History

MA History - A legacy of Insight and Leading Solutions

The Moody’s name is synonymous with leadership in monitoring and analyzing credit risk worldwide. Over time, through a series of complementary investments, we have augmented this expertise with new content and tools that move beyond establishing the creditworthiness of companies, institutions, instruments and countries to encompass a more complete spectrum of enterprise risk management. Today, we serve debt capital markets and credit risk management professionals worldwide by providing a steady stream of powerful solutions.

We bring these solutions to market under the Moody’s Analytics banner.

1900
John Moody & Company founded and Moody’s Manual of Industrial and Miscellaneous Securities published.
1909
Moody’s Analyses of Railroad Investments listed analytic principles to assess railroad operations, management & finance.
1913
Expanding the base of analyzed companies, Moody’s launched the evaluation of industrial companies and utilities.
1914
Moody’s Investors Service incorporated.
1914
Rating coverage expanded to bonds issued by US cities and other municipalities.
1924
Moody’s ratings covered nearly 100 percent of the US bond market.
1930s
While bond default rates skyrocketed during the Great Depression, few bonds highly-rated by Moody’s missed payments.
1970s
Moody’s ratings further extended to the commercial paper market and to bank deposits.
1970s
The major rating agencies, including Moody's began the practice of charging issuers & investors for rating services.
1990
KMV released the initial version of Expected Default Frequency (EDF™) credit measure.
1999
Moody’s entered into joint marketing agreement with RFA, the predecessor firm of Economy.com.
2000
RFA became Economy.com, Inc.; its Dismal Scientist named “Best of the Web” by Forbes.
2000
MCO acquired the Crowe Chizek products group, including the predecessor products that created RiskAnalyst.
2002
KMV acquired by Moody’s Corporation.
2005
Economy.com acquired by Moody’s Corporation.
2006
Wall St. Analytics acquired by Moody’s Corporation.
2007
Moody’s Analytics formed as a separate and independent entity from the ratings business, Moody’s Investors Service.
2008
Fermat acquired by Moody’s Corporation.
2008
enb consulting acquired by Moody’s Corporation.
2010
The Institute of Risk Standards and Qualifications (iRSQ) established by Moody’s Analytics.
2010
CSI Global Education Inc. (CSI) acquired by Moody’s Analytics.

Moody’s Analytics helps capital markets and credit risk professionals worldwide respond to an evolving marketplace with confidence. The company offers an array of proprietary models and tools, including those the rating agency’s analysts use to assist in forming their opinions, as well as training and advisory
services. These are supplemented by a growing portfolio of products and services centered on assessing various kinds of financial risk.

Many market-leading firms and products have gone into the formation of Moody’s Analytics. While the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts, a brief review of these constituent and converging elements reveals the essential strengths underlying the solutions we put into the hands of our clients.

The Brains Behind Moody’s Ratings
Because Moody’s Analytics distributes the ratings, research and analytical tools of Moody’s Investors Service, virtually all of the research and opinions of our analysts – and our analysts themselves – are available to our clients. This puts over 1,000 seasoned analysts with expertise across all industry sectors, asset classes and geographies on your team, when and where you need them. Their work, both historic and current, is also at your disposal.

The Established Leader in Quantitative Credit Analysis
In 2002 we acquired KMV, a pioneer in the science of predicting the likelihood of credit default. KMV’s flagship solution, the EDF™ (Expected Default Frequency) credit measure, dramatically changed the way credit risk was measured in global markets and remains an industry standard worldwide. Over the years, the combination of Moody’s, KMV and other Moody’s acquisitions, such as that of Crowe Chizek’s software products group, has generated a steady stream of award-winning quantitative tools and models.

The Premier Provider of Analysis of the World Economy
Economy.com was added to the Moody’s Analytics portfolio in 2005. With this expansion, Moody’s Analytics has become a leading independent provider of economic, financial, country and industry research that is designed to meet the diverse planning and information needs of businesses, governments and professional investors worldwide. For high-quality information, data or products on the global and local economies, Moody’s Analytics is now your best source.

A Leading Specialist in Structured Debt Instruments
Acquired in 2006, Wall Street Analytics has produced specialized software and data tools for the structuring, analysis, management and servicing of structured debt instruments since 1987. This team brings to Moody’s Analytics an unsurpassed level of experience in working with issuers, investment bankers and investors in the development of software tools that fit specific client needs.

A Leading Consultancy Focused on Training Global Leaders in Financial Services
With the acquisition of enb consulting in 2008, Moody’s Analytics enhanced its ability to provide tailored, high-quality learning, development and advisory services. Founded in 2001, enb combined renowned technical banking expertise with a passion for business and personal transformation. With this addition, Moody’s Analytics now offers expert instructors and trainers who foster intuition, assist change and inspire results in top banking institutions around the world.

A Leading Provider of Integrated Risk and Performance Management Software for Global Financial Services
Moody’s Analytics significantly advanced its ability to offer comprehensive end-to-end risk management solutions to clients by acquiring Fermat International in 2008. The combination of Fermat’s highly regarded regulatory and risk management products and software with our existing offerings positions Moody’s Analytics to become a global leader in risk and performance management software for commercial banks and other global financial institutions.

World-Class Professional Certification for Establishing Global Competency Standards in Financial Risk
In 2010, The Institute of Risk Standards and Qualifications (iRSQ) was established by Moody’s Analytics to develop and promote a consistent global competency standard in financial risk. Through its creation, Moody’s Analytics has expanded its capabilities to offer a global accreditation program that helps banks professionals meet the highest standard for financial risk proficiency, including both technical standards and ethical responsibility.

A Leading Provider of Financial Learning, Credentials and Certification in Canada
Strengthening Moody’s Analytics capabilities to deliver credit training programs, research and analytical services, and risk management software to financial institutions worldwide, CSI Global Education Inc. (CSI) was acquired in 2010. For over 40 years, CSI has been Canada’s leading provider of professional credentials and compliance solutions for the financial services industry, serving in excess of 700,000 professionals. 


Moody’s Analytics will continue to evolve as opportunities arise and client needs change. The core of what we offer will remain: tools, insight and solutions that enable you to assess and manage financial risk, make informed decisions and adapt your strategies to markets as they evolve.

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  • Chartis RiskTechnology100 2011 Award
    Ranked 5th in Overall Rankings
  • Fin Tech 100 2011 Award
    Ranked 44th in Overall Rankings
  • Asia Risk 2010 Award
    Voted #1 in Economic Capital Calculation and Management
  • Waters Rankings 2010 Award
    Voted "Best Credit Risk Solution Provider” for 2nd year in a row
  • Risk Technology Rankings 2010 Award
    Voted #1 in Basel II Compliance, Reg. Risk Capital Calculation and Reporting
  • AsiaRisk Tewchnology Rankings 2010 Award
    Voted #1 in Liquidity Management
  • Chartis RiskTechnology100 2010 Award
    Ranked 6th in Overall Rankings
  • Credit Technology Innovation 2009 Award
    Named a 2009 Credit Innovation Awards Winner for Integrated RMBS Analytics