Co-Mo-based catalysts supported on mixed oxide supports MgO-Al2O3 with different Mg/Al atom ratios for water gas shift reaction were studied by means of TPR, Raman, XPS and ESR. It was found that the octahedral Mo species in oxidized Co-Mo/MgO(x)-Al2O3 catalyst and the contents of Mo5+, Mo4+, S2- and S2-2 species in the functioning catalysts increased with increasing the Mg/Al atom ratio of the support under the studied experimental conditions. This is favorable for the formation of the active Co-Mo-S phase of the catalysts. Catalytic performance testing results showed that the catalysts Co-Mo/MgO-Al2O3 with the Mg/Al atom ratio of the support in the range of 0.475-0.525 exhibited optimal catalytic activity for the reaction.