Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 

FORM 10-K 
|X|   Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003 
|_|   Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from _____ to _____ 

Commission File Number: 1-11869 
FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
 	 	 	
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)	 	13-3362547
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)	
 	 	 	
One Greenwich Plaza, Greenwich, Connecticut
(Address of principal executive office)	 	06830
(Zip Code)	
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 863-1500 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock
Name of each exchange on which registered: New York Stock Exchange 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes |X|   No |_| 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. |_| 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes |X|   No |_| 
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based upon the closing price of a share of the registrant’s common stock on February 28, 2003, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on that date, was $500,958,080. 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, as of November 7, 2003, was 33,816,445. 

Table of Contents
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 
Portions of the Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003 are incorporated by reference into Parts I and II of this Annual Report. 
Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement dated November 25, 2003 and relating to the registrant’s Fiscal 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on January 8, 2004 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report. 
2 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
									
PART I	
	ITEM 1. BUSINESS	
	ITEM 2. PROPERTIES	
	ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	
	ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS	
PART II	
	ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS	
	ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA	
	ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION	
	ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	
	ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA	
	ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES	
	ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	
PART III	
	ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT	
	ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION	
	ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT	
	ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS	
PART IV	
	ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K	
SIGNATURES	
EX-13.1 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders	
EX-21 Subsidiaries of the Company	
EX-23 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP	
EX-31.1 Section 302 Certification of CEO	
EX-31.2 Section 302 Certification of CFO	
EX-32.1 Section 906 Certification of CEO	
EX-32.2 Section 906 Certification of CFO	

Table of Contents
FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC. 
FORM 10-K 
For The Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2003 
PART I 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	Page	
 	 	 	 		
ITEM 1.	 	Business 	 	 	4	 	
 		
ITEM 2.	 	Properties 	 	 	5	 	
 		
ITEM 3.	 	Legal Proceedings 	 	 	5	 	
 		
ITEM 4.	 	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 	 	 	5	 	
 		
PART II 	
 		
ITEM 5.	 	Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters 	 	 	6	 	
 		
ITEM 6.	 	Selected Financial Data 	 	 	6	 	
 		
ITEM 7.	 	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation 	 	 	6	 	
 		
ITEM 7A.	 	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 	 	 	6	 	
 		
ITEM 8.	 	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 	 	 	6	 	
 		
ITEM 9.	 	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures 	 	 	6	 	
 		
ITEM 9A.	 	Controls and Procedures 	 	 	6	 	
 		
PART III	
 		
ITEM 10.	 	Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 	 	 	7	 	
 		
ITEM 11.	 	Executive Compensation 	 	 	9	 	
 		
ITEM 12.	 	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 	 	 	9	 	
 		
ITEM 13.	 	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 	 	 	9	 	
 		
PART IV 	
 		
ITEM 15.	 	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K 	 	 	10-11	 	
 		
Signatures 	 	12	 	
3 

Table of Contents
PART I 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS 
		
 	FactSet Research Systems Inc. (the “Company” or “FactSet”) supplies financial intelligence to the global investment community. The Company combines more than 200 databases, including data from tens of thousands of companies as well as multiple stock markets, research firms and governments, into a single online source of information and analytics. Clients have simultaneous access to data from all the sources, which they can combine and download into spreadsheets and analyze using FactSet or custom-built applications.	
		
 	Over 50 database suppliers supply financial information to the Company. FactSet seeks to maintain contractual relationships with a minimum of two database providers for each type of financial data, when possible. Database supplier contracts are generally renewable annually and may often be terminated on one year’s notice. A significant number of the Company’s database suppliers are in direct competition with each other and in some cases, with FactSet. Data fees are either billed directly to FactSet or its clients. Financial data fees billed to the Company are on a fixed or royalty (per client) cost basis. During fiscal 2003, FactSet acquired Mergerstat, a leading provider of merger and acquisitions content. This data content provides important research information to the Company’s investment banking clients.	
		
 	Clients obtain access to the Company’s mainframe centers using the Company’s private wide area network. FactSet’s wide area network provides a high-speed direct link between the client’s local network and the vast data libraries and powerful applications found on the Company’s mainframes. Clients purchase the right to access the Company’s system through the private wide area network for an annual fee.	
		
 	An important part of the Company’s strategy to maintain long-term client relations involves both consulting services and client training. Through the Company’s call center system and various client visits during the fiscal year, consulting and sales teams receive current information about client activities which enable them to provide better service. The Company highly encourages its clients to take part in the training programs, conducted either at the client’s location or a FactSet office. FactSet’s training programs are designed to give clients a comprehensive understanding of the service. The training programs augment the consulting services available around the clock through the Company’s Help Desk.	
		
 	FactSet competes in the financial information services industry, which includes both large and well-capitalized companies, as well as smaller, niche firms. International and domestic competitors include market data suppliers, news and information providers and many of the database providers that supply the Company with financial information included in the FactSet system. Competitors and competitive products in the United States include online, CD-ROM, and Internet database suppliers and integrators and their applications, such as The Thomson Corporation, Bloomberg L.P., FAME, Barra Inc., Capital IQ Inc., COMPUSTAT® (a product of Standard & Poors, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies), and Reuters Group PLC. Datastream, owned by The Thomson Corporation, and RIMES are the Company’s primary international competitors. Many of these firms offer products or services which are similar to those sold by the Company.	
		
 	During fiscal 2003, FactSet spent $8.5 million on capital expenditures, consisting mostly of mainframe equipment for the Company’s two data centers and computer equipment for FactSet’s workforce. Included in the fiscal 2003 capital expenditure purchases is the initial roll-out of Hewlett Packard’s latest generation of Marvel mainframe computers.	
		
 	In fiscal 2003, the Company enhanced many of its applications in order to continue to provide a premium offering to clients. Portfolio Analysis was enhanced by enabling clients with balanced portfolios to perform attribution analysis on the fixed income portion of their portfolio. An additional enhancement to Portfolio Analysis was the release of Portfolio Analysis Batcher, which allows clients to automate the generation and delivery of portfolio analysis reports. Marquee was enhanced during fiscal 2003 by enabling clients to access quotes from all major U.S. stock exchanges, a variety of newswires and Wall Street Research Reports. Other enhancements to Marquee include the ability to set up news and price movement alerts, display NASDAQ® Level II quotes and to display the real-time contributions to return for a client portfolio versus a benchmark portfolio.	
4 

Table of Contents
		
 	Additional enhancements during fiscal 2003 include the release of Public Information Book Builder, an application used by bankers to assemble rapidly a detailed overview of selected companies and an enhanced version of Active Publishing Workstation. Also in fiscal 2003, the Company released FAST, an acronym for FactSet Application Service Technology. FAST is a product built upon the Company’s Vision database system that allows clients to automate uniquely complex calculation processes by using the FactSet data center in lieu of their own hardware and software infrastructure.	
		
 	The number of employees of FactSet and its subsidiaries totaled 809 as of November 7, 2003. At August 31, 2003, the Company had 793 employees, compared to 685 at August 31, 2002.	
		
 	The Company’s website address is www.factset.com. The Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge through a link on the “Investor Relations” section of our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company’s Code of Ethical Conduct for Financial Managers is posted in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website. Any amendments to or waivers of such code required to be publicly disclosed by the applicable exchange rules or the Securities and Exchange Commission will be posted on the Company’s website. FactSet was incorporated in Delaware in 1984.	
		
 	Additional information with respect to the Company’s business is included in FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders incorporated herein by reference:	
 	 	 	
Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data	 	page 10	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	 	pages 11-18	
Note 1 to Consolidated Financial Statements entitled “Organization and Nature of Business”	 	page 26	
Note 3 to Consolidated Financial Statements entitled “Restatement”	 	page 29	
Note 12 to Consolidated Financial Statements entitled “Net Capital”	 	page 34	
Note 15 to Consolidated Financial Statements entitled “Segments”	 	pages 36-38	
		
 	In addition to the other information contained in this Form 10-K, you should carefully consider the Forward-Looking Factors on pages 17 and 18 of FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders in evaluating the Company and its business.	
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES 
		
 	Refer to Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements entitled “Lease Commitments” on page 34 of FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders for properties information.	
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 
		
 	The Company is not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.	
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS 
		
 	No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.	
5 

Table of Contents
PART II 
ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 
		
 	The following information included in FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference:	
 	 	 	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis — “Share Repurchase Program”	 	page 14	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Forward-Looking Factors entitled “Dividend Payment”	 	page 17	
Note 4 to Consolidated Financial Statements entitled “Common Stock and Earnings Per Share”	 	page 30	
Quarterly Financial Data, Common Stock and Quarterly Stock Prices	 	pages 40-42	
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 
		
 	Refer to the Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data included on page 10 of FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.	
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION 
		
 	Refer to the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation (the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis”) included on pages 11 through 18 of FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.	
ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 
		
 	Refer to the Management’s Discussion and Analysis – Forward-Looking Factors entitled “Market Sensitivities” included on page 18 of FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.	
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 
		
 	Refer to the following information included in FactSet’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference:	
 	 	 	
Consolidated Statements of Income	 	page 19	
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	 	pages 20-21	
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity	 	pages 22-23	
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	 	pages 24-25	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	pages 26-38	
Report of Independent Accountants	 	page 39	
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES 
        None. 
ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 
		
 	Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. As of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 10-K, the Company’s management, under the supervision of and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that all material	
6 

Table of Contents
		
 	information required to be filed in this annual report has been made known to them in a timely fashion. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the internal controls subsequent to the date of that evaluation.	
		
 	Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our fourth quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.	
PART III 
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT 
		
 	The Directors and Executive Officers of FactSet Research Systems Inc. as of November 25, 2003 were as follows:	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Name	 	Age	 	Position with the Company	
	 		 		
Philip A. Hadley	 	 	41	 	 	Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Director	
Charles J. Snyder	 	 	61	 	 	Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director	
Michael F. DiChristina	 	 	41	 	 	President, Chief Operating Officer and Director	
Townsend Thomas	 	 	40	 	 	Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer	
Michael D. Frankenfield	 	 	39	 	 	Senior Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing	
Ernest S. Wong	 	 	49	 	 	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary	
Scott A. Billeadeau	 	 	42	 	 	Director	
Joseph E. Laird, Jr.	 	 	58	 	 	Director	
James J. McGonigle	 	 	40	 	 	Director	
John C. Mickle	 	 	77	 	 	Director	
Walter F. Siebecker	 	 	62	 	 	Director	
Howard E. Wille	 	 	75	 	 	Director	
		
 	Philip A. Hadley, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Mr. Hadley was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FactSet on September 5, 2000. Mr. Hadley joined FactSet in 1985 as a Consultant. From 1986 to 1989, Mr. Hadley was our Vice President, Sales. From 1989 to 2000, Mr. Hadley was Senior Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing with FactSet. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hadley was employed by Cargill Corporation. Mr. Hadley received a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Iowa and is a CFA charterholder. Mr. Hadley has served on the Board since September 2000.	
		
 	Charles J. Snyder, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director. Mr. Snyder, a co-founder of FactSet in 1978, retired as President and Chief Technology Officer of the Company on August 31, 1999. At that time he became Vice Chairman of the Board and agreed to continue as a consultant to FactSet’s engineering and technology groups. In conjunction with FactSet’s announcement of Howard Wille’s retirement as Chief Executive Officer of FactSet effective May 22, 2000, Mr. Snyder was named our interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Snyder acted as interim Chief Executive Officer of FactSet until September 5, 2000, at which time Philip A. Hadley was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. From 1964 to 1977, Mr. Snyder worked for Faulkner, Dawkins & Sullivan, Inc., eventually becoming Director of Computer Research, a position he retained with Shearson Hayden Stone, Inc. after its acquisition of Faulkner, Dawkins & Sullivan, Inc. in 1977. Mr. Snyder has been a Director of FactSet since its formation in 1978.	
		
 	Michael F. DiChristina, President, Chief Operating Officer and Director. Mr. DiChristina, age 41, joined FactSet in 1986 as a Software Engineer and held the position of Director of Software Engineering from 1990 to 1999. Prior to joining FactSet, Mr. DiChristina was a Software Engineer at Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. DiChristina received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. DiChristina has served on the Board since March 2000.	
7 

Table of Contents
		
 	Townsend Thomas, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Thomas joined the Company in 1985 as a Software Engineer and held the position of Director of Systems Engineering from 1990 to 1999. From 1999 until he assumed his current role, Mr. Thomas was the Director of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Thomas received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.	
		
 	Michael D. Frankenfield, Senior Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing. Mr. Frankenfield joined the Company in 1989 within the Consulting Services Group. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Frankenfield held the position of Vice President, Sales with the Company. From 1995 to 2000 Mr. Frankenfield was Director of Investment Banking Sales with the Company. From 2000 until he assumed his current role, Mr. Frankenfield was Director of Sales. Mr. Frankenfield received a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and is a CFA charterholder.	
		
 	Ernest S. Wong, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. Wong joined the Company in his current position in June 1996 and assumed the role of Treasurer in September 2002. Between 1991 and 1996, he held several positions with Montedison SpA, including Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of Montedison USA, Inc. and Director of Corporate Finance of Montedison Corporation of America. From 1988 to 1991, he was Vice President in the North American Banking Group of The First National Bank of Chicago, and prior to that time served as Manager of Domestic Finance at PepsiCo, Inc. and Second Vice President in the Corporate Bank of The Chase Manhattan Bank. Mr. Wong received a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia University Graduate School of Business.	
		
 	Scott A. Billeadeau, Director. Mr. Billeadeau, is a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager with Paladin Investment Associates, LLC (formerly Investment Advisers, Inc.). During 2003, Paladin merged with Fifth Third Bancorp. Mr. Billeadeau assumed the role of Senior Fund Manager at Fifth Third Bancorp and will continue to serve in his existing roles at Paladin until the integration of Paladin and Fifth Third Bancorp is complete. Prior to joining Paladin, Mr. Billeadeau managed all the small-cap and mid-cap assets for TradeStreet Investment Associates, the investment management subsidiary of Bank of America. Mr. Billeadeau began his career in 1985 with American Express Financial Advisers, previously IDS Financial Services, Inc., where he was a quantitative analyst. Mr. Billeadeau received a B.A. in Economics from Princeton University and is a CFA charterholder. Mr. Billeadeau is a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and has served on the Board since January 2001. He is also the Lead Independent Director.	
		
 	Joseph E. Laird, Jr., Director. Mr. Laird serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Laird Squared LLC, an investment banking company that he formed in January 1999, exclusively to serve the database information services industry. From 1989 to 1999, Mr. Laird was a Managing Director of Veronis, Suhler & Associates, a leading specialty merchant bank that serves the media and information industries. From 1982 to 1989, he was an institutional equity salesman and a senior securities analyst of database information services for Hambrecht & Quist. From 1975 to 1982, Mr. Laird was an institutional equity salesman and investment strategist for PaineWebber Mitchell Hutchins. Mr. Laird is also a director of The Advisory Board Company, which specializes in best practices research and analysis related to the management of companies in the health care industry. Mr. Laird is the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, a member of the Nominating and Corporate Goverance Committee and has served on the Board since 1993.	
		
