Note 17 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. In addition, the Company has reduced discretionary spending, including temporarily suspending its share repurchase program beginning late in the first quarter of 2020 and spanning through the third quarter. The Company anticipates resuming its share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted on March 27, 2020 in the United States. The Company is utilizing certain provisions in the CARES Act and other IRS guidance which permit the deferral of certain income and payroll tax remittances.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Moody’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires Moody’s to make estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates are based on historical experience and on other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, Moody’s evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, accounts receivable allowances, contingencies, restructuring, goodwill and acquired intangible assets, pension and other retirement benefits, stock-based compensation, and income taxes. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Item 7, MD&A, in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, includes descriptions of some of the judgments that Moody’s makes in applying its accounting estimates in these areas. Since the date of the annual report on Form 10-K, there have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting estimates other than certain updates relating to i) the critical accounting estimate disclosures relating to goodwill to update the Company's goodwill impairment assessments in 2020 and ii) to update the critical accounting estimate disclosures for the Company's accounts receivable allowances to align with the adoption of ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments".

Goodwill

As of July 31st of each year, Moody’s evaluates its goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, defined as an operating segment (i.e., MIS and MA), or one level below an operating segment (i.e., a component of an operating segment).

The Company has seven primary reporting units: two within the Company’s ratings business (one for the ICRA business and one that encompasses all of Moody’s other ratings operations) and five reporting units within MA: Content, ERS, MALS, Bureau van Dijk and Reis. The Content reporting unit offers subscription-based research, data and analytical products, including credit ratings produced by MIS, credit research, quantitative credit scores and other analytical tools, economic research and forecasts, business intelligence and company information products. The ERS reporting unit provides products and services that support the credit risk management and regulatory compliance activities of financial institutions and also provides advanced actuarial software for the life insurance industry. These products and services are primarily sold on a subscription basis or delivered via software that is licensed on a perpetual basis. The MALS reporting unit consists of the portion of the MA business that offers both credit training as well as other professional development training. The Bureau van Dijk reporting unit primarily

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consists of the Bureau van Dijk business and the newly acquired RDC business, and provides business intelligence, company information products and risk and compliance intelligence. The Reis reporting unit, which consists of the Reis business, provides commercial real estate market information and analytical tools.

The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill using a two-step impairment test approach at the reporting unit level. In the first step, the Company assesses various qualitative factors to determine whether the fair value of a reporting unit may be less than its carrying amount. If a determination is made based on the qualitative factors that an impairment does not exist, the Company is not required to perform further testing. If the aforementioned qualitative assessment results in the Company concluding that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit may be less than its carrying amount, the fair value of the reporting unit will be quantitatively determined and compared to its carrying value including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not impaired. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, the Company will record a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The Company evaluates its reporting units on an annual basis, or more frequently if there are changes in the reporting structure of the Company due to acquisitions, realignments or if there are indicators of potential impairment. For the reporting units where the Company is consistently able to conclude that no impairment exists using only a qualitative approach, the Company’s accounting policy is to perform the second step of the aforementioned goodwill impairment assessment at least once every three years.

Interim goodwill impairment assessments performed in advance of the Company's annual assessment

During the first half of 2020, the observable market capitalization of ICRA declined to a level that resulted in a significant decline in headroom (the amount by which the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value) from amounts reported in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. ICRA is a publicly traded company in India, and accordingly the Company is able to derive its fair value based on its observable average market capitalization (plus a control premium) over a relatively short duration of time. While the estimate of the fair value of the ICRA reporting unit resulted in no impairment of goodwill in the first half of 2020, further declines in ICRA's average market capitalization could result in impairment in future quarters.

As discussed in further detail in Note 11 to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements, ICRA has reported that it has completed its internal examinations into anonymous allegations that were forwarded to ICRA by SEBI and certain additional allegations made during the course of that examination while an examination into a separate anonymous complaint is ongoing. ICRA reported that its Board of Directors is in the process of taking appropriate actions based on the findings of the completed examinations. As of the date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Company is unable to estimate

the financial impact, if any, that may result from a potential unfavorable conclusion of these matters or any other ICRA inquiry. An unfavorable resolution of such matters may negatively impact ICRA’s future operating results, which could result in an impairment of goodwill and amortizable intangible assets in future.

At June 30, 2020, the Company performed an interim quantitative goodwill impairment assessment on the Reis reporting unit (acquired in October 2018), which resulted in no impairment of goodwill. The Company performed this quantitative assessment in response to a decline in projected cash flows relative to Reis' acquisition case projections and included the estimated impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the business. While the fair value at June 30, 2020 of the Reis reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, further declines in its financial projections could result in impairment in future quarters.

Annual goodwill impairment assessment performed at July 31, 2020

At July 31, 2020, the Company performed a qualitative assessment for each of the reporting units. The qualitative analyses resulted in the Company determining that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

Determining the fair value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived acquired intangible asset involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, which are more fully described below. In addition, the Company also makes certain judgments and assumptions in allocating shared assets and liabilities to determine the carrying values for each of its reporting units.

Other assets and liabilities, including applicable corporate assets, are allocated to the extent they are related to the operation of respective reporting units.

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Sensitivity Analysis and Key Assumptions for Deriving the Fair Value of a Reporting Unit

The following table identifies the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit as of September 30, 2020 and the amount by which the net assets of each reporting unit would exceed the fair value under Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test as prescribed in ASC Topic 350, assuming hypothetical reductions in their fair values as of the date of the last quantitative goodwill impairment assessment for each reporting unit (June 30, 2020 for ICRA and Reis; July 31, 2019 for all remaining reporting units).

									Sensitivity Analysis
									Deficit Caused by a Hypothetical Reduction to Fair Value
			Goodwill						10%						20%						30%						40%
MIS			$	95					$	—					$	—					$	—					$	—
Content			371						—						—						—						—
ERS			745						—						—						—						—
MALS			123						—						—						(12)						(37)
ICRA			207						—						(2)						(44)						(85)
Bureau van Dijk			2,594						—						—						—						(266)
Reis			147						—						(22)						(48)						(74)
Totals			$	4,282					$	—					$	(24)					$	(104)					$	(462)

Methodologies and significant estimates utilized in determining the fair value of reporting units:

The following is a discussion regarding the Company’s methodology for determining the fair value of its reporting units as of the date of each reporting unit’s last quantitative assessment (June 30, 2020 for Reis and ICRA; and July 31, 2019 for the remaining reporting units). As ICRA is a publicly traded company in India, the Company estimates its fair value using its observable market capitalization.

The fair value of each reporting unit, excluding ICRA, was estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology and comparable public company and precedent transaction multiples. The discounted cash flow analysis requires significant estimates, including projections of future operating results and cash flows of each reporting unit that are based on internal budgets and strategic plans, expected long-term growth rates, terminal values, weighted average cost of capital and the effects of external factors and market conditions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the estimated fair value of each reporting unit that could result in an impairment charge to reduce the carrying value of goodwill, which could be material to the Company’s financial position and results of operations. Moody’s allocates newly acquired goodwill to reporting units based on the reporting unit expected to benefit from the acquisition.

The sensitivity analysis on the future cash flows and WACC assumptions described below are as of each reporting unit’s last quantitative goodwill impairment assessment. The following discusses the key assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow valuation methodology that require significant management judgment:

–Future cash flow assumptions - The projections for future cash flows utilized in the models are derived from historical experience and assumptions regarding future growth and profitability of each reporting unit. These projections are consistent with the Company’s operating budget and strategic plan. Beyond the forecasted period, a terminal value was determined using a perpetuity growth rate based on inflation and real GDP growth rates. A sensitivity analysis of the revenue growth rates was performed on all reporting units. For each reporting unit analyzed, a 10% reduction in the revenue growth rates used would not have resulted in its carrying value exceeding its estimated fair value.

–WACC - The WACC is the rate used to discount each reporting unit’s estimated future cash flows. The WACC is calculated based on the proportionate weighting of the cost of debt and equity. The cost of equity is based on a risk-free interest rate and an equity risk factor, which is derived from public companies similar to the reporting unit and which captures the perceived risks and uncertainties associated with the reporting unit’s cash flows. The cost of debt component is calculated as the weighted average cost associated with all of the Company’s outstanding borrowings as of the date of the impairment test and was immaterial to the computation of the WACC. The cost of debt and equity is weighted based on the debt to market capitalization ratio of publicly traded companies with similarities to the reporting unit being tested. The WACC applied in each reporting unit's last quantitative test ranged from 8.5% to 9.0%. Differences in the WACC used between reporting units is primarily due to distinct risks and uncertainties regarding the cash flows of the different reporting units. A sensitivity analysis of the WACC was performed on all reporting units. For each reporting unit

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analyzed, an increase in the WACC of one percentage point would not result in the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeding its fair value.

Accounts Receivable Allowances

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” as more fully described in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. As the Company's accounts receivable are short-term in nature, the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to the Company's allowance for bad debts or its policies and procedures for determining the allowance.

In order to determine an estimate of expected credit losses, receivables are segmented based on similar risk characteristics including historical credit loss patterns and industry or class of customers to calculate reserve rates. The Company uses an aging method for developing its allowance for credit losses by which receivable balances are grouped based on aging category. A reserve rate is calculated for each aging category which is generally based on historical information. The reserve rate is adjusted, when necessary, for current conditions (e.g., macroeconomic or industry related) and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The Company also considers customer specific information (e.g., bankruptcy or financial difficulty) when estimating its expected credit losses, as well as the economic environment of the customers, both from an industry and geographic perspective, in evaluating the need for allowances. Expected credit losses are reflected as additions to the accounts receivable allowance. Actual uncollectible account write-offs are recorded against the allowance.

