Key Takeaways FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) is set to report second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on March 31, before market open. Revenues from the Asia Pacific are expected to be $61.8 million, indicating a 7.3% increase on a year-over-year basis. The primary drivers that are expected to have improved this region's revenues include middle office solutions and AI-ready data. The consensus mark for earnings is at $4.37 per share, hinting at a 2.1% rise on a year-over-year basis. FDS surpassed the Zacks ...

FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) is one of the 10 Most Profitable S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On March 18, 2026, RBC Capital analyst Ashish Sabadra lowered the price target on FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) to $243 from $320 previously and maintained a Sector Perform rating ahead of Q2 results. RBC pointed to risks from “GenAI disintermediation” and said that while annual subscription value should benefit from easier comparisons after prior large client losses, increased AI investments an ...

FactSet Research (FDS) closed the last trading session at $208.84, gaining 5% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $289.88 indicates a 38.8% upside potential.The average comprises 16 short-term price targets ranging from a low of $195.00 to a high of $425.00, with a standard deviation of $61.98. While the lowest estimate indicates a decline of 6.6% from the current price ...

Market Performance - The stock market has not performed well in recent months, particularly when compared to previous years, with the S&P 500 showing stagnation over the last six months [1] Investment Focus - The analysis emphasizes high-quality companies that can outperform the market in the long run due to competitive advantages and high levels of defensibility [1] - The focus is on companies in Europe and North America, without restrictions on market capitalization, covering both large-cap and small-cap companies [1] Analyst Background - The analyst has a Master's Degree in Sociology with a focus on organizational and economic sociology, and a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and History [1]

Core Viewpoint - Certain Dividend Aristocrat stocks are currently undervalued, presenting potential investment opportunities as the market shifts focus from growth stocks to dividend stocks [1][4]. Group 1: Market Context - The S&P 500 has declined by 2% in 2026, influenced by tariff uncertainties, a fluctuating labor market, and the upcoming midterm elections [5]. - Historically, the S&P 500 has entered correction territory in about 70% of midterm election years, with an average intra-year drawdown of approximately 18% [5]. Group 2: Investment Opportunities - Roper Technologies (ROP) has seen a significant decline, with management projecting revenue growth of around 8% for 2026, below Wall Street's expectation of 9% [8]. The stock trades at 16 times forward earnings, with analysts predicting nearly 8% annual revenue and EPS growth [10]. - Genuine Parts Co (GPC) has rebounded from a 45% drop since its peak in 2022, currently trading near $102. Analysts forecast an 8.6% annual EPS growth, with potential for significant gains as interest rates are expected to decrease [11][12]. The stock has a forward dividend yield of 4.09% and a payout ratio of 55.83% [14]. - FactSet Research Systems (FDS) has fallen over 56% since December 2024 due to concerns about AI commoditizing financial data. Despite issuing EPS guidance below analyst estimates, the company remains profitable, with revenue growing from $1.44 billion in 2019 to nearly $2.4 billion [15][17]. The stock trades for less than 12 times forward earnings, with a dividend yield of 2.1% and a payout ratio of just 25% [18].

Market Overview - U.S. markets started the year with subdued sentiment, influenced by fluctuating AI expectations, persistent inflation, and rising geopolitical tensions [1] - Recent increases in oil prices due to Middle East conflicts have introduced new inflationary risks, complicating the outlook for monetary easing [1] - Despite these challenges, investors have not broadly shifted to a risk-off approach, as the Fed describes the U.S. economy as solid, supported by resilient activity and constructive earnings [1] Stock Selection Strategy - Traditional stock selection based on sales growth is recommended over earnings-focused metrics, as sales growth provides a clearer view of a company's underlying momentum [2][3] - Sustained top-line growth indicates rising market share, an expanding customer base, and stronger pricing power, which are essential for long-term success [3] - Quality of growth is emphasized, focusing on recurring demand rather than one-time gains or acquisition-driven expansion [5] Screening Criteria for Stocks - Stocks are shortlisted based on a 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than the industry average and a cash flow of more than $500 million [6] - Additional criteria include a Price/Sales (P/S) Ratio less than the industry average, positive changes in sales estimate revisions, operating margin greater than 5%, and Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% [7][8] Featured Stocks - Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) is highlighted for its expected sales growth rate of 7.5% for fiscal 2027 and currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 [11][12] - Intuit Inc. (INTU) is projected to have a sales growth rate of 12.4% for fiscal 2026, with a Zacks Rank 2, indicating strong demand for its financial software [12][13] - FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) expects a sales growth of 5.4% in fiscal 2026 and also carries a Zacks Rank 2 [13]

