Morningstar has maintained stable gross margins between 60% and 63% over the last ten quarters, though operating margins remain inconsistent, fluctuating between 17.1% and 28.5% due to persistent SG&A scaling.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 |
|---|
| Sales/Revenue | 2.51B | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Revenue Growth % | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| COGS % of Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gross Profit | 1.55B | 1.49B | 1.38B | 1.2B | 1.09B | 1B | 833.1M | 695.9M | 608.8M | 525.1M | 454.3M | 458.7M | 441.5M | 426.9M | 411.5M | 396.11M | 398.28M | 350.38M | 372.37M | 321.33M | 228.2M | 162.71M | 124.95M | 95.97M | 70.58M | 91.23M | 74.97M |
| Gross Margin % | 61.71% | 61.03% | 60.63% | 58.62% | 58.34% | 58.9% | 59.96% | 59.02% | 59.69% | 57.6% | 56.89% | 58.15% | 58.08% | 61.13% | 62.51% | 62.74% | 71.72% | 73.15% | 74.11% | 73.85% | 72.4% | 71.64% | 69.55% | 68.8% | 64.39% | 100% | 100% |
| Gross Profit Growth % | - | 8.21% | 15.42% | 9.51% | 9.03% | 20.14% | 19.72% | 14.31% | 15.94% | 15.58% | -0.96% | 3.9% | 3.42% | 3.74% | 3.89% | -0.55% | 13.67% | -5.91% | 15.88% | 40.81% | 40.25% | 30.22% | 30.19% | 35.97% | -22.63% | 21.68% | - |
| Operating Expenses | 979.6M | 966M | 894.6M | 964.5M | 923.5M | 743.9M | 617.9M | 506.3M | 393M | 355.3M | 273.5M | 268.1M | 335.9M | 256.2M | 260.84M | 257.7M | 277.22M | 225.71M | 233.25M | 204.08M | 150.67M | 116.23M | 107.21M | 106.73M | 78.92M | 107.62M | 137.05M |
| OpEx % of Revenue | - | 39.5% | 39.32% | 47.31% | 49.37% | 43.78% | 44.47% | 42.94% | 38.53% | 38.97% | 34.25% | 33.99% | 44.19% | 36.69% | 39.62% | 40.81% | 49.92% | 47.12% | 46.42% | 46.9% | 47.81% | 51.18% | 59.68% | 76.51% | 72% | 117.97% | 182.8% |
| Selling, General & Admin | 811.1M | 801M | 768.2M | 779.6M | 756.9M | 593.2M | 478.4M | 388.6M | 296.3M | 264.1M | 202.8M | 203.7M | 220M | 210.5M | 217.74M | 214.78M | 188.32M | 154.72M | 166.92M | 147.7M | 106.2M | 88.31M | 98.99M | 84.94M | 61.5M | 0 | 0 |
| SG&A % of Revenue | - | 32.75% | 33.77% | 38.24% | 40.46% | 34.91% | 34.43% | 32.96% | 29.05% | 28.97% | 25.39% | 25.82% | 28.94% | 30.14% | 33.08% | 34.02% | 33.91% | 32.3% | 33.22% | 33.95% | 33.7% | 38.88% | 55.1% | 60.89% | 56.1% | - | - |
| Research & Development | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R&D % of Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Operating Expenses | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Operating Income | 568.4M | 526.6M | 484.8M | 230.6M | 167.8M | 257M | 215.2M | 189.6M | 215.8M | 169.8M | 180.8M | 190.6M | 105.6M | 170.7M | 150.67M | 138.41M | 121.06M | 124.67M | 139.12M | 117.25M | 77.53M | 46.48M | 17.73M | -10.75M | -8.34M | -16.39M | -62.07M |
| Operating Margin % | 22.66% | 21.53% | 21.31% | 11.31% | 8.97% | 15.12% | 15.49% | 16.08% | 21.16% | 18.62% | 22.64% | 24.16% | 13.89% | 24.45% | 22.89% | 21.92% | 21.8% | 26.03% | 27.69% | 26.95% | 24.6% | 20.47% | 9.87% | -7.71% | -7.61% | -17.97% | -82.8% |
| Operating Income Growth % | - | 8.62% | 110.23% | 37.43% | -34.71% | 19.42% | 13.5% | -12.14% | 27.09% | -6.08% | -5.14% | 80.49% | -38.14% | 13.3% | 8.85% | 14.34% | -2.9% | -10.38% | 18.65% | 51.24% | 66.8% | 162.08% | 264.92% | -28.94% | 49.12% | 73.59% | - |
