Moelis & Co Fair Value Disclosure
Investments Measured at Fair Value
Fair value investments are presented within investments on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company established a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring investments at fair value. See Note 2 for further information on the Company's fair value hierarchy.
The estimated fair value of sovereign debt securities and money market funds are based on quoted prices for recent trading activity in identical or similar instruments. The Company primarily invests in U.S. and U.K. sovereign debt securities with maturities of less than twelve months and we consider these securities to be risk free. Therefore, we do not reserve for expected credit losses on these investments. The Company also holds certificates of deposit, which are held at carrying value.
Fair Value of Financial Assets
The fair value of the Company's financial assets as of December 31, 2025, have been categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy as follows:
|
Total |
|
Level 1 |
|
Level 2 |
|
Level 3 |
||||
Financial assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sovereign debt securities |
$ |
296,312 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
296,312 |
|
$ |
— |
Money market funds |
|
110,468 |
|
|
— |
|
|
110,468 |
|
|
— |
Certificates of Deposit |
|
21,000 |
|
|
— |
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
— |
Total financial assets included in cash equivalents |
|
427,780 |
|
|
— |
|
|
427,780 |
|
|
— |
Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sovereign debt securities |
|
340,247 |
|
|
— |
|
|
340,247 |
|
|
— |
Total financial assets included in investments |
|
340,247 |
|
|
— |
|
|
340,247 |
|
|
— |
Total financial assets |
$ |
768,027 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
768,027 |
|
$ |
— |
For sovereign debt securities measured at fair value and held at the reporting date, the Company recognized unrealized gains of $2,378 for the year ended December 31, 2025. All gains and losses were recognized in other income and expenses on the consolidated statement of operations. The cost basis of the investments recorded at fair value shown in the preceding table and included in investments on the consolidated statement of financial condition was $337,869 as of December 31, 2025.
The fair value of the Company's financial assets as of December 31, 2024, have been categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy as follows:
|
Total |
|
Level 1 |
|
Level 2 |
|
Level 3 |
||||
Financial assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sovereign debt securities |
$ |
240,558 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
240,558 |
|
$ |
— |
Money market funds |
|
100,227 |
|
|
— |
|
|
100,227 |
|
|
— |
Certificates of Deposit |
|
10,137 |
|
|
— |
|
|
10,137 |
|
|
— |
Total financial assets included in cash equivalents |
|
350,922 |
|
|
— |
|
|
350,922 |
|
|
— |
Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sovereign debt securities |
|
146,924 |
|
|
— |
|
|
146,924 |
|
|
— |
Certificates of Deposit |
|
1,000 |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
— |
Total financial assets included in investments |
|
147,924 |
|
|
— |
|
|
147,924 |
|
|
— |
Total financial assets |
$ |
498,846 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
498,846 |
|
$ |
— |
For sovereign debt securities measured at fair value and held at the reporting date, the Company recognized unrealized gains of $3,020 for the year ended December 31, 2024. All gains and losses were recognized in other income and expenses on the consolidated statement of operations. The cost basis of the investments recorded at fair value shown in the preceding table and included in investments on the consolidated statement of financial condition was $144,904 as of December 31, 2024.
Equity Method Investments
Equity-method investments are presented within investments on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition. As of December 31, 2025, and 2024, the carrying value of the Company's equity method investment in MA Financial (formerly known as Moelis Australia Limited) was $28,825 and $36,677, respectively. The Company’s share of earnings on this investment is recorded in other income and expenses on the consolidated statements of operation.
During the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, MA Financial declared dividends, of which the Company received $2,347, $3,107, and $3,092, respectively. The Company accounted for the dividends as returns on investment and reduced the carrying value of the investment in MA Financial by the amount of dividends received.
During each of the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company sold 5,000,000 shares of MA Financial common stock and the Company's ownership interest in MA Financial was reduced. These transactions resulted in gains of $19,092 and $6,975, respectively, recorded in other income and expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.
From time to time, MA Financial may issue shares in connection with a transaction or employee compensation which reduces the Company's ownership interest in MA Financial and can result in dilution gains or losses. Such gains or losses are recorded in other income and expenses on the consolidated statements of operation.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 27, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 22, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 23, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 23, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 24, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 27, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 27, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 28, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 28, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Mar 14, 2016 | |
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.