 	James J. McGonigle, Director. Mr. McGonigle serves as a director and Chairman of the Board of The Corporate Executive Board Company, which specializes in providing to corporations best practices research and analysis focusing on corporate strategy, operations and general management issues. Mr. McGonigle has served as Chairman of the Board of The Corporate Executive Board Company since March 2001. From 1998 to March 2001, Mr. McGonigle served as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of The Corporate Executive Board Company. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. McGonigle served as the General Manager of the corporate division of The Advisory Board Company. Mr. McGonigle was a consultant in the Financial Institutions Group at McKinsey & Company from 1990 to 1995. Mr. McGonigle received a B.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Mr. McGonigle has served on the Board since May 2002 and is a member of the Compensation Committee.	
8 

Table of Contents
		
 	John C. Mickle, Director. Mr. Mickle has been President of Sullivan, Morrissey & Mickle Capital Management Corporation since 1978. Mr. Mickle is an experienced investment advisor, having held prior positions with Shearson Hayden Stone, Inc.; UBS-DB Corporation; and Faulkner, Dawkins & Sullivan, Inc. Mr. Mickle is also a director of Mickelberry Communications Inc. Mr. Mickle is the Chairman of the Audit Committee, a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and has served on the Board since November 1997.	
		
 	Walter F. Siebecker, Director. Mr. Siebecker serves as President of Burgess Consulting LLC. Mr. Siebecker was a managing director of the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (“DTC”). He joined the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”), a subsidiary of DTC, in 1996 as a Managing Director in charge of the organization’s Annuity Processing Service. Mr. Siebecker’s background is in retail and institutional investment services in the domestic and global markets. Prior to joining NSCC, Mr. Siebecker was a consultant to the Trading Services Division at Lehman Brothers and spent 16 years at Salomon Smith Barney Inc., where he was responsible for the Operations Division as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Siebecker is a member of the Audit Committee and has served on the Board since November 1997.	
		
 	Howard E. Wille, Director. Mr. Wille was a co-founder of FactSet in 1978 and held the position of Chief Executive Officer from that time until May 22, 2000, the date on which he retired from active employment with the Company. Mr. Wille continued to serve as the non-executive Chairman of the Board of FactSet until August 31, 2000. From 1966 to 1977, Mr. Wille was a Partner and Director of Research at Faulkner, Dawkins & Sullivan, Inc., a Wall Street investment firm, and held a managerial position with Shearson Hayden Stone, Inc. after its acquisition of Faulkner, Dawkins & Sullivan, Inc. in 1977. He was President and Chief Investment Officer of Piedmont Advisory Corporation from 1961 to 1966 and, prior to that time served as a securities analyst, investment manager and investment counselor for several firms. Mr. Wille has been a Director of FactSet since its formation in 1978.	
		
 	The information set forth under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” contained on page 5 of the definitive Proxy Statement dated November 25, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference.	
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 
		
 	The information set forth under the captions “Information Regarding Named Executive Officer Compensation” and “Compensation Pursuant to Stock Options” contained on pages 8 and 9 of the definitive Proxy Statement dated November 25, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference.	
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 
		
 	The information set forth under the caption “Information Regarding Beneficial Ownership of Principal Shareholders, Directors and Management” contained on pages 6 and 7 of the definitive Proxy Statement dated November 25, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference.	
ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS 
		
 	The information set forth under the caption “Information Regarding the Board of Directors and Related Committees” on pages 1 through 4 and under the caption “Employment Agreements” on page 11 of the definitive Proxy Statement dated November 25, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference.	
9 

Table of Contents
PART IV 
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K 
   (a)  The following documents are filed as part of this report: 
		
 	The following information from FactSet Research Systems Inc.’s fiscal year 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated by reference under Items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 7A, and 8 and are filed as part of this report as part of Exhibit 13.1:	
 	 	 	
Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data	 	page 10	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis	 	pages 11-18	
Consolidated Statements of Income	 	page 19	
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	 	pages 20-21	
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity	 	pages 22-23	
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	 	pages 24-25	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	pages 26-38	
Report of Independent Accountants	 	page 39	
Quarterly Financial Data, Common Stock and Quarterly Stock Prices	 	pages 40-42	
 		
The following information from FactSet Research Systems Inc.’s definitive Proxy Statement dated November 25, 2003 is incorporated by reference under Items 10, 11, 12 and 13:	
 		
Information Regarding the Board of Directors and Related Committees	 	pages 1-4	
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance	 	page 5	
Information Regarding Beneficial Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Directors and Management	 	pages 6-7	
Information Regarding Named Executive Officer Compensation	 	page 8	
Compensation Pursuant to Stock Options	 	page 9	
Employment Agreements	 	page 11	
   (b)  Reports on Form 8-K 
      We furnished one report in Form 8-K during our fourth quarter ended August 31, 2003. Information regarding the item reported on is as follows: 
 	 	 	 	 	
Date furnished	 	Item No.	 	Description	
	 		 		
August 1, 2003	 	Items 7 and 12 	 	FactSet Research Systems Reports Record Revenues for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2003 (Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition for this period were furnished with this report.)	
10 

Table of Contents
   (c)  Exhibit Listing 
 	 	 	
EXHIBIT NUMBER	 	DESCRIPTION	
	 		
3.1	 	Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1)	
3.12	 	Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation (2)	
3.2	 	By-laws (3)	
4.1	 	Form of Common Stock (1)	
10.1	 	Letter of Agreement between the Company and Ernest S. Wong (1)	
10.2	 	Amendment to 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated March 28, 2003 (4)	
10.3	 	Amendment to the Three-Year Credit Agreement (2)	
10.4	 	Retirement Agreement between the Company and Howard E. Wille (3)	
10.5	 	The FactSet Research Systems Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan and 1996 Stock Option Plan (5)	
10.6	 	The FactSet Research Systems Inc. Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (6)	
10.7	 	The FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan (7)	
10.8	 	The FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (8)	
13.1	 	The Company’s fiscal 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders	
21	 	Subsidiaries of the Company	
23	 	Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP	
31.1	 	Section 302 Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
31.2	 	Section 302 Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
32.1	 	Section 906 Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
32.2	 	Section 906 Certification of Principal Financial Officer	

(1)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-4238).	
 		
(2)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2001.	
 		
(3)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of fiscal year 2000.	
 		
(4)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of fiscal year 2003.	
 		
(5)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-22319).	
 		
(6)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-59839).	
 		
(7)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-56870).	
 		
(8)	 	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-57880).	
11 

Table of Contents
SIGNATURES 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Greenwich, State of Connecticut, on November 25, 2003. 
FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC. 
/s/ ERNEST S. WONG 

Ernest S. Wong,
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on November 25, 2003. 
 	 	 	
SIGNATURE	 	TITLE	
	 		
/s/ PHILIP A. HADLEY

Philip A. Hadley	 	Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Director	
 		
/s/ CHARLES J. SNYDER

Charles J. Snyder	 	Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director	
 		
/s/ MICHAEL F. DICHRISTINA

Michael F. DiChristina	 	President, Chief Operating Officer and Director	
 		
/s/ TOWNSEND THOMAS

Townsend Thomas	 	Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer	
 		
/s/ MICHAEL D. FRANKENFIELD

Michael D. Frankenfield	 	Senior Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing	
 		
/s/ ERNEST S. WONG

Ernest S. Wong	 	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary	
 		
/s/ SCOTT A. BILLEADEAU

Scott A. Billeadeau	 	Director, Lead Independent Director	
 		
/s/ JOSEPH E. LAIRD, JR.

Joseph E. Laird, Jr.	 	Director	
 		
/s/ JAMES J. McGONIGLE

James J. McGonigle	 	Director	
 		
/s/ JOHN C. MICKLE

John C. Mickle	 	Director	
 		
/s/ WALTER F. SIEBECKER

Walter F. Siebecker	 	Director	
 		
/s/ HOWARD E. WILLE

Howard E. Wille	 	Director	
12 
Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
									
Management’s Discussion and Analysis	
Consolidated Statements of Income	
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity	
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	
EX-13.1 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders	
EX-21 Subsidiaries of the Company	
EX-23 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP	
EX-31.1 Section 302 Certification of CEO	
EX-31.2 Section 302 Certification of CFO	
EX-32.1 Section 906 Certification of CEO	
EX-32.2 Section 906 Certification of CFO	

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Financial Highlights	 	Thousands, except percentages and per share data ½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	% Change	
	 		 		 		
Revenues (Restated)(1)	 	$	222,295	 	 	$	198,294	 	 	 	12.1	%	
Income from operations	 	 	76,727	 	 	 	61,918	(3)	 	 	23.9	%	
Income before income taxes	 	 	79,016	 	 	 	64,237	(3)	 	 	23.0	%	
Net income	 	 	51,438	(2)	 	 	40,848	(4)	 	 	25.9	%	
	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Per Share Data	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Diluted earnings per common share	 	$	1.48	(2)	 	$	1.17	(4)	 	 	26.5	%	
Dividends declared per common share	 	$	0.22	 	 	$	0.18	 	 	 	22.2	%	
Weighted average common shares (diluted)	 	 	34,816	 	 	 	34,862	 	 	 	 	 	
	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Performance Ratios	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating margin	 	 	34.5	%	 	 	31.2	%(3)	 	 	 	 	
Pretax margin	 	 	35.5	%	 	 	32.4	%(3)	 	 	 	 	
Net margin	 	 	23.1	%(2)	 	 	20.6	%(4)	 	 	 	 	
Return on average stockholders’ equity	 	 	26.4	%	 	 	25.9	%	 	 	 	 	
(1)	 	See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
 		
(2)	 	Includes an income tax benefit of $1,274. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
 		
(3)	 	Includes a data center relocation charge of $904. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
 		
(4)	 	Includes a data center relocation charge of $904 and an income tax benefit of $893. See Notes 7 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
 
1 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
To Our Shareholders	 	FactSet Research Systems Inc. supplies financial intelligence to the global investment community. The company combines more than 200 databases, including data from tens of thousands of companies as well as multiple stock markets, research firms and governments, into a single online source of information and analytics. ½ Clients have simultaneous access to data from all the sources, which they can combine and download into spreadsheets and analyze using FactSet or custom-built applications. ½ FactSet is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, and employs more than 800 people in 17 locations in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. FactSet was founded in 1978 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDS.	
 	 	 	
25	 	In fiscal 2003, FactSet achieved another year of record results and celebrated its 25th year of operation. This was our seventh straight year of growth since our initial public offering in June 1996, and 23rd consecutive year of growth overall. Our key financial benchmarks demonstrate once again that we had a successful year, despite continued cost rationalization within the financial industry. Operating earnings, cash flows, net income and earnings per share all reached new highs as we have continued to exercise judicious cost controls in a moderate revenue growth rate environment.	
 	 	 	
 	 	Before presenting the financial and operational highlights of fiscal 2003, and in light of our 25th anniversary year, we thought we’d take a moment to relate some of the history of our company.	

1978	 	In September 1978, FactSet is founded. Howard Wille and Charles Snyder leave their Wall Street jobs to build a business, headquartered in New York, centered on computer-based financial analysis. 	 	 	1982	 	 	Charles Snyder develops an application to enable mainframes to deposit items from any database directly into a spreadsheet cell. 	 	 	1984	 	 	FactSet offers company screening capability.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1981	 	First FactSet client terminal is released,
allowing direct access to the Company
FactSet report. 	 	 	1983	 	 	FactSet downloading is upgraded to Lotus 1-2-3.	 	 	 	 	 	 	
2 

Table of Contents
80’s In the beginning, FactSet’s mission was to replace paper-based data distribution with an electronic delivery system. Taking advantage of the PC boom in the early 1980s, FactSet developed one of the industry’s first applications to let clients access and download online financial data directly to their local computers. This delivery system set the tone for FactSet’s emergence as a leader in the financial data market and is the foundation for many of the tools FactSet provides today. 

Celebrating 25 Years 
Back in 1978 when FactSet was founded, spreadsheets and personal computers were nascent, unproven technologies that were just beginning to revolutionize the way our clients accessed financial information. Most financial analysis was done on paper or with the use of bulky mainframe computers. Enterprising banks and asset managers were forced to hire teams of computer scientists to integrate financial data from disparate sources. Recognizing the need for financial data integration, analysis and delivery, Howard Wille and Charles Snyder started FactSet. 
Early on, FactSet invented new ways of delivering data to our clients. The company was at the forefront of the personal computer and telecommunication revolutions and was actually an online service as early as 1981. By 1983, FactSet had invented the technology to wed the growing power of the personal computer with the massive library of financial information in our data center. 
Beginning with revolutionary products such as Data Downloading, an application that seamlessly links personal computer spreadsheets to our Company’s computers, FactSet transformed the way our clients manipulated financial information. Using our software, research analysts and portfolio managers became empowered to cull through integrated financial and economic databases to perform complex financial modeling. In many respects, the flexibility and speed of the Data Downloading application are still a major source of our success, even now, twenty 

1985	 	Phil Hadley joins the FactSet consulting team. 	 	1988	 	Universal Screening® is released, allowing clients to use customized screening criteria. ½ FactSet’s speed and reliability increase with the implementation of Microcom 9600 baud modems. 	 	1989	 	Private Database Service (PDS) is released, allowing clients to store and integrate proprietary data such as portfolio holdings, estimates, and model scores into their daily analysis. 	 	1990	 	FactSet headquarters moves to Greenwich, Connecticut. ½ FactSet releases its first non-U.S. data offerings.	
 	 	 	
