Market Update

FactSet Research Systems Inc. eased 0.4% to $431.12 after the enterprise solutions provider to investment managers reported results for fiscal second quarter 2025 ending in February.

Revenue increased 4.5% to $570.66 million from $545.94 million, net income jumped 2.8% to $144.86 million from $140.94 million, and diluted earnings per share rose 1.4% to $4.28 from $4.22 a year ago.

“Client count as of February 28 was 8,645, a net increase of 396 clients in the past three months, mainly due to corporates, which now includes clients from the Irwin acquisition,” the company said in a release to investors.

The count includes clients with annual subscription value of $10,000 and more and does not reflect the LiquidityBook acquisition.

User count was 219,141 as of February 28, a net increase of 874 users in the past three months, mainly driven by an increase in wealth management users, and not reflecting the Irwin and LiquidityBook acquisitions.

FactSet had proposed a dividend of $39.5 million, or $1.04 per share, paid on March 20 to shareholders on record as of February 28.

In addition, the workflow solutions company repurchased 136,714 shares for $64.4 million at an average price of $470.70 during the second quarter, and $186.9 million remained available as of February 28.

The company guided for fiscal 2025 GAAP revenue to be between $2.30 billion to $2.32 billion, up from its previous forecast between $2.28 billion and $2.30 billion.

GAAP diluted earnings per share are estimated to be between $14.80 and $15.40, compared to the previous guidance between $15.10 and $15.70.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share are seen unchanged between $16.80 and $17.40.

GAAP operating margin is expected to be in the range of 32% and 33%, down from 32.5% and 33.5% previously announced.

Organic annual subscription value is expected to grow in the range of $100 million to $130 million, narrowing from $90 million to $140 million previously estimated.

Annual subscription value (ASV) was $2.31 billion as of February 28, compared to $2.18 billion a year ago.

Organic ASV was $2.28 billion as of February 28, up 4.1% or $90.7 million, year-over-year, and it increased $19.6 million over the last three months.


24 Mar, 2025

 

Carnival Corp. gained 0.05% to $20.95 after the cruise lines operator reported higher revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 ending in February.

Revenue surged to $5.81 billion from $5.41 billion, net loss shrank to $78 million from a loss of $214 million, and diluted loss per share narrowed to 6 cents from a loss of 17 cents a year ago.

The company expects “to achieve both 2026 sea change financial targets one year in advance, with adjusted return on invested capital and adjusted EBITDA per available lower berth for 2025 reaching the highest levels in nearly two decades,” Carnival said in a release to investors.

“While we are not completely immune from the heightened macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility since providing our December guidance, we are still taking up our earnings expectations for the year.”

The company guided for the second quarter of 2025 adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.3 billion, up 10% compared to the same quarter of 2024.

For the full year, Carnival estimated adjusted net income to be up over 30% compared to 2024 and better than December guidance by $185 million.

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year is expected at approximately $6.7 billion, up nearly 10% compared to 2024 and better than the December guidance.

Diluted earnings per share are estimated at 22 cents in the second quarter and $1.83 for the full year, compared to 7 cents and $1.44 a year ago, respectively.

Adjusted net income is seen at $285 million in the second quarter and $2.49 billion for the full year, compared to $92 million and $1.92 billion a year ago, respectively.


24 Mar, 2025

 

J.Jill Inc. gained 1% to $18.79 after the apparel and accessories retailer reported lower sales in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Net sales decreased to $142.84 million from $150.26 million, net income slumped to $2.25 million from $4.77 million, and diluted earnings per share fell to 14 cents from 33 cents a year ago.

Comparable store sales increased by 1.9% in the quarter and were up 1.5% in the full year compared to 2023.

Net sales for the full year jumped to $610.86 million from $608.04 million, net income climbed to $39.48 million from $36.20 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $2.61 from $2.51 a year earlier.

The company opened five new stores in the fourth quarter and nine new stores during the year, bringing the total count to 525 stores.

J.Jill guided for the first quarter of 2025 net sales to decline between 1% and 4%, with comparable sales down between 2% and 5% compared to 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $25.0 million and $27.0 million, compared to $35.6 million in the first quarter last year.

For the full year, the apparel retailer estimated sales growth to be up between 1% and 3%, comparable sales flat to up 2% compared to 2024, and new net store growth of 5 to 10 stores.

Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $101.0 million and $106.0 million, compared to $107.1 million in 2024.

In December, the company authorized a share repurchase program for up to $25.0 million over the next two years.

In the fourth quarter, J.Jill purchased 19,831 shares and has $24.5 million of remaining authorization.

The company increased its quarterly dividend by 14.3% to 8 cents per share from the previous dividend of 7 cents per share, equal to an annualized dividend of 32 cents per share, and payable on April 16 to stockholders on record as of April 2.


20 Mar, 2025