FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC
10-Q, 1998-07-15
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC.
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                                    Form 10-Q

                United States Securities And Exchange Commission
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



|X| Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(D) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 1998

|_| Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(D) of the Securities Exchange
Act Of 1934 for the transition period from ____ to ____
Commission File Number: 1-11869


                          FactSet Research Systems Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                           13-3362547
(State or other jurisdiction of     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

One Greenwich Plaza, Greenwich, Connecticut            06830
(Address of principal executive office)              (Zip Code)

Registrant's  telephone number,  including area code: (203) 863-1500

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes |X| No|_|


Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Title of each class                     Outstanding at May 31, 1998
 ...................                     ................................

Common Stock, par value $.01            9,660,268




<PAGE>

                          FactSet Research Systems Inc.

                                    Form 10-Q
                                Table of Contents



Part I    FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                                                            Page
Item 1.   Financial Statements

           Consolidated Statements of Income
            for the three and nine months ended May 31, 1998 and 1997..........3


           Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
            at May 31, 1998 and at August 31, 1997.............................4


           Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
            for the nine months ended May 31, 1998 and 1997....................5


           Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements......................6



Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
           and Results of Operations...........................................8



Part II   OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.   Legal Proceedings...................................................12


Item 2.   Changes in Securities...............................................12


Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities.....................................12


Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.................12


Item 5.   Other Information...................................................12


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K....................................12


Signatures....................................................................12



<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                             
                                                             
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME                            Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
In thousands, except per share data and unaudited                   May 31,                 May 31, 
                                                                1998       1997         1998       1997
 .......................................................................................................
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>   

Subscription Revenues
Commissions                                                   $8,459     $7,067      $24,438    $19,770                             
Fees                                                          11,737      8,030       32,309     22,136      
                                                              ------     ------       ------     ------
Total subscription revenues                                   20,196     15,097       56,747     41,906   
                                                              ------     ------       ------     ------ 
 .......................................................................................................

Expenses
Cost of services                                               7,727      6,039       22,228     16,829
Selling, general, and administrative                           6,387      4,588       17,504     12,761
Other expenses                                                   669        568        2,148      1,573
                                                              ------      -----       ------      -----
Total operating expenses                                      14,783     11,195       41,880     31,163                             
                                                              ------     ------       ------     ------
 .......................................................................................................

Income from operations                                         5,413      3,902       14,867     10,743                             
Other income                                                     380        235        1,131        558                      
                                                               -----      -----        -----      -----
Income before income taxes and extraordinary gain              5,793      4,137       15,998     11,301
Income taxes                                                   2,526      1,779        7,027      4,889
                                                              ------     ------       ------     ------
Net income before extraordinary gain                           3,267      2,358        8,971      6,412             

Extraordinary gain, net of income taxes                            -          -          242          -                
                                                              ------     ------        -----      -----            
Net income                                                    $3,267     $2,358       $9,213     $6,412             
                                                              ======     ======       ======     ======

 .......................................................................................................
Basic earnings per common share                                $0.34      $0.25        $0.96      $0.67     
 .......................................................................................................
Diluted earnings per common share                              $0.30      $0.22        $0.84      $0.59
 .......................................................................................................
Weighted average common shares (Basic)                         9,647      9,545        9,619      9,546
 .......................................................................................................
Weighted average common shares (Diluted)                      11,041     10,813       10,952     10,833
 .......................................................................................................
</TABLE>


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
                                                           May 31,   August 31,
In thousands and unaudited                                    1998         1997
 ...............................................................................
<S>                                                        <C>          <C>
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents                                  $31,049      $26,816
Investments                                                      -        1,375
Receivable from clients and clearing brokers                10,322        7,335
Receivable from employees                                      535          549
Deferred taxes                                               3,327        3,149
Other current assets                                           420          731
                                                            ------       ------
Total current assets                                        45,653       39,955
 ...............................................................................

PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
Property, equipment, and leasehold improvements, at cost    37,223       26,880
Less accumulated depreciation                              (22,222)     (17,658)
                                                            ------       ------
Property, equipment, and leasehold improvements, net        15,001        9,222
 ...............................................................................

OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Deferred taxes                                                 856          927
Other assets                                                   552          731
                                                           -------      -------
TOTAL ASSETS                                               $62,062      $50,835
                                                           =======      =======
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                                           May 31,   August 31,
In thousands and unaudited                                    1998         1997
 ...............................................................................
<S>                                                        <C>          <C>
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses                       $3,878       $2,216
Accrued compensation                                         4,227        3,676
Deferred fees and commissions                                4,347        4,499
Current taxes payable                                        1,829        2,426
Deferred rent                                                   88           68
                                                            ------       ------
Total current liabilities                                   14,369       12,885
                                                            ------       ------
 ...............................................................................

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred taxes                                                   -          180
Deferred rent                                                  347          143
                                                            ------       ------
Total liabilities                                           14,716       13,208
                                                            ------       ------
 ...............................................................................

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares
     authorized, none issued                                     -            -
Common stock                                                    97           96
Capital in excess of par value                               2,884        1,995
Retained earnings                                           44,801       35,588
Unrealized gain on investment, net of taxes                      -          239
Less treasury stock                                           (436)        (291)
                                                            ------       ------
Total stockholders' equity                                  47,346       37,627
                                                            ------       ------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                 $62,062      $50,835
                                                           =======      =======
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.



<PAGE>
<TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
<CAPTION>
In thousands and unaudited          Nine Months Ended May 31,    1998     1997
 ..............................................................................

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>
Net income                                                     $9,213   $6,412
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash provided by operating activities
     Depreciation and amortization                              4,564    3,463
     Deferred tax expense (benefit)                              (107)    (779)
     Gain on sale of investment                                  (433)       -   
     Accrued ESOP contribution                                    563      405
                                                                -----    -----
Net income adjusted for non-cash items                         13,800    9,501
Changes in working capital
     Receivable from clients and clearing brokers              (2,987)    (958)
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses                      1,662      985
     Accrued compensation                                         588      161
     Deferred fees and commissions                               (152)   1,049
     Current taxes payable                                       (597)     789  
     Other working capital accounts, net                          729      531
                                                                -----    -----
Net cash provided by operating activities                      13,043   12,058
 ..............................................................................

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property, equipment, and
     leasehold improvements                                   (10,343)  (5,576)
Proceeds from sale of investments                               1,389        -
                                                                -----   ------
Net cash used in investing activities                          (8,954)  (5,576)
 ..............................................................................

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repurchase of common stock from employees                          (5)    (113)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                           149        -
                                                                   --      ---
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities               144     (113)
 ..............................................................................

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                       4,233    6,369
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period               26,816   15,700
                                                              -------  -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                    $31,049  $22,069
                                                              =======  =======
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

<PAGE>

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
May 31, 1998
(Unaudited)

1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF BUSINESS

FactSet  Research  Systems  Inc.  (the  "Company")  provides  online  integrated
database services to the financial community. The Company's revenues are derived
from subscription  charges.  Solely at the option of each client,  these charges
may be paid either in  commissions  on  securities  transactions  (in which case
subscription  revenues  are  recorded as  "Commissions")  or on a cash basis (in
which case subscription revenues are recorded as "Fees").

To facilitate the receipt of subscription  revenues on a commission  basis,  the
Company's wholly owned  subsidiary,  FactSet Data Systems,  Inc.  ("FDS"),  is a
member  of  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  and is a
registered  broker-dealer  under  Section 15 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934.  FDS's only function is to facilitate the receipt of payments with respect
to  subscription  charges  and it does not  otherwise  engage in the  securities
business.

Subscription  revenues paid in commissions are based on securities  transactions
introduced and cleared on a fully  disclosed basis through one of two designated
clearing  brokers.  A client paying  subscription  charges on a commission basis
directs  the  clearing  broker,  at the time the client  executes  a  securities
transaction, to credit the commission on the transaction to FDS's account.

