MSCI Q4 Profit Declines, Misses Estimates - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - MSCI Inc. (MSCI), a provider of investment decision support tools, reported Thursday that its fourth-quarter net income declined 13.2 percent to $47.26 million from last year's $54.45 million. Earnings per share declined 11.4 percent to $0.39 from $0.44 last year.

Net income for the quarter was negatively impacted by higher income tax expense and non-recurring expenses, the company noted.

Adjusted earnings per share, which excluded certain items, were $0.48, compared to $0.52 a year ago. On average, 10 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.53 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Adjusted EBITDA fell 2.2 percent to $114.0 million, reflecting a margin of 42.6 percent.

Operating revenues, however, increased 8.3 percent to $267.62 million from $247.08 million last year. Analysts estimated revenues of $263.54 million for the quarter.

Further, MSCI said it will enter into another $100 million accelerated share repurchase agreement, which will complete the December 2012 $300 million buyback authorization. The Board of Directors also authorized the repurchase of an additional $300 million in shares.