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FactSet Reports Results for Fourth Quarter 2024

September 19, 2024 7:00 AM

NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FactSet (“FactSet” or the “Company”) (NYSE: FDS) (NASDAQ: FDS), a global financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider, today announced results for its fourth quarter fiscal 2024 ended August 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Highlights

(1) References to "organic" figures in this press release exclude the current year impact of acquisitions and dispositions completed within the past twelve months and the current year impact from changes in foreign currency.

"During a time of technological change and an external environment marked by both uncertainty and opportunity, FactSet's open platform strategy is resonating with clients seeking growth and efficiency," said Phil Snow, CEO of FactSet. "Our commitment to innovation ensures our comprehensive data and analytical tools are fully available to our clients, empowering them to achieve their goals."

Key Financial Measures*

(Condensed and Unaudited)Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended Latest
August 31,August 31, August 31,August 31, FY2024
(In thousands, except per share data) 2024 2023 Change 2024 2023 ChangeGuidance
Revenues$562,187 $535,797 4.9% $2,203,056 $2,085,508 5.6%$2,180 - $2,190
Organic revenues$562,781 $535,797 5.0% $2,203,736 $2,085,508 5.7%
Operating income$127,858 $116,103 10.1% $701,299 $629,207 11.5%
Adjusted operating income$201,402 $179,134 12.4% $832,653 $754,188 10.4%
Operating margin 22.7% 21.7% 31.8% 30.2% 33.7% - 34.0%
Adjusted operating margin 35.8% 33.4% 37.8% 36.2% 37.0% - 37.5%
Net income$89,496 $65,119 37.4% $537,126 $468,173 14.7%
Adjusted net income$144,089 $117,225 22.9% $635,073 $569,722 11.5%
Adjusted EBITDA$170,494 $171,207 (0.4)% $847,538 $776,620 9.1%
Diluted EPS$2.32 $1.68 38.1% $13.91 $12.04 15.5%$14.55 - $14.95
Adjusted diluted EPS$3.74 $3.02 23.8% $16.45 $14.65 12.3%$16.00 - $16.40

* See reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to adjusted key financial measures in the back of this press release.

"We are pleased with our results this quarter, which reflect our strong execution and operating discipline," said Helen Shan, FactSet's CFO. "By protecting our operating margin through aligning variable expenses with revenues, we achieved solid earnings growth and wrapped up the year effectively, positioning us well for fiscal 2025."

Full Year Fiscal 2024 Highlights

Annual Subscription Value (ASV) + Professional Services

ASV at any given point in time represents the forward-looking revenues for the next 12 months from all subscription services currently supplied to clients. Professional services are revenues derived from project-based consulting and implementation services.

ASV plus professional services was $2,276.0 million at August 31, 2024, compared with $2,174.6 million at August 31, 2023. Organic ASV plus professional services was $2,272.8 million at August 31, 2024, up $104.4 million from the prior year, for a growth rate of 4.8%. Organic ASV plus professional services increased $53.5 million over the last three months.

The buy-side and sell-side organic ASV annual growth rates as of August 31, 2024 were 4.9% and 3.8%, respectively. Buy-side clients, including institutional asset managers, wealth managers, asset owners, hedge funds, partners, and corporate clients, accounted for 82% of organic ASV. The remaining organic ASV came from sell-side firms, including broker-dealers, banking and advisory, and private equity and venture capital firms. Supplementary tables covering organic buy-side and sell-side ASV growth rates may be found on the last page of this press release.

Segment Revenues and ASV

ASV from the Americas region was $1,456.8 million compared with ASV in the prior year period of $1,376.9 million. Organic ASV increased 6.1% to $1,456.8 million. Americas revenues for the quarter increased to $362.5 million compared with $343.3 million in the fourth quarter of last year. The Americas region's quarterly organic revenues growth rate was 5.6% over the prior year period.

