Meridiem Capital Partners LP Takes $41.24 Million Position in FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS)

Meridiem Capital Partners LP acquired a new position in shares of FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 85,868 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $41,241,000. FactSet Research Systems makes up approximately 3.6% of Meridiem Capital Partners LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Meridiem Capital Partners LP owned approximately 0.23% of FactSet Research Systems at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,572 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $755,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its holdings in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 19.1% during the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 137 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $64,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 8.2% during the fourth 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 last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 1,214 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $583,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerro Pacific Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in FactSet Research Systems by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Cerro Pacific Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,759 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $809,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.24% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on FDS. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on 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 decreased their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $409.00 to $390.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 21st. UBS Group dropped their price target on FactSet Research Systems from $525.00 to $480.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and set a $503.00 price objective on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of FactSet Research Systems from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $450.00 to $402.00 in a report on Friday, March 21st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, FactSet Research Systems currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $436.90.

FactSet Research Systems Stock Performance

Shares of FDS traded up $4.80 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $474.21. 679,126 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 291,215. The stock has a market cap of $17.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.88. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $433.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $458.39. FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a 1 year low of $391.69 and a 1 year high of $499.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 1.39.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 20th. The business services provider reported $4.28 earnings per share 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%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.22 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 17.21 earnings per share for the current year.

FactSet Research Systems Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $1.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This is an increase from FactSet Research Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.93%. FactSet Research Systems's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.29%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO Gregory T. Moskoff sold 363 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $433.73, for a total value of $157,443.99. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 44 shares of the company's stock, valued at $19,084.12. This trade represents a 89.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.