Reading MSCI? Track it free: the weekly brief, plus an alert if the thesis breaks. No credit card.
Track MSCI free→Reading MSCI? Track it free: the weekly brief, plus an alert if the thesis breaks. No credit card.
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NYSEFinancialsFinancial Data & Stock ExchangesSnapshot 2026-06-16
Recent financial performance is holding in the top half of its industry — the reason to own it looks intact.
Recent financial performance is neutral, and earnings quality is mixed. Management's recent track record has been unsteady, with frequent disruptive corporate changes, while the sector backdrop is a headwind. Compared with sector peers, MSCI is typical, but its valuation is expensive, as peer multiples imply a price about 128% below where it trades; the read is rich, as it trades above peer multiples, and the longer horizon does not make that back through growth. Key factors to watch include guidance changes and sector trends, as these could significantly impact MSCI's outlook. This read is provisional.
Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
A consensus fair price across 6 valuation methods, at three horizons. Current price $608.53. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
No-growth: today's peer multiple on trailing earnings. The headline read.
Embeds projected growth. Leans optimistic by design. Upside context.
We take the 12-month fair value above and grade our own number — how the market prices this name versus what we'd justify, and where the two diverge.
At $611 the market pays 34× p/e — above the 14× p/e peer median but in line with its own 39× history. That premium reflects a durable franchise our peer-anchored $270 fair value understates; treat the 'expensive vs peers' read with low confidence. Not investment advice.
One valuation read at a 12-month horizon, plus how price compares to peers and the company's own history.
The market is pricing in roughly 126% near-term growth, well above our forecast of about 23%. This describes what's priced in, not a forecast of the move.
Flags: expensive valuation, weak execution quality, a turbulent sector regime (Heating).
For similar setups historically (n=889): about 49% saw a 20%+ drawdown, and roughly 85% of those did not recover within the year. These are historical base rates for the cohort, not a forecast of this stock.
Each factor is a parallel diagnostic with a clear read of what it shows and how names like it have historically fared. Never aggregated into a single score.
Operating income rose in 2 of the last 3 quarter-over-quarter moves. Historically, Financials names rated neutral grew net income 52% of the time over the next year (vs 61% for the rest of the cohort, n=4936).
Over the trailing year it converted 1.21x of net income into operating cash flow. Historically, Financials names rated neutral grew net income 58% of the time over the next year (vs 55% for the rest of the cohort, n=4725).
Most sensitive to the broad stock market.
Not enough signal to read sensitivity to the US dollar, real (inflation-adjusted) rates, Fed net liquidity, long-term interest rates.
The next print and the backdrop around it (sector regime and the AI cycle). Context for the path, not a forecast of returns.
EPS estimate $4.85 → $4.86 (+0.3% / 30d). 1 raised, 0 cut, 13 covering analysts.
1 upgrade, 0 downgrades / 30d, 0 maintained. 88% of analysts rate Buy.
1 PT revisions / 30d. Avg target 18.9% above current price.
How management runs the business: capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
What a normal day, a bad day, and the worst of the last year would mean for a $10,000 position.
On a typical day, $10k can swing ±$106.
How much price usually moves either way.
On a bad day, this stock has moved -$250.
A rough but not unusual down day (about the 95th percentile).
In the worst 12 months, $10k could have lost $1,807.
Deepest peak-to-trough drop in the last year.
Past results, not a forecast. Not investment advice.
The most important moves since the prior daily snapshot.
No material changes since the prior snapshot.
as of 2026-06-16
Specific, dated things to watch for, each with what would confirm it and what would prove it wrong.
Why it matters: A slowdown in subscription revenue growth may show less demand for MSCI's services.
Confirms:Q2 subscription revenue growth was below 8%.
Disproves:Q2 subscription revenue growth was above 8%.
Recent news graded against this company's own objectives — whether it reinforces or challenges the thesis, and how confirmed it is.
MSCI's decision impacts investor sentiment and market positioning.
Conditional scenarios: if X happens, the view would shift in this direction. These are not predictions.
Recent SEC 8-K filings ranked by likely impact, confidence, and recency.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On April 21, 2026 , MSCI Inc. (the “Registrant”) released financial information with respect to its first quarter ended March 31, 2026. A copy of the press release containing this information is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Report”). The Registrant’s press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. Definitions of each non-GAAP financial measure, additional information about why management believes…
Whether the overall read has been drifting up or down lately, and how it's changed since last week.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
Long-thesis check; widest uncertainty.
Looks more expensive than peers.
Cheaper than its own typical valuation.
