Navellier & Associates Increases Stake in MSCI Inc.

Navellier & Associates Inc. has increased its investment in MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI) by 31.0% in the last quarter of the year. As reported in their recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, the firm now owns 1,896 shares of the technology company's stock, having acquired an additional 449 shares during this period. The total value of Navellier & Associates Inc.'s holdings in MSCI amounts to approximately $1,138,000.

Investments from Other Firms

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also adjusted their positions in MSCI. For instance, LRI Investments LLC raised its holdings by 120.0% during the third quarter and currently owns 44 shares valued at $27,000, after buying an additional 24 shares. True Wealth Design LLC invested in a new stake worth about $38,000 during the same period. Similarly, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC entered a new investment in MSCI valued at approximately $40,000, while Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased new shares valued at around $41,000 in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Planning Capital Management Corp increased its holdings by 35.1% in the third quarter, now owning 77 shares valued at $45,000 after acquiring 20 additional shares. The aggregate ownership by institutional investors and hedge funds now represents approximately 89.97% of MSCI's stock.

Executive Transactions

In another development, CEO Henry A. Fernandez of MSCI purchased 2,900 shares on December 5th at an average cost of $612.80 per share, resulting in a total expenditure of $1,777,120. Following this acquisition, Fernandez holds 330,379 shares, valued at around $202,456,251.20. This transaction indicates a 0.89% increase in his holdings, as disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC. Corporate insiders of MSCI now own 3.20% of the company's stock.

Market Performance of MSCI

As of Friday, shares of MSCI (NYSE:MSCI) opened at $578.71. The company boasts a market capitalization of $44.94 billion with a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.16, and a PEG ratio of 2.61. Their beta stands at 1.11. The stock's 50-day moving average is $596.24, while the 200-day moving average is $587.52. Over the last year, MSCI's stock recorded a low of $439.95 and a high of $642.45.

MSCI recently released its quarterly earnings data on January 29th, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of $4.18, surpassing the market consensus estimate of $3.96 by $0.22. The company reported a net margin of 38.83% and a negative return on equity of 156.08%. Comparing to the previous year, the firm posted an EPS of $3.68. Analysts project MSCI will achieve an EPS of 16.86 for the current year.

Dividend Announcement

The company has also announced a quarterly dividend of $1.80, which will be distributed to shareholders on February 28th. This new dividend represents an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.60. The annualized dividend now stands at $7.20, yielding 1.24%. The ex-dividend date is set for February 14th, with a dividend payout ratio of 51.21%.

Analyst Insights

Several analysts have recently updated their ratings on MSCI shares. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating with a target price of $675.00. Barclays revised their target down from $700.00 to $675.00, also maintaining an "overweight" rating. Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock from a "neutral" rating to "buy", raising their target to $723.00 from $617.00. UBS Group adjusted their price target from $695.00 to $680.00 while keeping a "buy" rating. Wolfe Research also moved MSCI from a "peer perform" to an "outperform" rating. Currently, three analysts hold a "hold" rating while eleven recommend a "buy." The stock is generally rated as a "Moderate Buy" with an average target price of $649.23.

About MSCI Inc.

MSCI Inc., along with its subsidiaries, provides essential decision support tools and solutions for the investment community globally. Their Index segment offers a variety of indexes utilized in different aspects of the investment process, including indexed financial products like ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, and structured products, as well as performance tracking, portfolio management, and asset allocation.

Considerations for Investment

Investors considering a stake in MSCI should research the company further. Current indications suggest it has a moderate buy recommendation, yet potential investors may find alternative opportunities that analysts are highlighting as more favorable at this time.

Investments, Stock, Earnings