1986	 	Mike DiChristina joins the 
FactSet engineering team.	
3 

Table of Contents
90’s The 1990’s were a time of phenomenal growth for FactSet as we expanded our client base, number of employees and product suites. Technological advances enable us to enhance our data centers, wide area networks and telephony systems to provide high-speed connections, quality products and round-the-clock client support. Our focus on client satisfaction garnered record-breaking financial performance for FactSet. 

years after its introduction to our clients. Of course, today, we take advantage of vastly improved telecommunication networks and faster machines to get the job done. 
In recent years, FactSet has evolved from being a financial data integrator to emerge as a solution provider for our clients. We now have a suite of financial applications that solve the complex needs of our various user communities. Applications such as Portfolio Analysis and SPAR are now must-have tools for many of our asset management clients. 
The past quarter century saw FactSet evolve into a major player in the financial information industry by offering a growing suite of flexible and intuitive solutions backed up by an unparalleled commitment to client service. As the analytical requirements of the financial community expand over the next twenty-five years, FactSet will be there to respond with applications tailored to those needs, supported by the expertise and professional service our clients have come to expect from us. 
Financial Performance 
Our financial performance has been on target over the past year. In fiscal 2003, revenues, net of clearing fees of $8.0 million, rose 12.1% to $222.3 million. Revenues from FactSet’s European and Pacific Rim operations were $34.1 million and $10.1 million, an increase of 14% and 6%, respectively, from fiscal 2002. We were particularly pleased to see revenue growth in our international operations, especially given the challenging stock markets in most of the world’s money centers. Primary drivers for our success internationally were the increased acceptance of our portfolio analysis and data warehousing product lines. 
At the same time, operating income grew 23.9% to $76.7 million. Net income increased 25.9% to $51.4 million, while diluted earnings per share advanced 26.5% to $1.48. As we have reported, we recognized an income tax benefit of $1.3 million in the third quarter that resulted in a $0.04 increase in earnings per share for fiscal 2003. We worked hard this year to improve not only our revenues but also our operating margin. 
Our clients have continued to be pleased with our products and services. In fiscal 2003, the Company’s 970 clients, representing over 19,200 users, subscribed to services totaling $235.0 million in subscriptions, an 11.1% increase over $211.5 million in the prior year. For historical comparative purposes, net subscriptions at August 31, 2003 of $235.0 million would have been $242.7 million 

1991 	The first real-time earnings estimates databases are released on FactSet. ½ FactSet establishes client base in Europe. 	 	1992	 	FactSet for Windows is released. ½ Alpha Testing is released, allowing clients to analyze the relationship between multiple variables and subsequent investment returns over time. 	 	1995	 	FactSet launches IB Link and CompBuilder for the Investment Banking community. ½ Tokyo office opens. ½ The first benchmark database is released on FactSet.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	FactSet establishes client base
in the Asia Pacific region. 	 	1993	 	London office opens. ½ FactSet releases WAN connectivity. ½ San Mateo office opens.	
4 

Table of Contents
on a gross basis, after adding back $7.7 million in clearing fee recoveries. We define “subscriptions” at a given point in time as the forward-looking revenues for the next 12 months from all services being supplied to clients. 
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, FactSet changed the presentation of its revenues in order to report on a net rather than gross basis, as we discuss further below in the Management Discussion & Analysis section of our annual report. This change in presentation has no effect on current or previously reported operating income, net income or earnings per share. For comparative purposes, had fiscal 2003 net revenues of $222.3 million been reported on a gross basis, they would have been $230.3 million, after adding back $8.0 in recovered clearing broker fees. 
Operations 
FactSet continued to grow its business in both the United States and international markets during the fiscal 2003 year. Although the end of the fiscal year has seen a brightening in financial markets in the United States and abroad, during much of the year we still labored under difficult economic conditions. Nevertheless, our main growth drivers were new client additions, additional subscriptions to databases and value-added applications, international expansion and demand for FactSet’s Portfolio Analytics application. Subscriptions from overseas offices increased 9.4% to $46.5 million from $42.5 million in fiscal 2002, representing 19.8% of the consolidated total. Despite a still challenging business environment, we have continued to forge ahead in sales to new clients. Our existing clients have reaffirmed that they derive strong value from our offerings. Our client retention rate in fiscal 2003 once again exceeded 95%, consistent with prior years, and further evidence of the entrenchment of our service across our entire client base. 
The 970 clients that subscribe to our service represent a net increase of 58 new clients or 6.4% during fiscal 2003. The number of users of our product decreased 12.7% to 19,200. The continued slowdown in the investment banking industry during most of the year precipitated that decrease. Recent positive stock market performance may have helped stabilize this sector of the industry. This improvement has translated into a slight increase in the total FactSet users in the fourth quarter over the third quarter of this fiscal year. 

1996 	FactSet provides WAN connectivity via the Internet. ½ FactSet completes its public offering and begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol FDS. 	 	1997	 	Portfolio Management Workstation (PMW) is released, providing specialized tools for the global portfolio manager. ½ Economic Analysis is released, providing clients with charting and report-writing capabilities to analyze the market from a macro perspective. 	 	1998	 	Company Explorer is released, allowing clients access to a broad array of company within a single window. ½ FactSet increases its Asia Pacific presence by opening Hong Kong and Sydney offices. ½ FactSet increases its New York presence by launching an expanded data center and dedicated training facility.	
5 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
To Our Shareholders	 		
We continue to limit expenses wherever feasible without impacting our core business. Continued rationalization of all cost centers translated into a modest 6.7% increase in operating expenses during fiscal 2003, resulting in a 330 basis point expansion of our operating margin to 34.5%. Our major area of investment was in personnel, as we continued to hire bright and creative people to staff our engineering, consulting and content collection departments. Our employee count at the end of fiscal 2003 was 793 versus 685 in the prior year, a healthy increase of 15.8%. 
Technology 
We have continued to invest in our state-of-the-art data centers. This past year, we were able to improve dramatically the performance of our hardware and software systems by focusing largely on software performance and system architecture issues. We had modest capital expenditures this fiscal year once again, totaling $8.5 million. We were pleased to accomplish the first phase of our roll-out of Hewlett-Packard’s latest generation of Marvel mainframe computers, which accounted for a large portion of those expenses. We have been delighted with the performance of these new machines, which have enabled us to more than double the computing power within our data centers without negatively impacting our profitability. This upgrade will continue into fiscal year 2004 and should be complete by the end of our first fiscal quarter. We have also made additional hardware investments to the servers which power Marquee, the real-time news and quote application we released during fiscal 2002. With the added power behind Marquee, we hope to market that application even more broadly in the coming fiscal year. 
Portfolio Analysis 
FactSet’s Portfolio Analytics subscriptions increased to over 345 clients, accounting for over 2,500 users, as of August 31, 2003. Several large asset managers made strategic decisions to roll-out FactSet’s Portfolio Manager Workstation firm-wide during the year, helping to establish our application as the leader in our industry. Highlights of the year included the release of Portfolio Analysis Batcher, which allows our clients to automate the generation and delivery of portfolio analysis reports. Another enhancement enables clients with balanced portfolios to perform attribution analysis on the fixed income portion of their portfolio. SPAR, our portfolio style analysis application, and the Portfolio Optimizer application, experienced rapid acceptance in our client base and have helped round out 

1999	 	DIRECTIONS, FactSet’s easy-to-use interface, is released. ½ FactSet Online Assistant®, FactSet’s state-of-the-art Web-based help and reference system, is released. ½ FactSet offers 24-hour live telephone support. ½ FactSet is recognized on Business Week’s Hot Growth Companies list. ½ Boston office and training facility open. 	 	 	2000	 	FactSet acquires Insyte, the creator of Vision technology, a database management solution, expanding client access to advanced data analysis tools. ½ Howard Wille retires from FactSet. Phil Hadley is appointed Chief Executive Officer of FactSet.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Fixed Income Explorer is released, allowing clients to conduct in-depth analysis on an extensive universe of debt securities. ½ Chuck Snyder retires from FactSet. ½ Mike DiChristina is appointed President of FactSet.	 	 	 	 	 	
6 

Table of Contents
2000’s The millennium marked FactSet’s commitment to client needs with extensive product innovations. In addition to our core applications, such as Data Downloading and Universal Screening, FactSet now offers real-time news and data, unparalled portfolio analysis and comprehensive sell-side solutions. By expanding our product offerings and suite of data content, FactSet continues to provide new tools and more value to clients. 

our array of tools for predicting, dissecting and explaining portfolio performance. In November 2002, we held our second Annual Portfolio Manager’s Workstation User Conference in Atlanta, which was attended by more than one hundred clients. The third annual conference which was held from November 5 through 8, 2003, in San Diego, was equally successful. 
Real-time Quotes 
During fiscal 2003, we released a series of upgrades to Marquee. Marquee users can access quotes from all major U.S. stock exchanges, a variety of newswires and Wall Street research reports. Key new features include the ability to set up news and price movement alerts, display NASDAQ Level II quotes and to display the real-time contributions to return for a client portfolio versus a benchmark portfolio. The application works in concert with Directions, our flagship application, to create a powerful environment that merges the latest information from stock exchanges with the deep historical libraries accessible via Directions. All new clients will receive Marquee as part of the basic workstation feature-set, making the basic FactSet service ever more valuable. Existing clients have the option to upgrade any or all of their workstations to this higher level of service. 
Investment Banking 
The most challenging sector of our business was investment banking. Layoffs continued at most major banks through-out the year, though we did see some hiring in the industry during the summer of 2003. Recent stock market performance has begun to revive the stagnant initial public offering market, which may translate into a more healthy 2004. Client subscription growth on the investment banking side was flat during fiscal 2003. Nevertheless, our efforts in terms of personnel and new product development for the sell-side continued unabated, so that we will be well-positioned once that business sector returns to more robust levels. Product releases have included a new version of our Active Publishing Workstation and Public Information Book (PIB) Builder – an application used by bankers to rapidly assemble a detailed overview of selected companies. 
Data Warehousing 
Our Data Warehousing group, which facilitates the flow of client proprietary content to and from the FactSet online system, experienced healthy growth during 2003. Using FactSet’s Data Central application, our clients can upload portfolio holdings, stock ratings, earnings estimates and other numerical and textual information to our data centers. This information is not only warehoused at 

2001	 	FactSet acquires LionShares®, an institutional ownership database, offering a wide scope of holdings data. ½ FactSet launches a state-of-the-art data center in Manchester, New Hampshire. ½ FactSet increases its European presence by opening the Frankfurt office. ½ Chicago office and training facility open. 	 	 	2002	 	Data Central application is released, allowing clients to easily store, create and manage proprietary time-series databases. ½ FactSet MarqueeTM is released, allowing clients to combine traditional security-level analysis and streaming real-time news and quotes.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	FactSet hosts its first FactSet PMW User Conference, helping PMW clients to get more value from FactSet’s Portfolio Analytics tools.	 	 	 	 	 	
7 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	 	Philip A. Hadley
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer 	 	Michael F. DiChristina
President and Chief
Operating Officer 	 		
FactSet, but is available through all FactSet applications as an additional source of data, complementing the public data libraries we have available to all clients. An excellent example of proprietary content integration is the warehousing of client portfolio holdings on our system, which is in turn integrated with our security price and benchmark databases within our Portfolio Analysis application. 
During fiscal 2003, the Data Warehousing group also released FAST, an acronym for FactSet Application Service Technology. FAST is a product built upon our Vision database system that allows clients to automate uniquely complex calculation processes by using the FactSet data center in lieu of their own hardware and software infrastructure. 
Acquisition 
In January 2003, FactSet acquired the Mergerstat database of global merger and acquisition and related information. This content set is a vital research tool for our investment banking clients. As with our Lionshares acquisition of fiscal 2001, we have invested in the Mergerstat collection team to expand its efforts in international information gathering. The Mergerstat group also recently released FlashWire, a proprietary newswire that delivers the latest global merger and acquisition news. 
The next 25 years 
As we look forward to the next quarter century, our goal is to continue to grow FactSet into the premier financial information company in the world. We have already built a reputation for innovation and client service that is unparalleled in our industry. Our engineering and development groups continue to create and support innovative applications for our clients. Our recently established proprietary content group, which includes our Lionshares and Mergerstat databases, is rapidly gaining acceptance in our user community and has added another dimension to our service. In short, we have the potential to achieve any goal we set our sights on and we are determined to succeed. 
 
Philip A. Hadley
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
 
Michael F. DiChristina
President and Chief Operating Officer 

2003	 	Paris office opens. ½ FactSet acquires Mergerstat®, a leading provider of merger and acquisitions content. ½ FactSet hosts its first Application Development Conference, launching the release of FAST. ½ PIB is released, allowing clients the ability to quickly combine a variety of reports and news stories into a single electronic PDF document.	
 	 	FactSet celebrates its 25th anniversary. 	
 8 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data	Thousands, except per share data ½	 FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
The following section summarizes selected financial information of FactSet Research Systems Inc. Further detail is available in the Company’s Form 10-K, filed with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	 	2000	 	1999	
	 		 		 		 		 		
Revenues (Restated)(1)	 	$	222,295	 	 	$	198,294	 	 	$	167,555	 	 	$	126,462	 	 	$	97,335	 	
Income from operations	 	 	76,727	 	 	 	61,918	(3)	 	 	50,903	 	 	 	36,419	(5)	 	 	28,630	 	
Income before income taxes	 	 	79,016	 	 	 	64,237	(3)	 	 	54,246	 	 	 	39,576	(5)	 	 	30,617	 	
Net income	 	 	51,438	(2)	 	 	40,848	(4)	 	 	33,401	 	 	 	25,279	(6)	 	 	18,565	 	
Diluted earnings per common share (7)	 	$	1.48	(2)	 	$	1.17	(4)	 	$	0.96	 	 	$	0.74	(6)	 	$	0.56	 	
Weighted average common shares (Diluted)(7)	 	 	34,816	 	 	 	34,862	 	 	 	34,762	 	 	 	34,390	 	 	 	33,302	 	
Cash dividends declared per common share	 	$	0.22	 	 	$	0.18	 	 	$	0.14	 	 	$	0.12	 	 	$	0.08	 	
Total assets (Restated)(1)	 	 	256,159	 	 	 	216,163	 	 	 	170,472	 	 	 	133,634	 	 	 	101,544	 	
Total stockholders’ equity	 	$	212,229	 	 	$	176,966	 	 	$	138,262	 	 	$	103,002	 	 	$	77,614	 	
1)	 	See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Revenues for fiscal 2000 and 1999 have been restated to reflect the same accounting as described in Note 3 by reducing revenues by $7,716 and $6,496, respectively. Such restatement has no effect on income from operations, net income, earnings per share or stockholders’ equity.	
 		
2)	 	Includes an income tax benefit of $1,274. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
 		
3)	 	Includes a data center relocation charge of $904. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
 		
4)	 	Includes a data center relocation charge of $904 (pretax) and an income tax benefit of $893. See Notes 7 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
 		
5)	 	Includes a retirement bonus of $2,750.	
 		
6)	 	Includes a retirement bonus of $1,700 (after taxes) and an income tax benefit of $1,100.	
 		