In 2020, Moody's assessment included consideration of the current COVID-19 pandemic and its estimated impact on the Company's accounts receivable allowances. This assessment involved the utilization of significant judgment regarding the severity and duration of the market disruption caused by the pandemic, as well as judgment regarding which industries, classes of customers and geographies would be most significantly impacted.

Reportable Segments

The Company is organized into two reportable segments at September 30, 2020: MIS and MA, which are more fully described in the section entitled “The Company” above and in Note 20 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Potential Impact of COVID-19 on the Company's future operating results

–The Company is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on all aspects of its business (refer to the section above entitled "COVID-19" for further detail). The operating results discussed below may not be indicative of future quarterly results of the Company due to uncertainties relating to the duration and severity of the pandemic and its potential impact on Moody's. The Company remains committed to disciplined cost management through this period of uncertainty.

–As of the date of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Company believes the most significant near-term impacts to Moody's business may be:

–MIS: within the MIS segment, the most notable near-term impacts are likely to be:

–the potential for continued volatility in issuance. The Company observed significant market disruption and a widening of credit spreads late in the first quarter of 2020, followed by strong corporate bond issuance activity in the second and third quarters of 2020. Future market volatility and widening of credit spreads could have a material impact on MIS's near-term operating results;

–corporate debt issuance (both investment-grade and speculative-grade) may moderate compared to issuance levels observed in the first nine months of 2020. While issuance has been strong in the first nine months of 2020, a portion of this activity has resulted from corporate issuers bolstering their balance sheets in light of uncertainties regarding the COVID-19 pandemic;

–potential full-year 2020 declines in leveraged loan issuance could result in a decrease in availability of collateral for securitization activity, which could then result in further declines in CLO activity.

–MA: within the MA segment, the most notable near-term impacts are likely to be:

–reductions in discretionary spending by MA’s customer base and social distancing measures could result in fewer new sales opportunities being identified and an extension of sales cycles on existing opportunities, particularly related to software sales;

–postponement of certain compliance deadlines (e.g., CECL for financial institutions and IFRS 17 for insurers) may delay sales for MA solutions that address these requirements;

–higher attrition rates and/or lower yields on renewable contracts.

Impact of acquisitions/divestitures on comparative results

–Moody’s completed the following acquisitions, which impact the Company's year-over-year comparative results:

–Vigeo Eiris on April 12, 2019;

–Four Twenty Seven on July 22, 2019;

–RiskFirst on July 25, 2019;

–ABS Suite on October 1, 2019;

–Regulatory DataCorp on February 13, 2020.

–On November 8, 2019, the Company sold its MAKS business to Equistone Partners Europe Limited, a European private equity firm. The operating results of MAKS are reported within the MA segment (and PS LOB) through the November 8, 2019 closing of the transaction. Beginning in 2020, revenue from the Moody's Analytics Learning Solutions ("MALS") unit, which previous to 2020 was reported in the PS LOB, is now reported as part of the RD&A LOB. Prior periods have not been reclassified as the amounts were not material.

–Refer to the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this MD&A for the definitions of how the Company determines certain organic growth measures used in this MD&A that exclude the impact of acquisition/divestiture activity.

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Three months ended September 30, 2020 compared with three months ended September 30, 2019

Executive Summary

–The following table provides an executive summary of key operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Following this executive summary is a more detailed discussion of the Company’s operating results as well as a discussion of the operating results of the Company’s reportable segments.

			Three Months Ended September 30,
Financial measure:			2020			2019			% Change			Insight and Key Drivers of Change Compared to Prior Year
Moody's total revenue			$	1,356		$	1,240		9		%	— reflects strong growth in both segments
MIS External Revenue			$	825		$	746		11		%	— growth driven by higher corporate debt issuance (both investment-grade and speculative-grade) as issuers took advantage of low borrowing costs for refinancing purposes and M&A activity
MA External Revenue			$	531		$	494		7		%	— growth in know-your-customer (KYC) and compliance solutions, as well as research and data feeds; — demand for insurance compliance products along with credit assessment and loan origination solutions in ERS; and — inorganic growth from acquisitions.
Total operating and SG&A expenses			$	635		$	642		(1)		%	In line with prior year with key offsetting drivers being: — additional compensation expense resulting from hiring activity and merit increases coupled with higher incentive compensation aligned with financial and operating performance; — higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth; offset by — lower travel costs and disciplined cost management in light of the COVID-19 crisis; — lower legal accruals
Restructuring			$	23		$	(1)		NM			— charge in 2020 is pursuant to the Company's restructuring program revolving around the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Operating Margin			47.3		%	44.3		%	300BPS			— margin expansion reflects strong revenue growth coupled with operating expenses in line with prior year
Adjusted Operating Margin			53.2		%	49.5		%	370BPS
ETR			22.0		%	25.3		%	(330BPS)			— decrease primarily due to a deferred tax benefit in 2020 resulting from a non-U.S. corporate reorganization
Diluted EPS			$	2.47		$	1.99		24		%	— increase reflects strong operating income/Adjusted Operating Income growth as described above
Adjusted Diluted EPS			$	2.69		$	2.15		25		%

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Moody's Corporation

			Three Months Ended September 30,												% Change Favorable (Unfavorable)
			2020						2019
Revenue:
United States			$	729					$	660					10		%
Non-U.S.:
EMEA			401						362						11		%
Asia-Pacific			156						142						10		%
Americas			70						76						(8		%)
Total Non-U.S.			627						580						8		%
Total			1,356						1,240						9		%
Expenses:
Operating			364						350						(4		%)
SG&A			271						292						7		%
Restructuring			23						(1)						NM
Depreciation and amortization			56						48						(17		%)
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			—						2						100		%
Total			714						691						(3		%)
Operating income			$	642					$	549					17		%
Adjusted Operating Income (1)			$	721					$	614					17		%
Interest expense, net			$	(53)					$	(46)					(15		%)
Other non-operating income, net			10						10						—		%
Non-operating (expense) income, net			$	(43)					$	(36)					(19		%)
Net income attributable to Moody's			$	467					$	380					23		%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding			189.3						191.1						1		%
Diluted EPS attributable to Moody's common shareholders			$	2.47					$	1.99					24		%
Adjusted Diluted EPS (1)			$	2.69					$	2.15					25		%
Operating margin			47.3		%				44.3		%
Adjusted Operating Margin(1)			53.2		%				49.5		%
Effective tax rate			22.0		%				25.3		%

(1) Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this Management Discussion and Analysis for further information regarding these measures.

The table below shows Moody’s global staffing by geographic area:

			September 30,												% Change
			2020						2019
United States			4,087						3,875						5		%
Non-U.S.			7,310						9,850						(26		%)
Total			11,397			(1)			13,725						(17		%)

(1)The divestiture of the MAKS business resulted in a reduction of approximately 2,700 employees, most of which were in low-cost jurisdictions. Additionally, Moody’s global staffing increased by approximately 150 employees relating to acquisitions completed subsequent to September 30, 2019.

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GLOBAL REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Global revenue ⇑ $116 million

U.S. Revenue ⇑ $69 million

Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $47 million

The increase in global revenue reflected growth in both reportable segments. Refer to the section entitled “Segment Results” of this MD&A for a more fulsome discussion of the Company’s segment revenue.

–The increase in both U.S. and non-U.S. revenue reflects strong growth in both reportable segments

–Foreign currency translation favorably impacted non-U.S. revenue by two percent.

Operating Expense ⇑ $14 million

SG&A Expense ⇓ $21 million

-------------------------------------    

Compensation expenses increased $29 million reflecting:

Compensation expenses increased $10 million reflecting:

— hiring activity and salary increases coupled with net inorganic growth from acquisitions/divestiture activity; and

— hiring activity and salary increases coupled with net inorganic growth from acquisitions/divestiture activity; and

— higher incentive compensation accruals

— higher incentive compensation accruals.

Non-compensation expenses decreased $15 million reflecting:

Non-compensation expenses decreased $31 million reflecting:

— lower travel costs and disciplined cost management in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

— lower legal accruals, which includes a $16 million captive insurance company settlement in 2019; and

— lower travel costs and disciplined cost management in light of the COVID-19 crisis; partially offset by:

— higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth.

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Other Expenses

The restructuring charge of $23 million primarily relates to the non-cash impairment of certain leased real estate assets (ROU Assets and leasehold improvements) pursuant to the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This restructuring program is more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Operating margin 47.3%, up 300 BPS

Adjusted Operating Margin 53.2%, up 370 BPS

— Operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin expansion reflects strong revenue growth coupled with operating expenses generally in line with the prior year

Interest Expense, net ⇑ $7 million

Other non-operating income was in line with prior year

Increase is primarily due to:

Overall, in line with the prior year

— a $16 million prepayment penalty on the early redemption of the 2017 Senior Notes due 2021

— higher interest expense reflecting an additional $700 million of long-term borrowings in 2020 (further discussion in "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below); partially offset by:

— a $17 million benefit from a fair value hedge settled in connection with the early redemption of the 2017 Senior Notes

						ETR ⇓ 330 BPS

The decrease in the ETR is primarily due to a deferred tax benefit resulting from a non-U.S. corporate reorganization.

