Royal Bank of Canada Cuts Stake in FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS)

Royal Bank of Canada cut its holdings in shares of FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS - Free Report) by 12.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 113,022 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 15,689 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada owned about 0.30% of FactSet Research Systems worth $54,281,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC acquired a new stake in FactSet Research Systems during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in FactSet Research Systems by 19.1% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 137 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in FactSet Research Systems by 19.2% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 205 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in FactSet Research Systems during the 4th quarter worth approximately $102,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA boosted its position in FactSet Research Systems by 8.2% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 291 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $140,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. 91.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at FactSet Research Systems

In other news, CAO Gregory T. Moskoff sold 363 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $433.73, for a total value of $157,443.99. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 44 shares in the company, valued at $19,084.12. This represents a 89.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

FactSet Research Systems Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:FDS traded up $4.97 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $467.77. The company had a trading volume of 42,736 shares, compared to its average volume of 291,241. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $438.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $458.39. The company has a market capitalization of $17.75 billion, a PE ratio of 33.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.39. FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a one year low of $391.69 and a one year high of $499.87.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 20th. The business services provider reported $4.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.17 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $570.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $570.65 million. FactSet Research Systems had a net margin of 24.16% and a return on equity of 33.92%. FactSet Research Systems's quarterly revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.22 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 17.21 EPS for the current year.

FactSet Research Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $1.10 dividend. This is a positive change from FactSet Research Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.94%. FactSet Research Systems's dividend payout ratio is presently 31.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of FactSet Research Systems from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $450.00 to $402.00 in a research report on Friday, March 21st. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $498.00 to $466.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $409.00 to $390.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 21st. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $503.00 price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $525.00 to $480.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $436.90.

FactSet Research Systems 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.