FactSet Pacific,  Inc. and FactSet Limited are wholly owned  subsidiaries of the
Company and are U.S.  corporations  with branch  operations  in the Far East and
Europe, respectively.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accompanying interim  consolidated  financial statements of FactSet Research
Systems Inc.  ("the  Company")  have been prepared in conformity  with generally
accepted accounting  principles,  consistent in all material respects with those
applied in the Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  August 31,
1997.  Interim  financial  information  is  unaudited,  but  reflects all normal
adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly
the results for the interim periods presented.  The interim financial statements
should be read in  connection  with the  financial  statements  in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997.

The  significant  accounting  policies of the Company and its  subsidiaries  are
summarized below.

Financial  Statement  Presentation

The accompanying  consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of the
Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany activity and balances
have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

The financial reporting format of the Consolidated Statements of Income has been
revised to enhance  comparability with other companies in the online information
services  industry  and to improve  understanding  of the  Company's  results of
operations.  The Consolidated Statements of Income have been reclassified in all
prior periods presented to conform to the current year presentation.

Cost of services is composed of  compensation  and benefits for the employees of
the software engineering and consulting departments,  clearing fees, data costs,
computer  maintenance  and  depreciation   expenses,  and  communication  costs.
Selling,  general, and administrative expenses include compensation and benefits
for  employees  involved with sales,  product  development  and various  support
functions,  promotional expenses,  rent, amortization of leasehold improvements,
depreciation of furniture and fixtures,  and office expenses.  The components of
other expenses are professional fees and miscellaneous expenses.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent  assets and  liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and
the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses  during the  reporting  period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue  Recognition

Subscription charges are quoted to clients on an annual basis, but are earned as
services are provided on a month-to-month basis. Subscription revenues,  whether
commissions or fees, are recorded as earned each month,  based on one-twelfth of
the annual  subscription  charge  quoted to each client.  Amounts that have been
earned  but not yet paid  through  the  receipt  of  commissions  on  securities
transactions  or  through  cash  payments  are  reflected  on  the  Consolidated
Statements of Financial Condition as receivable from clients.  Amounts that have
been received  through  commissions on securities  transactions  or through cash
payments that are in excess of earned subscription revenues are reflected on the
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as deferred fees and commissions.
<PAGE>
Clearing Fees

When subscription charges are recorded on a commission basis, the Company incurs
clearing  fees,  which are the charges  imposed by the clearing  brokers used to
execute and settle clients' securities transactions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash  and  cash  equivalents   consist  of  demand  deposits  and  money  market
investments.

Investments

Investment  securities are classified as  available-for-sale  securities and are
reported at market value or fair value as determined by  management.  Unrealized
gains and losses on  available-for-sale  securities are recognized as a separate
component of stockholders' equity, net of tax until sold.

Property,  Equipment, and Leasehold Improvements

Depreciation of computers and related  equipment  acquired  before  September 1,
1994 is recognized  using the double  declining  balance  method over  estimated
useful  lives of five years.  Computers  and related  equipment  acquired  after
September 1, 1994 are depreciated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful
lives of three years. Depreciation of furniture and fixtures is recognized using
the double  declining  balance method over estimated useful lives of five years.
Leasehold  improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of
the related  leases or  estimated  useful lives of the  improvements,  whichever
period is shorter.

Deferred Taxes

Deferred  taxes  are  determined  in  accordance  with  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS")  No.  109  "Accounting  for Income  Taxes."  The
deferred tax provision is derived from changes in deferred  taxes on the balance
sheet.  Under SFAS No. 109 consideration is given to the future tax consequences
associated with differences between financial accounting and tax bases of assets
and liabilities.  A valuation  allowance is established to the extent management
considers  it more likely than not that some  portion or all of the deferred tax
assets will not be  realized.  The effect on deferred  taxes from income tax law
changes are recognized immediately upon enactment.  The Company records deferred
taxes for such items as accrued compensation, deferred fees and commissions, and
property, equipment, and leasehold improvements.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company follows the  disclosure-only  provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation.

