MSCI jumps after Q1 earnings beat, margin expansion, and fresh capital-return updates

MSCI Inc. (MSCI) is up 4.2% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: The move appears tied to MSCI’s first-quarter 2026 earnings release, which showed faster-than-expected revenue and profit growth alongside expanding margins. Investors also seemed to react positively to continued strength in asset-based fees, plus ongoing share repurchases and a newly declared quarterly dividend.

Details:

MSCI reported first-quarter 2026 results with revenue of $850.8 million and adjusted EPS of $4.55, both ahead of consensus expectations.

Operating profitability improved year over year, with operating margin rising to 53.7% and adjusted EBITDA margin increasing to 59.3%.

Index-linked momentum stood out as asset-based fees in the index segment rose year over year (including a sharp increase in index asset-based fees).

The company disclosed continued capital returns, including share repurchases through April 20, 2026 and a declared quarterly cash dividend of $2.05 per share.

Sources:

SEC (EDGAR), MSCI Investor Relations, Associated Press

Disclaimer: This price movement analysis was generated with the help of AI. Please double-check the information provided for mistakes.

$MSCI Insider Trading Activity

$MSCI insiders have traded $MSCI stock on the open market 26 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 23 have been purchases and 3 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $MSCI stock by insiders over the last 6 months:

HENRY A FERNANDEZ (Chairman and CEO) has made 23 purchases buying 19,300 shares for an estimated $10,261,970 and 0 sales.
ANDREW C. WIECHMANN (Chief Financial Officer) has made 0 purchases and 2 sales selling 900 shares for an estimated $499,500.
ROBERT J. GUTOWSKI (General Counsel) sold 624 shares for an estimated $348,454

To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.

$MSCI Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 426 institutional investors add shares of $MSCI stock to their portfolio, and 564 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 1,116,216 shares (-74.9%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $640,406,605
EDGEWOOD MANAGEMENT LLC removed 506,223 shares (-26.5%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $290,435,321
CITADEL ADVISORS LLC added 467,752 shares (+1606.1%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $268,363,354
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO removed 401,664 shares (-37.6%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $230,446,686
BAMCO INC /NY/ added 361,630 shares (+15.1%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $207,477,979
AMERICAN CENTURY COMPANIES INC removed 336,674 shares (-45.1%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $193,159,974
T. ROWE PRICE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. removed 321,870 shares (-25.2%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $184,666,475

To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.

$MSCI Government Contracts

We have seen $99,492 of award payments to $MSCI over the last year.

Here are some of the awards which we have have seen pay out the most over the last year:

SUBSCRIPTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) DATA.: $46,000
PRIVATE CAPITAL BENCHMARK CALCULATOR - UNIVERSE ANALYTICS: $35,145
IT AND TELECOM - BUSINESS APPLICATION/APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE: $18,347

To track government contracts to publicy traded companies, check out Quiver Quantitative's government contracts dashboard.

$MSCI Analyst Ratings

Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $MSCI in the last several months. We have seen 2 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.

Here are some recent analyst ratings:

Barclays issued a "Overweight" rating on 10/29/2025
UBS issued a "Buy" rating on 10/29/2025

To track analyst ratings and price targets for $MSCI, check out Quiver Quantitative's $MSCI forecast page.

$MSCI Price Targets

Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $MSCI recently. We have seen 6 analysts offer price targets for $MSCI in the last 6 months, with a median target of $685.0.

Here are some recent targets:

Jason Haas from Wells Fargo set a target price of $545.0 on 04/01/2026
Patrick O'Shaughnessy from Raymond James set a target price of $710.0 on 03/17/2026
David Motemeden from Evercore ISI Group set a target price of $690.0 on 01/29/2026
Manav Patnaik from Barclays set a target price of $660.0 on 10/29/2025
Alexander Hess from JP Morgan set a target price of $680.0 on 10/29/2025
Alex Kramm from UBS set a target price of $710.0 on 10/29/2025

This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information. Note that there may be inaccuracies due to mistakes in ticker-mapping, and other anomalies.