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MSCI Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y, Shares Fall
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Key Takeaways
MSCI's Q2 EPS rose 14.6% Y/Y to $4.17, beating estimates; revenue grew 9.1% to $772.68 million.
Recurring subscriptions and asset-based fees rose 7.9% and 12.7% Y/Y, driving MSCI's top-line growth.
MSCI's operating margin expanded 100 bps to 55%, while adjusted EBITDA margin reached 61.4%.
MSCI’s (MSCI - Free Report) second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $4.17 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.24% and increased 14.6% year over year.
MSCI's revenues rose 9.1% year over year to $772.68 million, missing the consensus estimate by 0.12%. The year-over-year growth was driven by strong growth in recurring subscription revenues and asset-based fees. Organic operating revenues grew 8.3% year over year.
Recurring subscriptions of $562.8 million increased 7.9% year over year and contributed 72.8% to revenues. Asset-based fees of $184.1 million jumped 12.7% year over year and contributed 23.8% to revenues. Non-recurring revenues of $25.8 million increased 11.4% year over year and contributed 3.3% to revenues.
At the end of the reported quarter, average assets under management were $2.024 trillion in ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes. The total retention rate was 94.4% in the reported quarter.
MSCI reported solid growth in the second quarter of 2025, with notable increases in revenues and earnings. However, despite the strong quarterly results, MSCI shares lost 0.39% in the pre-market trading on April 22.
MSCI’s Top-Line Details
In second-quarter 2025, Index revenues of $434.8 million increased 9.5% year over year. Recurring subscriptions and asset-based fees rose 8.6% and 12.7% on a year-over-year basis, respectively. Non-recurring revenues declined 10.5% year over year. Organically, Index operating revenue growth was 9.3%.
The uptick in recurring subscription revenues was driven by strong growth from market-cap-weighted Index products and ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes.
Analytics operating revenues of $177.7 million increased 7.1% year over year. Recurring subscription revenues jumped 4.7% and non-recurring revenues increased 104.9% on a year-over-year basis. Organically, Analytics’ operating revenue growth was 6.6%.
The Sustainability and Climate segment’s (previously titled "ESG and Climate") operating revenues were $88.9 million, rising 11.3% year over year. Recurring subscriptions and non-recurring revenues increased 11.6% and 1.6% on a year-over-year basis, respectively. Organically, Sustainability and Climate operating revenue growth was 7.1%.
All Other – Private Assets operating revenues, which primarily comprise the Real Assets operating segment and the Private Capital Solutions (formerly known as Burgiss), were $71.2 million, up 9.7% year over year. Organic operating revenue growth for All Other – Private Assets was 8.2%.
MSCI’s Q2 Operating Details
Adjusted EBITDA increased 10.3% year over year to $474.3 million in the reported quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin in the second quarter of 2025 was 61.4% compared with 60.7% in the second quarter of 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA expenses were $298.3 million, up 7.3% year over year, reflecting higher compensation and benefits costs due to higher headcount, as well as elevated severance costs.
Total operating expenses increased 6.8% on a year-over-year basis to $347.4 million due to higher compensation costs from a 2.5% increase in headcount.
Operating income improved 11.1% year over year to $425.2 million. The operating margin expanded 100 bps on a year-over-year basis to 55%.
MSCI’s Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Total cash and cash equivalents, as of June 30, 2025, were $347.3 million compared with $360.7 million as of March 31, 2025.
Total debt was $4.5 billion as of June 30, 2025, compared with $4.5 billion as of March 31, 2025. The total debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio (based on trailing 12-month-adjusted EBITDA) was 2.5 times, lower than management’s target of 3-3.5 times.
As of June 30, 2025, the free cash flow was $301.6 million, down 6.3% year over year from $268.9 million as of March 31, 2025.
MSCI had $1.2 billion outstanding under its share-repurchase authorization as of July 21, 2025.
The company paid out dividends worth $139.3 million in the second quarter of 2025.
MSCI Maintains 2025 Guidance
For 2025, MSCI expects total operating expenses of $1.405-$1.445 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA expenses are anticipated to be between $1.220 billion and $1.250 billion.
Interest expenses are expected to be between $182 million and $186 million.
Net cash provided by operating activities and the free cash flow are expected to be $1.52-$1.57 billion and $1.400-$1.460 billion, respectively.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
MSCI currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Acadian Asset Management (AAMI - Free Report) , AllianceBernstein (AB - Free Report) and Artisan Partners Asset Management (APAM - Free Report) are some better-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the Finance sector.