Earnings Per Share

In fiscal 1998,  the Company  adopted SFAS No. 128,  Earnings Per Share ("EPS").
Basic EPS  excludes  dilution  and is  computed  by  dividing  net income by the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS
reflects the  potential  dilution  that could occur if common stock  equivalents
were converted into common stock and then shared in the earnings of the Company.
Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of
both  common  shares and common  share  equivalents  outstanding.  The  weighted
average  number of  common  shares  outstanding  includes  shares  issued to the
Company's  employee stock  ownership plan at the date authorized by the Board of
Directors.  In the diluted EPS calculation,  shares available pursuant to grants
made  under the  Company's  stock  option  plans are  included  as common  stock
equivalents using the treasury stock method.

New  Accounting  Pronouncements

In June 1997, SFAS No. 130,  Reporting  Comprehensive  Income, and SFAS No. 131,
Disclosures  About  Segments  of an  Enterprise  and Related  Information,  were
issued.  Disclosures  required by these  statements  will be  effective  for the
Company's 1999 fiscal year.

In March 1998, Statement of Position 98-1,  Accounting for The Costs of Computer
Software  Developed or Obtained for Internal Use was issued.  This  statement is
effective for the Company's fiscal year ending in 2000. The impact from adoption
of this new accounting pronouncement has not yet been determined.
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

The Company

FactSet  Research  Systems  Inc.  is the leading  provider of online  integrated
database services to the financial community.  The Company's software technology
combines  multiple  large-scale  databases into a single  mainframe  information
system accessible from clients' personal computers.  Simultaneous access to over
100  databases  creates a  comprehensive,  "one stop" source for  financial  and
economic information, news, and commentary on tens of thousands of companies and
securities worldwide. The Company's proprietary software tools enable clients to
easily download,  screen,  manipulate,  and analyze data in a virtually infinite
array of  formats,  principally  custom  reports  designed  by and for the user.
FactSet markets its services to investment managers, investment banks, and other
financial services institutions throughout the world.

Business Environment

The strength of global  financial  markets has some  influence on the demand for
the Company's products and services.

The demand for FactSet's  services has been  positively  impacted by the overall
strength of the financial markets worldwide. While there is no reason to believe
future demand for the Company's products and services will diminish, a prolonged
decline in the global  financial  markets could  adversely  impact the Company's
results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Although  the  Asian  and  Pacific  Rim  financial   markets  have   experienced
significant volatility during the past year, the Company's revenues for the nine
months ending May 31, 1998 grew by over 30% versus the comparable  period a year
earlier.  Revenues  over the first nine months of fiscal 1997 more than  doubled
compared to fiscal 1996. Less than 5% of total consolidated revenue is generated
from the Company's Asian operations. Accordingly, should volatility in the Asian
and  Pacific  Rim stock  markets  persist,  the impact on the  Company's  future
results of operations,  cash flows and financial  position is not expected to be
material.

Investments

The Company  continues to make significant  investments in technology and people
in  order  to  expand  in  the  global  marketplace.  Among  its  major  capital
expenditures  during the first nine months of fiscal 1998, the Company purchased
four Digital  Equipment ("DEC") Alpha 8480/625  mainframe  machines for its data
centers. Six existing DEC Alpha mainframe machines were also upgraded to run on
eight 625mhz  CPU's and 10  gigabytes  of RAM. The number of DEC Alpha  machines
owned by the Company currently totals ten.

Expansion of the  Company's  workforce  also  continues.  At May 31,  1998,  the
Company employed 239  individuals,  an increase of 45% from the end of the third
quarter  of fiscal  1997.  To  facilitate  the growth of the  organization,  the
Company has signed  leases in fiscal 1998 to expand its office space in New York
City, San Mateo (California), Tokyo and Connecticut.

The  projected  level  of  the  Company's  total  capital   spending  for  these
investments in technology and infrastructure will likely exceed $13.0 million in
fiscal 1998.

