Principal Financial Group Inc. Grows Stake in FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS)

Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS - Free Report) by 3.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 48,791 shares of the business services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 1,443 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.13% of FactSet Research Systems worth $22,437,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of FDS. Andina Capital Management LLC lifted its position in FactSet Research Systems by 3.8% in the third quarter. Andina Capital Management LLC now owns 715 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $329,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. Argent Trust Co raised its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Argent Trust Co now owns 1,312 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $536,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its position in FactSet Research Systems by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 834 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $341,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC grew its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 736 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $300,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 2.0% in the third quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,861 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $856,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the period. 91.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

FactSet Research Systems Stock Up 1.3 %

NYSE:FDS traded up $6.30 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $497.13. 220,289 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 261,975. The company has a market cap of $18.89 billion, a PE ratio of 35.30, a P/E/G ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.25. FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a one year low of $391.84 and a one year high of $499.87. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $459.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $432.71.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 19th. The business services provider reported $3.74 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.62 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $562.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $547.06 million. FactSet Research Systems had a return on equity of 34.77% and a net margin of 24.38%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.93 EPS. Equities analysts predict that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 17.2 EPS for the current year.

FactSet Research Systems Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. FactSet Research Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 29.93%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other FactSet Research Systems news, CEO Frederick Philip Snow sold 3,000 shares of FactSet Research Systems stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $416.59, for a total value of $1,249,770.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 12,915 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,380,259.85. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO Frederick Philip Snow sold 3,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $416.59, for a total value of $1,249,770.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 12,915 shares in the company, valued at $5,380,259.85. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider John Costigan sold 1,622 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $481.00, for a total value of $780,182.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 299 shares in the company, valued at $143,819. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 26,984 shares of company stock worth $12,230,877 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $451.00 to $469.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $435.00 to $503.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Redburn Atlantic cut FactSet Research Systems from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $420.00 to $380.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. UBS Group upped their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $455.00 to $485.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $440.00 to $471.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, FactSet Research Systems currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $443.57.

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.