S&P Global, Cambridge Associates and Mercer Launch Private Markets Performance Datasets for Private Credit and Real Assets Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Standardized datasets transform fragmented private markets data into comparable intelligence for investors NEW YORK, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) today announced the launch of the S&P Global, Cambridge Associates, Mercer Private Markets Performance Analytics datasets, the first release from the collaboration introduced ...

For the quarter ended February 2026, FactSet Research (FDS) reported revenue of $611.02 million, up 7.1% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $4.46, compared to $4.28 in the year-ago quarter.The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $605.02 million, representing a surprise of +0.99%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.03%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $4.37.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- a ...

Core Insights - ASV growth accelerated for the fourth consecutive quarter to 6.7%, driven by balanced performance across all geographies and client types [1] - Management attributes momentum to foundational strengths in connected data and embedded workflows, which are becoming increasingly mission-critical as clients move AI into production [1] Performance Metrics - Strategic realignment of sales incentives and a focus on 'commercial excellence' led to a 29% year-over-year improvement in win rates for marketing leads [1] - The company is successfully shifting away from seat-based exposure, with direct seat-based revenue now representing less than 20% of the base [1] - Enterprise agreements now constitute the majority of renewed ASV, with average contract lengths extending by more than 30% during the quarter [1] Growth Areas - Data Solutions achieved double-digit growth across all firm types, marking the highest expansion levels seen since 2023 [1] - Productivity initiatives in engineering and data operations have already captured over 50% of the 100 basis point margin improvement target for the year [1]

Core Insights - FactSet Research Systems reported accelerating growth in annual subscription value (ASV) for the fourth consecutive quarter, with organic ASV increasing by 6.7% to $2.45 billion [4] - The company achieved revenue of $611 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.1%, with 6.8% organic growth when excluding foreign exchange and M&A impacts [4] Regional Performance - In the Asia-Pacific region, organic ASV growth accelerated to 10% from 8% in the previous quarter, driven by increased demand from asset managers and hedge funds [1] - EMEA saw organic ASV growth of 4%, matching the previous quarter, with noted softness among asset owners due to pension reform in the Netherlands [2] - The Americas experienced a 7% organic ASV growth, up from 6% in the prior quarter, supported by strength in asset management and competitive displacements in banking [2] Client Activity and Retention - FactSet added 98 net new clients in the quarter, bringing the total to 9,101, with a user base exceeding 241,000, equating to a 10% annual growth rate [6] - Client retention remained strong at 91%, with ASV retention above 95% [6] AI Strategy and Product Development - The company emphasized AI as a demand driver and a means to enhance internal efficiency, with significant investments in technology and productivity initiatives [10][11] - FactSet's MCP server, launched in December, has over 120 active clients, and API call volumes have increased significantly [10] - Partnerships with Snowflake, Databricks, Anthropic, and OpenAI are aimed at enhancing cloud-based workflows and making FactSet datasets available in marketplaces [10] Financial Guidance and Capital Allocation - Based on first-half performance, FactSet raised its fiscal 2026 outlook for ASV, revenue, and EPS, with ASV growth now expected to be between $130 million to $160 million [11] - The company maintained its GAAP and adjusted operating margin guidance, with an accelerated pace of share repurchases, buying back approximately 652,000 shares for $163 million in Q2 [13] Management Commentary - CEO Sanoke Viswanathan highlighted improved commercial execution and productivity gains, positioning the company well for the second half of fiscal 2026 and beyond [14]

FactSet (NYSE:FDS) Q2 2026 Earnings call March 31, 2026 09:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsGoran Skoko - EVP and Chief Revenue OfficerHelen Shan - EVP and CFOJeff Silber - Managing DirectorKevin Toomey - Head of Investor RelationsSanoke Viswanathan - CEOScott Wurtzel - Director Equity ResearchShlomo Rosenbaum - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsAndrew Nicholas - Research Analyst of Global ServicesAshish Sabadra - Business, Education, and Professional Services AnalystCraig Huber - Equity Research Ana ...

Core Insights - FactSet reported a strong second quarter for fiscal 2026, with accelerating growth driven by robust data offerings and client trust, prompting an upward revision of the growth outlook for the year [3][4]. Financial Performance - Q2 GAAP revenues reached $611.0 million, reflecting a 7.1% increase from $570.7 million in Q2 2025 [4][5]. - Organic Annual Subscription Value (ASV) was $2,449.1 million, up 6.7% year-over-year, with a quarterly increase of $38.0 million [4][8]. - GAAP operating margin decreased to 30.3%, down approximately 220 basis points year-over-year, while adjusted operating margin fell to 35.0%, down 230 basis points [4][5]. - GAAP diluted EPS was $3.59, a decrease of 4.5% from the prior year, while adjusted diluted EPS increased by 4.2% to $4.46 [4][5]. Business Outlook - The company updated its fiscal 2026 guidance, expecting organic ASV growth of $130 million to $160 million, GAAP revenues between $2,450 million and $2,470 million, and GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $14.85 to $15.35 [4][18]. - The annual effective tax rate is anticipated to remain between 18.0% and 19.0% [18]. Operational Highlights - Client count increased to 9,101, with a net addition of 98 clients in the last three months, primarily from corporate and wealth management sectors [11]. - User count rose to 241,352, reflecting a net increase of 1,489 users, driven by growth in wealth management and dealmakers [11]. - Annual ASV retention was greater than 95%, with client retention at 91% [11]. Share Repurchase Program - FactSet repurchased 651,750 shares for $163.0 million at an average price of $250.14 during Q2 2026, with $697.1 million remaining available for future repurchases [13]. Strategic Developments - A multi-year strategic agreement was announced with Barclays to provide access to FactSet's financial data and technology solutions [17]. - The launch of AI Doc Ingest for Cobalt aims to enhance data extraction for private capital clients [17].

