William Blair Has Pessimistic Outlook of FDS Q1 Earnings

FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at William Blair reduced their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for FactSet Research Systems in a report issued on Thursday, December 19th. William Blair analyst A. Nicholas now forecasts that the business services provider will post earnings of $4.59 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $4.70. The consensus estimate for FactSet Research Systems' current full-year earnings is $17.20 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for FactSet Research Systems' Q2 2026 earnings at $4.56 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $4.88 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $4.65 EPS.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 19th. The business services provider reported $4.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.25 by $0.12. FactSet Research Systems had a return on equity of 34.77% and a net margin of 24.38%. The firm had revenue of $568.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $565.14 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.12 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on FDS. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. They set an "inline" rating and a $470.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $373.00 to $409.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on FactSet Research Systems from $521.00 to $518.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a "sector perform" rating and set a $503.00 price objective on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research report on Friday. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $485.00 to $525.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have given a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $453.46.

FactSet Research Systems Price Performance

Shares of FactSet Research Systems stock traded up $5.82 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $489.34. 264,301 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 266,707. The business has a fifty day moving average of $477.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $443.47. The company has a market capitalization of $18.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. FactSet Research Systems has a 1 year low of $391.84 and a 1 year high of $499.87.

FactSet Research Systems Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th were paid a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 29th. FactSet Research Systems's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.82%.

Insider Transactions at FactSet Research Systems

In related news, CEO Frederick Philip Snow sold 3,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $455.09, for a total transaction of $1,365,270.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 12,987 shares in the company, valued at $5,910,253.83. This trade represents a 18.77 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director James J. Mcgonigle sold 5,410 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $456.83, for a total transaction of $2,471,450.30. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,283 shares in the company, valued at $2,413,432.89. This trade represents a 50.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 23,984 shares of company stock worth $10,981,107. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 2,873.9% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 119,582 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $48,822,000 after buying an additional 115,561 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in FactSet Research Systems in the third quarter worth approximately $38,909,000. State Street Corp grew its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,932,376 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $888,603,000 after acquiring an additional 42,303 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 21.5% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 235,387 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $96,113,000 after purchasing an additional 41,717 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Trust Walden Corp increased its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 296,329 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $136,267,000 after purchasing an additional 25,294 shares during the last quarter. 91.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

FactSet Research Systems Company Profile

FactSet Research Systems Inc, a financial data company, provides integrated financial information and analytical applications to the investment community in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company delivers insight and information through the workflow solutions of research, analytics and trading, content and technology solutions, and wealth.