7)	 	Diluted earnings per common share and weighted average number of common shares outstanding give retroactive effect to the 2-for-1 stock split that occurred on February 4, 2000.	
10 

Table of Contents

Management’s Discussion and Analysis	 	½  FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Results of Operations 
Revenues 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Domestic	 	$	178,139	 	 	$	158,929	 	 	$	133,970	 	
Percentage of revenues	 	 	80.1	%	 	 	80.1	%	 	 	80.0	%	
International	 	 	44,156	 	 	 	39,365	 	 	 	33,585	 	
Percentage of revenues	 	 	19.9	%	 	 	19.9	%	 	 	20.0	%	
Consolidated	 	$	222,295	 	 	$	198,294	 	 	$	167,555	 	
*	 	See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.	
Revenues. Fiscal 2003 revenues were $222.3 million, up 12.1% from $198.3 million in the prior year. Revenues grew 18.3% to $198.3 million in fiscal 2002 from $167.6 million in 2001. In both years, revenue growth resulted from continued demand for our value-added applications and databases from our existing clients, client additions and international expansion. Approximately half of our revenue is derived from sales of databases and applications, while the remaining revenue is generated from our base fee and subscriptions for incremental passwords. 
     Investment management clients subscribing to Portfolio Analytics grew to over 345 clients representing approximately 2,500 users during fiscal 2003. There were approximately 320 clients consisting of 2,200 users of Portfolio Analytics at the end of fiscal 2002. 
     During fiscal 2003, revenues from international operations increased 12.2% to $44.2 million. Revenues from our European and Asia Pacific operations advanced 14.1% and 6.2%, respectively. In 2002, revenues generated by overseas operations grew 17.2% to $39.4 million. During fiscal 2002, the revenue growth rate for European operations was 20.3% and revenue from Asia Pacific operations grew 8.5%. Total international revenues accounted for approximately 19.9% of our consolidated revenues in both 2003 and 2002. More than 95% of our total revenues are collected in U.S. dollars. Net monetary assets maintained by our overseas branch offices were not material. As a result, foreign currency fluctuations did not have a material effect on the results of our operations. 
Subscriptions. “Subscriptions” at a given point in time represent the forward-looking revenues for the next 12 months from all services being supplied to clients. Clients are typically free to add to, delete portions of, or terminate service at any time. During the 12 months ended August 31, 2003, client subscriptions rose 11.1% to $235.0 million. Subscriptions grew 15.9% in fiscal 2002 to $211.5 million. The average annual subscription per client was $242,000 at August 31, 2003. At the conclusion of fiscal years 2002 and 2001, the average annual client subscription was $232,000 and $219,000, respectively. 
     Growth in subscriptions in both fiscal 2003 and 2002 resulted primarily from the addition of new clients, incremental subscriptions to services by our existing client base and the expiration of price discounts previously granted to clients. Subscriptions related to fiscal 2003 increased approximately $2.0 million when we acquired the entire ownership interest of FactSet Mergerstat, LLC (“Mergerstat”) on January 23, 2003. Approximately one quarter of our subscriptions were generated from our investment banking clients, while most of the remaining subscriptions were derived from our investment management clients. No individual client accounted for greater than 5% of total subscriptions. Subscriptions from the ten largest clients did not surpass 25% of total client subscriptions. 
Clients. Our client count increased to 970 at the end of fiscal 2003 with the net addition of 58 clients during the year. During fiscal 2002, we added 78 net new clients. In each of the three past fiscal years, our client retention rate was in excess of 95%. 
Passwords. Password count, a measure of the number of users of our services and products, decreased to 19,200 at the end of fiscal 2003 from 22,000 at the close of fiscal 2002. Password count at the conclusion of fiscal 2001 was 25,500. The successive year over year declines in password count resulted largely from large-scale personnel reductions among our investment banking clients over the past two years. 
11 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Restatement. Subscription payments rendered in commissions are collected on our behalf by FactSet Data Systems, Inc. (“FDS”), our broker-dealer subsidiary. When payment for research services is remitted through external clearing brokers with agreements with FDS, the clearing brokers charge FDS a fee for their services, which we recover from our clients who choose this payment option. For all periods presented, we have changed our financial statement presentation of clearing fee recoveries. Prior to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, the clearing fee recovery had been included in revenues. We determined that presenting the clearing fee recovery as a reduction of cost of services, rather than as revenue, was the appropriate application of the relevant accounting literature since we are not the principal party to the settlement of the securities transactions for which the clearing brokers charge the fees. Accordingly, the error has been corrected and all applicable amounts for previous periods have been restated. Revenues and cost of services were each reduced by $8.0 million, $7.6 million and $9.1 million for fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Related amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition have also been revised. This restatement has no effect on current or previously reported operating income, net income, earnings per share or stockholders’ equity. See the table on page 41 for a reconciliation of previously reported and restated quarterly revenue and clearing fees. 
Operating Expenses and Net Income 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands, except per share data	 	 	 	 	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Operating Expenses 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of services	 	$	66,286	 	 	$	60,388	 	 	$	52,443	 	
Selling, general and administrative	 	 	79,282	 	 	 	75,084	 	 	 	64,209	 	
Data center relocation charge	 	 	—	 	 	 	904	 	 	 	—	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total operating expenses	 	$	145,568	 	 	$	136,376	 	 	$	116,652	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Income from operations	 	$	76,727	 	 	$	61,918	 	 	$	50,903	 	
Net income	 	 	51,438	 	 	 	40,848	 	 	 	33,401	 	
Diluted earnings per common share	 	$	1.48	 	 	$	1.17	 	 	$	0.96	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
*     See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
Cost of Services. Cost of services grew 9.8% to $66.3 million during fiscal 2003. Cost of services was $60.4 million in fiscal 2002, an increase of 15.1% from $52.4 million in fiscal 2001. The incremental costs in fiscal 2003 were largely the result of additional employee compensation and benefits, data costs and client-related communication costs. Higher expenses related to employee compensation and benefits, data costs, client-related communication costs as well as additional depreciation on computer-related equipment accounted for the increase in fiscal 2002. 
     Employee compensation and benefits costs related to the software engineering and consulting departments rose $3.3 million in fiscal 2003 and $4.4 million in fiscal 2002. The addition of new employees and growth in compensation from merit increases within these two groups were the cause of the rise in both years. Data costs grew $1.4 million in 2003 and $1.3 million in fiscal 2002 as a result of the addition of new databases coupled with an increased number of client users relative to periods prior to fiscal 2002. Client-related communications costs increased $0.8 million in fiscal 2003 and $1.5 million in 2002. The increase in 2003 was primarily due to incremental costs incurred to implement Marquee, our application featuring a streaming display of news, quotes and broker research. During fiscal 2002, higher client-related communication costs were attributable to our private wide area network upgrade. Depreciation on computer-related equipment was flat in 2003 and increased $1.2 million in 2002. The increase in 2002 resulted from the recording of a full year’s depreciation on the significant asset additions in fiscal 2001 for our two data centers. 
12 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A). SG&A advanced 5.6% to $79.3 million in fiscal 2003 and 16.9% to $75.1 million in fiscal 2002. Higher costs associated with employee compensation and benefits partially offset by declining professional fees and other expenses were the primary cause of the increase in 2003. In fiscal 2002, SG&A grew as a result of growth in employee compensation and benefits, rent expense and amortization of leasehold improvements, professional fees and other expenses partially offset by lower travel and entertainment expenses. 
     Employee compensation and benefits grew $5.2 million in fiscal 2003 and $7.0 million in fiscal 2002. The increases in both years primarily resulted from additions to employee headcount and merit increases in compensation. In fiscal 2003, professional fees and other expenses decreased $1.6 million as a result of lower consulting fees incurred and reduced expenses for taxes other than income taxes. Costs related to rent expense and amortization of leasehold improvements increased $3.5 million in 2002 as a result of office openings in Chicago, Illinois; Frankfurt, Germany; and Manchester, New Hampshire, as well as expansions of our offices in Boston and New York City, New York, during 2002 and the latter half of 2001. Fiscal 2002 professional fees and other expenses rose $1.4 million from the previous year due primarily to increased expenses relating to taxes other than income taxes. Travel and entertainment expenses decreased $1.8 million in 2002 as several of our departments did not schedule internal conferences that had been held in fiscal 2001. Also, travel and entertainment expenses declined because of more efficient travel by our personnel, a reduction in air travel costs, increased usage of telephonic and electronic meetings by our personnel, as well as the addition of our Chicago and Frankfurt offices. 
Data Center Relocation Charge. During November 2001, the Company moved its New York City data center operations into a new data center facility in Manchester. The Manchester data center and its associated lease were acquired by the Company from Vitts Networks, Inc. in July 2001. We placed the Manchester data facility into operation in November 2001. In the first quarter of fiscal 2002, we incurred a related charge of approximately $904,000, of which $604,000 related to non-cash expenses associated with the accelerated depreciation of the carrying value of the abandoned leasehold improvements in the former New York City data center. Approximately $300,000 related to moving and other direct relocation costs. 
Income from Operations, Operating Margin and Effective Tax Rate. Income from operations advanced 23.9% in fiscal 2003 to $76.7 million from $61.9 million in fiscal 2002. Operating income grew to $61.9 million in 2002 from $50.9 million in fiscal 2001, an increase of 21.6%. 
     Operating margins in fiscal years 2003 and 2002 were 34.5% and 31.2%. Operating margin in 2001 was 30.4%. The improvement in operating margin during 2003 is attributable to declines in depreciation on computer-related equipment, professional fees and other expenses and rent expense and amortization of leasehold improvements as a percentage of revenues. In addition, we incurred $904,000 in expense related to the relocation of one of our data centers from New York City to Manchester during 2002 which reduced our operating margin in 2002. Operating margin improved in 2002 due to decreases in computer maintenance costs, depreciation on computer-related equipment and travel and entertainment expenses as a percentage of revenues, partially offset by increases in employee compensation and benefits, rent expense and amortization of leasehold improvements and communication costs as a percentage of revenues. 
     The effective tax rate for fiscal 2003 was 34.9% which includes the effect of a $1.3 million income tax benefit related to additional federal income tax planning and certain changes in estimates related to income taxes payable for fiscal years prior to 2003. In addition, the federal tax planning completed during 2003 generated recurring tax benefits which lowered the effective tax rate from fiscal 2002. In 2002, the effective tax rate was 36.4% with the inclusion of a tax benefit of $893,000, which largely resulted from adjustments to prior years’ state income tax ruling. Excluding the tax benefit in both fiscal years, the effective tax rate in fiscal 2003 was 36.5% and 37.8% in fiscal 2002. The effective tax rate in fiscal 2001 was 38.4%. 
Net Income and Earnings Per Share. Net income advanced 25.9% to $51.4 million and diluted earnings per share rose 26.5% to $1.48 during fiscal 2003. In fiscal 2002, net income grew 22.3% to $40.8 million and diluted earnings per share increased 21.9% to $1.17. Fiscal 2001 net income rose 32.1% to $33.4 million and diluted earnings per share grew 29.7% to $0.96. 
Cash generated by operating activities was $74.7 million, $66.7 million and $49.6 million in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Increased levels of profitability and increased accounts 
13 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
payable, accrued compensation and current taxes payable and a decrease in deferred tax assets partially offset by increased accounts receivable and declining deferred fees were the primary contributors of the improved cash flow from operations during fiscal 2003. Cash flow from operations grew in fiscal 2002 as a result of higher levels of profitability, increased accounts payable, accrued expenses and accrued compensation, offset in part by decreases in current taxes payable and an increase in deferred tax assets. 
     Capital expenditures during fiscal 2003 amounted to $8.5 million, of which approximately $8.2 million was used to acquire technology assets in order to maintain our two data centers and personal computing assets used to accommodate our growing workforce. 
     Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $169.3 million and accounted for 66.1% of total assets at August 31, 2003. All operating and capital expenditure needs were financed entirely by cash generated by our operations. We have no outstanding indebtedness. 
     We are a party to two revolving credit facilities in the aggregate amount of $25 million for working capital and general corporate purposes. Approximately $2.4 million of these credit facilities are currently utilized for letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business. We have no present plans to draw on any portion of the remaining available credit of $22.6 million, other than for letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business. 
Share Repurchase Program 
On July 16, 2002, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire shares of our outstanding common stock in open market or negotiated transactions. This program authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock. The program established no minimum number of shares for repurchase. During fiscal 2003, we repurchased approximately 630,000 shares at an average cost of $25.96 under the program. Since the inception of the stock repurchase program, we purchased approximately 707,000 shares at an average cost of $25.63. Also during 2003, we repurchased approximately 120,000 additional shares related to the employee stock ownership plan balances of terminated employees. 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements 
We are a party to operating leases associated with all our office locations. Rental costs for operating leases were $10.4 million, $9.9 million and $7.4 million in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. 
At August 31, 2003, our lease commitments for office space provide for the following future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases with remaining terms in excess of one year: 
 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	Minimum Lease	
Years Ended August 31,	 	Payments	
	 		
2004	 	$	8,173	 	
2005	 	 	3,733	 	
2006	 	 	2,925	 	
2007	 	 	1,655	 	
2008	 	 	1,576	 	
Thereafter	 	 	2,075	 	
 	 	 		 	
Total	 	$	20,137	 	
 	 	 		 	
     Subscription payments rendered in commissions are collected on our behalf by FDS, our broker-dealer subsidiary. In the normal course of business, securities transactions of commission-paying clients are introduced and cleared through two clearing brokers. Pursuant to agreements between FDS and its clearing brokers, the clearing brokers have the right to charge FDS for unsecured losses that result from a client’s failure to complete such transactions. We have never experienced significant losses, and therefore, have not recorded a liability with regard to the right. We seek to control the credit risk of nonperformance by considering the creditworthiness of our clients. 
New Accounting Pronouncements 
On September 1, 2002, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 144 (“SFAS 144”), Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets. This statement establishes a single accounting model for the impairment of long-lived assets. The impact of adopting SFAS 144 on our results of operations and financial position was not material. 
     In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (“FIN 45”). This interpretation elaborates on the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under specified guarantees that it has issued. It also clarifies that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. The disclosure requirements in this interpretation were 
14 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. Additionally, the recognition of a guarantor’s obligation should be applied on a prospective basis to guarantees issued after December 31, 2002. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. 
     In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure. This statement provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. The statement also amends the disclosure requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123 (“SFAS 123”), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. As permitted by SFAS 123, we account for our stock option and employee stock purchase plans under APB Opinion No. 25, under which no compensation cost has been recorded. Stock option exercise prices equal the fair market value of our stock price on the date of grant, thus no compensation costs are recorded. Had compensation cost for our stock option plans and employee stock purchase plan been determined pursuant to the measurement principles under SFAS No. 123, our net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts for fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands, except per share data	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Net income, as reported	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	
Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects	 	 	(7,512	)	 	 	(7,298	)	 	 	(6,193	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Pro forma net income	 	$	43,926	 	 	$	33,550	 	 	$	27,208	 	
Basic – as reported	 	$	1.53	 	 	$	1.21	 	 	$	1.01	 	
Basic – pro forma	 	$	1.31	 	 	$	1.00	 	 	$	0.82	 	
Diluted – as reported	 	$	1.48	 	 	$	1.17	 	 	$	0.96	 	
Diluted – pro forma	 	$	1.26	 	 	$	0.96	 	 	$	0.78	 	
     Disclosure of the pro forma impact from the method of accounting prescribed by SFAS No. 123 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994. As such, options granted in fiscal 1995 are excluded from the calculations of compensation costs included in the pro forma net income and earnings per share amounts above. 
     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001: 
Stock Option Plans 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Risk-free interest rate	 	 	2.29	%	 	 	3.66	%	 	 	5.70	%	
Expected life	 	4.0 years	 	 	4.0 years	 	 	4.0 years	 	
Expected volatility	 	 	53	%	 	 	52	%	 	 	45	%	
Dividend yield	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.4	%	
Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Risk-free interest rate	 	 	1.31	%	 	 	2.13	%	 	 	4.16	%	
Expected life	 	3 months	 	 	3 months	 	 	3 months	 	
Expected volatility	 	 	44	%	 	 	54	%	 	 	59	%	
Dividend yield	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.4	%	
     In March 2003, EITF 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, was issued. The EITF consensus applies to us for all transactions entered into beginning with our first quarter of fiscal 2004, effective September 1, 2003. EITF 00-21 contains further guidance on revenue recognition, particularly with respect to situations in which companies offer multiple services or deliverables to a customer for a single, bundled price. Under the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 (“SAB 101”), Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, our subscriptions represent a single earnings process. Collection of subscription revenues through FDS’s external clearing brokers does not represent a separate service or earnings process since FDS is not the principal party to the settlement of the securities transactions for which the clearing brokers charge clearing fees. The adoption of EITF 00-21 did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. 
15 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Critical Accounting Policies 
In December of 2001, the SEC issued FR 60, Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies, and in January of 2002, the SEC issued FR 61, Commission Statement about Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We are making certain incremental disclosures in our critical accounting policies below pursuant to these changes. We do not engage in off-balance sheet financing activities other than operating leases, make use of derivatives transactions or engage in significant related party transactions. Lease commitments and credit lines are disclosed in the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K for each fiscal year. Moreover, we have determined that the following represent our critical accounting policies. 
Revenue Recognition 
We apply SAB 101 to our business arrangements for revenue recognition. Our company does not license, sell, lease or market computer software. Clients are invoiced monthly, in arrears, to reflect the actual services rendered to them. Subscription revenue is earned each month as the service is rendered to clients, according to the specific subscription and the number of workstations deployed for such month. A provision is made to allow for billing adjustments as a result of cancellation of service or reduction in number of workstations. Such provisions are accounted for as a reduction of subscription revenue, with a corresponding reduction to subscriptions receivable. 
 	 	 	We recognize revenue when all the following criteria are met:	
 		