Diluted EPS ⇑ $0.48

Adjusted Diluted EPS ⇑ $0.54

Diluted EPS in the third quarter of 2020 of $2.47 increased $0.48 compared to the same period in 2019 mainly due to higher operating income.						Adjusted Diluted EPS of $2.69 in the third quarter of 2020 increased $0.54 compared to the same period in 2019, mainly due to higher Adjusted Operating Income (refer to the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this MD&A for items excluded in the derivation of Adjusted Diluted EPS).

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Segment Results

Moody’s Investors Service

The table below provides a summary of revenue and operating results, followed by further insight and commentary:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												% Change Favorable (Unfavorable)
			2020						2019
Revenue:
Corporate finance (CFG)			$	461					$	392					18		%
Structured finance (SFG)			88						105						(16		%)
Financial institutions (FIG)			134						120						12		%
Public, project and infrastructure finance (PPIF)			133						120						11		%
Total ratings revenue			816						737						11		%
MIS Other			9						9						—		%
Total external revenue			825						746						11		%
Intersegment royalty			38						35						9		%
Total MIS revenue			863						781						10		%
Expenses:
Operating and SG&A (external)			308						320						4		%
Operating and SG&A (intersegment)			1						2						50		%
Restructuring			13						—						NM
Depreciation and amortization			17						18						6		%
Total expense			339						340						—		%
Operating Income			$	524					$	441					19		%
Restructuring			13						—						NM
Depreciation and amortization			17						18						6		%
Captive insurance company settlement			—						10						100		%
Adjusted Operating Income			$	554					$	469					18		%
Operating margin			60.7		%				56.5		%
Adjusted Operating Margin			64.2		%				60.1		%

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MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MIS: Global revenue ⇑ $79 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $52 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $27 million

–The increase in global MIS revenue reflected growth across all ratings LOBs excluding SFG.

–The growth in U.S. revenue mainly reflected higher CFG revenue being partially offset by declines in SFG.

–The increase in non-U.S. revenue primarily reflected growth in CFG and FIG.

–Foreign currency translation favorably impacted non-U.S. MIS revenue by two percentage points.

–Transaction revenue grew $70 million compared to the same period in the prior year.

CFG REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CFG: Global revenue ⇑ $69 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $52 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $17 million

Global CFG revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

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(1) Other includes: recurring monitoring fees of a rated debt obligation and/or entities that issue such obligations as well as fees from programs such as commercial paper, medium term notes, and ICRA corporate finance revenue.

The increase in CFG revenue of 18% reflected growth both in the U.S. (20%) and internationally (13%). Transaction revenue grew $65 million compared to the same period in the prior year. The most notable drivers of the CFG growth consisted of:

–growth in both high-yield and investment-grade bond issuance as credit spreads declined for much of the third quarter of 2020 which resulted in:

–opportunistic refinancing in advance of potential volatility in the fourth quarter surrounding the U.S. presidential election;

–issuance to support M&A activity.

–benefits from favorable changes in product mix and pricing increases;

partially offset by:

–a decline in rated issuance volumes in U.S. bank loans reflecting issuer and investor preference for corporate bonds, which provided more favorable borrowing rates.

SFG REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SFG: Global revenue ⇓ $17 million			U.S. Revenue ⇓ $14 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇓ $3 million

Global SFG revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

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The decrease in SFG revenue of 16% primarily reflected declines in the U.S. (21%). Transaction revenue declined $17 million compared to the third quarter of 2019. The most notable drivers of the decline in SFG revenue were:

–a reduction in CLO securitization activity (both new formation and refinancing activity) in the U.S. reflecting:

–elevated credit spreads and macroeconomic uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic;

–a decline in available collateral (see discussion on bank loan issuance in CFG section above);

–an increasingly competitive landscape in this asset class.

FIG REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FIG: Global revenue ⇑ $14 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $5 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $9 million

Global FIG revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

Transaction revenue increased $11 million compared to the third quarter of 2019.

The 12% increase in FIG revenue was mainly due to higher banking revenue both in the U.S. and internationally reflecting a favorable issuance mix.

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PPIF REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PPIF: Global revenue ⇑ $13 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $9 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $4 million

Global PPIF revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

Transaction revenue increased $10 million compared to the third quarter of 2020.

The 11% increase in PPIF revenue primarily consisted of growth in U.S. public finance issuance volumes reflecting favorable market conditions, including refinancing by way of taxable transactions.

						MIS: Operating and SG&A Expense ⇓ $12 million

    

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The decline is primarily due to lower non-compensation costs of $37 million partially offset by growth in compensation costs of $25 million, with the most notable drivers reflecting:

Non-compensation costs						Compensation costs
— lower legal accruals in 2020, which includes a $10 million captive insurance company settlement in 2019						— higher costs reflecting hiring activity and salary increases coupled with higher incentive compensation accruals; partially offset by:
— lower travel costs and disciplined expense management in light of the COVID-19 crisis; partially offset by						— benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Program.
— higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth.

Other Expenses

The restructuring charge of $13 million in the third quarter of 2020 primarily relates to the non-cash impairment of certain leased real estate assets (ROU Assets and leasehold improvements) pursuant to the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This restructuring program is more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

MIS: Operating Margin 60.7% ⇑ 420 BPS

Adjusted Operating Margin 64.2% ⇑ 410 BPS

MIS operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin both increased reflecting strong revenue coupled with declines in operating and SG&A expenses.

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Moody’s Analytics

The table below provides a summary of revenue and operating results, followed by further insight and commentary:

			Three Months Ended September 30,												% Change Favorable (Unfavorable)
			2020						2019
Revenue:
Research, data and analytics (RD&A)			$	386					$	317					22		%
Enterprise risk solutions (ERS)			145						134						8		%
Professional services (PS)			—						43						(100		%)
Total external revenue			531						494						7		%
Intersegment revenue			1						2						(50		%)
Total MA revenue			532						496						7		%
Expenses:
Operating and SG&A (external)			327						322						(2		%)
Operating and SG&A (intersegment)			38						35						(9		%)
Restructuring			10						(1)						NM
Depreciation and amortization			39						30						(30		%)
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			—						2						100		%
Total expense			414						388						(7		%)
Operating income			$	118					$	108					9		%
Restructuring			10						(1)						NM
Depreciation and amortization			39						30						(30		%)
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			—						2						100		%
Captive insurance company settlement			—						6						100		%
Adjusted Operating Income			$	167					$	145					15		%
Operating margin			22.2		%				21.8		%
Adjusted Operating Margin			31.4		%				29.2		%

MOODY'S ANALYTICS REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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MA: Global revenue ⇑ $37 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $17 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $20 million

The 7% increase in global MA revenue reflects strong growth in RD&A and ERS, which includes revenue from the acquisitions of RDC, RiskFirst and ABS Suite. These increases were partially offset by a decline in revenue resulting from the divestiture of the MAKS business in the fourth quarter of 2019.

–Organic revenue growth (1) was 9%.

–Foreign currency translation favorably impacted MA revenue by two percent.

–The increase in U.S. and non U.S. revenue reflected growth in both RD&A and ERS.

–The growth in non-U.S. revenue was partially offset by the negative impact of the divestiture of the MAKS business in the fourth quarter of 2019.

–Foreign currency translation favorably impacted non-U.S. MA revenue by three percent.

–The increase in relationship revenue as a percentage of total revenue from 84% in the third quarter of 2019 to 90% in the same period of 2020 reflects the divestiture of the transaction revenue-based MAKS business in 2019.

(1) Refer to the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" of this MD&A for the definition and methodology that the Company utilizes to calculate this metric.

RD&A REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    

RD&A: Global revenue ⇑ $69 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $28 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $41 million

Global RD&A revenue grew 22% compared to the third quarter of 2019 with the most notable drivers of the change reflecting:

–inorganic revenue growth from the acquisitions of RDC and ABS Suite;

–strong renewals and new sales of credit research and data feeds in the trailing twelve month period; and

–strong demand for solutions that address customer identity requirements, such as know-your-customer, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and sanctions compliance over the trailing twelve month period.

Foreign currency translation favorably impacted RD&A revenue by two percent.

Organic revenue growth for RD&A was 12%.

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ERS REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ERS: Global revenue ⇑ $11 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $7 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $4 million

Global ERS revenue increased 8% compared to the third quarter of 2019 with the most notable drivers of the growth reflecting:

–continued strong demand for credit assessment and loan origination solutions;

–increased demand for actuarial modeling tools in support of certain international accounting standards relating to insurance contracts; and

–inorganic revenue growth from the acquisition of RiskFirst.

Organic revenue growth for ERS was 7%.

						MA: Operating and SG&A Expense ⇑ $5 million

The increase in operating and SG&A expenses compared to the third quarter of 2019 reflected growth in compensation costs of $15 million partially offset by a decrease in non-compensation costs of $10 million. The most notable drivers of these changes were:

Compensation costs						Non-compensation costs
— higher costs reflecting hiring activity, salary increases and inorganic expense growth from acquisitions;						— lower travel costs and disciplined expense management in light of the COVID-19 crisis;
— higher incentive compensation accruals aligned with business performance; partially offset by,						— a $6 million captive insurance company settlement in the prior year; partially offset by,
— lower expenses resulting from the divestiture of MAKS in the fourth quarter of 2019 and benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Program						— higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth

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Other Expenses

The restructuring charge of $10 million in the third quarter of 2020 primarily relates to the non-cash impairment of certain leased real estate assets (ROU Assets and leasehold improvements) pursuant to the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This restructuring program is more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

MA: Operating Margin 22.2% ⇑ 40 BPS

Adjusted Operating Margin 31.4% ⇑ 220 BPS

MA operating margin expansion was suppressed by the aforementioned restructuring charge in the third quarter of 2020. The operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin expansion for MA both reflect revenue growth outpacing expense growth.

