Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC Reduces Stake in MSCI Inc.

Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC has decreased its stake in MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI) by 40.6% during the fourth quarter, as indicated in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Following the sale of 666 shares during this period, Catalyst Capital now holds 975 shares of MSCI, with an estimated value of $585,000 based on the most recent disclosures.

Institutional Investors Activity

In addition to Catalyst Capital, numerous other institutional investors have also recently changed their positions in MSCI. For instance, LRI Investments LLC increased its holdings in MSCI by a significant 120.0% in the third quarter. The firm now possesses 44 shares after adding 24 shares during this period. Similarly, True Wealth Design LLC initiated a new position with a value of $38,000 in MSCI during the third quarter. Other firms like Ashton Thomas Securities LLC and Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA also entered new positions valued at $40,000 and $41,000 respectively in the same quarter. Furthermore, Planning Capital Management Corp raised their position by 35.1% during the third quarter, ultimately owning 77 shares worth $45,000 after acquiring 20 additional shares. Notably, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 89.97% of MSCI's stock.

Analyst Opinions on MSCI

Several analysts have recently shared their perspectives on MSCI shares. Royal Bank of Canada maintained an "outperform" rating while setting a price target of $675.00. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded MSCI from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target from $617.00 to $723.00. UBS Group adjusted their price target down from $695.00 to $680.00 while maintaining a "buy" rating. Morgan Stanley also increased their target from $662.00 to $695.00, affirming an "overweight" rating. Additionally, Wolfe Research upgraded MSCI from a "peer perform" to an "outperform" rating. Currently, four analysts have issued a hold rating, while eleven analysts recommend buy ratings for MSCI. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price averaging $649.23.

Insider Transactions

In insider news, CEO Henry A. Fernandez purchased 2,900 shares on December 5 at an average price of $612.80, amounting to a total of $1,777,120.00 for the transaction. Following this purchase, the CEO controls a total of 330,379 shares in MSCI, valued at approximately $202,456,251.20. This acquisition signifies a 0.89% increase in his ownership percentage. Such trades are documented in filings with the SEC and can be viewed directly.

MSCI Stock Performance

The stock for NYSE: MSCI began trading at $572.78. The company's 50-day average is $601.53, while the 200-day average stands at $586.86. Over the past year, MSCI's shares have fluctuated between a low of $439.95 and a high of $642.45. The market capitalization is approximately $44.89 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 40.74 and a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 2.67. Additionally, the stock has a beta of 1.11.

Earnings Report and Dividend Increase

MSCI recently announced its quarterly earnings, with the latest report revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of $4.18, surpassing the anticipated $3.96 by $0.22. The company recorded a net margin of 38.83%, though showing a negative return on equity of 156.08%. In comparison to the previous year, where they reported an EPS of $3.68, there has been growth. Analysts predict that MSCI will achieve an EPS of 16.86 for the current fiscal year. Furthermore, MSCI declared a quarterly dividend which is set to be paid on February 28. Shareholders as of February 14 will receive a $1.80 dividend per share, an increase from the prior amount of $1.60, translating to an annualized dividend of $7.20 and a yield of 1.26%. Currently, the payout ratio stands at 45.52%.

Company Overview

MSCI Inc. is a major provider of decision-support tools for the investment community, offering services that assist in managing investment processes globally. The company's Index segment supplies indexes used in various investment processes such as ETFs, mutual funds, and performance benchmarking.

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