FDS vs. MSCI: FactSet Research Systems vs. MSCI Stock Comparison
How do FactSet Research Systems (FDS) and MSCI (MSCI) 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 MSCI (MSCI) are both classified in the Financial Exchanges & Data sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | FactSet Research Systems Inc. | MSCI 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 | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 11.56 billion USD | 46.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 28, 1996 | November 15, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.49% | 12.76% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -8.71% | 9.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.88% | 1.00% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.03% | 29.82% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.69 | 1.17 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -61.13% | -43.74% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 803.71K | 590.34K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.48 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.71 | 0.40 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) earns 25.48% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; MSCI (MSCI) has no ROE this period.
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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
--
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
- MSCI
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
MSCI (MSCI) at 40.31% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 21.54%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
40.31%
- Max
- 62.84%
- MSCI
- 40.31%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
MSCI (MSCI) at 56.41% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.22%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
56.41%
- Max
- 107.33%
- MSCI
- 56.41%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 25.48% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.65% | 21.75% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.54% | 40.31% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 22.22% | 56.41% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 6.65% and MSCI (MSCI) at 9.75% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at -6.30% and MSCI (MSCI) at 11.67% 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 | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.65% | 9.75% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.89% | 11.71% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -6.30% | 11.67% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.59% | 13.54% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) in Financial Services and MSCI (MSCI) 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 MSCI (MSCI) 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 | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 1.33% and MSCI (MSCI) at 1.21% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
1.21%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- MSCI
- 1.21%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 31.02% and MSCI (MSCI) at 42.04% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
42.04%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- MSCI
- 42.04%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 1.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.02% | 42.04% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.50 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while MSCI (MSCI) at 33.90 sits in the richer quartile — MSCI needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
33.90
- Max
- 45.85
- MSCI
- 33.90
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 4.67 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and MSCI (MSCI) at 13.58 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
13.58
- MSCI
- 13.58
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
MSCI (MSCI) reports a negative P/B ratio of -15.24, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile FactSet Research Systems (FDS) reports 5.77, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
-15.24
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- MSCI
- -15.24
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.50 | 33.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.67 | 13.58 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.77 | -15.24 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |