Principal Financial Group Inc. Increases Position in FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS)

Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) by 3.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 48,791 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,443 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in FactSet Research Systems were worth $22,437,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 2,873.9% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 119,582 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $48,822,000 after acquiring an additional 115,561 shares during the period. PineStone Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in FactSet Research Systems by 53.3% during the 2nd quarter. PineStone Asset Management Inc. now owns 272,973 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $111,447,000 after purchasing an additional 94,952 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in FactSet Research Systems in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,909,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in FactSet Research Systems by 21.5% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 235,387 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $96,113,000 after purchasing an additional 41,717 shares during the period. Finally, Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 9.3% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 296,329 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $136,267,000 after buying an additional 25,294 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.24% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Redburn Atlantic downgraded shares of FactSet Research Systems from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $420.00 to $380.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued an “inline” rating and a $470.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $451.00 to $469.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, September 20th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $440.00 to $471.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on FactSet Research Systems from $435.00 to $503.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $443.57.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider John Costigan sold 1,622 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $481.00, for a total value of $780,182.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 299 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $143,819. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider John Costigan sold 1,622 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $481.00, for a total value of $780,182.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 299 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $143,819. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director James J. Mcgonigle sold 5,410 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $456.83, for a total value of $2,471,450.30. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,413,432.89. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 26,984 shares of company stock worth $12,230,877. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

FactSet Research Systems Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:FDS opened at $490.66 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $459.03 and its 200 day moving average is $432.71. The company has a market capitalization of $18.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.30, a PEG ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.75. FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a 12 month low of $391.84 and a 12 month high of $494.07.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 19th. The business services provider reported $3.74 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.62 by $0.12. FactSet Research Systems had a return on equity of 34.77% and a net margin of 24.38%. The firm had revenue of $562.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $547.06 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.93 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 17.2 EPS for the current year.

FactSet Research Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $1.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. FactSet Research Systems’s payout ratio is presently 29.93%.

FactSet Research Systems 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.