ASV from the EMEA region was $570.3 million compared with ASV in the prior year period of $559.6 million. Organic ASV increased 1.8% to $569.3 million. EMEA revenues were $143.1 million compared with $138.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The EMEA region's quarterly organic revenues growth rate was 3.3% over the prior year period.

ASV from the Asia Pacific region was $230.6 million compared with ASV in the prior year period of $215.4 million. Organic ASV increased 7.1% to $228.4 million. Asia Pacific revenues were $56.6 million compared with $53.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The Asia Pacific region's quarterly organic revenues growth rate was 6.1% over the prior year period.

Segment ASV does not include professional services, which totaled $18.3 million at August 31, 2024.

Operational Highlights – Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024

Share Repurchase Program

FactSet repurchased 153,650 shares of its common stock for $63.3 million at an average price of $412.09 during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 under the Company’s share repurchase program. As of August 31, 2024, the remaining $64.8 million under this program was no longer available for share repurchases. On September 17, 2024, the Board of Directors of FactSet approved a new share repurchase authorization of up to $300 million in the aggregate, which will be available during fiscal 2025.

Annual Business Outlook

FactSet is providing its outlook for fiscal 2025. The following forward-looking statements reflect FactSet's expectations as of today's date. Given the risk factors, uncertainties, and assumptions discussed below, actual results may differ materially. FactSet does not intend to update its forward-looking statements prior to its next quarterly results announcement.

Fiscal 2025 Expectations

Beginning in fiscal 2025, FactSet will report Organic ASV, rather than Organic ASV plus Professional Services, to more accurately reflect the recurring nature of its revenues. This underscores the shift of FactSet's offerings toward providing more managed services and less project-based services.

Adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted EPS guidance do not include certain effects of any non-recurring benefits or charges that may arise in fiscal 2025. Please see the back of this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP to adjusted metrics.

Conference Call

Fourth Quarter 2024 Conference Call Details
Date:Thursday, September 19, 2024
Time:11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Participant Registration:FactSet Q4 2024 Earnings Call Registration

Please register for the conference call using the above link before the call start time. The conference call platform will register your name and organization and provide dial-in numbers and a unique access pin. The conference call will have a live Q&A session.

A replay will be available on the Company’s investor relations website after 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 19, 2024, through September 19, 2025. The earnings call transcript will be available via FactSet CallStreet.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about industries in which FactSet operates and the beliefs and assumptions of management. All statements that address expectations, guidance, outlook or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy for growth, product development, revenues, future financial results, anticipated growth, market position, subscriptions, expected expenditures, trends in FactSet’s business and financial results, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "should," "indicates," "continues," "may" and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in FactSet's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and FactSet assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Financial measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP including revenues, operating income and margin, net income, diluted earnings per share and cash provided by operating activities have been adjusted.

FactSet uses these adjusted financial measures both in presenting its results to stockholders and the investment community and in its internal evaluation and management of the business. The Company believes that these adjusted financial measures and the information they provide are useful to investors because they permit investors to view the Company’s performance using the same tools that management uses to gauge progress in achieving its goals. Investors may benefit from referring to these adjusted financial measures in assessing the Company’s performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods and may also facilitate comparisons to its historical performance. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Organic revenues excludes from revenues the current year impact of revenues from acquisitions and dispositions completed within the past twelve months and the current year impact from changes in foreign currency. Adjusted operating income and margin, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share exclude acquisition-related intangible asset amortization and non-recurring items. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA represent earnings before interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization expense, while Adjusted EBITDA further excludes non-recurring non-cash expenses. The Company believes that these adjusted financial measures help to fully reflect the underlying economic performance of FactSet.

Cash flows provided by operating activities has been reduced by purchases of property, equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized internal-use software to report non-GAAP free cash flow. FactSet uses this financial measure both in presenting its results to stockholders and the investment community and in the Company’s internal evaluation and management of the business. Management believes that this financial measure is useful to investors because it permits investors to view the Company’s performance using the same metric that management uses to gauge progress in achieving its goals and is an indication of cash flow that may be available to fund further investments in future growth initiatives.

