greeksoup/ stock research

MSCI Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 12.2% to $867.0 million: The $94.3 million increase came from $50.6 million in higher recurring subscription revenues and $49.0 million in higher asset-based fees, partly offset by $5.3 million lower non-recurring revenues. Source
  • Index revenue rose 17.5% to $511.0 million: Index adjusted EBITDA rose 20.5% to $397.8 million, an adjusted EBITDA margin of 77.8% against 75.9%; organic Index revenue growth was 17.5%. Source
  • Best hedge fund and asset owner quarters: Management said recurring net-new sales with hedge funds were its best quarter ever, and with asset owners its best second quarter, across key client segments and geographies. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA expenses rose 10.1%: Total adjusted EBITDA expenses were $328.5 million; compensation and benefits also rose on incentive, salary and stock-based compensation accruals. Source
  • Operating and adjusted EBITDA expense raised: Full-year guidance was raised to $1,535 to $1,575 million for operating expense and $1,340 to $1,370 million for adjusted EBITDA expense, reflecting acquisitions and higher incentive accruals. Source
  • First Street closing expected third quarter: Guidance assumes the First Street acquisition closes in the third quarter of 2026; the deal carries a $120.0 million cash payment at closing plus contingent payments. Source
  • 2026 launches already twice 2024 total: Management said the company has launched twice as many products in 2026 as in all of 2024, and that benefits are just starting to appear. Source

“In the second quarter MSCI delivered strong financial results along with a record asset-based-fee run rate and accelerated run-rate growth in Index and Private Capital Solutions.”

Henry A. Fernandez, Chairman and CEO of MSCI

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating expense SourceFull-Year 2026$1,535 to $1,575 millionRaised from $1,490 to $1,530 million
Adjusted EBITDA expense SourceFull-Year 2026$1,340 to $1,370 millionRaised from $1,305 to $1,335 million
Interest expense (including amortization of financing fees) SourceFull-Year 2026$282 to $286 millionRaised from $274 to $280 million
Depreciation and amortization expense SourceFull-Year 2026$195 to $205 millionRaised from $190 to $200 million
Effective tax rate SourceFull-Year 202618.0% to 20.0%Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFull-Year 2026$160 to $170 millionKept
Net cash provided by operating activities SourceFull-Year 2026$1,655 to $1,705 millionRaised from $1,640 to $1,690 million
Free cash flow SourceFull-Year 2026$1,485 to $1,545 millionRaised from $1,470 to $1,530 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year guidance raised for operating expense, adjusted EBITDA expense, interest expense, D&A, operating cash flow and free cash flow, citing acquisitions and AUM-driven momentum. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capex and effective tax rate guidance were kept at $160 to $170 million and 18.0% to 20.0%. Source
  • New: Agreement signed to acquire First Street Technology, Inc., a provider of physics-based physical climate risk data and analytics. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 12.2% to $867.0 million: The $94.3 million increase came from $50.6 million in higher recurring subscription revenues and $49.0 million in higher asset-based fees, partly offset by $5.3 million lower non-recurring revenues. Source
  • Earnings per share and net income rose: Diluted EPS was $4.69, up 19.6%, and adjusted EPS $4.94, up 18.5%; net income was $342.0 million, up 12.6%. Source
  • Six-month revenue rose 13.1%: Six-month operating revenues were $1,717.8 million, up 13.1%; six-month net income was $748.0 million, up 26.3%, and diluted EPS $10.23. Source

Segments and regions

  • Index revenue rose 17.5% to $511.0 million: Index adjusted EBITDA rose 20.5% to $397.8 million, an adjusted EBITDA margin of 77.8% against 75.9%; organic Index revenue growth was 17.5%. Source
  • Index asset-based fees rose 26.6%: Asset-based fees rose $49.0 million to $233.1 million; Run Rate rose $190.9 million on higher AUM in ETFs and non-ETF index funds. Source
  • Analytics revenue rose 6.6%, margin fell: Analytics adjusted EBITDA fell 5.0% to $88.0 million; margin was 46.5% against 52.1%, with adjusted EBITDA expenses up 19.2%. Source
  • Private Assets adjusted EBITDA fell 14.1%: Private Assets revenue rose 4.9% to $74.7 million, while adjusted EBITDA expenses rose 12.3% to $57.6 million, lowering margin to 22.9%. Source
  • Sustainability and Climate revenue rose 3.4%: Adjusted EBITDA rose 12.3% to $35.6 million; organic revenue growth was 3.0%, and Run Rate rose 1.9% to $376.8 million. Source

“We are building momentum heading into the back half of 2026, with a strong pipeline of opportunities and exciting AI-fueled innovation.”

