Buy-Side Technology Awards 2017: Best Buy-Side Data Analytics Tool—FactSet

FactSet’s suite of portfolio analytics stands out in a competitive marketplace due to its integration of data in a multi-asset class and global environment, as well as the integration of all its solutions into seamless workflows. “This includes a complete view of the investing cycle workflow, with a single point of entry and exit, with consistent data, which streamlines the process and saves money, offers choice and flexibility with models, while adding insight to investing in a timely manner where it’s needed, in the context it’s needed,” explains Sean Carr, director of risk and quant strategy at FactSet.
Although its clients face various challenges, several themes that FactSet sees trending include: regulation; data concordance; the ongoing low-return, high-risk investing environment, and policy risk. Carr says that the added complexity of policy risk is that it is hard to find historical comparisons and predict its impact on a portfolio. This market uncertainty demands more stress-testing, more simulation activities, and more ways of analyzing the unintended bets in a portfolio. “All of this is exacerbated by a low-return, risky environment and expensive and onerous regulations that don’t add to investment returns, but do add to cost,” he says.
The vendor has made several acquisitions and partnerships within the last two years, one of which being BISAM Technologies, which it purchased in March this year for $205.2 million from Aquiline Capital Partners and company shareholders (see write-up on page 62). BISAM specializes in portfolio performance and attribution platforms, and is known for its B-One and Cognity offerings. It is working on integrating its recent acquisitions across three dimensions: the people, the existing products themselves, and the potential from a combination of complementary products, according to Carr. “We are making great progress,” he says. “For example, we have enhanced our existing multi-asset class risk model to leverage Cognity’s fat-tailed approach, which came as part of the BISAM acquisition. We are also connecting FactSet’s wealth of data into the Vermilion Reporting Suite and the B-One products,” says Carr.
For 2018, FactSet’s priorities include further integrating its recent acquisitions to enable a smooth transition between applications in the investing workflow. Carr says it will also look to advance its analytics capabilities in multiple asset classes, including alternative investments and commodities, with greater focus on fixed-income spread models and exotic derivatives.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@waterstechnology.com or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.waterstechnology.com/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Printing this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Copying this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
More on Awards & Rankings
BST Awards 2022 Winner's Interview: BlackRock
BlackRock won the best buy-side investment book of record category in the 2022 BST Awards, thanks to its Aladdin platform.
BST Awards 2022 Winners' Circle: MSCI
Born to perform
AFTAs 2022: Best third-party technology vendor IT team—SS&C Tier1
Project: Tier1 CRM
AFTAs 2022: Most innovative third-party technology vendor (trading, risk and compliance)—UnaVista
Project: UnaVista
AFTAs 2022: Best new technology introduced over the last 12 months (trading, risk and compliance)—Baton Systems
Project: Core-FX
AFTAs 2022: Most innovative third-party technology vendor (infrastructure)—OpenFin
Project: Workspace
AFTAs 2022: Best communication infrastructure initiative—Symphony
Project: Symphony
AFTAs 2022: Best cloud initiative—JP Morgan
Project: AM (Asset Management) Portfolio Optimizer