Core Thesis - FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) is viewed as a compelling investment opportunity due to its resilient business model, strong financials, and current valuation compression, which presents a unique entry point for long-term investors [1][4][5]. Company Overview - FactSet operates as a financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider, essential for institutional financial workflows, offering critical data and analytics to asset managers, banks, and financial institutions [2]. Financial Performance - The company has demonstrated operational strength with a 45% increase in dividends over the past five years, reflecting its commitment to returning capital to shareholders [3][4]. - FDS maintains a payout ratio of under 30%, indicating strong financial discipline and a sustainable dividend policy supported by a robust balance sheet [3]. Valuation Insights - Current share prices are trading below intrinsic value ranges, indicating valuation compression despite FactSet's historical premium multiples due to its high-quality business model [4]. - The stock was trading at $193.88 with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 13.31 and 12.18 respectively, suggesting potential undervaluation [1]. Investment Appeal - The combination of a 2% dividend yield and projected double-digit annual dividend growth (10-12% or more) positions FactSet as an attractive long-term investment, potentially outperforming higher-yield, lower-growth alternatives [5]. - The company's recurring revenue model and strong margins contribute to its appeal, especially in a market focused on stability and growth within the financial technology sector [6][7].

Core Insights - S&P Global (SPGI) is recognized as a leading provider of financial data and analytics, serving major global institutions with a strong competitive advantage across various segments such as market intelligence, ratings, and indices [1] Company Focus - The company is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for financial analytics and data services, particularly in the context of the increasing importance of AI in various sectors [1] Market Trends - There is a notable trend towards investing in growth stocks, especially those integrating AI into their operations, indicating a shift in investor focus towards technology and fintech sectors [1] Investment Strategy - The emphasis is on identifying undervalued stocks with high growth potential, particularly within the AI ecosystem, suggesting a strategic approach to portfolio management that prioritizes long-term growth over short-term market trends [1]

Core Viewpoint - The upcoming earnings report from FactSet Research is anticipated to show a quarterly earnings per share of $4.37, reflecting a 2.1% increase year over year, with revenues expected to reach $605.02 million, indicating a 6% year-over-year growth [1]. Group 1: Earnings Projections - Analysts have revised the consensus EPS estimate upward by 0.3% over the last 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment of forecasts [2]. - Changes in earnings projections are crucial for predicting investor reactions, as empirical studies show a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price movements [3]. Group 2: Revenue Estimates - Analysts project 'Revenues from clients- International' to be $208.02 million, representing a 3.5% year-over-year increase [5]. - The estimate for 'Revenues from clients- US' is expected to be $395.12 million, reflecting a 6.9% year-over-year growth [5]. - The 'Total Annual Subscription Value' is anticipated to reach $2.44 billion, compared to $2.31 billion from the previous year [5]. Group 3: Client and User Metrics - The expected 'Total Clients' is projected at 9,111, up from 8,645 a year ago [6]. - The consensus estimate for 'Total Users' stands at 233,287, compared to 219,141 from the previous year [6]. Group 4: Stock Performance - FactSet shares have decreased by 6.2% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has declined by 5% [6]. - With a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), FactSet is expected to outperform the overall market in the near future [6].

Core Insights - FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) is scheduled to report its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on March 31, before market open [1] - The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 0.4% [1] Revenue Expectations - The consensus estimate for FDS's second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues is $605 million, reflecting a 6% growth compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Revenues from the Americas are expected to reach $396.2 million, indicating a 7.2% year-over-year growth, driven by rising demand for portfolio life cycle solutions and AI-ready data [2] - EMEA revenues are projected to grow 1.3% year-over-year to $145.2 million, supported by performance solutions and enhanced retention strategies [3] - Revenues from the Asia Pacific are anticipated to be $61.8 million, representing a 7.3% increase year-over-year, primarily driven by middle office solutions and AI-ready data [3] Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for earnings per share (EPS) is $4.37, suggesting a 2.1% increase from the previous year [4] - The model predicts an earnings beat for FDS, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.67% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]