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FactSet (FDS) Beats Earnings and Revenue Estimates in Q1
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FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS - Free Report) posted impressive first-quarter fiscal 2019, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.35 beat the consensus mark by 7 cents and increased 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. The upside was driven by higher revenues and a lower effective tax rate due to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
We observe that shares of FactSet have increased 8.1% year to date compared with the industry’s rise of 1.1%.
Revenues in Detail
Revenues of $351.6 million surpassed the consensus mark by $2 million and increased 6.8% year over year. Organic revenues grew 6.4% to $353.1 million. The improvement was primarily driven by higher sales of wealth management as well as content and technology solutions (CTS). Region-wise, U.S. revenues climbed 6.4% to $222.2 million and international revenues improved 7.5% to $129.4 million.
FactSet’s Annual Subscription Value (ASV) plus professional services was $1.42 billion at the end of the quarter, up 6% year over year. Organically, it increased 6.6% year over year.
Buy-side and sell-side ASV growth rates were 5.9% and 8.6%, respectively. Of this, nearly 83.9% was generated by buy-side clients and the rest were derived from sell-side firms performing functions like mergers and acquisitions advisory work, capital markets services as well as equity research.
ASV generated from the United States was $876.9 million, up 6.3% from the prior-year quarter’s level on a reported basis and 6.3% organically. Internationally, ASV was $521.3 million, up 5.3% year over year on a reported basis and 6.4% organically.
FactSet added 155 clients in the reported quarter, taking the total number of clients to 5,279. Annual client retention was 91% of clients and more than 95% of ASV. At the end of the quarter, total employee count was 9,600, up 1.9% year over year.
Operating Results
Adjusted operating income came in at $111.3 million, up 5.8% from the year-ago quarter’s tally. Adjusted operating margin declined 20 basis points (bps) to 31.5%.
Selling, general and administration expenses increased 7.4% to $88.3 million. Total operating expenses increased 4.6% to $251.1 million.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
FactSet exited first-quarter fiscal 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $170.4 million compared with $208.62 million in the previous quarter. Long-term debt at the end of the quarter was $574.8 million, flat from the prior-quarter’s tally.
In the quarter, the company generated $46.3 million of cash from operating activities and spent $9.5 million in Capex. Free cash flow was $36.8 million compared with $55.2 million at the end of the previous quarter.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Payout
FactSet repurchased 275,000 shares for $60.4 million during the reported quarter. The company still has $181.3 million under existing share repurchase program.
A regular dividend of $24.2 million or $0.64 per share was scheduled to be paid on Dec 18 to common stockholders of record as of Nov 30, 2018.
Fiscal 2019 Outlook
FactSet reiterated fiscal 2019 guidance. The company anticipates adjusted EPS in the range of $9.45-$9.65, the midpoint of which is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.56.
Revenues are expected between $1.41 billion and $1.45 billion, the mid-point of which is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44 billion.
Organic ASV plus professional services for fiscal 2019 is projected in the range of $75-$90 million. Adjusted operating margin is projected in the range of 31.5-32.5%. The annual effective tax rate is expected between 17.5% and 18.5%.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Currently, FactSet carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The long-term expected EPS (three to five years) growth rate for BG Staffing, Booz Allen and Interpublic is 20%, 14.4%, and 7.6%, respectively.
Wall Street’s Next Amazon
Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.
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FactSet (FDS) Beats Earnings and Revenue Estimates in Q1
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS - Free Report) posted impressive first-quarter fiscal 2019, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.35 beat the consensus mark by 7 cents and increased 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. The upside was driven by higher revenues and a lower effective tax rate due to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
We observe that shares of FactSet have increased 8.1% year to date compared with the industry’s rise of 1.1%.
Revenues in Detail
Revenues of $351.6 million surpassed the consensus mark by $2 million and increased 6.8% year over year. Organic revenues grew 6.4% to $353.1 million. The improvement was primarily driven by higher sales of wealth management as well as content and technology solutions (CTS). Region-wise, U.S. revenues climbed 6.4% to $222.2 million and international revenues improved 7.5% to $129.4 million.
FactSet Research Systems Inc. Revenue (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems Inc. Revenue (TTM) | FactSet Research Systems Inc. Quote
ASV Plus Professional Services
FactSet’s Annual Subscription Value (ASV) plus professional services was $1.42 billion at the end of the quarter, up 6% year over year. Organically, it increased 6.6% year over year.
Buy-side and sell-side ASV growth rates were 5.9% and 8.6%, respectively. Of this, nearly 83.9% was generated by buy-side clients and the rest were derived from sell-side firms performing functions like mergers and acquisitions advisory work, capital markets services as well as equity research.
ASV generated from the United States was $876.9 million, up 6.3% from the prior-year quarter’s level on a reported basis and 6.3% organically. Internationally, ASV was $521.3 million, up 5.3% year over year on a reported basis and 6.4% organically.
FactSet added 155 clients in the reported quarter, taking the total number of clients to 5,279. Annual client retention was 91% of clients and more than 95% of ASV. At the end of the quarter, total employee count was 9,600, up 1.9% year over year.
Operating Results
Adjusted operating income came in at $111.3 million, up 5.8% from the year-ago quarter’s tally. Adjusted operating margin declined 20 basis points (bps) to 31.5%.
Selling, general and administration expenses increased 7.4% to $88.3 million. Total operating expenses increased 4.6% to $251.1 million.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
FactSet exited first-quarter fiscal 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $170.4 million compared with $208.62 million in the previous quarter. Long-term debt at the end of the quarter was $574.8 million, flat from the prior-quarter’s tally.
In the quarter, the company generated $46.3 million of cash from operating activities and spent $9.5 million in Capex. Free cash flow was $36.8 million compared with $55.2 million at the end of the previous quarter.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Payout
FactSet repurchased 275,000 shares for $60.4 million during the reported quarter. The company still has $181.3 million under existing share repurchase program.
A regular dividend of $24.2 million or $0.64 per share was scheduled to be paid on Dec 18 to common stockholders of record as of Nov 30, 2018.
Fiscal 2019 Outlook
FactSet reiterated fiscal 2019 guidance. The company anticipates adjusted EPS in the range of $9.45-$9.65, the midpoint of which is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.56.
Revenues are expected between $1.41 billion and $1.45 billion, the mid-point of which is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44 billion.
Organic ASV plus professional services for fiscal 2019 is projected in the range of $75-$90 million. Adjusted operating margin is projected in the range of 31.5-32.5%. The annual effective tax rate is expected between 17.5% and 18.5%.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Currently, FactSet carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
A few better top-ranked stocks in the Zacks Business Services sector are Insperity (NSP - Free Report) , SPS Commerce (SPSC - Free Report) and Information Services Group (III - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
The long-term expected EPS (three to five years) growth rate for Insperity, SPS Commerce and Information Services Group is 18%, 20%, and 14%, respectively. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The long-term expected EPS (three to five years) growth rate for BG Staffing, Booz Allen and Interpublic is 20%, 14.4%, and 7.6%, respectively.
Wall Street’s Next Amazon
Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.
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