 	•	 	The client subscribes to our research services,	
 		
 	•	 	our service has been rendered and earned during the month,	
 		
 	•	 	the amount of the subscription is fixed and determinable based on established rates for each product offering, quoted on an annualized basis, and	
 		
 	•	 	collectibility is reasonably assured.	
     Amounts that have been earned but not yet paid through the receipt of commissions on securities transactions or through cash payments are reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as receivables from clients and clearing brokers, net. Amounts that have been received through commissions on securities transactions or through cash payments that are in excess of earned subscription revenues are reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as deferred fees. 
     In March 2003, EITF 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, was issued. The EITF consensus applies to us for all transactions entered into beginning with our first quarter of fiscal 2004, effective September 1, 2003. EITF 00-21 contains further guidance on revenue recognition, particularly with respect to situations in which companies offer multiple services or deliverables to a customer for a single, bundled price. Under the guidance in SAB 101, our subscriptions represent a single earnings process. Collection of subscription revenues through FDS’s external clearing brokers does not represent a separate service or earnings process since FDS is not the principal party to the settlement of the securities transactions for which the clearing brokers charge clearing fees. The adoption of EITF 00-21 did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
Receivable Reserves 
Our client base has generally been of a high quality and, as such, we have not historically experienced high credit-related write-offs. Aged client receivables are analyzed each month and our collection efforts are directed accordingly. We take historical company information, industry trends and general market conditions into account in estimating reserves, and apply a percentage to the month-end client receivable balance. Additionally, we also include amounts relating to the estimated cancellations and billing adjustments we discussed above in our receivable reserves. Actual cancellations and billing adjustments could differ from those estimated amounts and could have an impact on the financial statements of higher or lower expense. 
Valuation of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 
In September 2001, we adopted SFAS 142, which requires that a traditional goodwill impairment test be completed during the first six months of the year the standard is adopted. SFAS 142 further requires a separate annual goodwill impairment test to be performed each year along with additional goodwill impairment tests on an event-driven basis. We performed our transitional goodwill impairment test during the quarter ended February 28, 2002, and noted that goodwill had not been impaired. We performed an annual goodwill impairment test during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 and 2002 and on an event driven basis as needed, and determined no impairment. On an ongoing basis, we will evaluate the acquired businesses and related assets for indications of potential impairment. We may base our judgment regarding the existence of impairment 
16 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
indicators by relying on market conditions, legal and technological factors and the operational performance of the acquired businesses and related assets. Future events could cause us to conclude that indicators of impairment do exist and that goodwill associated with our previous acquisitions is impaired which could result in an impairment loss in the Statement of Income and a write-down of the related asset. 
     After we acquired the Insyte, LionShares and Mergerstat businesses, we recorded assets for acquired technology on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. We review intangibles for evidence of impairment whenever changes in circumstances or events indicate that the carrying value of the intangible assets may not be recoverable. 
Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements 
We depreciate computers and related equipment on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of three years or less. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over estimated useful lives of five years using a double declining balance method. We amortize leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the related lease terms or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. The potential impairment of our fixed assets is evaluated whenever changes in circumstances or events indicate that the carrying value of the fixed assets may not be recoverable. Factors that may cause an impairment review of fixed assets include, but are not limited to, the following: 
 	•	 	significant changes in technology that make current computer-related assets that we use in our operations obsolete or less useful; and	
 		
 	•	 	significant changes in the way we use these assets in our operations.	
Accounting for Income Taxes 
We estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Deferred taxes are determined by calculating the future tax consequences associated with differences between financial accounting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. As a result of this process, we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. A valuation allowance is established to the extent that it is considered more likely than not that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized. To the extent a valuation allowance is established or adjusted in a period, we include this amount in the Consolidated Statements of Income as an expense or benefit within the provision for income taxes. 
Accrued Liabilities 
In conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, we make significant estimates in determining our accrued liabilities. Accrued liabilities include estimates relating to employee compensation, operating expenses and tax liabilities. Most of our employee incentive compensation programs are discretionary. A final review of departmental performance is conducted each year end, with senior management and the Board of Directors determining the ultimate amount of discretionary bonus pools. We also review compensation throughout the year to determine how overall performance tracks against managers’ expectations. Management takes these and other factors, including historical performance, into account in reviewing accrued compensation estimates quarterly and adjusting accrual rates as appropriate. Because final reviews are not normally completed until after the year-end closing cycle, it is possible that actual amounts ultimately approved could differ from amounts previously accrued based upon information available prior to the final reviews. As such, the difference, if any, will be recorded in the period in which the estimate is changed and would result in higher or lower expense. 
Forward-Looking Factors
Dividend Payment 
On August 12, 2003, we announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share. The cash dividend was paid on September 19, 2003, to common stockholders of record on August 29, 2003. 
Income Taxes 
In the normal course of business, our tax filings are subject to audit by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. Audits by five tax authorities are currently ongoing. There is inherent uncertainty in the audit process. We make our best estimate of probable liabilities that may exist and record an estimate. We have no reason to believe that such audits will result in the payment of additional taxes or penalties or both that would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position, beyond current estimates. 
17 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Management’s Discussion and Analysis	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Market Sensitivities 
We are exposed to various financial risks associated with equity and foreign currency markets as well as risks related to interest rate fluctuations during the normal course of business. The major equity indices (for example Dow Jones 30 Industrials, Russell 2000®, Nasdaq Composite®, and MSCI European Index) have experienced significant declines resulting in repeated tests of multiyear lows in addition to increased market volatility since March 2000. A return to new market lows or a persistent deterioration of general economic and market conditions is still possible. External factors such as the threat of hostilities among various nations or continued military actions by the United States could undermine any potential continued economic recovery. A continued decline in the worldwide markets could adversely impact a significant number of our clients (primarily investment management firms and investment banks) and increase the likelihood of personnel and spending reductions among our existing and potential clients. In addition, the investigations into the investment management industry by various regulatory bodies could have an adverse effect on our business. 
     The fair market value of our investment portfolio at the end of fiscal 2003 was $118.1 million. It is anticipated that the fair market value of our portfolio will continue to be immaterially affected by fluctuations in interest rates. Preservation of principal is the primary goal of our investment portfolio. Pursuant to our established investment guidelines, third-party managers construct portfolios to achieve high levels of credit quality, liquidity and diversification. Our investment policy dictates that the weighted-average duration of short-term investments may not exceed two years. Our investment guidelines do not permit us to invest in puts, calls, strips, short sales, straddles, options or futures, nor are we permitted to invest on margin. Because we have no outstanding long-term indebtedness and we have a restrictive investment policy, our financial exposure to fluctuations in interest rates is expected to remain low. 
Forward-Looking Statements 
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about our strategy for growth, product development, market position, subscriptions and expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like “expected,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “should,” “indicates,” “continues,” “subscriptions,” “commitments” and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions (“future factors”). Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. We will publicly update forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events in accordance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. 
     Future factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to hire and retain qualified personnel; the maintenance of our leading technological position; the impact of global market trends on our revenue growth rate and future results of operations; the negotiation of contract terms supporting new and existing databases or products; retention of key clients and their current service levels; increased competition in our industry; the successful resolution of ongoing and other probable audits by tax authorities; the continued employment of key personnel; the absence of U.S. or foreign governmental regulation restricting international business; and the sustainability of historical levels of profitability and growth rates in cash flow generation. 
 18 

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Income	 	Thousands, except per share data 	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Restated	 	Restated	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Revenues (see Note 3)	 	$	222,295	 	 	$	198,294	 	 	$	167,555	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Cost of services (see Note 3)	 	 	66,286	 	 	 	60,388	 	 	 	52,443	 	
Selling, general and administrative	 	 	79,282	 	 	 	75,084	 	 	 	64,209	 	
Data center relocation charge (see Note 7)	 	 	—	 	 	 	904	 	 	 	—	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total operating expenses	 	 	145,568	 	 	 	136,376	 	 	 	116,652	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Income from operations	 	 	76,727	 	 	 	61,918	 	 	 	50,903	 	
Other income	 	 	2,289	 	 	 	2,319	 	 	 	3,343	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Income before income taxes	 	 	79,016	 	 	 	64,237	 	 	 	54,246	 	
Provision for income taxes	 	 	27,578	 	 	 	23,389	 	 	 	20,845	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Net income	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Basic earnings per common share	 	$	1.53	 	 	$	1.21	 	 	$	1.01	 	
Diluted earnings per common share	 	$	1.48	 	 	$	1.17	 	 	$	0.96	 	
Weighted average common shares (Basic)	 	 	33,637	 	 	 	33,642	 	 	 	33,074	 	
Weighted earnings per common shares (Diluted)	 	 	34,816	 	 	 	34,862	 	 	 	34,762	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. 
 19 

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	 	Thousands, except share and per share data 	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Assets	 	 	 	 	 	Restated	
At August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	
	 		 		
Current Assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	51,126	 	 	$	44,819	 	
Investments	 	 	118,136	 	 	 	86,017	 	
Receivables from clients and clearing brokers, net of reserves of $1,775 in 2003 and $2,000 in 2002	 	 	35,704	 	 	 	31,918	 	
Deferred taxes	 	 	5,493	 	 	 	6,085	 	
Other current assets	 	 	1,888	 	 	 	1,976	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total current assets	 	 	212,347	 	 	 	170,815	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Long-Term Assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, at cost	 	 	104,768	 	 	 	99,264	 	
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	 	(85,421	)	 	 	(71,709	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net (see Note 10)	 	 	19,347	 	 	 	27,555	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Other Non-Current Assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Goodwill	 	 	13,677	 	 	 	9,861	 	
Intangible assets, net	 	 	5,195	 	 	 	1,589	 	
Deferred taxes	 	 	3,467	 	 	 	4,333	 	
Other assets	 	 	2,126	 	 	 	2,010	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total Assets	 	$	256,159	 	 	$	216,163	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 20 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	 	 	 	 	 	Restated	
At August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	
	 		 		
Current Liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	 	$	13,793	 	 	$	11,427	 	
Accrued compensation	 	 	15,228	 	 	 	13,590	 	
Deferred fees	 	 	9,876	 	 	 	10,421	 	
Dividends payable (see Note 4)	 	 	2,020	 	 	 	1,689	 	
Current taxes payable	 	 	2,457	 	 	 	1,523	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total current liabilities	 	 	43,374	 	 	 	38,650	 	
Non-Current Liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other non-current liabilities	 	 	556	 	 	 	547	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total liabilities	 	 	43,930	 	 	 	39,197	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Commitments and contingencies (see Notes 13 and 16)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Stockholders’ Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 34,855,799 and 34,226,658 shares issued; 33,660,219 and 33,788,442 shares outstanding at August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively	 	 	346	 	 	 	340	 	
Capital in excess of par value	 	 	47,413	 	 	 	33,803	 	
Retained earnings	 	 	193,611	 	 	 	149,561	 	
Treasury stock, at cost: 1,195,580 and 438,216 shares at August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively	 	 	(28,991	)	 	 	(6,880	)	
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	 	 	(150	)	 	 	142	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total stockholders’ equity	 	 	212,229	 	 	 	176,966	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	 	$	256,159	 	 	$	216,163	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. 
 21 

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity	 	Thousands 	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Common Stock	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, beginning of year	 	$	340	 	 	$	334	 	 	$	328	 	
Common stock issued for employee stock plans (see Note 14)	 	 	6	 	 	 	6	 	 	 	6	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Balance, end of year	 	 	346	 	 	 	340	 	 	 	334	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Capital in Excess of Par	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, beginning of year	 	 	33,803	 	 	 	25,832	 	 	 	19,015	 	
Common stock issued for employee stock plans	 	 	11,498	 	 	 	6,312	 	 	 	5,593	 	
Income tax benefits from stock option exercises	 	 	2,112	 	 	 	1,659	 	 	 	1,224	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Balance, end of year	 	 	47,413	 	 	 	33,803	 	 	 	25,832	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Retained Earnings	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, beginning of year	 	 	149,561	 	 	 	114,774	 	 	 	86,011	 	
Net income	 	 	51,438	 	 	 	40,848	 	 	 	33,401	 	
Dividends	 	 	(7,388	)	 	 	(6,061	)	 	 	(4,638	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Balance, end of year	 	 	193,611	 	 	 	149,561	 	 	 	114,774	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, beginning of year	 	 	142	 	 	 	138	 	 	 	5	 	
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of income taxes	 	 	(292	)	 	 	4	 	 	 	133	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Balance, end of year	 	 	(150	)	 	 	142	 	 	 	138	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 22 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Treasury Stock	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, beginning of year	 	 	(6,880	)	 	 	(2,816	)	 	 	(2,357	)	
Repurchase of common stock (see Notes 4 and 14)	 	 	(22,111	)	 	 	(4,064	)	 	 	(459	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Balance, end of year	 	 	(28,991	)	 	 	(6,880	)	 	 	(2,816	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total Stockholders’ Equity	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, beginning of year	 	 	176,966	 	 	 	138,262	 	 	 	103,002	 	
Common stock issued for employee stock plans	 	 	11,504	 	 	 	6,318	 	 	 	5,599	 	
Repurchase of common stock	 	 	(22,111	)	 	 	(4,064	)	 	 	(459	)	
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of income taxes	 	 	(292	)	 	 	4	 	 	 	133	 	
Income tax benefits from stock option exercises	 	 	2,112	 	 	 	1,659	 	 	 	1,224	 	
Net income	 	 	51,438	 	 	 	40,848	 	 	 	33,401	 	
Dividends	 	 	(7,388	)	 	 	(6,061	)	 	 	(4,638	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Balance, end of year	 	$	212,229	 	 	$	176,966	 	 	$	138,262	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Comprehensive Income	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	
Change in unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of income taxes	 	 	(292	)	 	 	4	 	 	 	133	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Comprehensive income	 	$	51,146	 	 	$	40,852	 	 	$	33,534	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. 
23 

