FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) provides up to the minute financial data for the global investment community. Data drives investment decisions, and FactSet controls the flow of data. Reporting 3Q results on 17 June, FactSet posted a 22% gain in revenues, 22% gain in net income, and 20% increase in diluted EPS, beating estimates by $0.02 per share. Despite taking a $2.6 million hit with the loss of Bear Stearns as a client, FactSet added another 500 subscribers to its financial information data sets. Existing subscribers increased their data packages by 20% in average subscriber value. FactSet shows strong revenue growth in both domestic markets, up 18% to $102 million, as well as international markets, revenues up 30% to $45.7 million.

FactSet is all set to complete its purchase of Thomson Fundamentals database in July 2008. This database contains historical financial information back to 1980. Purchase price falls in the $67-80 million range. FactSet senior management estimates this historical information has a market value of approximately $100 million. Historical financial information will be available for purchase through the same distribution channels FactSet presently uses to distribute current financial data to its present global investment clients. FactSet anticipates revenues from this purchase will begin to accrue to the company in early 2010. Final regulatory approval for the purchase by the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice is due any day.

The stock currently trades around $65 and change. Patient investors will realize sizeable gains, but not until well into 2010.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) provides economic and financial information on tens of thousands of companies worldwide. The firm offers data from hundreds of databases, focusing on such areas as broker research, financial summaries and newswires. The company also provides software for use in downloading, manipulating and presenting financial data for investment analysis. Clients include investment managers, bankers, lawyers and corporations at all levels. The firm employs over 1,000 people in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Reuters Group (NASDAQ: RTRSY) is a major competitor.

FactSet pleased investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q2 EPS of 62 cents and revenues of $140.2 million. Analysts had been looking for 60 cents and $139.6 million. Management also predicted Q3 revenues of $145-$149 million, versus Street consensus of $143.58 million.

When businesses need high volumes of precise financial information, they often turn to a specialist headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) provides economic and financial information on tens of thousands of companies worldwide. The firm offers data from hundreds of databases, focusing on such areas as broker research, financial summaries and newswires. The company also provides software for use in downloading, manipulating and presenting financial data for investment analysis. Clients include investment managers, bankers, lawyers and corporations at all levels. The firm employs over 1,000 people in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

FactSet pleased investors earlier in the week, when it reported fiscal Q3 EPS of $0.52 (ex-items) and revenues of $121.1 million. Analysts had been looking for $0.51 and $120.4 million. Management also predicted Q4 revenues of $126-$130 million, versus Street consensus of $125.11 million. Friedman Billings subsequently reiterated its "outperform" recommendation and boosted its price target to $80.

Effective business decisions always require precise data and frequently require lots of it. When the data needed are financial in nature, there is a firm in Norwalk, Connecticut that has you covered on both precision and volume.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS) provides financial and economic information on tens of thousands of companies worldwide. The firm offers data from hundreds of databases, focusing on such areas as broker research, financial summaries and newswires. The company also provides software for use in downloading, manipulating and presenting financial data for analysis. Clients include investment managers, bankers, lawyers and corporations. The firm employs over 1,000 people in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

FactSet pleased investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q2 EPS of 49 cents (ex-items) and revenues of $116.3 million. Analysts had been looking for 48 cents and $113.9 million. Management also predicted Q3 revenues of $118-$121 million, versus Street consensus of $117.86 million. The Board of Directors approved doubling the quarterly cash dividend and declared an expansion of the existing share repurchase program by an additional $100 million. The news kept the issue cycling through a positive five-week trading channel. The price is currently consolidating near the base of that channel, where oversold Momentum, CCI, Stochastic and MACD technical parameters suggest the potential for a rise back toward the top. The approximate correspondence of the stock's 50-day moving average to the base of the channel backs the rebound notion.

Brokers recommend FDS with two "strong buys", two "buys" and four "holds". Analysts expect a nineteen percent average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The FDS Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (36.67), Operating Margin (32.02%), Net Profit Margin (22.08%), Return on Assets (21.45%), Return on Investment (25.36%) and Return on Equity (26.74%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutional investors hold about 80 percent of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 600 SmallCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $41.20 and $68.13. A stop-loss of $55.00 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.