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FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) vs Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) (GS): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-08-03, FDS is undervalued at $263, with a DCF intrinsic value of $445 and a margin of safety of 41%. GS is undervalued at $1018, with an intrinsic value of $481431875452 and a margin of safety of 100%. Of the two, GS has the wider margin of safety.

FDS

FactSet Research Systems Inc.

$263.20

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

$1018.38

Rewards

FDS

★FactSet Research Systems Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
★FactSet Research Systems Inc. scores 95/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.

★Gross margin of 82.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $2.58 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.

Risks

FDS

⚠FCF yield of 6.6% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.

⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.16 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
⚠Insiders have sold $20.4M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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FDS

Valuation

$621.16M

Free Cash Flow

N/A

6.64%

FCF Yield

N/A

17.33

Trailing P/E

15.72

13.36

Forward P/E

13.81

Quality & Moat

16.33%

ROIC

2.46%

27.03%

ROE

16.95%

51.38%

Gross Margin

82.08%

1.21

PEG Ratio

1.45

Balance Sheet Safety

0.62

Net Debt / Equity

Net cash

N/A

Interest Coverage

N/A

1.36

Net Debt / EBITDA

N/A

1.76%

Dividend Yield

1.96%

FDS: 3Ties: 2GS: 4

FDSGS

Historical Fundamentals

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FDS

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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FDS

$-3.76

created per $1 retained over 3 years

Market Cap Declined

Σ Retained

$1.15B

Δ Market Cap

$-4.34B

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

$0.00

created per $1 retained over 3 years

Value Destroyer

Σ Retained

$26.00B

Δ Market Cap

+$535.62

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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FDS

40.9% Margin of Safety

Price is 40.9% below estimated fair value

Current Price: $263.20

Strongly undervalued

Undervalued

Fairly valued

Overvalued

Strongly overvalued

Fair Value: $445.37

Strongly undervalued

Undervalued

Fairly valued

Overvalued

Strongly overvalued

100.0% Margin of Safety

Price is 100.0% below estimated fair value

Current Price: $1018.38

Strongly undervalued

Fairly valued

Strongly overvalued

Fair Value: $481431875452.18

Strongly undervalued

Undervalued

Fairly valued

Overvalued

Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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FDS

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $263?

+4.4%

Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth

Standard FCF implies +5.6%

The market implies +4.4% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +5.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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FDS

95/100

Wide Moat

70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

65/100

Narrow Moat

70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.

Forensic Accounting

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FDS

-2.40

Unlikely Manipulator

Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

-2.00

Possible Manipulator

Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Ownership Breakdown

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FDS

Insiders 0.4%Institutions 109.7%

No. of Institutional Holders1,006

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insiders 0.5%Institutions 74.8%Retail & Other 24.7%

No. of Institutional Holders3,873

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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FDS

Buys (3M)

Buys (12M)

Total value (12M): $328,394

SKOKO GORAN

Officer

$126,465

@ $252.93 · 2025-11-06

SHAN HELEN L

Chief Financial Officer

$101,928

@ $275.48 · 2025-10-06

MCLOUGHLIN CHRISTOPHER

Officer

$100,001

@ $296.74 · 2025-09-23

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Buys (3M)

Buys (12M)

HESS JOHN B JR.

Director

$2.00M

@ $511.68 · 2025-04-15

JOHNSON KEVIN RONALD

Director

$1.49M

@ $619.02 · 2025-01-17

FLAHERTY MARK A

Director

$29,545

@ $360.30 · 2024-09-27

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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FDS

Sells (3M)

Sells (12M)

Total value (12M): $1.52M

FRANK MALCOLM

Director

$760,547

@ $295.70 · 2026-01-12

SIEGEL LAURIE A

Director

$761,944

@ $296.25 · 2026-01-08

EILAM BARAK

Director

$283.00

@ $283.00 · 2025-10-03

MCGONIGLE JAMES J. III

Director

$1.32M

@ $451.39 · 2025-07-14

MOSKOFF GREGORY T

Officer

$1.11M

@ $442.60 · 2025-07-09

ELLIS CHRISTOPHER R

Officer

$3.40M

@ $446.84 · 2025-07-08

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.34M

@ $445.12 · 2025-07-01

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.36M

@ $454.58 · 2025-06-02

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.29M

@ $431.09 · 2025-05-01

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.36M

@ $454.86 · 2025-04-01

MOSKOFF GREGORY T

Officer

$157,604

@ $434.17 · 2025-03-24

STEPP KATHERINE M

Chief Technology Officer

$733,561

@ $425.25 · 2025-03-21

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.39M

@ $464.79 · 2025-03-03

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.41M

@ $469.14 · 2025-02-03

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.45M

@ $484.33 · 2025-01-02

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.47M

@ $489.18 · 2024-12-02

ROBIE ROBERT J

Officer

$1.94M

@ $484.96 · 2024-11-12

COSTIGAN JOHN

Officer

$780,174

@ $481.00 · 2024-11-11

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.36M

@ $453.68 · 2024-11-01

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.37M

@ $455.09 · 2024-10-01

SIEGEL LAURIE A

Director

$615,277

@ $459.85 · 2024-09-26

FRANK MALCOLM

Director

$1.30M

@ $457.85 · 2024-09-26

ELLIS CHRISTOPHER R

Officer

$6.36M

@ $456.15 · 2024-09-26

MCGONIGLE JAMES J. III

Director

$2.47M

@ $456.83 · 2024-09-26

SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP

Chief Executive Officer

$1.25M

@ $416.59 · 2024-09-03

HARDING CATRINA

Officer

$184,806

@ $407.96 · 2024-08-05

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Sells (3M)

