MSCI Inc $MSCI Stock Sold by Westwind Capital

Westwind Capital decreased its stake in shares of MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI) by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 19,142 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 1,717 shares during the quarter. MSCI makes up 2.5% of Westwind Capital’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Westwind Capital’s holdings in MSCI were worth $10,311,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Burkett Financial Services LLC increased its stake in shares of MSCI by 200.0% during the third quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC now owns 48 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. Ancora Advisors LLC purchased a new position in MSCI in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Compound Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in MSCI in the second quarter worth approximately $34,000. SHP Wealth Management acquired a new position in MSCI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in MSCI during the 1st quarter worth approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.97% of the company’s stock.

MSCI Stock Up 1.2%

NYSE:MSCI traded up $6.54 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $561.92. 389,151 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 635,775. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.24. MSCI Inc has a 1 year low of $501.08 and a 1 year high of $644.77. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $559.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $574.32.

MSCI (NYSE:MSCI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 21st. The technology company reported $4.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.99 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $867.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $870.71 million. MSCI had a net margin of 40.74% and a negative return on equity of 55.19%. MSCI’s quarterly revenue was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.17 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that MSCI Inc will post 19.63 EPS for the current year.

MSCI Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th were paid a dividend of $2.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 14th. This represents a $8.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.5%. MSCI’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.86%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on MSCI shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of MSCI from $690.00 to $685.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. Weiss Ratings cut MSCI from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Bank of America lifted their price target on MSCI from $715.00 to $730.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on MSCI from $700.00 to $742.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $690.00 target price on MSCI in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and eleven have given a Buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $709.08.

MSCI Profile

MSCI Inc is a global provider of investment decision-support tools and services for institutional investors, asset managers, banks, wealth managers and other financial professionals. The company is best known for its equity, fixed-income and multi-asset-class indexes, which are used as benchmarks and as the basis for investment products such as exchange-traded funds and other index-linked strategies.

In addition to indexes, MSCI provides portfolio analytics, risk-management and performance-measurement tools designed to help clients evaluate exposures, construct portfolios and manage investment risks.