Morningstar, Inc. provides independent investment insights, data, research, indexes, credit ratings, and investment-management services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement providers, institutional clients, and market-data redistributors. News about the company commonly covers financial results, product development across the Morningstar Direct Platform, PitchBook private capital market intelligence, Morningstar Credit and Morningstar DBRS, Morningstar Indexes, and Morningstar Wealth and Retirement.
Recurring updates also include integrations that distribute Morningstar and PitchBook research through external platforms, index launches and rebrands, credit-market research tools, awards tied to manager research, completed acquisitions such as CRSP, dividend actions, and governance matters.
Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) released its inaugural "Robo-Advisor Landscape" report, evaluating 16 U.S. robo-advisors. Vanguard and Betterment emerged as the top performers due to their low costs and comprehensive financial tools. The report highlighted the typical robo-advisor's median advisory fee at 0.30%, far below traditional advisors. While digital investment advice benefits smaller investors, concerns over transparency and fee structures remain. The report aims to guide consumers in selecting suitable robo-advisors and encourage improvements in the industry.
Morningstar published its Global Investor Experience study focusing on 'Fees and Expenses,' revealing insights from 26 markets. Top grades were awarded to Australia, the Netherlands, and the U.S. for their investor-friendly fees, while Italy and Taiwan received Bottom grades. The report highlights a decline in asset-weighted median expense ratios since 2019, driven by shifts to lower-cost funds and increased transparency in fees. However, many European and Asian markets still exhibit challenges due to high embedded ongoing commissions, misaligned incentives, and limited access to lower-cost funds.
Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) is set to report its first-quarter 2022 financial results after market closure on April 27, 2022. The company does not hold analyst calls, but encourages investors to submit questions via email. With operations spanning 29 countries, Morningstar is a notable provider of independent investment research, offering products and services for various investor categories. As of December 31, 2021, it managed approximately $265 billion in assets. For further details, investors can visit their official site.
Morningstar (MORN) has released its Global Thematic Funds Landscape Report, highlighting significant growth in thematic funds. Assets under management in these funds have surged to $806 billion, tripling over three years. The report notes a record 589 new thematic funds launched in 2021, more than twice the previous year's total. Notably, over half of thematic funds outperformed the Morningstar Global Markets Index in three years, although only one in ten succeeded over 15 years. Europe now dominates the market, holding 55% of assets, while the U.S. share decreased to 21%.
Morningstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN) released its annual Target-Date Strategy Landscape Report, revealing that total assets in target-date strategies reached a record $3.27 trillion at the end of 2021, a nearly 20% increase from the prior year. Notably, net contributions surged by $170 billion, with collective investment trusts (CITs) accounting for 86% of inflows. The report highlights the importance of fees in investor decisions, showing that lower-cost funds attracted $59 billion in new contributions, while expensive options experienced outflows exceeding $38 billion.
Morningstar (Nasdaq: MORN) announced the launch of its Due Diligence Module as part of the Advisor Workstation for Canadian wealth management firms. This module helps advisors comply with the 'Know Your Product' (KYP) requirements under Canada's Client Focused Reforms. By providing a streamlined workflow, the module aids in evaluating various investment options, ensuring advisors can make informed recommendations. Already implemented at major institutions like BMO and Manulife, this solution enhances recordkeeping efficiency and client service.
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.