Sells (12M)

Total value (12M): $78.42M

LESLIE ERICKA T

Officer

$287,951

@ $1151.80 · 2026-07-15

COLEMAN DENIS P.

Chief Financial Officer

$6.68M

@ $973.55 · 2026-05-14

RUEMMLER KATHRYN H

General Counsel

$13.42M

@ $939.07 · 2026-05-06

RUEMMLER KATHRYN H

General Counsel

$634,927

@ $929.61 · 2026-05-01

FREDMAN SHEARA J.

Officer

$9.57M

@ $929.17 · 2026-05-01

SOLOMON DAVID M

Chief Executive Officer

$3.23M

@ $930.70 · 2026-05-01

GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON

Officer

$1.04M

@ $936.18 · 2026-04-23

GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON

Officer

$1.02M

@ $919.19 · 2026-04-17

COLEMAN DENIS P.

Chief Financial Officer

$10.94M

@ $941.57 · 2026-02-09

SOLOMON DAVID M

Chief Executive Officer

$255,387

@ $938.92 · 2026-01-29

HALIO CAREY

Officer

$2.64M

@ $927.17 · 2026-01-27

RUEMMLER KATHRYN H

General Counsel

$8.89M

@ $927.51 · 2026-01-23

HALIO CAREY

Officer

$1.62M

@ $920.62 · 2026-01-23

FREDMAN SHEARA J.

Officer

$4.49M

@ $923.75 · 2026-01-23

WALDRON JOHN E.

President

$13.69M

@ $750.30 · 2025-08-28

COLEMAN DENIS P.

Chief Financial Officer

$5.41M

@ $724.40 · 2025-07-25

ROGERS JOHN F W

Officer

$4.31M

@ $717.39 · 2025-07-23

SOLOMON DAVID M

Chief Executive Officer

$4.71M

@ $712.31 · 2025-07-23

SOLOMON DAVID M

Chief Executive Officer

$3.04M

@ $607.17 · 2025-05-14

SOLOMON DAVID M

Chief Executive Officer

$1.50M

@ $622.15 · 2025-02-26

GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON

Officer

$3.31M

@ $636.25 · 2025-01-28

HALIO CAREY

Officer and Treasurer

$2.32M

@ $636.74 · 2025-01-24

HALIO CAREY

Officer

$965,120

@ $624.67 · 2025-01-21

FREDMAN SHEARA J.

Officer

$1.28M

@ $627.01 · 2025-01-21

RUEMMLER KATHRYN H

General Counsel

$4.76M

@ $634.69 · 2025-01-21

SOLOMON DAVID M

Chief Executive Officer

$4.00M

@ $610.91 · 2024-11-29

VINIAR DAVID A

Director

$3.06M

@ $612.08 · 2024-11-29

ROGERS JOHN F W

Officer

$3.83M

@ $596.36 · 2024-11-06

COLEMAN DENIS P.

Chief Financial Officer

$7.67M

@ $593.03 · 2024-11-06

FREDMAN SHEARA J.

Officer

$1.77M

@ $594.51 · 2024-11-06

SOLOMON DAVID M

Chief Executive Officer

$3.00M

@ $500.29 · 2024-08-15

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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FDS

😨Fear(30/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

😐Neutral(53/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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FDS

⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (30)

⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (53)

View FDS Full Analysis View GS Full Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions: FDS vs GS

Is FactSet Research Systems Inc. or Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) more undervalued in 2026?▼

Based on our discounted cash flow model, GS trades at a 100.0% margin of safety (intrinsic value $481431875452 vs. price $1018), compared to FDS's 40.9% margin of safety (intrinsic $445 vs. $263).

Which stock has a wider economic moat, FactSet Research Systems Inc. or Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)?▼

FDS scores 95/100 (Wide moat), while GS scores 65/100 (Narrow moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

Is Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) in financial distress?▼

GS's Altman Z-Score of 0.2 places it in the Distress zone, signaling elevated bankruptcy risk. FDS scores 5.0 (Safe zone). The Altman Z-Score is a five-factor model that predicts insolvency within two years; scores below 1.81 indicate significant distress.

Which stock has higher return on invested capital, FactSet Research Systems Inc. or Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)?▼

FDS earns 16.3% ROIC versus GS's 2.5%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

Which dividend is safer, FactSet Research Systems Inc.'s or Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)'s?▼

FDS's dividend earns a safety score of 94/100 (Very Safe), compared to GS's 79/100 (Safe). FDS has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.