FactSet

FactSet Research Systems is a financial data and software company that consolidates market data, company information, and analytics into a single platform for financial professionals. Its tools are used by investment managers, hedge funds, investment bankers, and other financial institutions to support research, portfolio analysis, and reporting.

What FactSet does

• Aggregates global market data and company information (public and private).
• Provides market analytics, screening tools, financial content, and customizable data feeds.
• Offers an integrated, customizable workstation and APIs to convert raw financial data into actionable analysis and reports.

How it works

FactSet sources data from multiple providers and combines it on its platform. This multi-source approach:
– Gives users consolidated access to a wide range of datasets.
– Helps keep costs competitive by creating pricing pressure among suppliers.
– Enables customization so firms can tailor analytics and workflows to their needs.

Key capabilities include screening and modeling, portfolio analytics, financial statement data, and bespoke datasets delivered through desktop software or APIs.

Company structure and leadership

• Founded: 1978 by Howard Wille and Charles Snyder.
• Headquarters: Connecticut, U.S., with offices worldwide.
• Regional business units: United States, Europe, and Asia–Pacific (each services professionals within its region; the U.S. unit also serves domestic financial institutions).
• Leadership: Philip Snow became CEO in 2015 after joining FactSet in 1996.
• Governance: Independent audit and board committees and internal reporting channels for ethical and accounting concerns.

Quick facts and scale

• Platform access includes hundreds of independent data providers (FactSet allows access to 317 independent providers).
• Users: Services more than 200,000 users across over 8,000 organizations (as of 2023).
• Global footprint: 37 offices in 20 countries.
• Client retention: Reported around 95% with decades of revenue growth.

Competitors

Primary competitors include Bloomberg, S&P Global, and Morningstar.

Why firms choose FactSet

• Consolidated access to diverse datasets reduces the need to maintain multiple vendor relationships.
• Customizable analytics and workflows for different investment and banking use cases.
• Broad global coverage and longstanding industry adoption support integration into institutional processes.

Bottom line

FactSet is a comprehensive financial data and analytics platform designed for professionals who need integrated research, portfolio analytics, and customizable data solutions sourced from many providers in a single environment.