Stock fact sheet · data as of
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Financial Services · Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges · United States · Quality / Blue-Chip
Is FDS undervalued?
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) closed at 301.83 on 16 Oct 2026, close to the GLS average fair value of 280.79 (7.5% above fair value). 4 of the 9 models that produced a number sit above the price, 5 below - the market and our models roughly agree. With little margin of safety either way, the case for or against the stock rests on the quality numbers and the option premium rather than on price.
There is a wide gap between DDM (66.51) and 10 Cap (484.78). When the models are this far apart the "fair value" is really a range, and the margin of safety above should be read with that range in mind.
The nightly engine files FDS under Quality / Blue-Chip: a high moat score and a high health score together.
Nine valuation models for FDS
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 370.11 | +23% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 138.46 | -54% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 472.62 | +57% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 177.64 | -41% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 164.96 | -45% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 484.78 | +61% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 484.63 | +61% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | 66.51 | -78% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 167.43 | -45% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -41.79 | -114% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 256.75 | -15% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
FactSet Research Systems Inc. scores 7 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score, the nine yes/no tests of profitability, leverage and efficiency on the latest annual accounts - a strong reading that passes the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule with room to spare. A GLS Moat score of 8.7/10 puts FDS among the more durable businesses we track: over ten years the metrics the score watches (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, ROIC) have mostly moved the right way, year after year.
Returns on capital are high - ROIC 15.1%, ROE 26.6%, ROA 12.9% - with debt at 0.77 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 6.6%.
The dividend yield is 1.50% with a payout ratio of 31% - a small yield that leaves most of the earnings in the business. Revenue comes mainly from Americas 65%, EMEA 24%, Asia-Pacific 10% (quarter Q3 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 5/10 and Congressional trading 1/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 7 / 9 | ROIC | 15.1% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 8.7 / 10 | ROE | 26.6% |
| Debt / equity | 0.77 | ROA | 12.9% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 6.6% | Payout ratio | 31% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 5 · 1 / 10 |
Wheel Score 75: Good
With a Wheel Score of 75 - the Good band - FactSet Research Systems Inc. clears the Sunday Scan's "70 or higher" rule. The parts: Value 9/25, Health 16/20, Moat 13/15, Premium 20/20, Stability 17/20; Value (9/25) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 45% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - inside the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for: enough premium to be worth selling, not so much that the risk is unpaid. Chain open interest is 18,994 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 725k shares a day on a market cap of $10.7B, with a beta of 0.77 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 17 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 9 / 25 | -7% margin of safety | |
| Health | 16 / 20 | Piotroski 7/9 | |
| Moat | 13 / 15 | moat 8.7/10 | |
| Premium | 20 / 20 | implied volatility 45% | |
| Stability | 17 / 20 | 725k shares/day, $10.7B cap, beta 0.77 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 17 Dec 2026, 62 days away - outside the window of a 30-45-day put sold today.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
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| MSCI MSCI Inc. | 575.09 | 388.19 | -48% | 66Good | $41.8B |
| COIN Coinbase Global, Inc. | 183.81 | 101.69 | -81% | 43Weak | $48.5B |
| NDAQ Nasdaq, Inc. | 93.50 | 56.98 | -64% | 65Good | $52.3B |
| MCO Moody's Corporation | 483.69 | 357.14 | -35% | 64Fair | $83.8B |
| ICE Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 158.41 | 146.07 | -8% | 73Good | $88.9B |
| CME CME Group Inc. | 289.46 | 216.97 | -33% | 56Fair | $104.1B |
| SPGI S&P Global Inc. | 408.57 | 302.68 | -35% | 61Fair | $120.4B |
| OTCM OTC Markets Group Inc. | 53.00 | 50.57 | -5% | 39No options | $635M |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about FDS
Is FDS undervalued right now?
Not meaningfully: at 301.83 the stock trades within a few percent of the GLS average fair value of 280.79 (7.5% above fair value, data as of 16 Oct 2026).
What is the Wheel Score of FDS and what does it mean?
FDS scores 75 out of 100 (Good). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for FDS?
280.79 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 9 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does FactSet Research Systems Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 17 Dec 2026, 62 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does FDS have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 620 listed contracts with 18,994 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 45% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.