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Nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared with nine months ended September 30, 2019

Executive Summary

–The following table provides an executive summary of key operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Following this executive summary is a more detailed discussion of the Company’s operating results as well as a discussion of the operating results of the Company’s reportable segments.

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
Financial measure:			2020			2019			% Change			Insight and Key Drivers of Change Compared to Prior Year
Moody's total revenue			$	4,081		$	3,596		13		%	— reflects strong growth in both segments
MIS External Revenue			$	2,557		$	2,155		19		%	— higher corporate debt rated issuance volumes (both investment-grade and speculative-grade) as corporate issuers bolstered liquidity positions in response to COVID-19 uncertainties and issued opportunistically for refinancing and M&A needs; partially offset by — declines in U.S. bank loan revenue and declines across key asset classes in SFG
MA External Revenue			$	1,524		$	1,441		6		%	— strong renewals and new sales of credit research and data feeds, as well as demand for know-your-customer (KYC) and compliance solutions; and
												— strong demand for credit assessment and loan origination solutions along with insurance compliance products in ERS;
												— inorganic growth from acquisitions
Total operating and SG&A expenses			$	1,945		$	1,880		(3		%)	— higher costs to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth;
												— additional compensation expense resulting from hiring activity and merit increases;
												— higher estimates for bad debt reserves resulting from the COVID-19 crisis; partially offset by
												— lower travel costs and disciplined expense management in light of the COVID-19 crisis coupled with benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Program
Restructuring			$	20		$	58		66		%	— charges pursuant to the Company's 2020 Restructuring Program and 2018 Restructuring Program, more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements
Operating Margin			47.6		%	41.5		%	610 BPS			— margin expansion reflects strong revenue growth partially offset by modest increases in operating expenses
Adjusted Operating Margin			52.3		%	48.2		%	410 BPS
ETR			20.0		%	21.4		%	(140BPS)			— decrease primarily due to a deferred tax benefit in 2020 resulting from a non-U.S. corporate reorganization
Diluted EPS			$	7.73		$	5.54		40		%	— growth reflects higher operating income/Adjusted Operating Income
Adjusted Diluted EPS			$	8.24		$	6.29		31		%

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Moody’s Corporation

			Nine Months Ended September 30,												% Change Favorable (Unfavorable)
			2020						2019
Revenue:
United States			$	2,280					$	1,910					19		%
Non-U.S.:
EMEA			1,137						1,057						8		%
Asia-Pacific			436						415						5		%
Americas			228						214						7		%
Total Non-U.S.			1,801						1,686						7		%
Total			4,081						3,596						13		%
Expenses:
Operating			1,066						1,032						(3		%)
SG&A			879						848						(4		%)
Restructuring			20						58						66		%
Depreciation and amortization			163						150						(9		%)
Acquisition-Related Expenses			—						3						100		%
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			9						11						18		%
Total			2,137						2,102						(2		%)
Operating income			1,944						1,494						30		%
Adjusted Operating Income (1)			2,136						1,732						23		%
Interest expense, net			(153)						(149)						(3		%)
Other non-operating income, net			38						12						217		%
Non-operating (expense) income, net			(115)						(137)						16		%
Net income attributable to Moody’s			$	1,464					$	1,062					38		%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding			189.3						191.8						1		%
Diluted EPS attributable to Moody’s common shareholders			$	7.73					$	5.54					40		%
Adjusted Diluted EPS (1)			$	8.24					$	6.29					31		%
Operating margin			47.6		%				41.5		%
Adjusted Operating Margin (1)			52.3		%				48.2		%
Effective tax rate			20.0		%				21.4		%

(1)Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Diluted EPS attributable to Moody’s common shareholders are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this Management Discussion and Analysis for further information regarding these measures.

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GLOBAL REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Global revenue ⇑ $485 million

U.S. Revenue ⇑ $370 million

Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $115 million

The increase in global revenue reflected growth in both reportable segments in both the U.S. and internationally. Refer to the section entitled “Segment Results” of this MD&A for a more fulsome discussion of the Company’s segment revenue.

Operating Expense ⇑ $34 million

SG&A Expense ⇑ $31 million

-------------------------------------    

Compensation expenses increased $31 million and reflected:

Compensation expenses increased $17 million reflecting:

— hiring activity and salary increases coupled with higher incentive compensation accruals, partially offset by benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Program.

— hiring activity and salary increases partially offset by benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Program.

Non-compensation expenses increased $3 million reflecting:

Non-compensation expenses increased $14 million reflecting:

— higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth; partially offset by: — lower travel costs and disciplined expense management in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

— higher estimates for bad debt reserves of approximately $20 million primarily resulting from the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the Company's customers; and

— higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth; partially offset by:

— lower travel costs and disciplined expense management in light of the COVID-19 crisis;

— a $16 million captive insurance company settlement in 2019.

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Other Expenses

The restructuring charge of $20 million in 2020 primarily relates to the non-cash impairment of certain leased real estate assets (ROU Assets and leasehold improvements) pursuant to the rationalization and exit of certain real estate leases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $58 million restructuring charge in 2019 relates to actions pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Restructuring Program. Both of these programs are more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS in both years relates to the Company's strategic divestiture of this business.

Operating margin 47.6%, up 610 BPS

Adjusted Operating Margin 52.3%, up 410 BPS

Operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin expansion reflects strong revenue growth partially offset by modest growth in expenses.

Interest Expense, net ⇑ $4 million

Other non-operating income ⇑ $26 million

Primarily reflects:

The increase is primarily due to:

— a combined $24 million prepayment penalty in the first nine months of 2020 on the early redemption of the 2018 Senior Notes and 2017 Senior Notes; partially offset by

— FX gains of $7 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to $15 million in FX losses in the same period of the prior year.

— a $17 million benefit from a fair value hedge settled in connection with the early redemption of the 2017 Senior Notes

						ETR ⇓ 140 BPS

The decrease in the ETR is primarily due to a deferred tax benefit resulting from a non-U.S. corporate reorganization.

Diluted EPS ⇑ $2.19

Adjusted Diluted EPS ⇑ $1.95

Diluted EPS in the first nine months of 2020 of $7.73 increased $2.19 compared to the same period in 2019, with both periods including the aforementioned restructuring charges. The growth in EPS is mainly due to the aforementioned growth in operating income.						Adjusted Diluted EPS of $8.24 in 2020 increased $1.95 compared to the first nine months of 2019 (refer to the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this MD&A for items excluded in the derivation of Adjusted Diluted EPS). The growth in Adjusted Diluted EPS is primarily due to the aforementioned growth in Adjusted Operating Income.

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Segment Results

Moody’s Investors Service

The table below provides a summary of revenue and operating results, followed by further insight and commentary:

			Nine Months Ended September 30,												% Change Favorable (Unfavorable)
			2020						2019
Revenue:
Corporate finance (CFG)			$	1,486					$	1,135					31		%
Structured finance (SFG)			265						318						(17		%)
Financial institutions (FIG)			401						361						11		%
Public, project and infrastructure finance (PPIF)			375						321						17		%
Total ratings revenue			2,527						2,135						18		%
MIS Other			30						20						50		%
Total external revenue			2,557						2,155						19		%
Intersegment royalty			110						100						10		%
Total			2,667						2,255						18		%
Expenses:
Operating and SG&A (external)			982						939						(5		%)
Operating and SG&A (intersegment)			5						7						29		%
Restructuring			12						29						59		%
Depreciation and amortization			52						53						2		%
Total expense			1,051						1,028						(2		%)
Operating income			$	1,616					$	1,227					32		%
Restructuring			12						29						59		%
Depreciation and amortization			52						53						2		%
Captive insurance company settlement			—						10						100		%
Adjusted Operating Income			$	1,680					$	1,319					27		%
Operating margin			60.6		%				54.4		%
Adjusted Operating Margin			63.0		%				58.5		%

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MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MIS: Global revenue ⇑ $402 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $324 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $78 million

–The increase in global MIS revenue (and in both U.S. and non-U.S. revenue) reflected growth across all LOBs excluding SFG.

CFG REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CFG: Global revenue ⇑ $351 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $294 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $57 million

Global CFG revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

(1) Other includes: recurring monitoring fees of a rated debt obligation and/or entities that issue such obligations as well as fees from programs such as commercial paper, medium term notes, and ICRA corporate finance revenue.

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The increase in CFG revenue of 31% reflected growth both in the U.S. (40%) and internationally (15%) which resulted in a $334 million increase in transaction revenue. The most notable drivers of the CFG revenue growth were:

–strong growth in investment-grade rated issuance volumes reflecting:

–corporate issuers bolstering their liquidity positions in light of uncertainties regarding the duration and severity of the COVID-19 crisis;

–opportunistic issuance for both refinancing and M&A activity in light of current favorable market conditions.

