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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549 FORM 10 - K ( MARK ONE ) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED December 31 , 2020 OR □ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-14037 Delaware ( STATE OF INCORPORATION ) MOODY'S CORPORATION ( EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER ) * TITLE OF EACH CLASS Common Stock , par value $ 0.01 per share 1.75 % Senior Notes Due 2027 0.950 % Senior Notes Due 2030 TO 7 World Trade Center at 250 Greenwich Street , New York , New York 10007 ( ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES ) ( ZIP CODE ) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER , INCLUDING AREA CODE : ( 212 ) 553-0300 . SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 ( b ) OF THE ACT : TRADING SYMBOL ( S ) MCO MCO 27 MCO 30 13-3998945 ( I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO . ) SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 ( g ) OF THE ACT : NONE Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act . Yes No Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Act . Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days . Yes No Accelerated Filer NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T ( §232.405 of this chapter ) during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files ) . Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer , an accelerated filer , a non - accelerated filer , a smaller reporting company , or emerging growth company . See the definitions of " large accelerated filer , " " accelerated filer , " " smaller reporting company , " and " emerging growth company " in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act . Non - accelerated Filer Large Accelerated Filer Smaller reporting company 0 Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company , indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13 ( a ) of the Exchange Act . Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 ( b ) of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act ( 15 U.S.C.7262 ( b ) ) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report . Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company ( as defined in Rule 12b - 2 of the Act ) . Yes No The aggregate market value of Moody's Corporation Common Stock held by nonaffiliates * on June 30 , 2020 ( based upon its closing transaction price on the New York Stock Exchange on such date ) was approximately $ 51 billion . As of January 31 , 2021 , 187.1 million shares of Common Stock of Moody's Corporation were outstanding . DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the Registrant's definitive proxy statement for use in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders scheduled to be held on April 20 , 2021 , are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10 - K . The Index to Exhibits is included as Part IV , Item 15 ( 3 ) of this Form 10 - K . Calculated by excluding all shares held by executive officers and directors of the Registrant without conceding that all such persons are " affiliates " of the Registrant for purposes of federal securities laws . MOODY'S 2020 10 - K 1