FactSet Research stock holds gains as fresh earnings beats and dividend support investor interest

FactSet Research Systems Inc. (US3030751057) stock is holding close to the $300 mark as of August 21, 2026, supported by a run of fiscal 2026 earnings beats and a stable dividend that continues to attract institutional investors.

Earnings beats and fiscal 2026 guidance

Recent coverage highlights that in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, FactSet reported earnings per share of $4.51, topping consensus estimates by 2.7%, signalling solid demand for its analytics and market data offerings in a competitive environment. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the company delivered EPS of $4.46, again ahead of expectations by 2.1% and showing that the earnings momentum extended beyond a single reporting period. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, EPS came in at $4.53, beating consensus by 2%, marking three consecutive quarters where FactSet delivered EPS above analyst forecasts and underlining management’s ability to translate recurring subscription revenue into growing profits.

Per a recent institutional-holding summary, FactSet’s latest reported quarterly results showed EPS of $4.53 and revenue of $622.92 million for a quarter in fiscal 2026, with revenue rising 6.4% compared with the same quarter of the prior year, indicating that the business is still generating mid-single-digit top-line growth while maintaining strong margins. The same update notes that analysts expect FactSet to post $17.76 in EPS for the current fiscal year 2026, while the company has issued guidance for fiscal 2026 EPS in a range of $17.25 to $17.75, suggesting that the current consensus sits at the upper end of management’s outlook and that the actual results may come in slightly above the midpoint of that range if recent trends continue. The guidance range also provides investors with a framework to compare future quarterly results, as a full-year EPS outcome closer to $17.75 would imply continued earnings execution similar to the first three quarters, whereas a result closer to $17.25 would suggest some growth moderation or higher investment spending.

Alongside these headline numbers, FactSet’s profitability metrics remain robust. The company’s recent quarterly report shows a return on equity of 30.68%, highlighting its ability to generate significant earnings relative to shareholder capital employed. Net margin stood at 23.21% in that same period, which means that nearly a quarter of revenue is converted into net income even after operating costs, interest, and taxes. Compared with many software and data peers whose net margins are often lower, these figures suggest that FactSet operates a highly profitable model with a disciplined cost structure and scalable technology platform. For investors, the combination of consistent EPS beats, mid-single-digit revenue growth, and margin strength is an important part of the long-term equity story.

Dividend and institutional interest

Dividend income is another key component in the FactSet investment case. Recent filings and alerts indicate that FactSet has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.16 per share, with stockholders of record on August 31, 2026, scheduled to receive the payment on September 17, 2026. On an annualized basis this equates to a dividend of $4.64 per share and a yield of 1.6% when applied to a share price close to $299.91 as indicated by recent market data. The company’s dividend payout ratio is listed at 30.57%, implying that FactSet returns just under a third of its earnings to shareholders while retaining the balance to fund further product development, acquisitions, and balance-sheet flexibility. For income-focused investors, the combination of a moderate yield and a relatively conservative payout ratio can be viewed as a sign of sustainability, especially when paired with a track record of earnings growth.

Institutional activity around the stock underscores this perceived strength. A fresh holding report notes that one large financial institution has purchased new holdings in FactSet in August 2026, signalling that professional investors continue to see value in the company’s long-term cash generation and competitive position in the financial data industry. Additional institutional updates show other asset managers adding to or initiating positions in FactSet, citing its resilient earnings profile and dividend as reasons for exposure. While these holdings changes do not guarantee future performance, they demonstrate that FactSet remains a core component in many portfolios that focus on business analytics and financial technology exposure.

Despite the strong fundamentals, analyst sentiment presented in the same coverage is described as cautious, with the average rating at “Reduce” and an average price target of $253 per share compared with a recent opening price around $298.45. This gap between the average price target and the actual trading level signals that some analysts see the stock’s valuation as stretched relative to their models, even though operational performance has been robust. For investors, the difference between the current share price and the consensus target highlights the ongoing debate between valuation and quality: FactSet’s earnings and dividends are well supported, yet some market participants question how much future growth is already priced in.

Share-price level and recent performance

Market data compiled in the latest broker-recommendation overview show that FactSet shares closed at $299.91 on the Cboe venue at 3:59 p.m. ET on August 21, 2026. The same snapshot indicates that the stock’s five-day change is marginally negative, with the listing showing a -0.07% move over that period, while the change since the start of the year stands at +5.91%, signalling that the share price has still advanced year to date despite the minor pullback in recent sessions. The listing also notes a 3.41% performance measure that reflects one of the shorter-term comparison windows, indicating low single-digit gains over that specific interval and reinforcing the narrative of a stock that has edged higher rather than delivering extreme volatility.