The Company is actively developing programs to adjust mainframe applications and
data  provided by third parties to be fully year 2000  compliant.  All year 2000
changes  take place at the  Company's  mainframe  centers and will not require a
separate program  installation on each user personal computer or network.  While
there can be no absolute  assurance of completion by year 2000, the Company does
not believe this  transition  will have a material  adverse impact on its future
results of operations, cash flows, or financial position.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

                                                         Three Months Ending             Nine Months Ending
                                                               May 31,                          May 31,
Unaudited and in thousands, except per share data      1998      1997   Change        1998       1997    Change   
 ...............................................................................................................
<S>                                                 <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenues                                            $20,196   $15,097    33.8%     $56,747    $41,906     35.4%
Operating  expenses                                  14,783    11,195    32.1       41,880     31,163     34.4
Operating income                                      5,413     3,902    38.7       14,867     10,743     38.4
Income before income taxes and extraordinary gain     5,793     4,137    40.0       15,998     11,301     41.6
Net income before extraordinary gain                  3,267     2,358    38.5        8,971      6,412     39.9
Extraordinary gain, net of income taxes                   -         -                  242          -   
Net income                                            3,267     2,358    38.5        9,213      6,412     43.7
Diluted earnings per common share                     $0.30     $0.22    36.4%       $0.84      $0.59     42.4%    
 ...............................................................................................................

</TABLE>
<PAGE>

Revenues

Revenues for the quarter  ending May 31, 1998  increased  33.8% to $20.2 million
versus $15.1  million for the third  quarter of fiscal 1997.  For the first nine
months of fiscal  1998,  revenues  increased  35.4% to $56.7  million from $41.9
million for the first nine months of fiscal 1997.  Additional  subscriptions  to
services and passwords and new client additions drove this growth. The number of
passwords  in use  grew to over  13,000  at May 31,  1998,  approximately  a 45%
increase from the third quarter of fiscal 1997. The client count at May 31, 1998
was 548, a net increase of 74 clients over the past twelve months.

For the three months ending May 31, 1998, revenues from international operations
were  $2.6  million,  a 47%  increase  over the year ago  period.  International
revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 1998 increased 62% to $7.0 million,
when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 1997.  International operations
accounted for  approximately  13% of  consolidated  revenue for the third fiscal
quarter  and 12% for the first nine months of fiscal  1998,  up from 12% and 10%
for the comparable periods a year earlier. The majority of international clients
pay for  services  in U.S.  dollars  and the  net  monetary  assets  held by the
Company's foreign offices are insignificant. Accordingly, the Company's exposure
to foreign currency fluctuations is immaterial.

Total client commitments at May 31, 1998 were $84.0 million, up 34% from May 31,
1997  ("Commitments"  represent a freeze  frame of the annual  revenue  that the
Company would receive from a particular  client based on the services  currently
being supplied to that client).  The average commitment per client increased 16%
to $153,000, resulting from additional subscription to services and passwords by
existing clients.  Client retention  continued at a rate in excess of 95% in the
third quarter of fiscal 1998. As of May 31, 1998, no individual client accounted
for more than 4% of total commitments,  and commitments from the top ten clients
did not exceed 15% of the total.  As a matter of policy,  the  Company  does not
seek to enter into  written  contracts  with its  clients and clients can add or
delete services at any time.  Commitments have  historically  grown in virtually
every month.

