Here's Why You Should Add FactSet Stock in Your Portfolio Now

Core Insights - FactSet Research Systems Inc. has been providing extensive data and analytics to financial professionals for over 40 years, experiencing growth in its customer base with 383 new clients added in fiscal 2023 and nine in Q3 of fiscal 2024, primarily from corporate and wealth clients [1] Group 1: Acquisitions and Infrastructure - The acquisition of idaciti in 2023 supports FactSet's initiative to digitally enhance its content collection infrastructure and expedite access to essential data sets for advanced workflows [2] - The 2022 acquisition of CUSIP Global Services has bolstered FactSet's position in the global capital markets [2] Group 2: Shareholder Returns - FactSet has a strong track record of rewarding shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, repurchasing shares worth $18.64 million in fiscal 2023, $199.6 million in 2022, and $264.7 million in 2021, while paying dividends of $125.9 million, $110.4 million, and $117.9 million in the same respective years [3] Group 3: Earnings Performance - FactSet holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating attractive investment opportunities, with a decent earnings surprise history, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters, averaging a 1.6% earnings surprise [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FactSet's fiscal 2024 earnings is $16.32, reflecting a 12.2% year-over-year growth, with a projected 7.2% increase in 2025 [5] Group 4: Comparable Stocks - Other top-ranked stocks in the Zacks Business Services sector include Genpact, which has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%, and Jamf, also with a Zacks Rank of 2 and a long-term earnings growth expectation of 57% [6][7]