FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS) Reaches New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Key Points

• FactSet shares reached a new 52-week high, trading around $341 after rising 4.7%, despite the stock’s consensus “Reduce” rating and average analyst price target of $271.79.
• The company exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $4.52 in EPS versus the $4.35 consensus and $634.7 million in revenue; sales increased 6.3% year over year.
• FactSet declared a quarterly dividend of $1.16, equal to $4.64 annually and a 1.3% yield, while institutional investors own 91.24% of the company’s shares.

FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday. The company traded as high as $340.49 and last traded at $341.22, with a volume of 132,096 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $329.57.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays lifted their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $216.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $240.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on FactSet Research Systems from $210.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $230.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and six have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Reduce" and an average price target of $271.79.

FactSet Research Systems Trading Up 4.7%

The firm has a market cap of $12.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.68, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.69. The business has a fifty day moving average of $292.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $251.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 30th. The business services provider reported $4.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.35 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $634.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $629.83 million. FactSet Research Systems had a return on equity of 31.66% and a net margin of 21.54%. FactSet Research Systems's revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.05 earnings per share. FactSet Research Systems has set its FY 2027 guidance at 19.250-19.650 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 19.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

FactSet Research Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 17th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st were given a $1.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 31st. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. FactSet Research Systems's payout ratio is currently 31.87%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On FactSet Research Systems

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FDS. Inscription Capital LLC purchased a new stake in FactSet Research Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $314,000. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the third quarter worth $743,000. Boston Trust Walden Corp raised its holdings in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 27.1% in the third quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 308,252 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $83,213,000 after acquiring an additional 65,803 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 3.3% in the third quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 4,582 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,518,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Provenance Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the third quarter valued at $54,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.24% of the company's stock.

About FactSet Research Systems

FactSet Research Systems Inc provides financial data, analytics and workflow technology to investment professionals and financial institutions. Its platform brings together market, company, economic and alternative data with tools for research, portfolio analysis, risk management, trading, performance measurement and reporting.

The company serves asset managers, wealth managers, investment banks, private-equity firms, corporations and other financial professionals. Its products support activities including equity and fixed-income research, portfolio construction, screening, client reporting, investment-banking analysis and environmental, social and governance research.

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