–strong growth in speculative-grade rated issuance volumes despite severe market disruption in this sector in March relating to the COVID-19 crisis. In the second and third quarters of 2020, high-yield market sentiment improved and credit spreads tightened resulting in strong growth in rated issuance volumes; and

–benefits from favorable changes in product mix and pricing increases;

partially offset by:

–a decline in U.S. bank loan revenue primarily reflecting rising defaults on leveraged loans and issuer/investor preference for fixed-rate bonds.

SFG REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SFG: Global revenue ⇓ $53 million			U.S. Revenue ⇓ $42 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇓ $11 million

Global SFG revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

The decrease in SFG revenue of 17% reflected declines both in the U.S. (21%) and internationally (10%). Transaction revenue declined $58 million. The most notable factors contributing to the decline in SFG revenue were:

–reduced activity in the CLO asset class resulting from:

–challenges in the leveraged loan market (refer to CFG discussion above);

–widening credit spreads in response to uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 crisis; and

–an increasingly competitive landscape.

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–declines in U.S. CMBS securitization activity as retail and hotel properties have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

FIG REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FIG: Global revenue ⇑ $40 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $37 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $3 million

Global FIG revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

Transaction revenue grew by $38 million compared to the same period in the prior year.

The 11% increase in FIG revenue was mainly due to:

–growth in U.S. banking and insurance rated issuance volumes as large financial institutions and insurers fortified their balance sheets in light of uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 crisis and favorable market conditions;

–issuance in advance of anticipated volatility around the U.S. presidential election in the fourth quarter of 2020; and

–benefits from favorable changes in product mix and pricing increases.

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PPIF REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PPIF: Global revenue ⇑ $54 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $35 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $19 million

Global PPIF revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was comprised as follows:

Transaction revenue increased $49 million compared to the same period in the prior year.

The 17% increase in PPIF revenue resulted primarily from:

–higher U.S. public finance refunding volumes resulting from continued low benchmark interest rates, including refinancing by way of taxable transactions;

–higher infrastructure finance revenue resulting from investment-grade issuers bolstering their balance sheets in light of uncertainties regarding the duration and severity of the COVID-19 crisis; and

–benefits from favorable changes in product mix and pricing increases.

						MIS: Operating and SG&A Expense ⇑ $43 million

    

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The growth reflects a $36 million and $7 million increase in compensation and non-compensation expenses, respectively. The most notable drivers of these increases are as follows:

Compensation costs						Non-compensation costs
The increase is primarily due to:						The increase is primarily due to:
— annual salary increases and hiring; partially offset by:						— approximately $15 million in higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth;
— benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Program						— higher estimates for bad debt reserves of $12 million primarily resulting from the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the Company's customers; partially offset by:
						— lower travel costs of $11 million and disciplined expense management in light of the COVID-19 crisis; and
						— a $10 million charge in the prior year for a captive insurance company settlement

Other Expenses
The restructuring charges in both years relate to the Company's 2020 Restructuring Program and 2018 Restructuring Program as more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

MIS: Operating Margin of 60.6% ⇑ 620 BPS

Adjusted Operating Margin of 63.0% ⇑ 450 BPS

MIS operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin both increased reflecting strong revenue growth outpacing expense growth.

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Moody’s Analytics

The table below provides a summary of revenue and operating results, followed by further insight and commentary:

			Nine Months Ended September 30,												% Change Favorable (Unfavorable)
			2020						2019
Revenue:
Research, data and analytics (RD&A) (1)			$	1,110					$	940					18		%
Enterprise risk solutions (ERS)			414						373						11		%
Professional services (PS) (1)			—						128						(100		%)
Total external revenue			1,524						1,441						6		%
Intersegment revenue			5						7						(29		%)
Total MA Revenue			1,529						1,448						6		%
Expenses:
Operating and SG&A (external)			963						941						(2		%)
Operating and SG&A (intersegment)			110						100						(10		%)
Restructuring			8						29						72		%
Depreciation and amortization			111						97						(14		%)
Acquisition-Related Expenses			—						3						100		%
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			9						11						18		%
Total expense			1,201						1,181						(2		%)
Operating income			$	328					$	267					23		%
Restructuring			8						29						72		%
Depreciation and amortization			111						97						(14		%)
Acquisition-Related Expenses			—						3						100		%
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			9						11						18
Captive insurance company settlement			—						6						100
Adjusted Operating Income			$	456					$	413					10		%
Operating margin			21.5		%				18.4		%
Adjusted Operating Margin			29.8		%				28.5		%

(1) Subsequent to the divestiture of MAKS in 2019, revenue from the Moody's Analytics Learning Solutions ("MALS") unit, which previous to 2020 was reported in the Professional Services line of business ("LOB"), is now reported as part of the RD&A LOB. Prior periods have not been reclassified as the amounts were not material.

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MOODY'S ANALYTICS REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MA: Global revenue ⇑ $83 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $46 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $37 million

The 6% increase in global MA revenue reflects strong growth in RD&A and ERS partially offset by a decline in revenue resulting from the divestiture of the MAKS business in the fourth quarter of 2019.

–Organic revenue growth was 8%.

–The increase in U.S. revenue reflected growth in both RD&A and ERS.

–The increase in non-U.S. revenue reflected growth in RD&A and ERS, partially offset by a decline in revenue resulting from the divestiture of MAKS in the fourth quarter of 2019.

–The increase in relationship revenue as a percentage of total revenue from 85% in the first nine months of 2019 to 91% in the same period of 2020 reflects the divestiture of the transaction revenue-based MAKS business in 2019.

RD&A REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    

RD&A: Global revenue ⇑ $170 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $80 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $90 million

Global RD&A revenue grew 18% compared to the first nine months of 2019 with the most notable drivers of the increase reflecting:

–strong renewals and new sales of credit research and data feeds;

–inorganic revenue growth from the acquisitions of RDC and ABS Suite; and

–strong demand for solutions that address customer identity requirements, such as know-your-customer, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and sanctions compliance.

Organic revenue growth for RD&A was 9%.

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ERS REVENUE

2020----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2019

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ERS: Global revenue ⇑ $41 million			U.S. Revenue ⇑ $20 million			Non-U.S. Revenue ⇑ $21 million

Global ERS revenue increased 11% compared to the first nine months of 2019 with the most notable drivers of the growth reflecting:

–continued strong demand for credit assessment and loan origination solutions;

–increased demand for actuarial modeling tools in support of certain international accounting standards relating to insurance contracts; and

–inorganic revenue growth from the acquisition of RiskFirst.

Organic revenue growth for ERS was 8%.

						MA: Operating and SG&A Expense ⇑ $22 million

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The increase in operating and SG&A expenses compared to the first nine months of 2019 is primarily due to growth in both compensation non-compensation costs of $13 million and $9 million, respectively, reflecting:

Compensation costs						Non-compensation costs
The increase is primarily due to:						The increase is primarily due to:
— annual salary increases and hiring;						— approximately $44 million in higher costs to support the Company’s initiative to enhance technology infrastructure to enable automation, innovation and efficiency as well as to support business growth;
— higher incentive compensation accruals aligned with performance; partially offset by:						— higher estimates for bad debt reserves of $8 million primarily resulting from the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the Company's customers; partially offset by:
— benefits from the 2018 Restructuring Program						— lower travel costs of $26 million coupled with disciplined expense management across other expense categories in light of the COVID-19 crisis; and
						— a $6 million charge in the prior year for a captive insurance company settlement

Other Expenses

The restructuring charges in both years relate to the Company's 2020 Restructuring Program and 2018 Restructuring Program as more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The $9 million and $11 million losses pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS in both 2020 and 2019 relate to the Company's strategic divestiture of this business.

MA: Operating Margin 21.5% ⇑ 310BPS

Adjusted Operating Margin 29.8% ⇑ 130BPS

The operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin expansion for MA both reflect RD&A and ERS revenue growth partially offset by modest expense growth. Operating margin expansion also benefitted from a lower restructuring charge in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period in the prior year. Both the operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin were suppressed by higher bad debt reserves in the first nine months of 2020.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

The Company is currently financing its operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions and share repurchases from operating and financing cash flows.

The following is a summary of the changes in the Company’s cash flows followed by a brief discussion of these changes:

			Nine Months Ended September 30,												$ Change Favorable (Unfavorable)
			2020						2019
Net cash provided by operating activities			$	1,488					$	1,196					$	292
Net cash used in investing activities			$	(853)					$	(150)					$	(703)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			$	3					$	(1,517)					$	1,520
Free Cash Flow (1)			$	1,405					$	1,135					$	270

(1) Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure and is defined by the Company as net cash provided by operating activities minus cash paid for capital expenditures. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” of this MD&A for further information on this financial measure.

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Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash flows from operating activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased $292 million compared to same period in 2019 with the most significant drivers reflecting:

–an increase in net income compared to the same period in the prior year (see section entitled “Results of Operations” for further discussion);

partially offset by:

–a $99 million contribution to the Company's funded pension plan in the first quarter of 2020; and

–a $68 million payment made in conjunction with the settlement of treasury lock interest rate forward contracts as more fully described in Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Net cash used in investing activities

The $703 million increase in cash used in investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 primarily reflects:

–an increase in cash paid for acquisitions of $578 million (refer to Note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion on the Company's M&A activity);

– $101 million in higher net purchases of investments in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period in the prior year.