About FactSet

FactSet (NYSE:FDS | NASDAQ: FDS) helps the financial community to see more, think bigger, and work better. Our digital platform and enterprise solutions deliver financial data, analytics, and open technology to more than 8,200 global clients, including over 216,000 individual users. Clients across the buy-side and sell-side as well as wealth managers, private equity firms, and corporations achieve more every day with our comprehensive and connected content, flexible next-generation workflow solutions, and client-centric specialized support. As a member of the S&P 500, we are committed to sustainable growth and have been recognized amongst the Best Places to Work in 2023 by Glassdoor as a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award winner. Learn more at  www.factset.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

FactSet
Investor Relations Contact:
Ali van Nes
+1.203.810.2273
[email protected]
[email protected]
Media Contact
Megan Kovach
+1.512.736.2795
[email protected]

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
August 31, August 31, August 31, August 31,
(In thousands, except per share data) 2024 2023 2024 2023
Revenues$562,187 $535,797 $2,203,056 $2,085,508
Operating expenses
Cost of services 258,196 263,688 1,011,945 973,225
Selling, general and administrative 172,519 131,227 485,135 457,130
Asset impairments 3,614 24,779 4,677 25,946
Total operating expenses 434,329 419,694 1,501,757 1,456,301
Operating income 127,858 116,103 701,299 629,207
Other income (expense), net
Interest income 4,020 4,618 14,447 12,809
Interest expense (15,547) (16,691) (65,778) (66,319)
Other income (expense), net 799 3,279 1,535 8,257
Total other income (expense), net (10,728) (8,794) (49,796) (45,253)
Income before income taxes 117,130 107,309 651,503 583,954
Provision for income taxes 27,634 42,190 114,377 115,781
Net income$89,496 $65,119 $537,126 $468,173
Basic earnings per common share$2.35 $1.71 $14.11 $12.26
Diluted earnings per common share$2.32 $1.68 $13.91 $12.04
Basic weighted average common shares 38,007 38,092 38,059 38,194
Diluted weighted average common shares 38,517 38,784 38,618 38,898


Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In thousands)August 31, 2024August 31, 2023
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$422,979 $425,444
Investments 69,619 32,210
Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $14,581 at August 31, 2024 and $7,769 at August 31, 2023 228,054 237,665
Prepaid taxes 56,994 24,206
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 60,092 50,610
Total current assets 837,738 770,135
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net 82,513 86,107
Goodwill 1,011,129 1,004,736
Intangible assets, net 1,844,141 1,859,202
Deferred taxes 61,337 27,229
Lease right-of-use assets, net 130,494 141,837
Other assets 89,578 73,676
TOTAL ASSETS$4,056,930 $3,962,922
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses$178,250 $121,816
Current debt 124,842
Current lease liabilities 31,073 28,839
Accrued compensation 93,279 112,892
Deferred revenues 159,761 152,430
Current taxes payable 42,281 31,009
Dividends payable 39,470 37,265
Total current liabilities 668,956 484,251
Long-term debt 1,241,131 1,612,700
Deferred taxes 8,452 6,737
Deferred revenues, non-current 1,344 3,734
Taxes payable 40,452 30,344
Long-term lease liabilities 177,521 198,382
Other liabilities 6,614 6,844
TOTAL LIABILITIES$2,144,470 $2,342,992
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY$1,912,460 $1,619,930
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY$4,056,930 $3,962,922