Henry A. Fernandez, Chairman and CEO of MSCI

Demand, sales and retention

  • Best hedge fund and asset owner quarters: Management said recurring net-new sales with hedge funds were its best quarter ever, and with asset owners its best second quarter, across key client segments and geographies. Source
  • Retention Rate rose to 95.3%: Subscription cancellations fell to $29.1 million from $31.4 million; they fell in Index and All Other - Private Assets and rose in Sustainability and Climate. Source
  • Index net-new sales rose 40.5%: Index net-new recurring subscription sales were $28.1 million against $20.0 million, and Index total net sales rose 14.7% to $43.0 million. Source
  • Analytics new sales fell 14.3%: Analytics new recurring subscription sales were $22.1 million against $25.8 million, and Analytics total gross sales fell 20.6% to $25.1 million. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Adjusted EBITDA expenses rose 10.1%: Total adjusted EBITDA expenses were $328.5 million; compensation and benefits also rose on incentive, salary and stock-based compensation accruals. Source
  • Operating income rose 14.6%: Operating income was $487.5 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 62.1% against 61.4%; operating margin was 56.2% against 55.0%. Source
  • Other expense rose 47.8% on debt: Other expense (income), net was $70.2 million; interest expense was $71.0 million against $46.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate fell to 18.0%: The rate was 18.0% against 19.6%, with management citing US tax law changes and the jurisdictional mix of earnings. Source

“AI will allow us to move even faster in building new products, enhancing our existing products, and expanding our capabilities for the world’s largest financial institutions,”

Henry A. Fernandez, Chairman and CEO of MSCI

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Free cash flow rose 8.2% to $326.4 million: Net cash provided by operating activities rose 10.3% to $370.8 million; capex was $44.4 million, including capitalized software development costs. Source
  • Repurchases of $145.0 million in quarter: Shares were repurchased at an average $557.34; about $1.6 billion remains available under the authorization as of July 20, 2026. Source
  • Principal debt stood at $6.4 billion: Debt to adjusted EBITDA was 3.1x and debt to net income 4.7x on trailing twelve-month figures; cash and cash equivalents were $356.4 million. Source
  • Dividends paid totaled $149.2 million: A $2.05 per share cash dividend was declared on July 20, 2026 for third quarter 2026. Source

Guidance raised and First Street deal

  • Operating and adjusted EBITDA expense raised: Full-year guidance was raised to $1,535 to $1,575 million for operating expense and $1,340 to $1,370 million for adjusted EBITDA expense, reflecting acquisitions and higher incentive accruals. Source
  • Interest and D&A guidance raised: Interest expense guidance is $282 to $286 million, from $274 to $280 million; D&A guidance is $195 to $205 million, from $190 to $200 million. Source
  • Cash flow guidance raised; capex kept: Free cash flow guidance is $1,485 to $1,545 million from $1,470 to $1,530 million; operating cash flow guidance rose to $1,655 to $1,705 million; capex guidance was kept. Source
  • First Street closing expected third quarter: Guidance assumes the First Street acquisition closes in the third quarter of 2026; the deal carries a $120.0 million cash payment at closing plus contingent payments. Source

Strategy and AI-fueled innovation

  • 2026 launches already twice 2024 total: Management said the company has launched twice as many products in 2026 as in all of 2024, and that benefits are just starting to appear. Source
  • Private Capital Solutions drove Private Assets run rate: All Other - Private Assets Run Rate was $302.6 million, up 8.0%; the increase was driven by Total Plan Manager, Private Capital Transparency Data and Private Capital Intel. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 July 2026

  • First Street closing expected Q3 2026: Management said the First Street transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Source
  • Dividend payment on August 28: The $2.05 per share third-quarter dividend is payable August 28, 2026, to holders of record at the close of trading on August 14, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Period-end AUM in ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes ($ billions) Source2,818
Total Run Rate ($ millions) Source3,479.7
Index Run Rate Source$2.0 billion
Total Retention Rate (%) Source95.3
Period-end basis point fee, ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes Source2.28

Risks management discussed

  • External: Full-year guidance rests on assumptions about macroeconomic factors and the capital markets, which may differ from actual results. Source
  • Financial: Other expense rose on higher interest expense from higher debt levels, which also feeds into the full-year interest expense guidance. Source
  • Operational: Non-compensation cost growth came from information technology, market data, professional fees and occupancy, lifting adjusted EBITDA expenses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said AUM in products linked to MSCI indexes exceeded the flat market assumption in the prior-quarter guidance, which drove the topline momentum. Source
  • Not stated: Debt to adjusted EBITDA was 3.1x at June 30, 2026, within the stated target range of 3.0x to 3.5x. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.