Another recent report focuses on FactSet’s performance over the past six months, noting that the stock has gained 58% in that timeframe, a move that substantially outpaces many broad market indices and which underscores the strength of investor demand for data-driven financial technology names. Viewed against the modest year-to-date change cited in the broker snapshot, this six-month performance figure suggests that much of the share-price appreciation occurred earlier in the year or in the back half of the prior year, and that more recent trading has been modestly sideways. For investors who entered the stock before this run, the 58% gain represents considerable capital appreciation, while new entrants are likely scrutinizing valuation metrics even more closely.

The same six-month performance overview points out that FactSet’s last three reported quarters have all delivered EPS beats, which helps explain why the stock has been able to climb despite pockets of broader market volatility. In particular, the first quarter of fiscal 2026 saw EPS of $4.51 against the consensus estimate, a beat of 2.7%. For the second quarter, EPS of $4.46 exceeded expectations by 2.1%. The third quarter’s $4.53 EPS marked a 2% beat. Taken together, these repeated positive surprises support a narrative of an issuer that manages expectations conservatively and then delivers slightly better-than-expected results, a pattern that often supports share prices and can drive rerating over time.

At the most recent opening reference in the institutional-activity report, FactSet shares were cited at $298.45, very close to the broker snapshot’s $299.91 close, illustrating that the stock has been trading in a tight range around the $300 level. For investors, this trading behaviour suggests that the market is weighing the solid fundamental backdrop against valuation questions. On one hand, the EPS beats and dividend support the current price; on the other, the average analyst target of $253 implies that some models see limited upside from here. As long as the company continues to deliver on guidance and maintain margins, these valuation debates are likely to remain a central theme.

FactSet platform and products

FactSet’s core value proposition lies in its integrated financial data and analytics platform used by asset managers, investment banks, and corporate clients worldwide. The company aggregates thousands of data sources, including equity and fixed-income prices, economic indicators, estimates, ownership information, and ESG metrics, then delivers these through desktop, web, and API interfaces. Users can screen securities, build models, run scenario analysis, and produce client-ready reports from within a single environment, which saves time and reduces operational risk compared with using multiple disconnected tools.

Beyond the flagship workstation, FactSet offers modular solutions tailored to workflows such as portfolio management, risk analytics, research, trading, and performance attribution. Many of these modules are integrated with third-party order-management and execution systems, allowing clients to move seamlessly from research to trade implementation. The company also provides data feeds and cloud-hosted datasets for quantitative and systematic investors who require low-latency access and flexible deployment. These offerings sit at the heart of FactSet’s recurring revenue model, as clients typically license the platform on multi-year contracts and expand usage over time as new teams adopt the tools.

In recent years, FactSet has invested heavily in artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to enhance search, natural-language query, and anomaly detection within its data universe. These investments aim to make the platform more intuitive for users while improving data quality, which is a key differentiator in an industry where accuracy and timeliness are critical. The company has also focused on expanding datasets in areas such as private markets, credit, and alternatives, reflecting client demand for coverage beyond traditional listed securities. Together, these strategic initiatives help underpin the growth rates seen in the fiscal 2026 numbers and support management’s guidance for the year.

Shares and market context

As of August 21, 2026, FactSet stock is quoted at $299.91 on its primary US trading venue, with this level serving as the reference for current market commentary. This price anchors the valuation metrics used by analysts and investors when comparing the stock to peers in the financial technology and data-services sectors. With a year-to-date performance of +5.91% at that same date and a six-month move of 58% highlighted in recent coverage, the shares illustrate both the potential upside of owning high-quality data providers and the importance of entry price in determining investor outcomes.

For investors, the key numbers now are the fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $17.25 to $17.75, the consensus expectation near $17.76, the recent quarterly revenue of $622.92 million with 6.4% year-over-year growth, and the annual dividend of $4.64 with a 1.6% yield and a 30.57% payout ratio. These figures collectively frame the current state of FactSet’s equity story: a profitable, growing company that has delivered several consecutive earnings beats, supports its stock with a modest dividend, and trades close to $300 per share as of August 21, 2026.

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More on FactSet stock

Analytics platform for professionals

One representative product in the FactSet ecosystem is its integrated analytics platform for institutional investors, which combines real-time market data, research tools, and portfolio analytics into a single interface. Users can track positions, monitor risk, and generate performance reports from one environment, while leveraging FactSet’s extensive database of securities, benchmarks, and economic series. This kind of product is central to how asset managers, hedge funds, and banks use FactSet to improve decision-making and client reporting.

FactSet shares and current price

FactSet shares closed at $299.91 as of August 21, 2026, 3:59 p.m. ET on the Cboe market, with the stock showing a year-to-date gain of 5.91% and a small five-day change of -0.07%, placing the current trading level just below the $300 threshold while reflecting the strong six-month performance of 58% highlighted in recent market commentary.

Fact box

Company: FactSet Research Systems Inc.
ISIN: US3030751057
Ticker: FDS
Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Price (as of August 21, 2026, 3:59 p.m. ET): $299.91 USD
Sector / Industry: Financial data and analytics / Information technology
Index membership: S&P 500