| EBITDA | 762.7M | 716.5M | 675.2M | 415.5M | 334.4M | 407.7M | 354.7M | 307.3M | 312.5M | 261M | 251.5M | 255M | 160.5M | 216.4M | 193.76M | 181.33M | 160.72M | 156.63M | 165.12M | 138.51M | 92.5M | 54.75M | 25.96M | -3.63M | -2.79M | 91.23M | 74.97M |
| EBITDA Margin % | 30.41% | 29.3% | 29.68% | 20.38% | 17.88% | 23.99% | 25.53% | 26.06% | 30.64% | 28.63% | 31.49% | 32.33% | 21.12% | 30.99% | 29.43% | 28.72% | 28.94% | 32.7% | 32.86% | 31.83% | 29.35% | 24.11% | 14.45% | -2.6% | -2.55% | 100% | 100% |
| EBITDA Growth % | 9.46% | 6.12% | 62.5% | 24.25% | -17.98% | 14.94% | 15.42% | -1.66% | 19.73% | 3.78% | -1.37% | 58.88% | -25.83% | 11.68% | 6.86% | 12.82% | 2.61% | -5.14% | 19.21% | 49.74% | 68.97% | 110.89% | 814.95% | -30% | -103.06% | 21.68% | - |
| D&A (Non-Cash Add-back) | 194.3M | 189.9M | 190.4M | 184.9M | 166.6M | 150.7M | 139.5M | 117.7M | 96.7M | 91.2M | 70.7M | 64.4M | 54.9M | 45.7M | 43.1M | 42.91M | 39.66M | 31.96M | 26M | 21.26M | 14.97M | 8.27M | 8.22M | 7.12M | 5.55M | 0 | 0 |
| EBIT | 579M | 539M | 541.2M | 233.2M | 159M | 259.2M | 294.1M | 207.2M | 234.7M | 169.8M | 226.4M | 194.2M | 114.5M | 170.7M | 153.94M | 141.44M | 128.07M | 127.95M | 139.12M | 117.25M | 77.53M | 46.48M | 17.73M | -10.75M | -8.34M | 91.23M | 74.97M |
| Net Interest Income | -36.9M | -28.6M | -37.7M | -42.7M | -26.7M | -7M | -9.5M | -6.3M | 500K | -3.6M | 300K | 1.3M | 2.1M | 2.71M | 5.15M | 2.36M | 2.44M | 3.02M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Income | 9.8M | 11.4M | 12.2M | 9M | 1.7M | 1.7M | 1.6M | 2.4M | 2.3M | 1.9M | 1.8M | 1.8M | 2.6M | 2.94M | 5.46M | 3.68M | 2.72M | 3.36M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Expense | 46.7M | 40M | 49.9M | 51.7M | 28.4M | 8.7M | 11.1M | 8.7M | 1.8M | 5.5M | 1.5M | 500K | 500K | 228K | 311K | 1.32M | 281K | 348K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Income/Expense | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pretax Income | 531.5M | 495.7M | 473.9M | 174.1M | 127M | 255.9M | 283.3M | 197.6M | 230.8M | 179.8M | 224.7M | 195.5M | 114M | 179.4M | 155.65M | 141.97M | 129.21M | 128.77M | 144.69M | 125.18M | 81.69M | 49.68M | 19.54M | -8.95M | -3.13M | -15.71M | -41.35M |
| Pretax Margin % | 21.19% | 20.27% | 20.83% | 8.54% | 6.79% | 15.06% | 20.39% | 16.76% | 22.63% | 19.72% | 28.14% | 24.78% | 15% | 25.69% | 23.64% | 22.49% | 23.27% | 26.88% | 28.8% | 28.77% | 25.92% | 21.87% | 10.88% | -6.41% | -2.85% | -17.23% | -55.15% |
| Income Tax | 128.7M | 121.5M | 104M | 33M | 56.5M | 62.6M | 59.7M | 45.6M | 47.8M | 42.9M | 63.7M | 62.7M | 35.7M | 56M | 52.88M | 43.66M | 42.76M | 47.09M | 51.76M | 51.26M | 32.98M | 20.22M | 11.57M | 2.95M | -311K | -5.28M | -10.51M |
| Effective Tax Rate % | 24.21% | 24.51% | 21.95% | 18.95% | 44.49% | 24.46% | 21.07% | 23.08% | 20.71% | 23.86% | 28.35% | 32.07% | 31.32% | 31.22% | 33.97% | 30.75% | 33.09% | 36.57% | 35.77% | 40.95% | 40.37% | 40.71% | 59.23% | -32.97% | 9.95% | 33.57% | 25.42% |
| Net Income | 402.8M | 374.2M | 369.9M | 141.1M | 70.5M | 193.3M | 223.6M | 152M | 183M | 136.9M | 161M | 132.6M | 78.3M | 123.5M | 108.08M | 98.36M | 86.37M | 82.46M | 92.53M | 73.92M | 51.76M | 31.12M | 8.81M | -11.9M | 446K | -9.29M | -28.64M |
| Net Margin % | 16.06% | 15.3% | 16.26% | 6.92% | 3.77% | 11.38% | 16.09% | 12.89% | 17.94% | 15.02% | 20.16% | 16.81% | 10.3% | 17.69% | 16.42% | 15.58% | 15.55% | 17.21% | 18.42% | 16.99% | 16.42% | 13.7% | 4.9% | -8.53% | 0.41% | -10.19% | -38.2% |
| Net Income Growth % | 4.84% | 1.16% | 162.15% | 100.14% | -63.53% | -13.55% | 47.11% | -16.94% | 33.67% | -14.97% | 21.42% | 69.35% | -36.6% | 14.27% | 9.88% | 13.88% | 4.75% | -10.89% | 25.18% | 42.81% | 66.35% | 253.24% | 174.04% | -2767.49% | 104.8% | 67.54% | - |
| Net Income (Continuing) | 402.8M | 374.2M | 369.9M | 141.1M | 70.5M | 193.3M | 223.6M | 152M | 183M | 136.9M | 161M | 132.8M | 78.3M | 123.4M | 102.77M | 98.31M | 86.46M | 81.16M | 91.21M | 72.23M | 51.5M | 31.12M | 7.97M | -11.9M | -2.82M | -9.29M | -28.64M |
| Discontinued Operations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.19M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300K | 300K | 902K | 1.03M | 1.38M | 1.65M | 1.11M | 1.17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EPS (Diluted) | 10.25 | 8.87 | 8.58 | 3.29 | 1.64 | 4.45 | 5.18 | 3.52 | 4.26 | 3.18 | 3.72 | 3.00 | 1.74 | 2.66 | 2.20 | 1.92 | 1.70 | 1.65 | 1.88 | 1.53 | 1.11 | 0.70 | 0.21 | -0.31 | -0.09 | -0.22 | -0.75 |
| EPS Growth % | 10.34% | 3.38% | 160.79% | 100.61% | -63.15% | -14.09% | 47.16% | -17.37% | 33.96% | -14.52% | 24% | 72.41% | -34.59% | 20.91% | 14.58% | 12.94% | 3.03% | -12.23% | 22.88% | 37.84% | 58.57% | 233.33% | 167.74% | -244.44% | 59.09% | 70.67% | - |
| EPS (Basic) | - | 8.93 | 8.64 | 3.31 | 1.65 | 4.50 | 5.22 | 3.56 | 4.30 | 3.21 | 3.74 | 3.00 | 1.75 | 2.68 | 2.23 | 1.96 | 1.75 | 1.71 | 2.01 | 1.71 | 1.26 | 0.79 | 0.23 | -0.31 | 0.01 | -0.24 | -0.75 |
| Diluted Shares Outstanding | 39.3M | 42.2M | 43.1M | 42.9M | 42.9M | 43.4M | 43.2M | 43.2M | 43M | 43M | 43.3M | 44.3M | 44.9M | 46.5M | 49.15M | 50.99M | 50.55M | 49.79M | 49.21M | 48.16M | 46.72M | 44.46M | 41.86M | 38.38M | 40.36M | 41.36M | 38.39M |
| Basic Shares Outstanding | 39.1M | 41.9M | 42.8M | 42.6M | 42.6M | 43M | 42.9M | 42.7M | 42.6M | 42.7M | 43M | 44.2M | 44.7M | 46.2M | 48.5M | 50.03M | 49.25M | 48.11M | 46.14M | 43.22M | 41.18M | 39.39M | 38.42M | 38.38M | 38.34M | 38.3M | 38.39M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | - | 20.55% | 18.73% | 45.29% | 87.23% | 28.04% | 22.99% | 31.45% | 23.28% | 28.71% | 23.54% | 25.41% | 38.95% | 14.11% | 23.58% | 10.21% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Cyclicality in credit ratings
As evidenced by the quarterly progression from $538.7 million in 2023Q4 to $644.8 million in 2026Q1, Morningstar has demonstrated a steady upward revenue trajectory, largely supported by the scaling of its license-based segments like PitchBook despite broader market volatility affecting its asset-based and transaction-based revenue streams.
The revenue growth appears durable, suggesting that the company's shift toward recurring subscription models is successfully offsetting the inherent cyclicality of its credit rating and investment management businesses. Investors should monitor whether this organic growth can sustain its current pace as the company faces tougher year-over-year comparisons in the private market data space.
