FDS vs. LPLA: FactSet Research Systems vs. LPL Financial Stock Comparison
How do FactSet Research Systems (FDS) and LPL Financial (LPLA) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) and LPL Financial (LPLA) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though FDS is classified under Financial Exchanges & Data while LPLA falls under Investment Banking & Brokerage.
| Profile Item | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | FactSet Research Systems Inc. | LPL Financial Holdings Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Financial Exchanges & Data | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 11.56 billion USD | 23.01 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 28, 1996 | November 18, 2010 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.49% | -17.27% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -8.71% | 11.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.88% | 13.92% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.03% | 39.22% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.69 | 0.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -61.13% | -33.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 803.71K | 855.76K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.48 | -0.55 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.71 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 25.48% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 25.66% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
25.48%
- Max
- 44.78%
- FDS
- 25.48%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
25.66%
- Max
- 44.78%
- LPLA
- 25.66%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 21.54% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.97% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
21.54%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- FDS
- 21.54%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.97%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- LPLA
- 6.97%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.22% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 10.85% operates in the bottom quartile.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.22%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- FDS
- 22.22%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
10.85%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- LPLA
- 10.85%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 25.48% | 25.66% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.65% | 7.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.54% | 6.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 22.22% | 10.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 37.18% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 6.65% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LPLA.
EPS Growth
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at -6.30% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at -22.17% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.65% | 37.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.89% | 25.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -6.30% | -22.17% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.59% | 1.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) in Financial Services and LPL Financial (LPLA) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) in Financial Services and LPL Financial (LPLA) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 1.33% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 0.40% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- FDS
- 1.33%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
0.40%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- LPLA
- 0.40%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 31.02% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.88% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
31.02%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- FDS
- 31.02%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.88%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- LPLA
- 6.88%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 0.40% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.02% | 6.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.50 and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 16.93 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.50
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- FDS
- 22.50
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
16.93
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- LPLA
- 16.93
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 1.15 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 4.67 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
4.67
- Max
- 9.23
- FDS
- 4.67
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
1.15
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- LPLA
- 1.15
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 5.77 and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 3.98 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
5.77
- Max
- 7.79
- FDS
- 5.77
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
3.98
- Max
- 7.79
- LPLA
- 3.98
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FDS | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.50 | 16.93 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.67 | 1.15 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.77 | 3.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |