Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat, thanks for all your help in these volatile times! What do you think of FactSet Research as a stock to buy?

Article Excerpt

A: FactSet Research Systems Inc., $439.92, symbol FDS on New York (Shares outstanding: 37.8 million; Market cap: $16.4 billion; www.factset.com), is a leading provider of financial data and portfolio analytics to investment firms worldwide. On December 27, 2021, FactSet announced that it would acquire CUSIP Global Services for $1.93 billion in cash. S&P Global (symbol SPGI on New York) is selling the business to get its merger with IHS Markit Ltd. (symbol INFO on New York) approved by regulators. CUSIP stands for Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures. All stocks and bonds in the U.S. and Canada receive their own unique CUSIP identification number of nine letters and numbers to distinguish one publicly traded stock from another when settling trades. In addition, foreign securities are assigned a CINS number, which stands for CUSIP International Numbering System. CUSIP Global Services manages the system in partnership with the American Bankers Association. It generates approximately $175 million in annual revenue. Over the past five years, FactSet’s total…