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
Twelve Months Ended
August 31,August 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income$537,126 $468,173
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 125,187 105,384
Amortization of lease right-of-use assets 30,407 32,344
Stock-based compensation expense 63,501 62,038
Deferred income taxes (32,020) (31,119)
Asset impairments 4,677 25,946
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions
Accounts receivable, net of reserves 2,195 (40,103)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 55,347 8,393
Accrued compensation (20,213) (3,431)
Deferred revenues 4,939 (3,387)
Taxes payable, net of prepaid taxes (11,448) 41,396
Lease liabilities, net (39,320) (39,704)
Other, net (20,040) 19,643
Net cash provided by operating activities 700,338 645,573
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property, equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized internal-use software (85,681) (60,786)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired (23,593)
Purchases of investments (58,636) (11,014)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (144,317) (95,393)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayments of debt (250,000) (375,000)
Dividend payments (150,667) (138,601)
Proceeds from employee stock plans 91,711 72,006
Repurchases of common stock (235,235) (176,720)
Other financing activities (16,659) (13,709)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (560,850) (632,024)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 2,364 4,015
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (2,465) (77,829)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 425,444 503,273
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$422,979 $425,444

Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP Results to Adjusted Financial Measures

Financial measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including revenues, operating income and margin, net income, diluted EPS and cash provided by operating activities, have been adjusted below. FactSet uses these adjusted financial measures both in presenting its results to stockholders and the investment community and in its internal evaluation and management of the business. The Company believes that these adjusted financial measures and the information they provide are useful to investors because they permit investors to view the Company’s performance using the same tools that management uses to gauge progress in achieving its goals. Adjusted measures may also facilitate comparisons to FactSet’s historical performance.

Revenues

Organic revenues exclude the current year impact of revenues from acquisitions and dispositions completed within the past twelve months and the current year impact from changes in foreign currency. The table below provides a reconciliation of revenues to organic revenues:

(Unaudited)Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
August 31,August 31, August 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 Change 2024 2023 Change
Revenues$562,187 $535,797 4.9% $2,203,056 $2,085,508 5.6%
Acquisition revenues 16 (414)
Currency impact 578 1,094
Organic revenues$562,781 $535,797 5.0% $2,203,736 $2,085,508 5.7%

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The table below provides a reconciliation of operating income, operating margin, net income and diluted EPS to adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted EPS.

Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
August 31,August 31, August 31,August 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) 2024 2023 % Change 2024 2023 % Change
Operating income$127,858 $116,103 10.1% $701,299 $629,207 11.5%
Intangible asset amortization 16,691 18,131 67,383 71,503
Massachusetts sales tax dispute 54,048 6,239 54,048 6,239
Restructuring / severance (1,099) 18,128 5,596 19,879
Asset impairment(1) 3,443 20,327 3,443 20,327
Business acquisition / integration costs(2) 461 206 884 7,033
Adjusted operating income$201,402 $179,134 12.4% $832,653 $754,188 10.4%
Operating margin 22.7% 21.7% 31.8% 30.2%
Adjusted operating margin(3) 35.8% 33.4% 37.8% 36.2%
Net income$89,496 $65,119 37.4% $537,126 $468,173 14.7%
Intangible asset amortization 12,390 14,496 49,529 59,422
Massachusetts sales tax dispute 40,121 4,988 39,727 5,185
Restructuring / severance (816) 14,493 4,113 16,520
Asset impairment(1) 2,556 16,251 2,531 16,893
Business acquisition / integration costs(2) 342 165 650 5,845
Income tax items 1,713 1,397 (2,316)
Adjusted net income(4)$144,089 $117,225 22.9% $635,073 $569,722 11.5%
Net income 89,496 65,119 37.4% 537,126 468,173 14.7%
Interest expense 15,547 16,691 65,778 66,319
Income taxes 27,634 42,190 114,377 115,781
Depreciation and amortization expense 34,032 26,703 125,187 105,384
EBITDA$166,709 $150,703 10.6% $842,468 $755,657 11.5%
Non-recurring non-cash expenses(5) 3,785 20,504 $5,070 $20,963
Adjusted EBITDA$170,494 $171,207 (0.4)% $847,538 $776,620 9.1%
Diluted EPS$2.32 $1.68 38.1% $13.91 $12.04 15.5%
Intangible asset amortization 0.32 0.38 1.27 1.53
Massachusetts sales tax dispute 1.04 0.13 1.03 0.13
Restructuring / severance (0.02) 0.37 0.11 0.43
Asset impairment(1) 0.07 0.42 0.07 0.43
Business acquisition / integration costs(2) 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.15
Income tax items 0.04 0.04 (0.06)
Adjusted Diluted EPS(4)$3.74 $3.02 23.8% $16.45 $14.65 12.3%
Weighted average common shares (Diluted) 38,517 38,784 38,618 38,898

