Form 4: FactSet Executive Exercises Options and Sells Shares for Over $2.2 Million Profit

Christopher R. Ellis, EVP of Initiatives & Partnerships at FactSet Research Systems Inc., exercised stock options and simultaneously sold an equivalent number of shares, realizing a gross profit exceeding $2.2 million.

Summary

• Christopher R. Ellis, EVP, Initiatives & P'ships at FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS), engaged in transactions involving the company's common stock on July 8, 2025.
• Ellis exercised employee stock options to acquire 7,606 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $152.28 per share.
• Concurrently, Ellis sold a total of 7,606 shares of common stock across multiple transactions at weighted average prices ranging from $441.99 to $447.44 per share.
• The total proceeds from these sales amounted to approximately $3,397,706.82.
• The gross profit realized from the exercise of options and subsequent sale of these shares was approximately $2,239,506.14.
• Following these transactions, Ellis directly holds 23,952.2207 shares of common stock and indirectly holds 450 shares through a spouse.
• An adjustment was made to remove 6.466 shares that were inadvertently included in a previous Form 5 filing dated September 16, 2024.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The sentiment is neutral to slightly positive. While the executive sold shares, it was a simultaneous exercise-and-sell transaction, indicating a realization of vested compensation rather than a divestment due to negative outlook. The significant profit realized is a positive for the executive.

Positives

• The executive realized a significant gross profit of approximately $2,239,506.14 from the exercise of stock options and subsequent sale of shares.
• The exercise price of $152.28 was substantially lower than the sale prices, which ranged from $441.99 to $448.20, indicating a strong return on the vested options.

Negatives

• The executive sold all shares acquired through the option exercise, indicating a reduction in direct equity exposure to the company's common stock from this specific transaction.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing reflects routine insider trading activity, specifically an executive's exercise of stock options and subsequent sale of shares. Such transactions are common for executives managing their personal equity holdings and compensation, and do not inherently indicate broader industry trends or strategic shifts for FactSet Research Systems Inc. or the financial data and analytics sector.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The sale of shares by an executive could be perceived as a slight reduction in insider alignment, though it's a common practice for compensation realization. The significant profit realized by the executive from options could be viewed positively as a reward for performance, aligning with shareholder interests in a rising stock price.
• Employees: The transaction is part of standard executive compensation, which may be seen as a positive aspect of the company's overall compensation structure.

Key Dates

Keywords

FactSet Research Systems Inc., FDS, SEC Form 4, Insider Trading, Stock Option Exercise, Share Sale, Executive Compensation, Christopher R. Ellis, Equity Transactions