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MSCI Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y, Shares Fall
Key Takeaways
MSCI’s (MSCI - Free Report) second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $4.17 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.24% and increased 14.6% year over year.
MSCI's revenues rose 9.1% year over year to $772.68 million, missing the consensus estimate by 0.12%. The year-over-year growth was driven by strong growth in recurring subscription revenues and asset-based fees. Organic operating revenues grew 8.3% year over year.
Recurring subscriptions of $562.8 million increased 7.9% year over year and contributed 72.8% to revenues. Asset-based fees of $184.1 million jumped 12.7% year over year and contributed 23.8% to revenues. Non-recurring revenues of $25.8 million increased 11.4% year over year and contributed 3.3% to revenues.
At the end of the reported quarter, average assets under management were $2.024 trillion in ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes. The total retention rate was 94.4% in the reported quarter.
MSCI Inc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
MSCI Inc price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | MSCI Inc Quote
MSCI reported solid growth in the second quarter of 2025, with notable increases in revenues and earnings. However, despite the strong quarterly results, MSCI shares lost 0.39% in the pre-market trading on April 22.
MSCI’s Top-Line Details
In second-quarter 2025, Index revenues of $434.8 million increased 9.5% year over year. Recurring subscriptions and asset-based fees rose 8.6% and 12.7% on a year-over-year basis, respectively. Non-recurring revenues declined 10.5% year over year. Organically, Index operating revenue growth was 9.3%.
The uptick in recurring subscription revenues was driven by strong growth from market-cap-weighted Index products and ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes.
Analytics operating revenues of $177.7 million increased 7.1% year over year. Recurring subscription revenues jumped 4.7% and non-recurring revenues increased 104.9% on a year-over-year basis. Organically, Analytics’ operating revenue growth was 6.6%.
The Sustainability and Climate segment’s (previously titled "ESG and Climate") operating revenues were $88.9 million, rising 11.3% year over year. Recurring subscriptions and non-recurring revenues increased 11.6% and 1.6% on a year-over-year basis, respectively. Organically, Sustainability and Climate operating revenue growth was 7.1%.
All Other – Private Assets operating revenues, which primarily comprise the Real Assets operating segment and the Private Capital Solutions (formerly known as Burgiss), were $71.2 million, up 9.7% year over year. Organic operating revenue growth for All Other – Private Assets was 8.2%.
MSCI’s Q2 Operating Details
Adjusted EBITDA increased 10.3% year over year to $474.3 million in the reported quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin in the second quarter of 2025 was 61.4% compared with 60.7% in the second quarter of 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA expenses were $298.3 million, up 7.3% year over year, reflecting higher compensation and benefits costs due to higher headcount, as well as elevated severance costs.
Total operating expenses increased 6.8% on a year-over-year basis to $347.4 million due to higher compensation costs from a 2.5% increase in headcount.
Operating income improved 11.1% year over year to $425.2 million. The operating margin expanded 100 bps on a year-over-year basis to 55%.
MSCI’s Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Total cash and cash equivalents, as of June 30, 2025, were $347.3 million compared with $360.7 million as of March 31, 2025.
Total debt was $4.5 billion as of June 30, 2025, compared with $4.5 billion as of March 31, 2025. The total debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio (based on trailing 12-month-adjusted EBITDA) was 2.5 times, lower than management’s target of 3-3.5 times.
As of June 30, 2025, the free cash flow was $301.6 million, down 6.3% year over year from $268.9 million as of March 31, 2025.
MSCI had $1.2 billion outstanding under its share-repurchase authorization as of July 21, 2025.
The company paid out dividends worth $139.3 million in the second quarter of 2025.
MSCI Maintains 2025 Guidance
For 2025, MSCI expects total operating expenses of $1.405-$1.445 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA expenses are anticipated to be between $1.220 billion and $1.250 billion.
Interest expenses are expected to be between $182 million and $186 million.
Net cash provided by operating activities and the free cash flow are expected to be $1.52-$1.57 billion and $1.400-$1.460 billion, respectively.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
MSCI currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Acadian Asset Management (AAMI - Free Report) , AllianceBernstein (AB - Free Report) and Artisan Partners Asset Management (APAM - Free Report) are some better-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the Finance sector.
Acadian Asset Management, AllianceBernstein and Artisan Partners Asset Management each sport a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Acadian Asset Management shares have gained 11.6% year to date. AAMI is scheduled to release second-quarter 2025 results on July 31.
AllianceBernstein shares have rallied 17.9% year to date. AB is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on July 24.
Artisan Partners Asset Management shares have plunged 27% year to date. APAM is scheduled to release second-quarter 2025 results on July 29.