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	 	 	Thousands   	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Restated	 	Restated	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Cash Flows from Operating Activities 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Depreciation and amortization	 	 	17,541	 	 	 	18,276	 	 	 	16,524	 	
 	Deferred tax expense (benefit)	 	 	1,458	 	 	 	(2,070	)	 	 	1,249	 	
 	Gain on sale of equipment	 	 	(80	)	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
 	Accrued ESOP contribution	 	 	2,450	 	 	 	2,160	 	 	 	1,800	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Net income adjusted for non-cash items	 	 	72,807	 	 	 	59,214	 	 	 	52,974	 	
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquired working capital 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Receivables from clients and clearing brokers, net	 	 	(3,786	)	 	 	(696	)	 	 	(4,597	)	
 	Accounts payable and accrued expenses	 	 	2,366	 	 	 	5,244	 	 	 	(3,691	)	
 	Accrued compensation	 	 	1,348	 	 	 	2,390	 	 	 	764	 	
 	Deferred fees	 	 	(1,089	)	 	 	1,631	 	 	 	1,068	 	
 	Current taxes payable	 	 	934	 	 	 	(2,924	)	 	 	2,593	 	
 	Other working capital accounts, net	 	 	19	 	 	 	177	 	 	 	(728	)	
Income tax benefits from stock option exercises	 	 	2,112	 	 	 	1,659	 	 	 	1,224	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	 	74,711	 	 	 	66,695	 	 	 	49,607	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Cash Flows from Investing Activities 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Acquisition of businesses, net of acquired assets (see Note 5)	 	 	(7,702	)	 	 	100	 	 	 	(2,261	)	
Purchases of investments, net of sales	 	 	(32,411	)	 	 	(45,291	)	 	 	(17,800	)	
Purchases of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net of retirements	 	 	(8,457	)	 	 	(10,021	)	 	 	(30,143	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Net cash used in investing activities	 	 	(48,570	)	 	 	(55,212	)	 	 	(50,204	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
24 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Restated	 	Restated	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Cash Flows from Financing Activities 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dividend payments	 	 	(6,673	)	 	 	(5,377	)	 	 	(4,006	)	
Repurchase of common stock	 	 	(22,111	)	 	 	(4,064	)	 	 	(459	)	
Proceeds from employee stock plans	 	 	8,950	 	 	 	4,194	 	 	 	4,016	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Net cash used in financing activities	 	 	(19,834	)	 	 	(5,247	)	 	 	(449	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	 	 	6,307	 	 	 	6,236	 	 	 	(1,046	)	
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	 	 	44,819	 	 	 	38,583	 	 	 	39,629	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	 	$	51,126	 	 	$	44,819	 	 	$	38,583	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash paid during the year for income taxes	 	$	22,774	 	 	$	28,087	 	 	$	19,312	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Transactions	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dividends declared, not paid	 	$	2,020	 	 	$	1,689	 	 	$	1,334	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. 
25 

Table of Contents

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
1. Organization and Nature of Business 
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (the “Company” or “FactSet”) provides online integrated database services to the global investment community. The Company combines more than 200 databases into a single online source of information and analytics. FactSet’s revenues are derived from month-to-month subscription charges. 
     Solely at the option of each client, these charges may be paid either in commissions from securities transactions or in cash. To facilitate the payment for services in commissions, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, FactSet Data Systems, Inc. (“FDS”), is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and is a registered broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Services paid in commissions are derived from securities transactions introduced and cleared on a fully disclosed basis primarily through two clearing brokers. That is, a client paying subscription charges on a commission basis directs the clearing broker, at the time the client executes a securities transaction, to credit the commission on the transaction to FDS. 
     FactSet Limited, FactSet France, Inc., FactSet GmbH, FactSet Pacific, Inc., LionShares Europe S.A.S., Innovative Systems Techniques, Inc. (“Insyte”) and FactSet Mergerstat, LLC (“Mergerstat”) are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, with operations in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Avon (France), Boston and Santa Monica, California. The Company dissolved eLumient.com, Insyte’s wholly owned, inactive subsidiary, on December 23, 2002. 
2. Accounting Policies 
The significant accounting policies of the Company and its subsidiaries are summarized below. 
Financial Statement Presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany activity and balances have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. 
     Cost of services is composed of employee compensation and benefits for the software engineering and consulting groups, clearing fees net of recoveries, data costs, amortization of identifiable intangible assets, computer maintenance and depreciation expenses and client-related communication costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses include employee compensation and benefits for the sales, product development and various other support departments, travel and entertainment expenses, promotional costs, rent, amortization of goodwill and leasehold improvements, depreciation of furniture and fixtures, office expenses, professional fees and other expenses. Amortization of goodwill is included in selling, general and administrative expense for fiscal 2001 only as goodwill amortization ceased in the beginning of fiscal 2002 with the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 142 (“SFAS 142”), Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. 
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates have been made in areas that include income and other taxes, depreciable lives of fixed assets, accrued liabilities, accrued compensation, receivable reserves and allocation of purchase price to assets and liabilities acquired. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 
Revenue Recognition. FactSet applies Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 (“SAB 101”), Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, to its business arrangements for revenue recognition. Clients are invoiced monthly, in arrears, to reflect the actual services rendered to them. Subscription revenue is earned each month as the service is rendered to clients, according to the specific subscription and the number of workstations deployed for such month. A provision is made to allow for billing adjustments as a result of cancellation of service or reduction in number of workstations. Such provisions are accounted for as a reduction of subscription revenue, with a corresponding reduction to subscriptions receivable. FactSet recognizes revenue when all the following criteria are met: 
 	•	 	The client subscribes to our research services,	
 		
 	•	 	the FactSet service has been rendered and earned during the month,	
 		
 	•	 	the amount of the subscription is fixed and determinable based on established rates for each product offering, quoted on an annualized basis, and	
 		
 	•	 	collectibility is reasonably assured.	
     Amounts that have been earned but not yet paid through the receipt of commissions on securities transactions or through cash payments are reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as receivables from clients and clearing brokers, net. Amounts that have been received through commissions on securities 
26 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
transactions or through cash payments that are in excess of earned subscription revenues are reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as deferred fees. 
     In March 2003, EITF 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, was issued. The EITF consensus applies to the Company for all transactions entered into beginning with FactSet’s first quarter of fiscal 2004, effective September 1, 2003. EITF 00-21 contains further guidance on revenue recognition, particularly with respect to situations in which companies offer multiple services or deliverables to a customer for a single, bundled price. Under the guidance in SAB 101, the Company’s subscriptions represent a single earnings process. Collection of subscription revenues through FDS’s external clearing brokers does not represent a separate service or earnings process since FDS is not the principal party to the settlement of the securities transactions for which the clearing brokers charge clearing fees. The adoption of EITF 00-21 did not have a material impact to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. 
Clearing Fees. Clearing fees are expensed as a cost of service in the period incurred, at the time that a client executes securities transactions through clearing brokers. The Company earns the right to recover the clearing fee from its clients at the time the securities transactions are executed, which is the period in which the clearing fees are incurred. This cost recovery is recorded as a reduction of cost of services. Clearing fees and the related cost recovery in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001 approximated $8.0 million, $7.6 million and $9.1 million, respectively. 
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and money market investments with maturities of 90 days or less and are reported at fair value. 
Investments. Investments have maturities greater than 90 days from the date of acquisition, are classified as available-for-sale securities and are reported at fair value. Fair value is determined for most investments from readily available quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included net of tax in accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. 
Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements. 
Computers and related equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of three years or less. Depreciation of furniture and fixtures is recognized using the double declining balance method over estimated useful lives of five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related leases or estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever period is shorter. 
Intangible Assets. Intangible assets consist of acquired technology resulting from the acquisitions of the Insyte, LionShares and Mergerstat businesses and are amortized on a straight-line basis using estimated useful lives ranging between five and ten years. 
Internal Use Software. The Company capitalizes only those direct costs incurred during the application development and implementation stages for developing, purchasing or otherwise acquiring software for internal use that management believes have a probable future application in the Company’s subscription-based service. These costs are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the underlying software, generally three years or less. All costs incurred during the preliminary planning project stage, including project scoping, identification and testing of alternatives, are expensed as incurred. Capitalized direct costs associated with developing, purchasing or otherwise acquiring software for internal use are reported in the Property, Equipment & Leasehold Improvements line item of the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected useful life of the software, beginning when the software is implemented and ready for its intended use. 
Income and Deferred Taxes. Deferred taxes are determined by calculating the future tax consequences associated with differences between financial accounting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established to the extent management considers it more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes from income tax law changes is recognized immediately upon enactment. The deferred tax provision is derived from changes in deferred taxes on the balance sheet and reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of income taxes. Income tax benefits derived from the exercise of non-qualified stock options or the disqualifying disposition of incentive stock options are recorded directly to capital in excess of par value. 
27 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Earnings Per Share. The computation of basic earnings per share in each year is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding includes shares issued to the Company’s employee stock plans. Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding. Shares available pursuant to grants made under the Company’s stock option plans are included as common share equivalents using the treasury stock method. 
Stock-Based Compensation. As discussed under New Accounting Pronouncements, the Company follows the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation plans in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25. Stock option exercise prices equal the fair market value of the Company’s stock price on the date of grant. Therefore, no compensation costs are recorded. 
New Accounting Pronouncements. On September 1, 2002, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 144 (“SFAS 144”), Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets. This statement establishes a single accounting model for the impairment of longlived assets. The impact of adopting SFAS 144 on the Company’s results of operation and financial position was not material. 
     In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (“FIN 45”). This interpretation elaborates on the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under specified guarantees that it has issued. It also clarifies that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. The disclosure requirements in this interpretation were effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. Additionally, the recognition of a guarantor’s obligation should be applied on a prospective basis to guarantees issued after December 31, 2002. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. 
     In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure. This statement provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. The statement also amends the disclosure requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123, (“SFAS 123”), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stockbased employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. As permitted by SFAS 123, the Company accounts for its stock option and employee stock purchase plans under APB Opinion No. 25, under which no compensation cost has been recorded. Stock option exercise prices equal the fair market value of the Company’s stock price on the date of grant; thus no compensation costs are recorded. Had compensation costs for the Company’s stock option plans and employee stock purchase plan been determined pursuant to the measurement principles under SFAS 123, the Company’s net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts for fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001. 
Thousands, except per share data	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Net income, as reported	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	
Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value-based method for all awards, net of related tax effects	 	 	(7,512	)	 	 	(7,298	)	 	 	(6,193	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Pro forma net income	 	$	43,926	 	 	$	33,550	 	 	$	27,208	 	
Basic - - as reported	 	$	1.53	 	 	$	1.21	 	 	$	1.01	 	
Basic - - pro forma	 	$	1.31	 	 	$	1.00	 	 	$	0.82	 	
Diluted - - as reported	 	$	1.48	 	 	$	1.17	 	 	$	0.96	 	
Diluted - - pro forma	 	$	1.26	 	 	$	0.96	 	 	$	0.78	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     Disclosure of the pro forma impact from the method of accounting prescribed by SFAS No. 123 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994. As such, options granted in fiscal 1995 are excluded from the calculations of compensation costs included in the pro forma net income and earnings per share amounts above. 
     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001: 
28 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
Stock Option Plans 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Risk-free interest rate	 	 	2.29	%	 	 	3.66	%	 	 	5.70	%	
Expected life	 	 	4.0 years	 	 	 	4.0 years	 	 	 	4.0 years	 	
Expected volatility	 	 	53	%	 	 	52	%	 	 	45	%	
Dividend yield	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.4	%	
													
Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Risk-free interest rate	 	 	1.31	%	 	 	2.13	%	 	 	4.16	%	
Expected life	 	 	3 months	 	 	 	3 months	 	 	 	3 months	 	
Expected volatility	 	 	44	%	 	 	54	%	 	 	59	%	
Dividend yield	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.6	%	 	 	0.4	%	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     In March 2003, EITF 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, was issued. The EITF consensus applies to us for all transactions entered into beginning with our first quarter of fiscal 2004, effective September 1, 2003. EITF 00-21 contains further guidance on revenue recognition, particularly with respect to situations in which companies offer multiple services or deliverables to a customer for a single, bundled price. Under the guidance in SAB 101, our subscriptions represent a single earnings process. Collection of subscription revenues through FDS’s external clearing brokers does not represent a separate service or earnings process since FDS is not the principal party to the settlement of the securities transactions for which the clearing brokers charge clearing fees. The adoption of EITF 00-21 did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. 
3. Restatement 
Subscription payments rendered in commissions are collected on FactSet’s behalf by FDS. When payment for research services is remitted through external clearing brokers having agreements with FDS, the clearing brokers charge FDS a fee for their services, which FactSet recovers from its clients who choose this payment option as disclosed above. For all periods presented, we have changed our financial statement presentation of clearing fee recoveries. Prior to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, the clearing fee recovery had been included in revenues. FactSet determined that presenting the clearing fee recovery as a reduction of cost of services, rather than as revenue, was the appropriate application of the relevant accounting literature since FactSet is not the principal party to the settlement of the securities transactions for which the clearing brokers charge the fees. Accordingly, the error has been corrected and all applicable amounts for previous periods have been restated. Revenues and cost of services were each reduced by $8.0 million, $7.6 million and $9.1 million for fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Related amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition have also been revised. This restatement has no effect on current or previously reported operating income, net income, earnings per share or stockholders’ equity. See the table on page 41 for a reconciliation of previously reported and restated quarterly revenue and clearing fees. 
29 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 ½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
4. Common Stock and Earnings Per Share 
On August 12, 2003, the Company announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share. The cash dividend was paid on September 19, 2003, to common stockholders of record on August 29, 2003. Shares of common stock outstanding were as follows: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Balance, beginning of year	 	 	33,788	 	 	 	33,356	 	 	 	32,821	 	
Common stock issued for employee stock plans (see Note 14)	 	 	629	 	 	 	601	 	 	 	549	 	
Repurchase of common stock	 	 	(757	)	 	 	(169	)	 	 	(14	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Balance, end of year	 	 	33,660	 	 	 	33,788	 	 	 	33,356	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     On July 16, 2002, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program to acquire shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock in open market or negotiated transactions. This program authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of FactSet common stock. The program established no minimum number of shares for repurchase. During fiscal 2003, the Company repurchased approximately 630,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $16.4 million. Since the inception of the stock repurchase program, FactSet has purchased approximately 707,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $18.1 million. Also during fiscal 2003, the Company repurchased approximately 120,000 additional shares related to the employee stock ownership plan balances of terminated employees. 
     A reconciliation between the weighted average shares outstanding used in the basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) computations is as follows: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands, except per share data	 	Net Income (Numerator)	 	Shares (Denominator)	 	Per Share Amount	
	 		 		 		
