MSCI (MSCI) reported a strong Q1 and reaffirmed its 2026 guidance, expecting steady growth ahead despite some near-term headwinds in sustainability and climate products and in real assets, RBC Capital Markets said Tuesday in a report.
Q1 results were driven by broad-based subscription growth across Index, Analytics and Private Capital Solutions, with continued strength in international flows and accelerating momentum in key product areas, the report said.
The company maintained its 2026 guidance, including adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow estimates, while depreciation and amortization guidance was raised by $5 million, RBC said. Growth assumptions rest on execution, including accelerated new product launches and broader AI adoption, rather than market tailwinds, the report said.
Potential downside risks include muted near-term growth in sustainability and climate products, weakness in real-estate transaction activity, and uneven analytics revenue timing, partly countered by strong growth in Private Capital Solutions and continued momentum in custom indexing, the report said.
RBC has an outperform rating on MSCI stock with price target set at $655.
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