Operating Expenses

Cost of services  includes  employee  compensation  and benefits (for  employees
engaged in software  engineering  and  consulting),  clearing fees,  data costs,
computer maintenance and depreciation expenses, and communication costs. For the
quarter  ended May 31, 1998,  costs of services were up 28% to $7.7 million when
compared to the third quarter of fiscal 1997. In the first nine months of fiscal
1998,  cost of services  increased  32.1% over the year earlier  period to $22.2
million.  These  increases are largely due to higher employee  compensation  and
benefit expenses and increased  depreciation expense on computer equipment.  For
the quarter ended May 31, 1998, employee compensation and benefits rose $900,000
versus  the year ago  period.  During  the first  nine  months  of fiscal  1998,
employee  compensation  and benefits  increased  $2.5 million over fiscal 1997's
comparable  period.  These increases were attributable to employee additions and
merit raises.  Employee headcount in the engineering and consulting  departments
increased  57% over the past  twelve  months.  Depreciation  expense on computer
equipment in fiscal 1998's third  quarter  increased  $600,000  versus the third
quarter of fiscal 1997.  For the first nine months of fiscal 1998,  depreciation
expense on computer equipment  increased $1.0 million when compared to the first
nine months of fiscal 1997. Higher depreciation  expense was caused by increased
computer  equipment  purchases.  For the first nine months  ending May 31, 1998,
computer  equipment   purchases   increased  $4.8  million  over  fiscal  1997's
comparable period.

Selling,   general,  and  administrative   ("SG&A")  expenses  include  employee
compensation and benefits (for employees engaged in sales,  product development,
and various support  functions),  promotional  expenses,  rent,  amortization of
leasehold  improvements,  depreciation  on  furniture  &  fixtures,  and  office
expenses. For the third quarter of fiscal 1998, SG&A expenses were $6.4 million,
a 39.2%  increase  over the year ago period.  For the nine months  ended May 31,
1998,  SG&A  expenses  rose to $17.5 million or 37.2% when compared to the prior
year period.  These increases were attributable to higher employee  compensation
and  promotional  expenses.  During the third  quarter of fiscal 1998,  employee
compensation and benefits rose $1.1 million from the comparable period in fiscal
1997. For the nine months ended May 31, 1998, employee compensation and benefits
increased  $3.1 million  when  compared to the first nine months of fiscal 1997.
These increases were due to employee additions and merit raises. At May 31, 1998
employee headcount in the sales, product development,  and various other support
departments  increased 31% when  compared to May 31, 1997.  For the three months
ended May 31,  1998,  promotional  expenses  rose  $400,000  over the prior year
period.  Over the  first  nine  months  of  fiscal  1998,  promotional  expenses
increased $800,000 when compared to the year earlier period. Promotional expense
increases were the result of higher travel costs  associated  with  supporting a
larger client base.
<PAGE>

Operating Margins

For the quarter ended May 31, 1998, operating margins increased 100 basis points
when compared to the three months ended May 31, 1997.  Operating margins for the
nine months  ended May 31, 1998 rose 60 basis  points when  compared to the year
ago  period.  The margin  improvement  was  primarily  the  result of  declining
clearing fees caused by an increasing number of clients selecting to pay for the
Company's services with cash versus commissions on securities transactions,  and
declining  data  costs as a  percentage  of  revenue.  These  improvements  were
partially offset by higher  compensation and benefits due to employee  additions
in various departments.

A higher  margin is  generated  from fee  (cash)  revenue  than from  commission
revenue.  Although  net revenue to the  Company are the same under both  payment
methods,  commission clients pay a higher amount than cash paying clients.  This
additional  fee is charged in order to cover  clearing fees paid by the Company.
The continuing  shift from commission to fee revenue has caused clearing fees to
decline as a  percentage  of revenue.  During the third  quarter of fiscal 1998,
cash  revenue  increased  to 58% of  total  revenues  compared  to 53%  for  the
comparable year ago period. For the nine months ended May 31, 1998, cash revenue
amounted to 57% of total  revenues  versus 53% for the nine months ended May 31,
1997.  Data costs  declined as a percentage of revenues due to certain  database
charges being directly  assumed by the Company's  clients as of January 1, 1998.
Depending on the data  vendor,  clients pay data fees to the Company or directly
to the data  vendor.  When  data  fees are paid by the  client  to the  Company,
separate  data  charges  are  assessed  to  the  Company  by  the  data  vendor.
Accordingly,  a higher  margin is  generated  by the Company  when a data vendor
bills and collects the data charge directly from the client.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

