[8-K] Morningstar, Inc. Reports Material Event

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN) filed a Form 8-K dated June 27, 2025. The sole purpose of the filing is to furnish—rather than file—an Investor Q&A (Exhibit 99.1) that consolidates questions received through May 31, 2025 and Morningstar’s responses. The disclosure is made under Item 7.01 (Regulation FD), indicating management’s intent to provide equal access to information for all investors.

No new financial results, guidance, dividends, or strategic transactions are announced. The company reiterates a broad set of forward-looking-statement disclaimers, referencing numerous business, regulatory, technological and macroeconomic risks already detailed in prior 10-K and 10-Q filings. Exhibit 104 delivers the Inline XBRL cover page as required.

Key takeaway: This is a routine compliance communication; it supplies additional color via the Q&A but introduces no quantified metrics or material events likely to affect valuation in the near term.

Insights

Financial Analyst

TL;DR: Routine Reg FD 8-K; no new financial data; neutral valuation impact.

The filing merely furnishes an Investor Q&A. Because it is deemed “furnished” under Item 7.01, it carries no direct incorporation into Securities Act filings and signals no change to revenue outlook, margins, debt, or capital allocation. Absent quantitative disclosures, the document should not alter consensus models. Investors may nonetheless review Exhibit 99.1 for qualitative context around strategy, AI implementation, or product pipeline, but market impact is expected to be minimal.

Risk Analyst

TL;DR: Expanded risk language but no incremental risk—neutral.

The 8-K repeats an extensive list of risk factors—cybersecurity, AI, regulatory, macro, talent—which are already embedded in the latest 10-K. No new exposures or contingencies are indicated. Therefore, risk profile remains unchanged. The filing underscores management’s awareness of emerging threats and commitment to transparency, but does not require portfolio de-risking.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________________

FORM 8-K

______________________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 27, 2025

MORNINGSTAR, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Illinois (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

000-51280 (Commission File Number)

36-3297908 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

22 West Washington Street Chicago, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices)

60602 (Zip Code)

(312) 696-6000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) __________________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

    o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

    o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

    o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

    o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class			Trading Symbol			Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common stock, no par value			MORN			The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Item 7.01.    Regulation FD Disclosure

In accordance with Morningstar, Inc.’s (the “Company”) policy regarding public disclosure of corporate information, Investor questions received by the Company through May 31, 2025, and Company responses (the “Investor Q&A”) are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The Investor Q&A shall be deemed furnished, not filed, for purposes of this Report.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This Report, including the document incorporated by reference herein, contains forward-looking statements as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our current expectations about future events or future financial performance. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and often contain words such as “aim,” “committed,” “consider,” “estimate,” “future,” “goal,” “ is designed to,” “maintain,” “may,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “prospects,” “continue,” “strategy,” “strive,” “will,” “would,” “determine,” “evaluate,” or the negative thereof, and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the events we discuss not to occur or to differ significantly from what we expect. For us, these risks and uncertainties include, among others:

• failing to maintain and protect our brand, independence, and reputation;

• failure to prevent and/or mitigate cybersecurity events and the failure to protect confidential information, including personal information about individuals;

• changing economic conditions, including prolonged volatility, recessions, or downturns affecting the financial sector and global financial markets, and the impacts of global trade policies, may negatively impact our financial results, including those of our asset-based businesses;

• compliance failures, regulatory action, or changes in laws applicable to our regulated businesses;

• failing to innovate our product and service offerings or meet or anticipate our clients’ changing needs;

• impact of artificial intelligence technologies on our business and reputation, and the legal risks as they are incorporated into our products and tools;

• failure to detect errors in our products or failure of our products to perform properly due to defects, malfunctions or similar problems;

• failing to recruit, develop, and retain qualified employees;

• failing to scale our operations and increase productivity in order to implement our business plans and strategies;

• liability for any losses that result from errors in our automated advisory tools or errors in the use of the information and data we collect;

• inadequacy of our operational risk management, business continuity programs to address materially disruptive event;

• failure of our strategic transaction, acquisitions, divestitures and investments in companies or technologies to yield expected business or financial benefits, negatively impacting our operating results and our ability to deliver long-term value to shareholders;

• failing to maintain growth across our businesses due to changes in geopolitics and the regulatory landscape;

• liability relating to the information and data we collect, store, use, create, and distribute or the reports that we publish or are produced by our software products;

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• the potential adverse effect of our indebtedness (and rising interest rates) on our cash flow and financial and operational flexibility;

• liability, costs and reputational risks relating to environmental, social and governance considerations;

• our dependence on third-party service providers in our operations;

• inadequacy of our insurance coverage;

• challenges in accounting for tax complexities in the global jurisdictions we operate in could materially affect our tax obligations and tax rates;

• the potential and impact of vendor consolidation and clients' strategic decisions to replace our products and services with in-house products and services;

• our ability to build and maintain short-term and long-term shareholder value and pay dividends to our shareholders;

• our ability to maintain existing business and renewal rates and to gain new business;

• the impact on recently issued accounting pronouncements on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures; and

• failing to protect our intellectual property rights or claims of intellectual property infringement against us.

A more complete description of these risks and uncertainties can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our most recent Reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. If any of these risks and uncertainties materialize, our actual future results and other future events may vary significantly from what we expect. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law. You are advised to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects, and about new or additional risks, uncertainties, and assumptions in our filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    (d)    Exhibits:

Exhibit No.						Description
99.1						Investor Q&A.
104						The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101).

_____________________________________________________________________________________

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

						MORNINGSTAR, INC.
Date: June 27, 2025						By:/s/ Michael Holt
						Name: Michael Holt
						Title: Chief Financial Officer

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FAQ

Why did Morningstar (MORN) file this Form 8-K on June 27 2025?

To furnish an Investor Q&A (Exhibit 99.1) under Item 7.01 Regulation FD, ensuring equal information access.

Does the 8-K include new financial results or guidance for Morningstar?

No. No revenue, EPS, or guidance updates are provided; the filing is informational only.

Is the Investor Q&A considered filed or furnished?

It is deemed furnished, not filed, meaning it is not incorporated by reference into Securities Act filings.

What exhibits accompany the Form 8-K?

Exhibit 99.1: Investor Q&A. Exhibit 104: Inline XBRL cover page.

Did Morningstar announce any mergers, acquisitions, or major transactions?

No. The form contains no transaction announcements; it focuses solely on investor communications.