At August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		 		 		 		 		 		 		
Basic EPS	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income available to common stockholders	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	 	 	33,637	 	 	 	33,642	 	 	 	33,074	 	 	$	1.53	 	 	$	1.21	 	 	$	1.01	 	
Diluted EPS	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dilutive effect of stock options	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	1,179	 	 	 	1,220	 	 	 	1,688	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Income available to common stockholders	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	 	 	34,816	 	 	 	34,862	 	 	 	34,762	 	 	$	1.48	 	 	$	1.17	 	 	$	0.96	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
30 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
5.  Business Combinations 
On January 23, 2003, the Company acquired all the ownership interests of FactSet Mergerstat, LLC (“Mergerstat”) for $7.7 million in cash. Mergerstat is a provider of mergers and acquisition information to the United States and European markets. The acquisition expands the existing portfolio of services and products offered on the FactSet system. The purchase price of Mergerstat was allocated to tangible and intangible assets and liabilities based on estimated fair value. The difference between the purchase price and the fair value of tangible and intangible assets less liabilities was recorded as goodwill. A summary of the Mergerstat purchase price allocation consists of the following: 
 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	January 23, 2003	
	 		
Tangible assets	 	$	330	 	
Acquired technology	 	 	4,195	 	
Goodwill	 	 	3,815	 	
 	 	 		 	
 	 	 	8,340	 	
Other liabilities assumed	 	 	(638	)	
 	 	 		 	
Purchase price	 	$	7,702	 	
 	 	 		 	
     On April 30, 2001, the Company acquired the LionShares business, a division of Worldly Information Network, Inc. now known as Onefn.com (“Onefn”), and all the outstanding stock of LionShares Europe S.A.S., a wholly owned subsidiary of Onefn, for $2.3 million in cash. The acquisition facilitated the offering of institutional ownership data to the Company’s client base. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase transaction and resulted in goodwill of $1.8 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company received $100,000 from Onefn in the distribution of funds upon termination of an escrow agreement associated with the April 2001 purchase agreement. The Company recorded the receipt of these funds as a contractual adjustment to the purchase price, thereby reducing goodwill by $100,000. 
      Operating results of Mergerstat and LionShares are included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition. Pro forma statements of income have not been presented because the effect of each acquisition individually and in the aggregate was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial results. 
6. Intangible Assets and Goodwill 
In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 141 (“SFAS 141”), Business Combinations, and Statement No. 142 (“SFAS 142”), Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The Company adopted both of these standards effective September 1, 2001. The provisions of SFAS 141 require that business combinations initiated subsequent to June 30, 2001, be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. SFAS 141 also establishes certain criteria related to the types of intangible assets that are required to be recognized separate from goodwill. As a result of applying the provisions of SFAS 142, the Company no longer amortizes, on a periodic basis, goodwill that resulted from business combinations consummated prior to June 30, 2001. In connection with the adoption of SFAS 142, the Company is required to perform a transitional impairment assessment of goodwill within six months of adoption of this standard. SFAS 142 requires that the Company identify its reporting units and determine the carrying value of each of those reporting units by assigning assets and liabilities, including existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units. 
     The Company completed its transitional impairment assessment of goodwill during the second quarter of fiscal 2002 and determined that goodwill was not impaired. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, as well as any additional impairment test required on an event-driven basis. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test and determined that goodwill was not impaired. During fiscal 2003, $3,815,000 of goodwill was acquired as a result of the purchase of the Mergerstat business. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 142, the Company amortized goodwill on a straight-line basis over useful lives of seven to 15 years. Net income and earnings per share adjusted to exclude amortization expense of goodwill are as follows: 
31 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 ½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands, except per share data	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
 	Reported net income	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,401	 	
 	Add back: Goodwill amortization, net of tax benefit of $277 in fiscal 2001	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	444	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 	Adjusted net income	 	$	51,438	 	 	$	40,848	 	 	$	33,845	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Basic earnings per share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Reported net income	 	$	1.53	 	 	$	1.21	 	 	$	1.01	 	
 	Goodwill amortization	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	0.01	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 	Adjusted net income	 	$	1.53	 	 	$	1.21	 	 	$	1.02	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Diluted earnings per share	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Reported net income	 	$	1.48	 	 	$	1.17	 	 	$	0.96	 	
 	Goodwill amortization	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	0.01	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 	Adjusted net income	 	$	1.48	 	 	$	1.17	 	 	$	0.97	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     The Company’s identifiable intangible assets consist of acquired technology resulting from the acquisitions of the Insyte, LionShares and Mergerstat businesses in August 2000, April 2001 and January 2003, respectively. During fiscal 2003, $4,195,000 of intangible assets was added as a result of the purchase of the Mergerstat business. The acquired businesses and related assets have been fully integrated into the Company’s operations. The weighted average useful life of the acquired technology is 8.83 years. These intangible assets have no assigned residual values. During fiscal 2003, the Company reassessed the estimated useful lives and classification of its identifiable intangible assets and determined that they are still appropriate. 
     The gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization totals related to the Company’s acquired technology were approximately $6,438,000 and $1,244,000 at August 31, 2003, and $2,243,000 and $654,000 at August 31, 2002, respectively. 
      Amortization expense of approximately $590,000 was recorded during fiscal 2003. Estimated amortization expense of the identifiable intangible assets (acquired technology) for the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows: 
 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	Estimated	
Years Ended August 31,	 	Amortization Expense	
	 		
2004	 	$	764	 	
2005	 	 	764	 	
2006	 	 	736	 	
2007	 	 	659	 	
2008	 	 	420	 	
Thereafter	 	 	1,851	 	
 	 	 		 	
Total	 	 	5,194	 	
 	 	 		 	
7. Data Center Relocation Charge 
During November 2001, the Company moved its New York City data center operations into a new data center facility in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Manchester data center and its associated lease were acquired by the Company from Vitts Networks, Inc. in July 2001. The Company placed the Manchester data facility into operation in November 2001, and incurred a nonrecurring charge of approximately $904,000, of which $604,000 related to non-cash expenses associated with the accelerated depreciation of the carrying value of the abandoned leasehold improvements in the former New York City data center. Approximately $300,000 of the charge related to moving and other direct relocation costs. 
8. Receivables from Clients and Clearing Brokers, net 
Receivables from clients and clearing brokers, net consisted of the following: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	Restated*	
At August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	
	 		 		
Receivables from clients	 	$	35,561	 	 	$	31,441	 	
Receivables from clearing brokers	 	 	143	 	 	 	477	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Receivables from clients and clearing brokers, net	 	$	35,704	 	 	$	31,918	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
* See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
     Receivables from clients are reflected net of receivable reserves of $1.8 million and $2.0 million at August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. 
32 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
9. Investments 
The Company maintains a portfolio of investments that is managed to preserve principal. Under the investment guidelines established by the Company, third-party managers construct portfolios to achieve liquidity, credit quality and diversification. The weighted average duration of the Company’s portfolios is managed to not exceed two years. Eligible investments include obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury and other governmental agencies, money market securities and highly rated commercial paper. Investments such as puts, calls, strips, straddles, short sales, futures, options, commodities, precious metals or investments on margin are not permitted under the Company’s investment guidelines. All investments are denominated in U.S. dollars and recorded at their approximate fair values. 
     Investments, classified as available-for-sale securities, totaled $118.1 million at August 31, 2003, and $86.0 million at August 31, 2002. 
10. Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements 
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements consist of the following: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
At August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	
	 		 		
Computers and related equipment	 	$	75,462	 	 	$	70,443	 	
Leasehold improvements	 	 	16,456	 	 	 	16,345	 	
Furniture, fixtures and other	 	 	12,850	 	 	 	12,476	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Subtotal	 	 	104,768	 	 	 	99,264	 	
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	 	(85,421	)	 	 	(71,709	)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 	 	$	19,347	 	 	$	27,555	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     Depreciation expense was $16,952,000, $17,932,000 and $15,456,000 for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. 
11. Income Taxes 
The provision for income taxes consists of the following: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Current tax expense	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	U.S. federal	 	$	24,110	 	 	$	22,632	 	 	$	16,740	 	
 	State and local	 	 	2,011	 	 	 	2,827	 	 	 	2,856	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total current taxes	 	 	26,121	 	 	 	25,459	 	 	 	19,596	 	
 	Deferred tax benefit	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	U.S. federal	 	 	1,306	 	 	 	(1,917	)	 	 	1,068	 	
 	State and local	 	 	151	 	 	 	(153	)	 	 	181	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total deferred taxes	 	 	1,457	 	 	 	(2,070	)	 	 	1,249	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total tax provision	 	$	27,578	 	 	$	23,389	 	 	$	20,845	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	
	 		 		
Deferred tax assets (liabilities)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Deferred fees	 	$	3,713	 	 	$	4,411	 	
 	Accrued liabilities	 	 	1,886	 	 	 	1,781	 	
 	Acquired technology	 	 	(106	)	 	 	(107	)	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 	 	Net current deferred taxes	 	 	5,493	 	 	 	6,085	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Non-current	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net	 	 	3,621	 	 	 	4,560	 	
 	Deferred rent	 	 	178	 	 	 	207	 	
 	Acquired technology	 	 	(332	)	 	 	(434	)	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 	 	Net non-current deferred taxes	 	 	3,467	 	 	 	4,333	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Net deferred tax assets	 	$	8,960	 	 	$	10,418	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses are accrued taxes other than income taxes of $3.4 million and $3.1 million at August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. 
     In the normal course of business, the Company’s tax filings are subject to audit by federal and state tax authorities. Audits by five taxing authorities are currently ongoing. There is inherent uncertainty in the audit process. We have made our best estimate 
  
33 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 ½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
of probable liabilities and have recorded an estimate. Nevertheless, the Company has no reason to believe that the audits will result in additional tax payments or penalties, or both, that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position, beyond current estimates. 
     The provisions for income taxes differ from the amount of income tax determined by applying the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes as a result of the following factors: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Expressed as a Percentage of	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income Before Income Taxes	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Tax at statutory U.S. tax rate	 	 	35.0	%	 	 	35.0	%	 	 	35.0	%	
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	State and local taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax benefit	 	 	2.6	%	 	 	2.8	%	 	 	3.6	%	
 	Other, net	 	 	(2.7	%)	 	 	(1.4	%)	 	 	(0.2	%)	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total provision for income taxes	 	 	34.9	%	 	 	36.4	%	 	 	38.4	%	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     Fiscal year 2003 included a tax benefit of $1.3 million, included in Other, net, which related to additional federal tax planning and certain changes in estimates relating to fiscal 2002 income taxes payable. In fiscal 2002, a tax benefit of $893,000 was included in the provision for income taxes, which was due to adjustments to prior years’ federal and state tax returns that resulted from a favorable state income tax ruling. 
12. Net Capital 
As a registered broker-dealer, FDS is subject to Rule 15c3-1 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, which requires that FDS maintain minimum net capital equal to the greater of $5,000 or 6.67% of aggregate indebtedness (the “minimum net capital requirement”). FDS may be prohibited from paying cash dividends to the Company if such dividends would result in its net capital falling below the minimum net capital requirement or its ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital exceeding 15 to 1. At all times during the years presented, FDS had net capital in excess of its minimum net capital requirement. At August 31, 2003, FDS had net capital of $6.8 million, which was $6.3 million in excess of its minimum net capital requirement of $579,172. The ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital was 1.27 to 1. 
13. Lease Commitments 
The Company leases office space domestically in Greenwich and Stamford, Connecticut; Boston and Newton, Massachusetts; New York City, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Manchester, New Hampshire; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; San Mateo and Santa Monica, California; and internationally in London; Tokyo; Hong Kong; Sydney; Frankfurt; and Paris and Avon, France. The leases expire on various dates through February 2010. Total minimum rental payments associated with the leases are recorded as rent (a component of selling, general and administrative expenses) on a straight-line basis over the periods of the respective lease terms. 
     At August 31, 2003, the Company’s lease commitments for office space provide for the following future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases with remaining terms in excess of one year: 
 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	Minimum Lease	
Years Ended August 31,	 	Payments	
	 		
2004	 	$	8,173	 	
2005	 	 	3,733	 	
2006	 	 	2,925	 	
2007	 	 	1,655	 	
2008	 	 	1,576	 	
Thereafter	 	 	2,075	 	
 	 	 		 	
Total	 	$	20,137	 	
 	 	 		 	
     During fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, rental expense for all operating leases amounted to approximately $10.4 million, $9.9 million and $7.4 million, respectively. 
14. Employee Stock Plans 
Employee Retirement Plans 
The Company sponsors an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan” or “ESOP”). The Company may make optional annual contributions for the benefit of participating employees in such amounts as designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors authorized contributions in the amounts of $2.5 million, $2.2 million and $1.8 million, for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Such contributions are recorded in cost of services and selling, general and administrative as compensation expense. Issuance of the related common shares occurs shortly after contributions are authorized, generally in the following fiscal year. 
34 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
     U.S. employees of the Company who have performed at least 1,000 hours of service during the year are eligible to participate in the Plan. The Company contribution allocated to an individual account begins to vest upon completion of the employee’s third year of service at the rate of 20% in each successive year of service. Forfeited non-vested interests in the Plan are allocated to the other participants’ accounts. 
     A distribution from the Plan may be made to an employee upon retirement, termination, death or total disability. Distributions may be paid in the form of cash or the Company’s common stock. In cash distributions, the Company purchases the common stock in the participant’s ESOP account at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the last day of the month in which the distribution is requested by the participant of the Plan. These repurchases of common stock from employees are included in both the treasury stock section of the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity and in the cash flows from financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. 
     The Plan held 1,591,193; 1,804,114; and 2,214,386 shares of the Company’s common stock at August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
The Company implemented an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”) in fiscal 2001 for all eligible employees. Under the Purchase Plan, shares of the Company’s common stock may be purchased at three-month intervals at 85% of the lower of the fair market value of FactSet common stock on the first or the last day of each three-month period. Employee purchases may not exceed 10% of their gross compensation during an offering period. During fiscal 2003, employees purchased 63,286 shares at an average price of $23.43. At August 31, 2003, 352,308 shares were reserved for future issuance under the Purchase Plan. 
Stock Option Plans 
Options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plans (the “Option Plans”) expire not more than ten years from the date of grant and vest at a rate of 20% per year beginning one year after the grant date. Option exercise prices equal the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date of the option grant. Options generally are not transferable or assignable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. During the grantee’s lifetime, they may be exercised only by the grantee. 
     In fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, incentive and nonqualified stock options to purchase 598,000; 966,200; and 1,241,000 shares of common stock, respectively, at prices which ranged from $22.45 to $36.75 were granted to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. At August 31, 2003, there were 1,840,000 shares available for future grants under the Option Plans. 
     A summary of the status of the Company’s Option Plans at August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, and changes during each of the years then ended is presented below: 
Equity Compensation Plan Information 
Thousands, except per share data	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
At August 31, 2003	 	(a)	 	(b)	 	(c)	
	 		 		 		
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Number of securities	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	remaining available for	
 	 	Number of securities	 	 	 	 	 	future issuances under equity	
 	 	to be issued upon exercise	 	Weighted-average	 	compensation plans	
 	 	of outstanding options,	 	exercise price of outstanding	 	(excluding securities	
Plan category	 	warrants and rights	 	options, warrants and rights	 	reflected in column (a)	
	 		 		 		
