Subprime fears add to Moody’s risk

Article Excerpt

MOODY’S CORP. $62 (New York symbol MCO; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 278.5 million; Market cap: $17.3 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) provides independent credit ratings and other information on bonds and other securities issued by over 200,000 commercial and government entities in over 100 countries. The company also provides credit assessment services and software to banks and other lenders. In 2006, Moody’s earned $2.41 a share (total $704.8 million), up 25.5% from $1.92 a share (total $585.3 million) in 2005. These figures exclude a gain on the sale of a building and other one-time items. Revenue rose 17.6%, to $2.0 billion from $1.7 billion. Moody’s cash flow before unusual items rose 10.4%, to $2.54 a share in 2006 from $2.30 a year earlier. The company is using its growing cash flow to buy back stock. It spent $1.1 billion on buybacks in 2006, and still has $1.8 billion remaining on its current authorization. Moody’s will probably increase its $0.32 dividend,…