Morningstar Stock Price, News & Analysis

Morningstar has announced its 34th annual Investment Conference, scheduled for May 16-18, 2022 in Chicago. The event will feature notable speakers including former Ambassador Mike McFaul and Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson. Topics will cover sustainable investing, digital currencies, and geopolitical risks. Registration costs range from $349 for digital access to $899 for all-access attendance. The conference will also include receptions, with a notable performance by Buddy Guy. More information is available on their official website.

On March 1, 2022, the board of directors of Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) declared a quarterly dividend of 36 cents per share. This dividend will be payable on April 29, 2022 to shareholders on record as of April 1, 2022. Morningstar is a prominent independent investment research provider operating in multiple regions worldwide, including North America and Europe, and manages approximately $265 billion in assets under advisement as of December 31, 2021.

Morningstar Investment Management LLC has launched the Morningstar Center for Retirement and Policy Studies to provide unbiased data and insights aimed at improving U.S. retirement plans. The inaugural report, Retirement Plan Landscape Report, highlights alarming outflows of $4.61 trillion from defined-contribution plans from 2011 to 2020, and significant disparities in investment costs affecting retirement savings. The Center aims to address these issues and enhance overall retirement preparedness.

Morningstar reported strong fourth-quarter revenue, achieving 21.5% growth to $462.2 million. Organic revenue increased by 21.4%. Operating income rose 14.9% to $74.8 million. However, diluted net income per share fell 25.3% to $1.30, affected by previous non-operating gains. For 2021, revenue reached $1.7 billion, up 22.3%, with adjusted diluted net income per share growing 17.8% to $6.36. Strong cash flow was noted, with free cash flow increasing 13.2% to $348.1 million.

Morningstar Investment Management and Hueler Income Solutions are collaborating to integrate guaranteed income products into retirement planning via the Morningstar Retirement Manager. This partnership enables personalized investment advice, facilitating the allocation of retirement portfolios toward annuities as needed. The integration allows real-time quotes and guidance on annuity options tailored to individual investor needs. This initiative aims to address concerns about running out of money in retirement, providing a structured means for investors to secure lifetime income.

Morningstar (MORN) announced the launch of a new business unit, the Wealth Management Solutions group, effective January 1, 2022. This unit will integrate various capabilities including managed portfolios, portfolio management software, and investment data aggregation. Led by Daniel Needham, the group aims to enhance wealth management offerings for financial advisors. Plans include the launch of a direct indexing capability later this year. Morningstar's acquisition of Praemium's U.K. and international business, pending regulatory approval, will also be part of this initiative.

AnalytixInsight’s FinTech affiliate, MarketWall, has teamed up with Morningstar to launch the Morningstar Global Market, a cloud-based market data platform targeted at institutional users. This platform is built upon MarketWall's GEMINA application and aims to meet the increasing demand for financial data. The launch is set for February 2022 in the EMEA region, enhancing Morningstar's research offerings.

Additionally, MarketWall will introduce GEMINA 2.0, a tailored solution for Morningstar.

Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) will report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 financial results on February 24, 2022, after market close. The company offers investment research services across multiple regions including North America and Europe, and manages approximately $260 billion in assets. Investors can submit written questions regarding the results as no analyst conference calls will be held.

Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) reported record U.S. mutual fund and ETF flows for December 2021, totaling $88 billion and a full-year total of $1.2 trillion, the highest since 1993. Key highlights include $96 billion inflows for passive funds and outflows of $8 billion for active funds in December. Taxable-bond funds reached $531 billion for the year, while U.S. equity funds saw $30 billion in December, totaling $151 billion for 2021. Sustainable funds also excelled, with a $71 billion intake for the year.