SmarterDividends
MCO

Moody's (MCO) Dividend

Moody's Corporation · Financial Services · Financial Data & Stock Exchanges · quarterly payer

$516.02

Overvalued · -19% Add to Portfolio

As of Nov 5, 2026, Moody's (MCO) pays a quarterly dividend of $1.03 per share, or $4.12 a year, a 0.78% yield at its $516.02 share price. The next ex-dividend date is Nov 20, 2026, paid Dec 11, 2026. It has raised its dividend 16 years in a row and has a dividend safety grade of A.

Forward Yield

0.78%

Annual Dividend

$4.12

Payout Ratio

25%

5-Yr Growth

10.9%

Ex-Date

Nov 20, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about MCO's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, Moody's Corporation (MCO) has a forward dividend yield of 0.78%, based on an annual dividend of $4.12 per share and a share price of $516.02.
  • As of Nov 5, 2026, MCO's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (88 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Moody's Corporation (MCO) has raised its dividend for 16 consecutive years as of Nov 5, 2026.
  • MCO last cut its regular dividend in 2005.
  • MCO's next ex-dividend date is Nov 20, 2026, with payment on Dec 11, 2026. Shares must be owned before that date to receive the dividend.
  • As of Nov 5, 2026, MCO pays out 25% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • MCO's dividend has grown at an average rate of 10.9% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Nov 5, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for MCO is $419.05 per share, 19% below the $516.02 share price, so MCO screens as overvalued.
  • Moody's Corporation (MCO) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
  • Moody's Corporation (MCO) has raised its regular dividend 25 times and cut it 1 time across the 104 payments on record since 2000. Its most recent change was a 9.6% increase to $1.03 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 2, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Feb 16, 2005.
  • Moody's (MCO) has declared its first higher dividend of the year in February in 4 of the last 5 years; its most recent raise, 9.6%, was declared on Feb 10, 2026.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "MCO Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/MCO

Is MCO a good dividend stock?

Yes

Moody's Corporation (MCO) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.78% ($4.12/yr), with 16 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

  • 16 consecutive years of dividend growth
  • Comfortable payout ratio (25%)
  • Strong 10.9% 5-yr dividend growth
  • Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2005

Key Data

Dividend Yield
0.78%
Payout Ratio
25%
Annual Dividend
$4.12
5-Yr Avg Growth
10.9%
Ex-Dividend Date
Nov 20, 2026
Years of Growth
16
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
1.30
Market Cap
$89.0B
P/E Ratio
31.5
5-Yr Total Return
26%
52-Week Range
$402.28 – $546.88
Dividend Safety
A · 88/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2005)

MCO dividend raises and cuts

Moody's Corporation (MCO) has raised its regular dividend 25 times and cut it 1 time across the 104 payments on record since 2000. Its most recent change was a 9.6% increase to $1.03 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 2, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Feb 16, 2005.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Mar 2, 2026Raise$0.940 → $1.03+9.6%
Feb 25, 2025Raise$0.850 → $0.940+10.6%
Feb 22, 2024Raise$0.770 → $0.850+10.4%
Feb 23, 2023Raise$0.700 → $0.770+10.0%
Feb 24, 2022Raise$0.620 → $0.700+12.9%
Feb 24, 2021Raise$0.560 → $0.620+10.7%
Feb 24, 2020Raise$0.500 → $0.560+12.0%
Feb 22, 2019Raise$0.440 → $0.500+13.6%
Feb 16, 2018Raise$0.380 → $0.440+15.8%
Feb 15, 2017Raise$0.370 → $0.380+2.7%
Feb 17, 2016Raise$0.340 → $0.370+8.8%
Feb 18, 2015Raise$0.280 → $0.340+21.4%
Show all 26 changes since 2004
Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Feb 18, 2014Raise$0.250 → $0.280+12.0%
Aug 16, 2013Raise$0.200 → $0.250+25.0%
Feb 15, 2013Raise$0.160 → $0.200+25.0%
Feb 15, 2012Raise$0.140 → $0.160+14.3%
May 18, 2011Raise$0.115 → $0.140+21.7%
Feb 16, 2011Raise$0.105 → $0.115+9.5%
Feb 17, 2010Raise$0.100 → $0.105+5.0%
Feb 15, 2008Raise$0.0800 → $0.100+25.0%
Feb 15, 2007Raise$0.0700 → $0.0800+14.3%
Feb 15, 2006Raise$0.0550 → $0.0700+27.3%
Aug 17, 2005Raise$0.0280 → $0.0550+96.4%
May 25, 2005Raise$0.0190 → $0.0280+47.4%
Feb 16, 2005Cut$0.0375 → $0.0190−49.3%
Feb 18, 2004Raise$0.0225 → $0.0375+66.7%
MCO ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Nov 20, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →MCO dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →MCO dividend calculator100 shares pay $412.00 a year, $103.00 each quarterCalculate →MCO total return calculatorWhat $10,000 became, with dividends reinvested or taken as cashSee →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MCO a good dividend stock?

Yes. Moody's Corporation (MCO) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.78% ($4.12/yr), with 16 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is MCO undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, MCO's fair value is about $419.05 versus a $516.02 share price — so it looks overvalued (-19% vs. fair value).

Is MCO's dividend safe?

MCO has a dividend-safety grade of A (88/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 16-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2005, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is MCO's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for MCO is about $419.05 per share, about 19% below the current $516.02 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is MCO a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data MCO screens as "yes" and overvalued. Moody's Corporation (MCO) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.78% ($4.12/yr), with 16 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will MCO cut its dividend?

MCO earns a dividend-safety grade of A (88/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2005). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does MCO pay a dividend?

Yes. Moody's Corporation pays a quarterly dividend of about $4.12 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 0.78%.

How much dividend does 100 shares of MCO pay?

At $4.12 per share a year, 100 shares of MCO pay $412.00 a year in dividends before tax, about $103.00 each quarter. Buying them costs about $51,602 at the Nov 5, 2026 price.

What is MCO's dividend yield?

As of Nov 5, 2026, MCO's forward dividend yield is 0.78%, based on a $4.12 annual dividend and a $516.02 share price.

What is MCO's dividend per share?

As of Nov 5, 2026, MCO pays $4.12 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is MCO's dividend payout ratio?

As of Nov 5, 2026, MCO's payout ratio is 25% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has MCO grown its dividend?

As of Nov 5, 2026, MCO has increased its dividend for 16 consecutive years.

When is the next MCO ex-dividend date?

As of Nov 5, 2026, the next ex-dividend date on record for MCO is Nov 20, 2026.