Norwalk, Connecticut-based FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) operates as a financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider for the investment community worldwide. Valued at $7.8 billion by market cap, the company combines databases from multiple suppliers into a single online source of information and analytics, including fundamental data. Companies worth $2 billion or more are generally described as “mid-cap stocks,” and FDS perfectly fits that description, with its market cap exceeding t ...

Core Insights - The primary focus for income investors is generating consistent cash flow, particularly through dividends, which are a significant portion of long-term returns [1][2] Company Overview - FactSet Research (FDS) is located in the Business Services sector and has experienced a stock price decline of 26.94% since the beginning of the year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $1.10 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.08%, which is higher than the industry average of 0.74% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.43% [3] Dividend Performance - FactSet's annualized dividend of $4.40 has increased by 2.8% from the previous year, with an average annual increase of 8.04% over the last five years [4] - The current payout ratio is 26%, indicating that the company pays out 26% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FactSet's earnings in 2026 is $17.41 per share, reflecting an expected increase of 2.53% from the previous year [5] Investment Considerations - FactSet is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend and strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]

Core Insights - The article compares FactSet Research (FDS) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK) to determine which stock is a better value investment opportunity for investors [1] Valuation Metrics - FDS has a forward P/E ratio of 12.69, significantly lower than VRSK's forward P/E of 27.58, indicating that FDS may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for FDS is 2.28, while VRSK's PEG ratio is 2.63, suggesting that FDS has a more favorable growth outlook relative to its valuation [5] - FDS's P/B ratio is 3.78, compared to VRSK's P/B of 94.6, further highlighting FDS's more attractive valuation metrics [6] Earnings Estimates - FDS currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings estimate revision trend, while VRSK has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The stronger estimate revision activity for FDS suggests an improving earnings outlook, making it a more appealing option for value investors [7] Value Grades - FDS has a Value grade of B, while VRSK has a Value grade of D, reflecting the relative attractiveness of their valuations [6]

Group 1 - Ariel Investments' "Ariel Appreciation Fund" achieved a return of +3.04% in Q4 2025, outperforming the Russell Midcap Value Index (+1.42%) and the Russell Midcap Index (+0.16%) [1] - For the trailing one-year period, the Fund gained +11.11%, slightly ahead of the Russell Midcap Value Index (+11.05%) and the Russell Midcap Index (+10.60%) [1] - The Fund's 5- and 10-year average annual returns were +7.57% and +7.95%, respectively [1] - Management attributed the positive performance to resilient corporate earnings, easing inflation, and expectations for more accommodative monetary policy [1] - Market gains were concentrated in a narrow group of large-cap stocks, particularly those related to artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure [1] Group 2 - Ariel Investments highlighted FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) as a key stock in its Q4 2025 investor letter [2] - FactSet's one-month return was 3.04%, with shares trading between $185.00 and $474.79 over the last 52 weeks [2] - As of March 9, 2026, FactSet's stock closed at approximately $221.04 per share, with a market capitalization of about $7.9 billion [2] Group 3 - The company purchased FactSet Research Systems, noting its financial data and analytics are deeply integrated into investment workflows, resulting in high switching costs [3] - Concerns regarding FactSet's growth and margin profile were deemed overblown, with expectations that its fundamental profile will improve through advanced features and increased efficiency [3]