(1) The asset impairment primarily relates to impairment charges of lease right-of-use assets and property, equipment and leasehold improvements associated with vacating certain leased office space.
(2) Fiscal 2024 related to certain business acquisition costs and fiscal 2023 related to integration costs from the CGS acquisition.
(3) Adjusted operating margin is calculated as Adjusted operating income divided by Revenues.
(4) For purposes of calculating Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted EPS, all adjustments for the three months ended August 31, 2024 and August 31, 2023 were taxed at an adjusted tax rate of 25.8% and 20.1%, respectively. For the twelve months ended August 31, 2024 and August 31, 2023, all adjustments were taxed at an adjusted tax rate of 26.5% and 16.9%, respectively.
(5) Primarily related to asset impairments.

Business Outlook Operating Margin, Net Income and Diluted EPS

(Unaudited)
Figures may not foot due to roundingAnnual Fiscal 2025 Guidance
(In millions, except per share data)Low end of rangeHigh end of range
Revenues$2,285 $2,305
Operating income$765 $749
Operating margin 33.5% 32.5%
Intangible asset amortization 80 81
Adjusted operating income$845 $830
Adjusted operating margin (a) 37.0% 36.0%
Net income$598 $577
Intangible asset amortization 66 66
Discrete tax items (4) (3)
Adjusted net income$660 $640
Diluted earnings per common share$15.70 $15.10
Intangible asset amortization 1.73 1.73
Discrete tax items (0.03) (0.03)
Adjusted diluted earnings per common share$17.40 $16.80

(a) Adjusted operating margin is calculated as Adjusted operating income divided by Revenues.

Free Cash Flow

(Unaudited)Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
August 31, August 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 Change 2024 2023 Change
Net Cash Provided for Operating Activities$163,161 $175,911 $700,338 $645,573
Less: purchases of property, equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized internal-use software (25,959) (19,606) (85,681) (60,786)
Free Cash Flow$137,202 $156,305 (12.2)% $614,657 $584,787 5.1%

Supplementary Schedules of Historical ASV by Client Type

The following table presents the percentages and growth rates of organic ASV by client type, excluding the impact of currency movements, and may be useful to facilitate historical comparisons. Organic ASV excludes acquisitions and dispositions completed within the last twelve months and the effects of foreign currency movements.

The numbers below do not include professional services or issuer fees.

Q4'24Q3'24Q2'24Q1'24Q4'23Q3'23Q2'23Q1'23
% of ASV from buy-side clients82.0%82.3%82.0%82.0%81.8%82.1%82.8%82.8%
% of ASV from sell-side clients18.0%17.7%18.0%18.0%18.2%17.9%17.2%17.2%
ASV Growth rate from buy-side clients4.9%5.3%5.6%7.2%6.9%7.3%8.1%8.0%
ASV Growth rate from sell-side clients3.8%3.7%5.5%7.6%9.3%12.3%15.8%14.4%

The following table presents the calculation of organic ASV plus professional services.

(Details may not sum to total due to rounding)

(In millions)As of August 31, 2024
As reported ASV plus Professional Services (a)$2,276.0
Currency impact (b) (3.2)
Organic ASV plus Professional Services$2,272.8
Organic ASV plus Professional Services growth rate 4.8%

(a) Includes $18.3 million in professional services as of August 31, 2024.
(b) The impact of foreign currency movements.


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