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]

Core Insights - FactSet Research Systems Inc. is a financial data provider with a market cap of $10.9 billion, operating globally across various regions [1] - The company is expected to announce its Q1 results by mid-December, with analysts predicting an adjusted profit of $4.39 per share, a slight increase from $4.37 in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year 2026, adjusted EPS is projected to be $17.30, reflecting a 1.9% increase from $16.98 in 2025, with a further expected surge of 11.3% to $19.25 in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - FactSet's stock has declined by 37.2% over the past 52 weeks, significantly underperforming the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's 12.2% gains and the S&P 500 Index's 18.3% returns [4] - Following the release of Q4 results on September 18, the stock price dropped by 10.4% in a single trading session [5] Financial Metrics - As of the end of August, FactSet's annual subscription value (ASV) was $2.4 billion, marking a 6.7% year-over-year increase [5] - The company's revenues for the quarter rose by 6.2% year-over-year to $596.9 million, surpassing consensus estimates by 72 basis points [5] - Operating margins contracted by 200 basis points year-over-year to 33.8%, while adjusted EPS grew by 8.3% year-over-year to $4.05, falling 2.4% short of Street expectations [6] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts maintain a cautious outlook on FactSet, with a consensus "Hold" rating; among 19 analysts, there are two "Strong Buys," 10 "Holds," and seven "Strong Sells" [7] - The mean price target for the stock is $335.07, indicating a potential upside of 16.2% from current price levels [7]

Core Viewpoint - FactSet Research Systems Inc. is a prominent player in the financial data services industry, providing integrated financial information and analytical applications to investment professionals globally [1]. Group 1: Earnings Expectations - FactSet is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings on September 18, 2025, with analysts projecting an earnings per share (EPS) of $4.15 and revenue of approximately $593.4 million [2][6]. - The company is expected to report a year-over-year increase in earnings, driven by higher revenues for the quarter ending August 2025 [3][6]. - Market reactions are closely tied to the earnings report's outcome, with potential upward movement if results exceed expectations, and a decline if estimates are missed [3][6]. Group 2: Financial Metrics - FactSet's financial metrics indicate a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26.12, a price-to-sales ratio of 6.06, and an enterprise value to sales ratio of 6.61 [5][6]. - The enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio stands at 22.32, with an earnings yield of 3.83%, reflecting earnings generated per dollar invested [5]. - The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 0.75, and its current ratio is 1.47, highlighting its financial stability [5][6]. Group 3: Market Sentiment - The sustainability of immediate price changes will depend on management's discussion of business conditions during the earnings call [4]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate suggests a positive outlook for FactSet's earnings performance, which could further impact investor sentiment [4].