Core Insights - FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) is scheduled to report its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results on December 18, before market open [1] Revenue Expectations - The consensus estimate for FDS's first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues is $599.5 million, reflecting a 5.4% growth compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Revenues from the Americas are projected to be $389.5 million, indicating a 6.1% year-over-year growth, driven by increased technology investments from asset managers [2] - EMEA revenues are expected to grow 2% year-over-year to $146.7 million, with recovery in the U.K. market contributing to this growth [3] - Revenues from the Asia Pacific are anticipated to reach $61.7 million, representing a 7% increase year-over-year, supported by new client acquisitions [3] Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for earnings is $4.39 per share, suggesting a slight increase compared to the previous year [3] - The model predicts an earnings beat for FDS, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.77% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [4]

Group 1 - FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS) has experienced a significant decline of approximately 39% year-to-date in 2025, contrasting its previous status as one of the best compounders in the market [1] - The focus is on identifying undervalued and disliked companies or industries with strong fundamentals and good cash flows, particularly in sectors like Oil & Gas and consumer goods [1] - Energy Transfer is highlighted as a company that was previously overlooked but now shows potential for long-term value investing [1] Group 2 - The analysis emphasizes a preference for long-term value investing while also exploring deal arbitrage opportunities in various sectors [1] - There is a noted aversion to investing in high-tech businesses or certain consumer goods, with a specific mention of a lack of understanding regarding cryptocurrencies [1]

Group 1 - The upcoming year 2026 is expected to be crucial for stock pickers, as previous successful strategies may not yield the same results due to changing market conditions [2][4] - The analysts at InvestorPlace achieved significant outperformance in 2025, with their recommendations surpassing the S&P 500 by nearly 1,000 basis points [2][3] - The new strategy for Power Portfolio 2026 will shift focus from AI stocks to 11 companies poised to benefit from a significant investment boom driven by U.S. government spending [5][6] Group 2 - The U.S. government is anticipated to initiate an $11.3 trillion investment bonanza aimed at revitalizing the economy, which will be discussed in the upcoming American Dream 2.0 Summit [6][8] - PayPal Holdings Inc. is highlighted as a top stock for 2026 due to its unique position as the first payments platform integrated with ChatGPT, despite not making it into the final Power Portfolio [10][15] - FactSet Research Systems Inc. is identified as an acquisition target with a potential 20% upside over the next three years, driven by increased M&A activity and its low valuation [16][18][20] - Tronox Holdings PLC is noted for its position in the titanium dioxide market, with potential for significant upside if business conditions normalize, although it is considered too risky for the Power Portfolio [26][29]

Core Insights - FactSet has launched its market intelligence services via Amazon Quick Research, enhancing accessibility for clients [1][2] - The integration aims to streamline research processes for enterprise-level AI strategies, reducing manual data uploads [2][3] - FactSet emphasizes its long-standing commitment to innovation in the AI space, supporting clients in deploying their own AI strategies [3] Company Overview - FactSet is a global financial digital platform with over 47 years of experience, serving approximately 9,000 clients and over 237,000 users [4] - The company provides integrated financial data and technology solutions across various sectors, including buy-side, sell-side, and private equity [4] - FactSet is a member of the S&P 500 and operates in 20 countries, focusing on innovation and long-term client success [4]

Core Insights - FactSet and Arcesium have formed a strategic partnership to create a unified investment management solution that integrates front, middle, and back office workflows across public, private, and alternative markets, addressing the industry's need for streamlined operations and data connectivity [1][2][5] Industry Challenges - Data fragmentation is identified as the primary operational challenge for asset managers, with regulatory compliance costs reportedly doubling over the past decade, prompting firms to innovate and adapt their operations [2] - The convergence of public and private markets is leading to significant shifts in capital allocation and competition, with mega-managers capturing 46% of capital raised while representing less than 3% of managers [4] Solution Features - The partnership offers an end-to-end solution that integrates analytics engines, data pipelines, and AI-powered workflows, enabling deeper due diligence and streamlined portfolio monitoring across various asset classes [2][6] - The platform combines FactSet's front and middle-office analytics with Arcesium's back-office technology, including Investment Book of Record (IBOR) and Accounting Book of Record (ABOR), providing a single source of truth for investment and compliance teams [8][9] Market Trends - Private credit fundraising has reached record levels, increasing from $198 billion in 2023 to $210 billion in 2024, with $124 billion raised in the first half of 2025, indicating a growing interest in private market investments [4] - As global private capital continues to expand, asset owners and managers face rising demands for data transparency and increasingly complex portfolios, which the FactSet-Arcesium partnership aims to address [5] Technological Integration - The collaboration leverages FactSet's global data infrastructure and Arcesium's cloud-native technology to enhance data consistency and analytics, facilitating the integration of middle and back-office functions that have historically been underserved [6][10] - The unified platform is designed to empower asset managers to streamline operations, automate processes, and adapt to evolving regulatory demands without vendor lock-in [6]

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's background in analytics and accounting, highlighting over 10 years of experience in the investment sector, progressing from an analyst to a management role [1]. Group 1 - The author holds a master's degree in Analytics from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in Accounting [1]. - The author has a personal interest in dividend investing and aims to share insights with the Seeking Alpha community [1]. Group 2 - The author has disclosed a beneficial long position in several companies, including ABBV, ADP, CTAS, FDS, HRL, JNJ, LOW, NEE, O, PEP, TROW, and WST, through various financial instruments [2]. - The article expresses the author's personal opinions and does not involve compensation from any mentioned companies [2].

