Moody's Corporation, a leading global integrated risk assessment firm, is a publicly traded company owned by its shareholders.
Understanding Moody's Ownership Structure
While it's common for large corporations to have complex ownership structures, Moody's operates as a public company, meaning its ownership is distributed among individuals and institutional investors who hold its shares. This makes it different from a privately held company owned by a single entity or a small group.
From Subsidiary to Independent Corporation
For several decades, the entity now known as Moody's was a part of Dun & Bradstreet. This period saw Moody's Investors Service operating as a division within the larger Dun & Bradstreet enterprise.
A significant shift occurred in 2000 when Moody's Investors Service became a separate, independent company. At this pivotal moment, Moody's Corporation was established to serve as a holding company, overseeing its various operations and subsidiaries. This restructuring allowed Moody's to operate autonomously and pursue its own strategic direction.
More recently, on March 6, 2024, a notable rebranding took place: Moody's Investors Service, its core credit rating business, was officially renamed Moody's Ratings. This change reflects an evolution in its branding while its fundamental ownership structure as a publicly traded corporation remains.
The Role of Shareholders
As a publicly listed company, Moody's Corporation's shares are traded on major stock exchanges. This means that anyone can purchase its shares, thereby becoming a partial owner. Large institutional investors, such as mutual funds, pension funds, and asset management firms, often hold significant stakes, alongside individual investors.
The collective body of these shareholders, rather than a single individual or entity, constitutes the ownership of Moody's Corporation. This distributed ownership model is characteristic of most major global corporations.
For more information on Moody's corporate structure and operations, you can visit their official website: Moody's Corporation.
Key Milestones in Moody's Evolution
To better understand its journey to its current ownership model, here's a timeline of key structural changes:
| Year/Date | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2000 | Ownership by Dun & Bradstreet | Moody's Investors Service operated as a division of Dun & Bradstreet. |
| 2000 | Separation & Independence | Moody's Investors Service became a separate entity, and Moody's Corporation was formed as its holding company. |
| March 6, 2024 | Renaming of Core Business | Moody's Investors Service was officially renamed Moody's Ratings. |