During  the  quarter  ended May 31,  1998,  net income  increased  38.5% to $3.3
million when compared to the year ago period.  For the nine months ended May 31,
1998, net income was $9.2 million, up 43.7% from the first nine months of fiscal
1997. A $242,000  extraordinary  after tax gain was  recorded  during the second
quarter of fiscal 1998 resulting from the sale of the Company's  investment in a
limited  partnership.  Excluding  this sale, net income was $9.0 million for the
first nine months of fiscal 1998, an increase of 40% over the prior year period.
Basic  earnings per common share was $0.34 for the third  quarter of fiscal 1998
and $0.96 for the first nine months  ended May 31,  1998.  Diluted  earnings per
common  share  was $0.30 for the  quarter  ended May 31,  1998 and $0.84 for the
first nine months of fiscal 1998.  Excluding  the  extraordinary  gain,  for the
first nine months  ending May 31,  1998,  basic  earnings  per common  share was
$0.93,  up 38.8% from the year ago period and diluted  earnings per common share
was $0.82, up 39% when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 1997.

Liquidity

Cash generated by operating  activities  amounted to $13.0 million for the first
nine months of fiscal 1998 compared to $12.1 million in the comparable  period a
year ago.  This  increase  was the result of higher  profitability  and non-cash
expenditures partially offset by added receivables from an expanded client base.
Cash used in investing  activities increased to $9.0 million versus $5.6 million
a year ago  primarily  due to an 85%  increase  in  capital  spending  offset by
proceeds from the sale of an investment in a limited  partnership.  As discussed
earlier in the caption "Future  Investments",  the Company projects that capital
spending in fiscal 1998 will likely exceed $13.0 million.

All capital and operating  expense  requirements have been financed by cash from
operations. Cash and cash equivalents at May 31, 1998 amounted to $31.0 million.
The Company has no outstanding indebtedness.

Accounting Pronouncements

In June 1997, SFAS No. 130,  Reporting  Comprehensive  Income; and SFAS No. 131,
Disclosures  About  Segments  of an  Enterprise  and Related  Information,  were
issued. In March 1998,  Statement of Position 98-1,  Accounting for the Costs of
Computer  Software  Developed or Obtained for Internal Use was issued.  Refer to
Note 2, "Accounting Policies" for further information.
<PAGE>
Forward-Looking Statements

This Management's Discussion and Analysis of the Company's results of operations
and financial  condition contains  forward-looking  statements that are based on
management's  current  expectations  and  beliefs.  The  phrases  "no  reason to
believe," "could adversely impact," "is not expected,"  "continues,"  "projected
level," "will likely exceed," "does not believe," and "commitments" are intended
to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees
of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties,  and assumptions
which are difficult to predict ("future factors"). Therefore, actual results may
differ  materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such  forward-looking
statements.  The  Company  undertakes  no  obligation  to  publicly  update  any
forward-looking  statements as a result of new  information,  future events,  or
otherwise.  Future  factors  include  the ability to hire  qualified  personnel,
maintenance  of the Company's  leading  technological  position;  the successful
negotiation of contract terms supporting new and existing databases; the ongoing
employment  of key  personnel;  the  absence  of U.S.  or  foreign  governmental
regulation  restricting   international  business;  and  the  sustainability  of
historical levels of profitability and growth rates in cash flow generation.
<PAGE>
Part II   OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.   Legal Proceedings:         None


Item 2.   Changes in Securities:     None


Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities:   None


Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:   None


Item 5.   Other Information:         None


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits
Exhibit Number

3.1....................................Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1)
3.2..................................................................By-laws (1)
4.1.....................................................Form of Common Stock (1)
10.1........................Form of Employment Agreement between the Company
                                   and Howard E. Wille and Charles J. Snyder (1)
10.2.................Letter Agreement between the Company and Ernest S. Wong (1)
27..................................................Financial Data Schedules
(1)Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(File No.333-4238)


(b) Reports on Form 8-K: None


SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC.



Date: July 15, 1998      BY:  /s/ ERNEST S. WONG
                                  Ernest S. Wong,
                                  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                                  and Secretary



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