Core Insights - FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) is valued at a market cap of $10.2 billion and provides financial digital platforms and enterprise solutions for the investment community [1] - FDS shares have significantly underperformed the broader market, declining 44.3% over the past 52 weeks compared to an 11% increase in the S&P 500 Index [2] - The company's Q4 earnings report showed a revenue increase of 6.2% year-over-year to $596.9 million, but an adjusted operating margin decline of 200 basis points and adjusted EPS of $4.05 fell 2.4% short of expectations [4] Performance Comparison - FDS has notably lagged behind the iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF (IAI), which gained 11.6% over the past 52 weeks and 17.7% year-to-date [3] - Year-to-date, FDS stock is down 43.4%, while the S&P 500 has returned 14% [2] Earnings and Analyst Ratings - For fiscal 2026, analysts expect FDS' EPS to grow 1.9% year-over-year to $17.30, with a mixed earnings surprise history [5] - The consensus rating among 19 analysts is a "Hold," with two "Strong Buy," ten "Hold," and seven "Strong Sell" ratings [5] - UBS Group AG upgraded FDS to "Buy" with a price target of $425, indicating a 53.3% potential upside from current levels [6]

Core Points - FactSet will release its financial and operating results for Q1 fiscal 2026 on December 18, 2025 [1] - A conference call will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day to discuss the results [2] - The earnings presentation will be available on FactSet's Investor Relations website at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on December 18, 2025 [3] Company Overview - FactSet is a global financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider, serving approximately 9,000 global clients and over 237,000 individual users [4] - The company integrates proprietary financial data, client datasets, and third-party sources to deliver tailored solutions across various sectors [4] - FactSet has over 47 years of expertise and operates in 20 countries, focusing on innovation and long-term client success [4]

Performance Overview - Baron Focused Growth Fund delivered a gain of 4.83% in Q3, underperforming the Russell 2500 Growth Index, which increased by 10.73% [3][6] - Underperformance was attributed to concerns about economic growth affecting Consumer Discretionary stocks and increased competition impacting valuations of investments like On Holding AG and FactSet Research Systems Inc. [3][15] Portfolio Insights - Despite recent underperformance, portfolio companies are generating strong revenue growth and maintaining robust balance sheets, allowing for growth investments, strategic acquisitions, or shareholder returns [4][10] - The fund managers are actively investing new capital, believing valuations remain compelling, particularly in small- and mid-cap stocks trading at discounts to large-cap peers [5][10] Long-term Performance - The Fund has outperformed its benchmark over the past 3, 5, and 10 years, generating significant excess returns with lower market risk [6][11] - Since inception, the Fund has achieved an annualized return of 13.84%, compared to 8.37% for the benchmark [12] Investment Strategy - The portfolio is constructed to balance disruptive growth companies with steadier, mature companies, aiming for strong risk-adjusted returns [7][36] - The Fund is diversified across sectors, with a significant focus on Consumer Discretionary, and has no exposure to Energy, Materials, Consumer Staples, or Utilities [38] Key Contributors and Detractors - Top contributors included Tesla, which rose 40.0%, and Shopify, which increased by 28.8%, both benefiting from strong market positions and growth prospects [22][24] - Key detractors included FactSet, which declined 35.8%, and On Holding, which fell 18.4%, primarily due to competitive pressures and market concerns [17][19] Company-Specific Insights - FactSet continues to generate strong results despite AI-related fears, indicating a robust business model and market position [17][35] - On Holding is expected to grow revenue at a CAGR of over 20% in the coming years, supported by its premium brand positioning in the global sportswear market [19][33] - Vail Resorts is refining its marketing strategy to address concerns about visitation levels and is expected to improve pass sales through strategic pricing adjustments [21] Sector Analysis - The Fund's investments in disruptive growth companies represent 43.1% of net assets, with a focus on firms like Tesla and SpaceX, which have large addressable markets and strong growth potential [40] - Core growth investments, such as IDEXX Laboratories and CoStar Group, are expected to generate steady returns through ongoing business investments and shareholder returns [42] Financials and Real Assets - Financials investments account for 15.2% of the Fund's net assets, focusing on companies with strong recurring revenue models [44] - Real asset companies, such as Vail Resorts and Choice Hotels, are seen as having significant brand equity and pricing power, contributing to the Fund's overall strategy [43]

Core Insights - Baron Focused Growth Fund reported a 4.83% appreciation in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell 2500 Growth Index's 10.73% gain due to economic growth slowdown concerns affecting Consumer Discretionary stocks [1] - Competitive pressures have negatively impacted the valuations of some holdings within the fund [1] Company Analysis: FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) - FactSet Research Systems Inc. experienced a one-month return of -6.00% and a 52-week loss of 44.70%, closing at $264.58 with a market cap of $9.901 billion on November 4, 2025 [2] - The company faced stock price declines due to industry-wide AI concerns, CEO transition uncertainties, and cautious commentary from peers, despite reporting strong fiscal Q4 2025 earnings and record new sales [3] - FactSet's revenues increased by 6.2% year-over-year in Q4 2025, reaching $597 million, but it is not among the top 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 36 hedge fund portfolios holding it at the end of Q2 2025 [4]