Moody's Q3 Results Top Estimates; Lifts FY16 Earnings Forecast - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Moody's Corp. (MCO) reported Friday that its third-quarter attributable net income increased to $255.3 million from $231.6 million a year ago. Earnings per share grew 15 percent to $1.31 from $1.14 last year.

Adjusted earnings per share were $1.34, compared to $1.11 last year. On average, 13 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $1.18 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Third-quarter revenues grew 10 percent to $917.1 million from $834.9 million last year, driven by Moody's Investors Service, as well as solid growth from Moody's Analytics. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted Moody's revenue by 1%. Analysts were looking for sales of $895.14 million.

US revenue was $545.7 million, up 13%, and non-US revenue was $371.4 million, up 5%. Revenue generated outside the US constituted 40% of total revenue, down from 42% in the prior-year period.

Looking ahead, for fiscal 2016, the company now expects reported earnings per share of $4.76 to $4.86, and adjusted earnings per share of $4.62 to $4.72.

The company previously expected reported earnings per share of $4.70 to $4.80, and adjusted earnings per share of $4.55 to $4.65.

Analysts expect earnings of $4.63 per share for the year.

Moody's full year 2016 revenue is still expected to increase in the low-single-digit percent range.