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

The $1,520 million increase in cash flows provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily attributed to:

–the net issuance of $691 million in long-term debt during the first nine months of 2020 compared to repayment of long-term debt of $450 million in the same period of the prior year; and

–lower cash paid for treasury share repurchases of $475 million compared to the first nine months of 2019.

Cash and short-term investments held in non-U.S. jurisdictions

The Company’s aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.6 billion at September 30, 2020 consisted of approximately $1.5 billion located outside of the U.S. Approximately 10% of the Company’s aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments is denominated in euros and British pounds. The Company manages both its U.S. and non-U.S cash flow to maintain sufficient liquidity in all regions to effectively meet its operating needs.

As a result of the Tax Act, all previously net undistributed foreign earnings have now been subject to U.S. tax. The Company continues to evaluate which entities it will indefinitely reinvest earnings outside the U.S. The Company has provided deferred taxes for those entities whose earnings are not considered indefinitely reinvested. Accordingly, the Company has commenced repatriating a portion of its non-U.S. cash in these subsidiaries and will continue to repatriate certain of its offshore cash in a manner that addresses compliance with local statutory requirements, sufficient offshore working capital and any other factors that may be relevant in certain jurisdictions. Notwithstanding the Tax Act, which generally eliminated federal income tax on future cash repatriation to the U.S., cash repatriation may be subject to state and local taxes or withholding or similar taxes.

Other Material Future Cash Requirements

The Company believes that it has the financial resources needed to meet its cash requirements and expects to have positive operating cash flow for the next twelve months. Cash requirements for periods beyond the next twelve months will depend, among other things, on the Company’s profitability and its ability to manage working capital requirements. The Company may also borrow from various sources.

The Company remains committed to using its strong cash flow to create value for shareholders by investing in growing areas of the business, reinvesting in ratings quality initiatives, making selective acquisitions, repurchasing stock and paying

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dividends, all in a manner consistent with maintaining sufficient liquidity after giving effect to any additional indebtedness that may be incurred.

Dividends and share repurchases

On October 27, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share of Moody’s common stock, payable December 14, 2020 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 23, 2020. The continued payment of dividends at this rate, or at all, is subject to the discretion of the Board.

In October 2018, the Board authorized a $1.0 billion share repurchase program, which at September 30, 2020 had a remaining authority of approximately $81 million. Additionally, in December 2019, the Board authorized an additional $1.0 billion share repurchase program, which may commence following the completion of the existing program.

Beginning late in the first quarter of 2020 and through the third quarter of 2020, the Company suspended its share repurchase activity to preserve liquidity in light of uncertainties regarding the severity and duration of the COVID-19 crisis. The Company anticipates resuming its share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The Company has future cash requirements, including operating leases and debt service and payments as noted in the tables that follow as well as future payments related to the transition tax under the Tax Act.

Indebtedness

During the first nine months of 2020, in response to uncertainties relating to the severity and duration of the COVID-19 crisis, the Company increased its long-term debt position by $700 million via public offerings to bolster liquidity. The key terms of these transactions are presented in Note 17 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

At September 30, 2020, Moody’s had $6.4 billion of outstanding debt and approximately $1 billion of additional capacity available under the Company’s CP program, which is backstopped by the 2018 Facility. At September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained within all of the debt agreements. All of the Company’s long-term debt agreements contain cross default provisions which state that default under one of the aforementioned debt instruments could in turn permit lenders under other debt instruments to declare borrowings outstanding under those instruments to be immediately due and payable. At September 30, 2020, there were no such cross defaults.

The repayment schedule for the Company’s borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2020 is as follows:

For additional information on the Company's outstanding debt, refer to Note 17 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Management may consider pursuing additional long-term financing when it is appropriate in light of cash requirements for operations, share repurchases and other strategic opportunities, which would result in higher financing costs.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At September 30, 2020, Moody’s did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as special purpose or variable interest entities where Moody’s is the primary beneficiary, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, Moody’s is not exposed to any financing, liquidity market or credit risk that could arise if it had engaged in such relationships.

Contractual Obligations

The following table presents payments due under the Company’s contractual obligations as of September 30, 2020:

Payments Due by Period

			Payments Due by Period
(in millions)			Total						Less Than 1 Year						1 - 3 Years						3 - 5 Years						Over 5 Years
Indebtedness (1)			$	9,127					$	197					$	1,382					$	1,497					$	6,051
Operating lease obligations			592						27						203						171						191
Purchase obligations			208						91						106						11						—
Pension obligations (2)			151						2						45						28						76
Total (3)			$	10,078					$	317					$	1,736					$	1,707					$	6,318

(1)Reflects principal payments, related interest and applicable fees due on all indebtedness outstanding as described in Note 17 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

(2)Reflects projected benefit payments relating to the Company’s U.S. unfunded DBPPs and Retirement and Other Plans described in Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

(3)The table above does not include the Company's long-term tax liabilities of $471 million relating to UTPs, since the expected cash outflow of such amounts by period cannot be reasonably estimated. Additionally, the table above does not include approximately $33 million relating to indemnification liability resulting from the divestiture of MAKS and approximately $51 million relating to the remaining unpaid deemed repatriation liability resulting from the Tax Act enacted into law in the U.S. in December 2017.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

In addition to its reported results, Moody’s has included in this MD&A certain adjusted results that the SEC defines as “non-GAAP financial measures.” Management believes that such adjusted financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company’s reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s performance, facilitate comparisons to competitors’ operating results and can provide greater transparency to investors of supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. These adjusted measures, as defined by the Company, are not necessarily comparable to similarly defined measures of other companies. Furthermore, these adjusted measures should not be viewed in isolation or used as a substitute for other GAAP measures in assessing the operating performance or cash flows of the Company. Below are brief descriptions of the Company’s adjusted financial measures accompanied by a reconciliation of the adjusted measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure:

Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin:

The Company presents Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin because management deems these metrics to be useful measures to provide additional perspective on the operating performance of Moody’s. Adjusted Operating Income excludes the impact of: i) restructuring; ii) depreciation and amortization; iii) Acquisition-Related Expenses; iv) loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS; and v) a captive insurance company settlement. Restructuring charges are excluded as the frequency and magnitude of these charges may vary widely across periods and companies. Depreciation and amortization are excluded because companies utilize productive assets of different ages and use different methods of acquiring and depreciating productive assets. Acquisition-Related Expenses consist of expenses incurred to complete and integrate the acquisition of Bureau van Dijk. These expenses were excluded in the prior years due to the material nature of the cumulative costs incurred over the multi-year integration effort. Acquisition-related expenses from other acquisitions were not material. The loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS is excluded as the frequency and magnitude of divestiture activity may vary widely from period to period and across companies. The captive insurance company settlement relates to the resolution of a matter that is not expected to recur in the future at this magnitude.

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Management believes that the exclusion of the aforementioned items, as detailed in the reconciliation below, allows for an additional perspective on the Company’s operating results from period to period and across companies. The Company defines Adjusted Operating Margin as Adjusted Operating Income divided by revenue.

			Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019						2020						2019
Operating income			$	642					$	549					$	1,944					$	1,494
Adjustments:
Restructuring			23						(1)						20						58
Depreciation and amortization			56						48						163						150
Acquisition-Related Expenses			—						—						—						3
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS			—						2						9						11
Captive insurance company settlement			—						16						—						16
Adjusted Operating Income			$	721					$	614					$	2,136					$	1,732
Operating margin			47.3		%				44.3		%				47.6		%				41.5		%
Adjusted Operating Margin			53.2		%				49.5		%				52.3		%				48.2		%

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS attributable to Moody's common shareholders:

The Company presents Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS because management deems these metrics to be useful measures to provide additional perspective on the operating performance of Moody’s. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS exclude the impact of: i) Acquisition-Related Expenses; ii) amortization of acquired intangible assets; iii) restructuring charges/adjustments; iv) loss and a tax charge pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS; and v) a captive insurance company settlement.

Acquisition-Related Expenses consist of expenses incurred to complete and integrate the acquisition of Bureau van Dijk. These expenses were excluded in prior years due to the material nature of the cumulative costs incurred over the multi-year integration effort. Acquisition-related expenses from other acquisitions were not material. The Company excludes the impact of amortization of acquired intangible assets as companies utilize intangible assets with different ages and have different methods of acquiring and amortizing intangible assets. These intangible assets were recorded as part of acquisition accounting and contribute to revenue generation. The amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Furthermore, the timing and magnitude of business combination transactions are not predictable and the purchase price allocated to amortizable intangible assets and the related amortization period are unique to each acquisition and can vary significantly from period to period and across companies. Restructuring charges are excluded as the frequency and magnitude of these charges may vary widely across periods and companies. The loss and tax charge pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS are excluded as the frequency and magnitude of divestiture activity may vary widely from period to period and across companies. The captive insurance company settlement relates to the resolution of a matter that is not expected to recur in the future at this magnitude.

The Company excludes the aforementioned items to provide additional perspective when comparing net income and diluted EPS from period to period and across companies as the frequency and magnitude of similar transactions may vary widely across periods.

