MCO vs. NDAQ
MCO (Moody's Corporation) and NDAQ (Nasdaq, Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Financial Data & Stock Exchanges industry within the Financial Services sector. Over the past 10 years, MCO returned 17.53%/yr vs 17.04%/yr for NDAQ. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
MCO vs. NDAQ - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MCO achieves a -11.93% return, which is significantly lower than NDAQ's -7.77% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with MCO having a 17.53% annualized return and NDAQ not far behind at 17.04%.
MCO
- 1D
- 1.36%
- 1M
- 2.42%
- YTD
- -11.93%
- 6M
- -7.54%
- 1Y
- -6.12%
- 3Y*
- 10.65%
- 5Y*
- 6.32%
- 10Y*
- 17.53%
NDAQ
- 1D
- 2.95%
- 1M
- -1.01%
- YTD
- -7.77%
- 6M
- -4.26%
- 1Y
- 4.01%
- 3Y*
- 22.18%
- 5Y*
- 10.57%
- 10Y*
- 17.04%
MCO vs. NDAQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MCO Moody's Corporation | -11.93% | 8.74% | 22.17% | 41.52% | -27.80% | 35.57% | 23.26% | 71.26% | -4.10% | 58.53% |
NDAQ Nasdaq, Inc. | -7.77% | 27.19% | 34.85% | -3.66% | -11.19% | 60.13% | 25.99% | 33.88% | 8.21% | 16.76% |
Correlation
The correlation between MCO and NDAQ is 0.56, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.56 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 1, 2002 | 0.46 |
The correlation between MCO and NDAQ shifts across timeframes, from 0.46 (all time) to 0.65 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
MCO:
$79.40B
NDAQ:
$50.87B
MCO:
$13.92
NDAQ:
$3.32
MCO:
32.16
NDAQ:
26.82
MCO:
4.20
NDAQ:
2.58
MCO:
10.19
NDAQ:
6.21
MCO:
26.52
NDAQ:
4.23
MCO:
$7.87B
NDAQ:
$8.27B
MCO:
$5.49B
NDAQ:
$4.53B
MCO:
$3.95B
NDAQ:
$3.11B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
MCO vs. NDAQ — Risk / Return Rank
MCO
NDAQ
MCO vs. NDAQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Moody's Corporation (MCO) and Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| MCO | NDAQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.52 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.98 | 1.05 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.26 | 0.19 | -0.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.56 | 0.42 | -0.98 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
MCO vs. NDAQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MCO drawdown since its inception was -78.72%, which is greater than NDAQ's maximum drawdown of -68.48%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MCO and NDAQ.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| MCO | NDAQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -78.72% | -68.48% | -10.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -23.61% | -21.76% | -1.85% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.65% | -21.76% | -2.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -41.66% | -32.84% | -8.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.02% | -38.31% | -3.71% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -16.63% | -11.29% | -5.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.76% | -23.80% | +6.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 10.99% | 9.50% | +1.49% |
Volatility
MCO vs. NDAQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Moody's Corporation (MCO) is 7.00%, while Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) has a volatility of 7.88%. This indicates that MCO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NDAQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| MCO | NDAQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.00% | 7.88% | -0.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.97% | 20.80% | +1.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.40% | 24.66% | +1.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.33% | 23.96% | +2.37% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.84% | 24.27% | +3.57% |
Dividends
MCO vs. NDAQ - Dividend Comparison
MCO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.88%, less than NDAQ's 1.56% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MCO Moody's Corporation | 0.88% | 0.74% | 0.72% | 0.79% | 1.26% | 0.63% | 0.77% | 0.84% | 1.26% | 1.03% | 1.57% | 1.36% |
NDAQ Nasdaq, Inc. | 1.56% | 1.08% | 1.22% | 1.48% | 1.27% | 1.00% | 1.46% | 1.73% | 2.08% | 1.90% | 1.80% | 1.55% |
Financials
MCO vs. NDAQ - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Moody's Corporation and Nasdaq, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
MCO vs. NDAQ - Profitability Comparison
MCO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Moody's Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.55B and revenue of 2.08B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 74.5%.
NDAQ - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nasdaq, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.41B and revenue of 2.14B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 65.8%.
MCO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Moody's Corporation reported an operating income of 922.00M and revenue of 2.08B, resulting in an operating margin of 44.4%.
NDAQ - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nasdaq, Inc. reported an operating income of 657.00M and revenue of 2.14B, resulting in an operating margin of 30.7%.
MCO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Moody's Corporation reported a net income of 661.00M and revenue of 2.08B, resulting in a net margin of 31.8%.
NDAQ - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nasdaq, Inc. reported a net income of 519.00M and revenue of 2.14B, resulting in a net margin of 24.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
MCO and NDAQ have a correlation of 0.56, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NDAQ has higher volatility (7.88%) compared to MCO (7.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MCO dropped -78.72% vs NDAQ's -68.48%.
NDAQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.16 vs -0.23), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for MCO and NDAQ
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer