Msci Inc

MSCI provides the financial indexes that passive funds benchmark against—the MSCI Emerging Markets and MSCI EAFE indexes alone underpin trillions of dollars in ETFs, mutual funds, and institutional mandates. Every time those funds grow in AUM, MSCI earns a percentage-based licensing fee. Beyond indexes, it sells analytics software, real estate data (through its IPD and RCA businesses), and ESG ratings used by institutional investors for portfolio construction and regulatory compliance—all sold on multi-year subscription contracts.

MSCI has one of the most defensible business models in financial services: its indexes are deeply embedded in fund structures that are expensive to change, its analytics products have high switching costs, and its AUM-based revenue grows passively as global equity markets appreciate. Subscription and recurring revenue represent the vast majority of total sales. The stock typically trades at a substantial premium to the market, reflecting consistently high margins, predictable growth, and the near-impossibility of replicating its index ecosystem.

S&P Global—specifically its S&P Dow Jones Indices division—is the most direct competitor for index licensing revenue, with the S&P 500 being the world's most widely referenced equity index. FTSE Russell, owned by London Stock Exchange Group, is the third major global index provider and competes for emerging market and factor index mandates. Bloomberg Indices competes primarily in fixed income. Morningstar competes in fund ratings, analytics, and sustainability data used alongside MSCI's ESG scores.

MSCI pays a regular quarterly dividend that has grown substantially over the years, funded by its highly cash-generative subscription model. The company has also been an aggressive buyer of its own shares, reflecting confidence in its business quality and the relative attractiveness of buybacks alongside dividends. The dividend per share has more than tripled over the past several years, demonstrating the conversion of high recurring margins into meaningful shareholder returns.

MSCI is currently trading at $530.99, down 1.24% in today's session. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between a low of $486.74 and a high of $626.28. The current price represents 32% of its 52-week range, which helps investors gauge where the stock sits relative to its recent trading history.

Among 25 analysts covering MSCI, the consensus rating is Strong Buy — 20 rate it a buy, 4 hold, and 1 sell. The average price target sits at $156.98, implying 70% downside from the current price. Keep in mind that analyst targets reflect 12-month expectations and can shift quickly after earnings reports or major company events.

Msci Inc generated $3.01B in revenue during fiscal year 2026, with $1.16B reaching the bottom line as net income. The net profit margin of 38.4% is strong by most industry standards.

MSCI trades at a P/E ratio of 32.96 on trailing earnings of $15.69 per share. That's above the S&P 500 historical average, suggesting the market expects above-average earnings growth ahead. Comparing this multiple against Financial Services sector peers gives better context than the broad market alone, since P/E norms vary significantly across industries.

Performance varies across timeframes, reflecting shifting market conditions. Returns by timeframe: -9.23% (3M), -6.66% (6M), -6.76% (1Y), -6.06% (YTD). Comparing these figures against the S&P 500 and sector benchmarks helps determine whether MSCI is outperforming or lagging the broader market.