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Below is a reconciliation of this measure to its most directly comparable U.S. GAAP amount:

			Three Months Ended September 30,																		Nine Months Ended September 30,
Amounts in millions			2020									2019									2020									2019
Net income attributable to Moody's common shareholders						$	467								$	380								$	1,464								$	1,062
Pre-Tax Acquisition-Related Expenses			$	—								$	—								$	—								$	3
Tax on Acquisition-Related Expenses			—									—									—									—
Net Acquisition-Related Expenses						—									—									—									3
Pre-Tax Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses			$	31								$	24								$	90								$	77
Tax on Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses			(7)									(6)									(20)									(18)
Net Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses						24									18									70									59
Pre-Tax Restructuring			$	23								$	(1)								$	20								$	58
Tax on Restructuring			(5)									—									(4)									(14)
Net Restructuring						18									(1)									16									44
Pre-Tax captive insurance company settlement			$	—								$	16								$	—								$	16
Tax on captive insurance company settlement			—									(4)									—									(4)
Net captive insurance company settlement						—									12									—									12
Tax charge pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS						—									—									—									15
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS						—									2									9									11
Adjusted Net Income						$	509								$	411								$	1,559								$	1,206

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			Three Months Ended September 30,																		Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020									2019									2020									2019
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Moody's common shareholders						$	2.47								$	1.99								$	7.73								$	5.54
Pre-Tax Acquisition-Related Expenses			$	—								$	—								$	—								$	0.02
Tax on Acquisition-Related Expenses			—									—									—									(0.01)
Net Acquisition-Related Expenses						—									—									—									0.01
Pre-Tax Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses			$	0.16								$	0.13								$	0.47								$	0.40
Tax on Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses			(0.04)									(0.04)									(0.09)									(0.09)
Net Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expenses						0.12									0.09									0.38									0.31
Pre-Tax Restructuring			$	0.12								$	(0.01)								$	0.10								$	0.30
Tax on Restructuring			(0.02)									0.01									(0.02)									(0.07)
Net Restructuring						0.10									—									0.08									0.23
Pre-Tax captive insurance company settlement			$	—								$	0.08								$	—								$	0.08
Tax on captive insurance company settlement			—									(0.02)									—									(0.02)
Net captive insurance company settlement						—									0.06									—									0.06
Tax charge pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS						—									—									—									0.08
Loss pursuant to the divestiture of MAKS						—									0.01									0.05									0.06
Adjusted Diluted EPS						$	2.69								$	2.15								$	8.24								$	6.29

Note: the tax impacts in the table above were calculated using tax rates in effect in the jurisdiction for which the item relates.

Free Cash Flow:

The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities minus payments for capital additions. Management believes that Free Cash Flow is a useful metric in assessing the Company’s cash flows to service debt, pay dividends and to fund acquisitions and share repurchases. Management deems capital expenditures essential to the Company’s product and service innovations and maintenance of Moody’s operational capabilities. Accordingly, capital expenditures are deemed to be a recurring use of Moody’s cash flow. Below is a reconciliation of the Company’s net cash flows from operating activities to Free Cash Flow:

			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2020						2019
Net cash flows provided by operating activities			$	1,488					$	1,196
Capital additions			(83)						(61)
Free Cash Flow			$	1,405					$	1,135
Net cash flows used in investing activities			$	(853)					$	(150)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities			$	3					$	(1,517)

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Organic Revenue:

The Company presents the organic revenue and growth because management deems this metric to be a useful measure which provides additional perspective in assessing the revenue growth excluding the inorganic revenue impacts from certain acquisitions and divestiture activity. The following table details the periods excluded from each acquisition/divestiture to determine organic revenue.

Period excluded to determine organic revenue growth

Acquisition

Acquisition Date

Three Months Ended September 30

Nine Months Ended September 30

RiskFirst

July 25, 2019

July 1, 2020 - July 24, 2020

January 1, 2020 - July 24, 2020

ABS Suite

October 1, 2019

July 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020

January 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020

Regulatory DataCorp

February 13, 2020

July 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020

February 13, 2020 - September 30, 2020

Divestiture

Divestiture Date

MAKS

November 7, 2019

July 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019

January 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019

Additionally, subsequent to the divestiture of MAKS in 2019, revenue from the Moody's Analytics Learning Solutions ("MALS") unit, which previous to 2020 was reported in the Professional Services LOB, is now reported as part of the RD&A LOB. Prior periods have not been reclassified as the amounts were not material. For purposes of determining organic RD&A revenue growth, MALS revenue has been excluded from 2020 RD&A revenue. Below is a reconciliation of MA's reported revenue and growth rates to its organic revenue and organic growth rates:

			Three Months Ended September 30,																								Nine Months Ended September 30,
Amounts in millions			2020						2019						Change						Growth						2020						2019						Change						Growth
MA revenue			$	531					$	494					$	37					7%						$	1,524					$	1,441					$	83					6%
RiskFirst			(2)						—						(2)												(12)						—						(12)
ABS Suite			(3)						—						(3)												(6)						—						(6)
Regulatory DataCorp			(16)						—						(16)												(37)						—						(37)
MAKS			—						(28)						28												—						(83)						83
Organic MA revenue			$	510					$	466					$	44					9%						$	1,469					$	1,358					$	111					8%
			Three Months Ended September 30,																								Nine Months Ended September 30,
Amounts in millions			2020						2019						Change						Growth						2020						2019						Change						Growth
RD&A revenue			$	386					$	317					$	69					22%						$	1,110					$	940					$	170					18%
ABS Suite			(3)						—						(3)												(6)						—						(6)
Regulatory DataCorp			(16)						—						(16)												(37)						—						(37)
MALS			(13)						—						(13)												(40)						—						(40)
Organic RD&A revenue			$	354					$	317					$	37					12%						$	1,027					$	940					$	87					9%
			Three Months Ended September 30,																								Nine Months Ended September 30,
Amounts in millions			2020						2019						Change						Growth						2020						2019						Change						Growth
ERS revenue			$	145					$	134					$	11					8%						$	414					$	373					$	41					11%
RiskFirst			(2)						—						(2)												(12)						—						(12)
Organic ERS revenue			$	143					$	134					$	9					7%						$	402					$	373					$	29					8%

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Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Refer to Note 21 to the condensed consolidated financial statements located in Part I on this Form 10-Q for a discussion on the impact to the Company relating to recently issued accounting pronouncements.

Contingencies

Legal proceedings in which the Company is involved also may impact Moody’s liquidity or operating results. No assurance can be provided as to the outcome of such proceedings. In addition, litigation inherently involves significant costs. For information regarding legal proceedings, see Item 1 - "Financial Statements", Note 19 "Contingencies” in this Form 10-Q.

Regulation

MIS and many of the securities that it rates are subject to extensive regulation in both the U.S. and in other countries (including by state and local authorities). Existing and proposed laws and regulations can impact the Company’s operations and the markets for securities that it rates. Additional laws and regulations have been proposed or are being considered. Each of the existing, adopted, proposed and potential laws and regulations can increase the costs and legal risk associated with the Company’s operations, including the issuance of credit ratings, and may negatively impact the Company’s profitability and ability to compete, or result in changes in the demand for credit ratings, in the manner in which credit ratings are utilized and in the manner in which the Company operates.

The regulatory landscape continues to evolve. In the U.S., CRAs are subject to extensive regulation primarily pursuant to the Reform Act and the Dodd-Frank Act. The Reform Act added Section 15E to the Exchange Act and provided the SEC with the authority to establish a registration and oversight program for credit rating agencies registered as NRSROs. Among other things, the Reform Act requires the SEC to submit an annual report to Congress providing an overview of SEC activities with respect to NRSROs, and detailing the SEC’s views on the state of competition, transparency and conflicts of interests among NRSROs. The Dodd-Frank Act enhanced the SEC’s oversight of the regulation of NRSROs, and includes a requirement that the SEC publish an annual report summarizing the results of its annual examinations of NRSROs. To date, through a series of rulemakings, the SEC has implemented several Exchange Act provisions related to NRSROs. These include, for example, provisions addressing disclosure of data and assumptions underlying credit ratings, conflicts of interest with respect to sales and marketing practices, disclosure of performance statistics, application and disclosure of credit rating methodologies, analyst training and testing and consistent application of rating symbols and definitions. The Company has made and continues to make substantial IT and other investments, and has implemented the relevant compliance obligations.

In the EU, the CRA industry is registered and supervised through a pan-EU regulatory framework. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has direct supervisory responsibility for the registered CRA industry throughout the EU. MIS’ EU CRA subsidiaries are registered and are subject to formal regulation and periodic inspection. Applicable rules include procedural requirements with respect to use of credit ratings, independence and avoidance of conflicts of interest, conflicts of interest concerning investments in CRAs, methodologies, models and key rating assumptions, CRA rotation and use of multiple CRAs, outsourcing, disclosures, credit ratings of sovereign issuers, liability for intentional or grossly negligent failure to abide by applicable regulations, reporting requirements to ESMA regarding fees, and additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services. From time to time, ESMA publishes interpretive guidance, or thematic reports regarding various aspects of the regulation and, annually, sets out its work program for the forthcoming year. ESMA’s 2021 work program includes, amongst others, monitoring, identifying and assessing new risks such as those emanating from COVID-19 and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) products, assessing the drivers behind changes to credit rating methodologies, engaging with CRAs on IT and information security controls and ensuring that credit ratings are accessible and usable by investors.

In 2016, the European Commission published a report concluding that no new EU legislation was necessary at that time, but that it would continue to monitor the credit rating industry and analyze approaches that may strengthen existing regulation. In April 2020, the Commission published a consultation on a Sustainable Finance strategy for the EU. The new strategy is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2021 and could include proposals on the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria in the credit rating process. The Commission is also expected to publish a report in 2021 on CRAs and the integration of sustainability factors into their credit ratings and on Sustainability Research and Ratings.