According to the provided financial data, Morningstar has maintained gross margins consistently within the 60% to 63% range over the last ten quarters, indicating a stable cost-to-revenue relationship that reflects the high fixed-cost nature of its specialized data collection and research operations.
This margin profile suggests that the company possesses a degree of pricing power, though it remains lower than pure-play index providers like MSCI. The lack of significant margin expansion implies that incremental revenue is being reinvested into headcount and product development rather than flowing directly to the bottom line.
Based on reported figures, operating margins have fluctuated between 17.1% and 28.5% over the past ten quarters, suggesting that Morningstar has yet to achieve the significant operating leverage typically expected from a mature software-enabled data provider as SG&A expenses continue to scale alongside top-line growth.
The inconsistency in operating margin expansion warrants further investigation into the company's expense discipline, particularly regarding the integration costs of recent acquisitions. It appears that management is prioritizing market share capture and product ecosystem expansion over immediate margin optimization, which may limit short-term earnings growth.
As reported in recent financial statements, the volatility in net income is frequently exacerbated by fluctuating stock-based compensation charges, which reached $18.6 million in 2025Q3, creating a disconnect between GAAP earnings and the underlying operational performance of the core research and data business units.
Investors should be cautious when evaluating EPS growth, as the impact of these non-cash charges can mask the true profitability of the firm. The variability in tax rates and non-operating items further complicates the assessment of earnings quality, suggesting that adjusted metrics may provide a more accurate view of operational health.
While the company exhibits steady growth, a critical challenge to the current narrative is the potential for margin compression if the high-margin DBRS credit rating business remains pressured by elevated interest rates, forcing a greater reliance on lower-margin segments to drive overall corporate revenue.
Short-sellers may focus on the company's inability to significantly expand operating margins despite its scale, questioning whether the competitive moat in qualitative research is sufficient to defend against more automated, lower-cost data competitors. The reliance on M&A to drive growth also introduces integration risks that could weigh on future profitability.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying MORN stock.
Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) is profitable, generating $374.2M in net income for the fiscal year ending 2025 with a net profit margin of 15.3%.
Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) reported an operating income of $526.6M, resulting in an operating profit margin of 21.5%. This margin reflects the operational efficiency of the business before interest and taxes.
Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) generated $1.49B in gross profit for the year, representing a gross profit margin of 61.0%. This demonstrates the company's core pricing power and production efficiency.