Morgan Stanley Increases FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS) Price Target to $355.00

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS) had its target price lifted by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley from $350.00 to $355.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “underweight” rating on the business services provider’s stock. Morgan Stanley’s target price points to a potential downside of 16.52% from the stock’s current price.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on FDS. Barclays reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $460.00 price objective (down previously from $480.00) on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $464.00 price objective on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a report on Friday, March 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus restated a “hold” rating and issued a $469.00 price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Bank of America downgraded shares of FactSet Research Systems from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $500.00 to $407.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $455.00 to $378.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $432.00.

FactSet Research Systems Stock Performance

Shares of FactSet Research Systems stock traded up $1.50 on Monday, reaching $425.23. 45,488 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 252,639. FactSet Research Systems has a 1-year low of $385.27 and a 1-year high of $488.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $423.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $448.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.21 billion, a PE ratio of 33.67, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.74.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, June 21st. The business services provider reported $4.37 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.91 by $0.46. The business had revenue of $552.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $552.71 million. FactSet Research Systems had a net margin of 22.72% and a return on equity of 34.36%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.79 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that FactSet Research Systems will post 15.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Robert J. Robie sold 4,336 shares of FactSet Research Systems stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $431.48, for a total transaction of $1,870,897.28. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 1,485 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $640,747.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CAO Gregory T. Moskoff sold 330 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $419.50, for a total transaction of $138,435.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 72 shares in the company, valued at $30,204. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Robert J. Robie sold 4,336 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $431.48, for a total transaction of $1,870,897.28. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 1,485 shares in the company, valued at $640,747.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 23,987 shares of company stock valued at $10,283,347 in the last 90 days. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On FactSet Research Systems

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Criterion Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 69.4% in the fourth quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 83 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Smithfield Trust Co increased its stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 51.6% in the fourth quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 94 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 36.9% in the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 141 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $65,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. 91.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

FactSet Research Systems Company Profile

FactSet Research Systems Inc, a financial data company, provides integrated financial information and analytical applications to the investment community in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company delivers insight and information through the workflow solutions of research, analytics and trading, content and technology solutions, and wealth.