Separately, on June 23, 2016, the U.K. voted to exit the E.U. and on January 31, 2020 formally left the E.U. There is now a transition period of 11 months until December 31, 2020 when most EU law will remain applicable in the U.K.. The longer-term impact of the decision to leave the E.U. on the overall regulatory framework for the U.K. will depend, in part, on the relationship that the U.K. negotiates with the E.U. During the transition period, the E.U. CRA regulatory framework will remain in place in the U.K. and firms must continue to abide by their existing obligations with ESMA as the regulator of EU-registered CRAs. It is

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expected that from the start of 2021, relevant legislation for CRAs under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority will come into force in the U.K.

In light of the regulations that have gone into effect in both the E.U. and the U.S. (as well as many other countries), periodically and as a matter of course pursuant to their enabling legislation, regulatory authorities have and will continue to publish reports that describe their oversight activities over the industry. In addition, other legislation and/or interpretation of existing regulation relating to the Company’s operations, including credit rating, ancillary and research services is being considered by local, national and multinational bodies and this type of activity is likely to continue in the future. Finally, in certain countries, governments may provide financial or other support to locally-based CRAs. For example, governments may from time to time establish official CRAs or credit ratings criteria or procedures for evaluating local issuers. If enacted, any such legislation and regulation could change the competitive landscape in which MIS operates. The legal status of CRAs has been addressed by courts in various decisions and is likely to be considered and addressed in legal proceedings from time to time in the future. Management of the Company cannot predict whether these or any other proposals will be enacted, the outcome of any pending or possible future legal proceedings, or regulatory or legislative actions, or the ultimate impact of any such matters on the competitive position, financial position or results of operations of the Company.

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for the business and operations of the Company that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements involve estimates, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Those statements appear at various places throughout this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including in the sections entitled “Contingencies” under Item 2, “MD&A”, commencing on page 50 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, under “Legal Proceedings” in Part II, Item 1, of this Form 10-Q, and elsewhere in the context of statements containing the words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “will”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue”, “strategy”, “aspire”, “target”, “forecast”, “project”, “estimate”, “should”, “could”, “may” and similar expressions or words and variations thereof relating to the Company’s views on future events, trends and contingencies or otherwise convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicative of forward-looking statements. Stockholders and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other information are made as of the date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and the Company undertakes no obligation (nor does it intend) to publicly supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is identifying examples of factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking statements.

Those factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of COVID-19 on volatility in the U.S. and world financial markets, on general economic conditions and GDP growth in the U.S. and worldwide, and on the Company’s own operations and personnel. Many other factors could cause actual results to differ from Moody’s outlook, including credit market disruptions or economic slowdowns, which could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, including regulation, credit quality concerns, changes in interest rates and other volatility in the financial markets such as that due to Brexit and uncertainty as companies transition away from LIBOR; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the uncertain effectiveness and possible collateral consequences of U.S. and foreign government actions affecting credit markets, international trade and economic policy, including those related to tariffs and trade barriers; concerns in the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency ratings; the introduction of competing products or technologies by other companies; pricing pressure from competitors and/or customers; the level of success of new product development and global expansion; the impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new U.S., state and local legislation and regulations, including provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations resulting from that Act; the potential for increased competition and regulation in the EU and other foreign jurisdictions; exposure to litigation related to Moody's Investors Service's rating opinions, as well as any other litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries to which the Company may be subject from time to time; provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act legislation modifying the pleading standards, and EU regulations modifying the liability standards, applicable to credit rating agencies in a manner adverse to credit rating agencies; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services and the expansion of supervisory remit to include non-EU ratings used for regulatory purposes; the possible loss of key employees; failures or malfunctions of our operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or other cybersecurity concerns; the outcome of any review by controlling tax authorities of the Company’s global tax planning initiatives; exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies if the Company fails to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, including data protection and privacy laws, sanctions laws, anti-corruption laws, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials; the impact of mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations and the ability of the Company to successfully integrate such acquired businesses; currency and foreign exchange volatility; the level of future cash flows; the levels of capital investments; and a decline in the demand for credit risk management tools by financial institutions. These factors, risks and uncertainties as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause Moody’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements are currently, or in the future could be, amplified by the COVID-19 outbreak, and are described in greater detail under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and in other filings made by the Company from time to time with the SEC or in materials incorporated herein or therein. Stockholders and investors are cautioned that the occurrence of any of these factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements, which could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. New factors may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict new factors, nor can the Company assess the potential effect of any new factors on it.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The following discussion outlines changes in Moody’s derivative instrument portfolio subsequent to the filing of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019:

Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges:

In the first quarter of 2020, the Company entered into interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $500 million to convert the fixed rate of interest on the 3.25% 2017 Senior Notes due 2028 to a floating interest rate based on the 3-month USD LIBOR. The hedges will be settled in 2026. A hypothetical change of 100 BPS in the USD LIBOR-based swap rate would result in an approximate $28 million change to the fair value of the swap, which would be offset by the change in fair value of the hedged item.

In the third quarter of 2020, the Company entered into interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $300 million to convert the fixed rate of interest on the 3.75% 2020 Senior Notes due 2025 to a floating interest rate based on the 6-month USD LIBOR. The hedges will mature in 2025. A hypothetical change of 100 BPS in the USD LIBOR-based swap rate would result in an approximate $13 million change to the fair value of the swap, which would be offset by the change in fair value of the hedged item.

Cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges:

In the first quarter of 2020, the Company entered into cross-currency swaps to exchange an aggregate amount of €450 million with corresponding interest based on the floating 3-month EURIBOR for an aggregate amount of $500 million with corresponding interest based on the floating 3-month USD LIBOR. These swaps were designated as net investment hedges under ASC Topic 815. The purpose of these cross-currency swaps is to mitigate FX exposure related to a portion of the Company’s euro net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries against changes in euro/USD exchange rates. If the euro were to strengthen 10% relative to the U.S. dollar, there would be an approximate $53 million unfavorable impact to the fair value of the cross-currency swaps recognized in OCI, which would be offset by favorable currency translation gains on the Company’s euro net investment in foreign subsidiaries.

Foreign exchange forwards designated as net investment hedges:

In the third quarter of 2020, the Company entered into a foreign exchange forward contract to exchange €247 million for $292 million. The purpose of this foreign exchange forward is to mitigate FX exposure related to a portion of the Company's euro net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries against changes in euro/USD exchange rates. If the euro were to strengthen 10% relative to the U.S. dollar, there would be an approximate $29 million unfavorable impact to the fair value of the forward contract recognized in OCI, which would be offset by favorable currency translation gains on the Company's euro net investment in foreign subsidiaries.

Refer to Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q and Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”, contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for further discussion on the Company’s derivative financial instruments.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures: The Company carried out an evaluation, as required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the communication to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has determined that there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, these internal controls over financial reporting during the three-month period ended September 30, 2020. Although a significant portion of the Company’s workforce began working remotely in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Moody’s has not experienced any material impact to its internal controls over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For information regarding legal proceedings, see Item 1 – “Financial Statements – Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited),” Note 19 “Contingencies” in this Form 10-Q.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the significant risk factors and uncertainties previously disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as updated in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, that if they were to occur, could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and/or cash flow. For a discussion of the Company’s risk factors, refer to Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

MOODY'S PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

For the three months ended September 30, 2020

Period						Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)						Average Price Paid per Share						Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program						Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Program(2)
July 1- 31						789						$	—					$	—					$	1,081	million
August 1- 31						493						$	—					$	—					$	1,081	million
September 1- 30						174						$	—					$	—					$	1,081	million
Total						1,456						$	—					$	—

(1)Includes surrender to the Company of 789, 493 and 174 shares of common stock in July, August and September, respectively, to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock issued to employees.

(2)As of the last day of each of the months. On October 22, 2018, the Board authorized a $1 billion share repurchase program, which at September 30, 2020 had approximately $81 million of remaining authority. On December 16, 2019, the Board approved an additional $1 billion for the share repurchase program, which may commence following the completion of the existing program. There is no established expiration date for the remaining authorization.

During the third quarter of 2020, Moody’s issued a net 0.1 million shares under employee stock-based compensation plans.

Item 5. Other Information

Not applicable

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Item 6.    Exhibits

Exhibit No						Description
3						ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS
.1						Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, effective April 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant, file number 1-14037, filed April 27, 2020)
.2						Amended and Restated By-laws of Moody’s Corporation, effective April 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant, file number 1-14037, filed April 27, 2020)
31						CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
.1*						Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
.2*						Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32						CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
.1*						Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company has furnished this certification and does not intend for it to be considered filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or incorporated by reference into future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
.2*						Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company has furnished this certification and does not intend for it to be considered filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or incorporated by reference into future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
101.INS*						Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
101.SCH*						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*						Inline XBRL Definitions Linkbase Document
101.LAB*						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE*						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*						Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
* Filed herewith

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

						MOODY’S CORPORATION
			By:			/ S / MARK KAYE
						Mark Kaye
						Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
						(principal financial officer)
			By:			/ S / CAROLINE SULLIVAN
						Caroline Sullivan
						Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller
						(principal accounting officer)
Date: October 30, 2020

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