FDS vs MSCI: FactSet Research Systems and MSCI compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- MSCI is the larger company, worth $41.6B, about 3.8 times FactSet Research Systems.
- MSCI grew revenue faster over the last year (+12.2% vs +6.4%).
- MSCI keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (55.7% vs 29.6%).
- On earnings, FactSet Research Systems is the cheaper stock (19.5x vs 32.7x).
- MSCI's price assumes faster free cash flow growth: about 10% a year, against 4% for FactSet Research Systems (reverse DCF).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | FDS | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $11.0B | $41.6B |
| Share price | $287.18 | $565.12 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $2.3B | $3.1B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $617M | $1.5B |
| Revenue growth, last year | +6.4% | +12.2% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +9.9% | +11.3% |
| Operating margin | 29.6% | 55.7% |
| Net margin | 23.2% | 40.7% |
| Return on equity | 27.9% | — |
| P/E (trailing) | 19.5x | 32.7x |
| Price / free cash flow | 17.8x | 26.8x |
| EV / EBITDA | 13.7x | 25.8x |
| FCF growth the price implies | 3.5% | 9.6% |
| Dividend yield | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Debt / equity | 1.06x | — |
| Fundamental grade | C | C |
| Superinvestors holding it | 6 | 7 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 10 | 10 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
FactSet Research Systems
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1.6B | $494M | 29.8% |
| 2022 | $1.8B | $487M | 25.8% |
| 2023 | $2.1B | $585M | 30.2% |
| 2024 | $2.2B | $615M | 31.8% |
| 2025 | $2.3B | $617M | 32.2% |
MSCI
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2.0B | $883M | 52.5% |
| 2022 | $2.2B | $1.0B | 53.7% |
| 2023 | $2.5B | $1.1B | 54.8% |
| 2024 | $2.9B | $1.4B | 53.5% |
| 2025 | $3.1B | $1.5B | 54.7% |
Where the revenue comes from
FactSet Research Systems · by segments, 2025
Americas$1.5B65%
EMEA$580M25%
Asia Pacific$235M10%
MSCI · by segments, 2025
Index$1.8B57%
Analytics$714M23%
Sustainability and Climate$354M11%
All Other – Private Assets$279M9%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open FDS in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, FactSet Research Systems or MSCI?
MSCI (MSCI), at $41.6B against $11.0B.
Is FDS or MSCI cheaper?
By trailing P/E, FactSet Research Systems (19.5x) is cheaper than MSCI (32.7x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, FDS or MSCI?
MSCI: revenue grew +12.2% over the last year, against +6.4%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.