FactSet Research Systems' Quarterly Earnings Preview: What You Need to Know

Company Overview - FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a market cap of approximately $11 billion and provides a global financial digital platform and enterprise solutions for the investment community, offering data, analytics, and workflow solutions across the investment lifecycle [1] Upcoming Earnings Announcement - The company is set to announce its fiscal Q1 2026 results on December 18, with analysts forecasting an adjusted EPS of $4.39, a slight increase from $4.37 in the same quarter last year [2] Financial Performance Expectations - For fiscal 2026, analysts expect an adjusted EPS of $17.31, reflecting a 1.9% increase from $16.98 in fiscal 2025, and a further anticipated growth of 9.8% year-over-year to $19 in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - FactSet shares have decreased by 39.9% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming compared to the S&P 500 Index, which rose nearly 12%, and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund, which returned 10.5% during the same period [4] Recent Earnings Report - Despite reporting better-than-expected Q4 2025 revenue of $596.9 million, shares fell by 10.4% due to an adjusted EPS of $4.05 that missed estimates, alongside concerns about margin pressure with Q4 adjusted operating margin declining to 33.8% and fiscal 2025 adjusted operating margin falling by 150 basis points to 36.3% [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view on FactSet stock is cautious, with a "Hold" rating overall; among 19 analysts, two recommend "Strong Buy," 11 have a "Hold," and six suggest "Strong Sell," with an average price target of $322.07 indicating a potential upside of 9.9% from current levels [6]