Trailing four: 2025-Q1, 2025-Q2, 2025-Q3, 2026-Q1
A side-by-side read on sector standing, valuation, and risk versus Financial Exchanges & Data.
| Stock | Sector standing | Valuation | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
MSCI MSCI Inc. | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 66 of 100 | expensive | moderate |
SPGI S&P Global | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 65 of 100 | expensive | moderate |
CME CME Group | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 44 of 100 | expensive | moderate |
ICE Intercontinental Exchange | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 49 of 100 | full | moderate |
MCO Moody's Corporation | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 43 of 100 | expensive | moderate |
17 material management or governance events in the past 24 months, led by executive changes. Historically, Financials names rated volatile grew net income 54% of the time over the next year (vs 57% for the rest of the cohort, n=3774).
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-16.
via XLF
Tailwind = sector leading the S&P 500; headwind = trailing. Both can be constructive. Historically, headwind regimes have averaged stronger forward returns than tailwind.
Context label only: describes the market state (e.g. real bear vs narrative panic, healthy uptrend vs late-stage froth). It is not a per-ticker buy/sell signal and does not predict factor performance.
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-16.
A guidance track record builds as the company issues and delivers on guidance.
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
Focus on increasing free cash flow through operational efficiencies and strategic initiatives.
Maintain disciplined capital expenditure management within the guided range.
Ensure the effective tax rate remains within the guided range for 2026.
Why it matters: Earnings results will show if MSCI meets its financial goals. This is key for investors.
Confirms one read:Earnings per share (EPS) beats analyst expectations by more than 5%.
Confirms the other:EPS falls short of analyst expectations by more than 5%.
Why it matters: A low tax rate can increase net income and overall profit.
Confirms:Effective tax rate reported below 4% for Q2.
Disproves:Effective tax rate reported above 4% for Q2.
Why it matters: Growth in asset-based fees shows strong performance in funds linked to MSCI indexes.
Confirms:Asset-based fees Run Rate increases by more than $175 million in Q2.
Disproves:Asset-based fees Run Rate increases by less than $175 million in Q2.
Why it matters: This growth rate is key to MSCI's revenue health. A drop signals potential issues.
Confirms:Organic recurring subscription Run Rate growth is below 8%.
Disproves:Organic recurring subscription Run Rate growth is above 8%.
Why it matters: Good management of spending can boost profits and help the company grow.
Confirms one read:Spending drops by over 15% from last year.
Confirms the other:Spending rises by over 15% from last year.
Why it matters: Higher expenses can hurt profits. It is important to control expenses for better margins.
Confirms:Operating costs are over $1,530 million for 2026.
Disproves:Operating expenses are at or below $1,490 million for 2026.
Why it matters: If revenue growth drops, it could signal a slowdown in the financial sector.
Confirms:Revenue growth in the financial sector falls below its median of 15%.
Disproves:Revenue growth remains above its median of 15%.
Why it matters: Higher debt levels could signal financial strain. This ratio is a key measure of leverage.
Confirms:Total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio exceeds 3.5x.
Disproves:Total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio remains at or below 3.2x.
Why it matters: Better free cash flow shows stronger financial health and smarter spending.
Confirms:Free cash flow increases by more than 10% year over year.
Disproves:Free cash flow decreases or remains flat year over year.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers On March 27, 2026, C. Jack Read informed MSCI Inc. (the “Company”) of his intention to resign from his position as Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer to pursue another opportunity. He will continue to serve in his existing role and as the Company’s principal accounting officer until August 9, 2026. Mr. Read’s decision to resign was not t…
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. On January 27, 2026, MSCI Inc. and its subsidiary MSCI Limited (together, “MSCI”) and BlackRock Fund Advisors (together with certain of its affiliates, the “Licensee”) entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Master Index License Agreement for Exchange Traded Funds, dated October 1, 2022, and Schedule No. 1 thereto (together, the “Existing ETF Agreements”). The Amendment extends the term of the Existing ETF Agreements until March 31, 2035…
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On January 28, 2026, MSCI Inc. (the “Registrant”) released financial information with respect to its fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2025. A copy of the press release containing this information is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Report”). The Registrant’s press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. Definitions of each non-GAAP financial measure, additional information about why m…
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On November 12, 2025, Mr. C.D. Baer Pettit notified MSCI Inc. (the “Company”) of his decision to retire from the Company. Accordingly, and in connection with his planned retirement and in order to facilitate a smooth and orderly transition of his responsibilities, Mr. Pettit ceased serving in his position as Chief Operating Officer of the Company,…