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	 	 	4,446	 	 	$	24.85	 	 	 	2,192	 	
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total	 	 	4,446	 	 	$	24.85	 	 	 	2,192	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
35 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands, except per share data	 	 	 	 	 	2003	 	 	 	 	 	2002	 	 	 	 	 	2001	
	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		
 	 	 	 	 	 	Weighted	 	 	 	 	 	Weighted	 	 	 	 	 	Weighted	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Average	 	 	 	 	 	Average	 	 	 	 	 	Average	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Exercise	 	 	 	 	 	Exercise	 	 	 	 	 	Exercise	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Price	 	 	 	 	 	Price	 	 	 	 	 	Price	
 	 	Shares	 	Per Share	 	Shares	 	Per Share	 	Shares	 	Per Share	
 	 		 		 		 		 		 		
Outstanding, beginning fiscal year	 	 	4,449	 	 	$	24.37	 	 	 	4,148	 	 	$	21.91	 	 	 	3,430	 	 	$	15.26	 	
Granted	 	 	598	 	 	$	22.75	 	 	 	966	 	 	$	26.63	 	 	 	1,241	 	 	$	34.33	 	
Exercised	 	 	(463	)	 	$	16.03	 	 	 	(465	)	 	$	6.21	 	 	 	(475	)	 	$	6.21	 	
Forfeited	 	 	(118	)	 	$	30.61	 	 	 	(200	)	 	$	25.61	 	 	 	(48	)	 	$	24.40	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Outstanding at fiscal year end	 	 	4,466	 	 	$	24.85	 	 	 	4,449	 	 	$	24.37	 	 	 	4,148	 	 	$	21.91	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Exercisable at fiscal year end	 	 	2,381	 	 	$	22.17	 	 	 	1,875	 	 	$	18.91	 	 	 	1,421	 	 	$	10.99	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
     The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at August 31, 2003 (shares in thousands): 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Options Outstanding	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Options Exercisable	
 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Weighted	 	 	 	 	 	Weighted	
Range of	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Average	 	 	 	 	 	Average	
Exercise	 	 	 	 	 	Weighted Average	 	Exercise	 	 	 	 	 	Exercise	
Prices	 	Number	 	Remaining Years of	 	Price	 	Number	 	Price	
Per Share	 	Outstanding	 	Contractual Life	 	Per Share	 	Exercisable	 	Per Share	
	 		 		 		 		 		
$0.90–$20.00	 	 	1,239	 	 	 	4.5	 	 	$	11.98	 	 	 	1,131	 	 	$	11.31	 	
$20.01–$30.00	 	 	1,464	 	 	 	8.5	 	 	$	24.86	 	 	 	297	 	 	$	26.12	 	
$30.01–$36.75	 	 	1,763	 	 	 	7.0	 	 	$	33.89	 	 	 	953	 	 	$	33.83	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
 	 	 	4,466	 	 	 	6.8	 	 	$	24.85	 	 	 	2,381	 	 	$	22.17	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
15. Segments 
The Company has three reportable segments based on geographic operations: the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. Each segment markets online integrated database services to investment managers, investment banks and other financial services professionals. The U.S. segment services financial institutions throughout North America, while the European and Asia Pacific segments service investment professionals located in Europe and other regions. 
     The European segment is headquartered in London, England, and maintains office locations in Frankfurt, Germany, and Paris and Avon, France. The Asia Pacific segment is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with office locations in Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia. Mainly sales and consulting personnel staff each of these foreign branch operations. Segment revenues reflect direct sales of products and services to clients based in their respective geographic locations. There are no intersegment or intercompany sales of the FactSet service. Each segment records compensation, travel, office and other direct expenses related to its employees. Expenditures related to the Company’s computing centers, data costs, clearing fees net of recoveries, income taxes and corporate headquarters charges are recorded by the U.S. segment and are not allocated to the European and Asia Pacific segments. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2, Accounting Policies. 
     Goodwill of $13,677,000 at August 31, 2003, which reflects three prior acquisitions, is included within the U.S. segment. 
36 

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
Segment Information 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	U.S.	 	Europe	 	Asia Pacific	 	Total	
	 		 		 		 		
Year Ended August 31, 2003	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues from clients(1)	 	$	178,139	 	 	$	34,088	 	 	$	10,068	 	 	$	222,295	 	
Other income	 	 	2,282	 	 	 	7	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	2,289	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	 	16,179	 	 	 	1,265	 	 	 	97	 	 	 	17,541	 	
Segment operating profit*	 	 	57,732	 	 	 	15,281	 	 	 	3,714	 	 	 	76,727	 	
Provision for income taxes	 	 	27,578	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	27,578	 	
Total assets(1)	 	 	241,732	 	 	 	10,582	 	 	 	3,845	 	 	 	256,159	 	
Capital expenditures	 	 	8,205	 	 	 	148	 	 	 	104	 	 	 	8,457	 	
	 		 		 		 		
Year Ended August 31, 2002 (Restated) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues from clients(1)	 	$	158,929	 	 	$	29,886	 	 	$	9,479	 	 	$	198,294	 	
Other income	 	 	2,318	 	 	 	1	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	2,319	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	 	16,561	 	 	 	1,531	 	 	 	184	 	 	 	18,276	 	
Segment operating profit*	 	 	44,883	 	 	 	12,669	 	 	 	4,366	 	 	 	61,918	 	
Provision for income taxes	 	 	23,389	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	23,389	 	
Total assets(1)	 	 	200,486	 	 	 	11,600	 	 	 	4,077	 	 	 	216,163	 	
Capital expenditures	 	 	8,593	 	 	 	1,419	 	 	 	9	 	 	 	10,021	 	
	 		 		 		 		
Year Ended August 31, 2001 (Restated) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues from clients(1)	 	$	133,970	 	 	$	24,846	 	 	$	8,739	 	 	$	167,555	 	
Other income	 	 	3,333	 	 	 	10	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	3,343	 	
Depreciation and amortization(2)	 	 	14,761	 	 	 	1,514	 	 	 	249	 	 	 	16,524	 	
Segment operating profit*	 	 	36,817	 	 	 	10,241	 	 	 	3,845	 	 	 	50,903	 	
Provision for income taxes	 	 	20,845	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	20,845	 	
Total assets(1)	 	 	156,345	 	 	 	10,838	 	 	 	3,289	 	 	 	170,472	 	
Capital expenditures	 	 	28,436	 	 	 	1,371	 	 	 	336	 	 	 	30,143	 	
* Expenses, including income taxes, are not allocated or charged between segments. Expenditures associated with the Company’s computer centers, clearing fees net of recoveries, data fees, income taxes and corporate headquarters charges are recorded by the U.S. segment. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. 
(1)See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
(2)See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
37 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 ½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Geographic Information 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	
Years Ended August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Revenues (see Note 3)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
United States	 	$	178,139	 	 	$	158,929	 	 	$	133,970	 	
United Kingdom	 	 	21,407	 	 	 	20,157	 	 	 	16,201	 	
Other European countries	 	 	12,681	 	 	 	9,729	 	 	 	8,645	 	
Asia Pacific countries	 	 	10,068	 	 	 	9,479	 	 	 	8,739	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total revenues	 	$	222,295	 	 	$	198,294	 	 	$	167,555	 	

Thousands	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
At August 31,	 	2003	 	2002	 	2001	
	 		 		 		
Long-lived Assets	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
United States	 	$	17,795	 	 	$	24,893	 	 	$	32,522	 	
United Kingdom	 	 	1,007	 	 	 	1,942	 	 	 	2,580	 	
Other European countries	 	 	389	 	 	 	571	 	 	 	40	 	
Asia Pacific countries	 	 	156	 	 	 	149	 	 	 	324	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Total long-lived assets	 	$	19,347	 	 	$	27,555	 	 	$	35,466	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
* See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
16. Revolving Credit Facilities 
In fiscal 2003, the Company renewed its 364-day revolving credit facility and continued to maintain its existing three-year credit facility. Both credit facilities (the “facilities”) are available in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25.0 million for working capital and general corporate purposes, with the facilities split into two equal tranches and maturing March 2004 and November 2004. Approximately $2.4 million in aggregate of these credit facilities has been utilized for letters of credit issued during the ordinary course of business. The Company has no present plans to draw any portion of the remaining available credit of approximately $22.6 million. The Company is obligated to pay a commitment fee on the unused portion of the facilities at a weighted average annual rate of 0.175%. The facilities also contain covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain minimum levels of consolidated net worth and certain leverage and fixed charge ratios. 
17. Off-Balance Sheet Risk and Concentrations of Credit Risk 
In the normal course of business, securities transactions of commission clients of FDS are introduced and cleared through clearing brokers. Pursuant to agreements between FDS and its clearing brokers, the clearing brokers have the right to charge FDS for unsecured losses that result from a client’s failure to complete such transactions. The Company has never experienced significant losses and, therefore, has not recorded a liability with regard to the right. The Company seeks to control the credit risk of nonperformance by considering the creditworthiness of its clients. 
     Receivables from clearing brokers represent a concentration of credit risk in that securities transactions cleared through two clearing brokers bear the potential for liability if unwound or unconsummated. 
38 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Report of Independent Accountants	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FactSet Research Systems Inc. and its subsidiaries (together, “the Company”) at August 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. 
     As disclosed in Note 3, during 2003, the Company revised the presentation of recoveries from clients of certain costs incurred in securities transactions with external clearing brokers to report them as a reduction of cost of services. 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Stamford, Connecticut
September 15, 2003 
39 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Quarterly Data	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 ½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Quarterly results of operations and earnings per common share for fiscal 2003 and 2002 are as follows: 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	 	 	 	 	
Thousands, except per share data	 	First	 	Second	 	Third	 	Fourth	
	 		 		 		 		
2003	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	52,818	 	 	$	55,082	 	 	$	56,832	 	 	$	57,563	 	
Cost of services	 	 	15,751	 	 	 	16,387	 	 	 	16,673	 	 	 	17,475	 	
Selling, general and administrative	 	 	19,202	 	 	 	19,808	 	 	 	20,656	 	 	 	19,616	 	
Income from operations	 	 	17,865	 	 	 	18,887	 	 	 	19,503	 	 	 	20,472	 	
Net income	 	 	11,536	 	 	 	12,147	 	 	 	14,268	 	 	 	13,487	 	
Diluted earnings per common share	 	$	0.33	 	 	$	0.35	 	 	$	0.41	 	 	$	0.38	 	
Weighted average common shares (diluted)	 	 	34,729	 	 	 	34,565	 	 	 	34,607	 	 	 	35,393	 	

 	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	 	Restated*	
 	 	First	 	Second	 	Third	 	Fourth	
 	 		 		 		 		
2002	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	47,507	 	 	$	48,513	 	 	$	50,528	 	 	$	51,746	 	
Cost of services	 	 	14,799	 	 	 	14,744	 	 	 	15,451	 	 	 	15,394	 	
Selling, general and administrative	 	 	18,387	 	 	 	18,729	 	 	 	18,956	 	 	 	19,012	 	
Data center relocation charge	 	 	904	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	 	 	—	 	
Income from operations	 	 	13,417	 	 	 	15,040	 	 	 	16,121	 	 	 	17,340	 	
Net income	 	 	8,611	 	 	 	10,717	 	 	 	10,352	 	 	 	11,168	 	
Diluted earnings per common share	 	$	0.25	 	 	$	0.31	 	 	$	0.29	 	 	$	0.32	 	
Weighted average common shares (diluted)	 	 	34,622	 	 	 	35,078	 	 	 	35,221	 	 	 	34,655	 	

*	See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The restatement has no effect on income from operations, net income, earnings per share or stockholders’ equity. 	
40  

Table of Contents
½ FactSet Research Systems Inc. 
Reconciliation of Quarterly Revenues and Clearing Fees* 
This table is presented to facilitate comparisons of the Company’s net revenue presentation to historical results previously reported on a gross basis. In prior quarterly and annual reports, FactSet included clearing fee recoveries in gross revenues. The amounts in columns A and B are the amounts previously reported, except that the amounts in column B have been reduced by clearing fee recoveries (column C). The Gross Revenues column includes net revenues plus clearing fees for the periods presented. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	A	 	B	 	A + B	 	C	 	A + B + C	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Revenues,	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Revenues,	 	Commissions, Net	 	Total	 	 	 	Gross	
Thousands	 	Cash Fees	 	of Clearing Fees	 	Revenues, Net	 	Clearing Fees	 	Revenues	
	 		 		 		 		 		
1999	 	 	Q1	 	 	 	14,384	 	 	 	7,999	 	 	 	22,383	 	 	 	1,447	 	 	 	23,830	 	
 	 	 	Q2	 	 	 	15,159	 	 	 	8,252	 	 	 	23,411	 	 	 	1,824	 	 	 	25,235	 	
 	 	 	Q3	 	 	 	16,360	 	 	 	8,605	 	 	 	24,965	 	 	 	1,486	 	 	 	26,451	 	
 	 	 	Q4	 	 	 	17,946	 	 	 	8,630	 	 	 	26,576	 	 	 	1,739	 	 	 	28,315	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Fiscal 1999	 	 	63,849	 	 	 	33,486	 	 	 	97,335	 	 	 	6,496	 	 	 	103,831	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
2000	 	 	Q1	 	 	 	19,388	 	 	 	9,193	 	 	 	28,581	 	 	 	1,703	 	 	 	30,284	 	
 	 	 	Q2	 	 	 	20,505	 	 	 	9,540	 	 	 	30,045	 	 	 	2,440	 	 	 	32,485	 	
 	 	 	Q3	 	 	 	21,946	 	 	 	10,466	 	 	 	32,412	 	 	 	1,883	 	 	 	34,295	 	
 	 	 	Q4	 	 	 	24,544	 	 	 	10,880	 	 	 	35,424	 	 	 	1,690	 	 	 	37,114	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Fiscal 2000	 	 	86,383	 	 	 	40,079	 	 	 	126,462	 	 	 	7,716	 	 	 	134,178	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
2001	 	 	Q1	 	 	 	27,954	 	 	 	10,390	 	 	 	38,344	 	 	 	2,567	 	 	 	40,911	 	
 	 	 	Q2	 	 	 	28,943	 	 	 	11,823	 	 	 	40,766	 	 	 	2,158	 	 	 	42,924	 	
 	 	 	Q3	 	 	 	30,617	 	 	 	12,507	 	 	 	43,124	 	 	 	2,250	 	 	 	45,374	 	
 	 	 	Q4	 	 	 	32,712	 	 	 	12,609	 	 	 	45,321	 	 	 	2,158	 	 	 	47,479	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Fiscal 2001	 	 	120,226	 	 	 	47,329	 	 	 	167,555	 	 	 	9,133	 	 	 	176,688	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
2002	 	 	Q1	 	 	 	35,130	 	 	 	12,377	 	 	 	47,507	 	 	 	1,502	 	 	 	49,009	 	
 	 	 	Q2	 	 	 	35,367	 	 	 	13,146	 	 	 	48,513	 	 	 	1,854	 	 	 	50,367	 	
 	 	 	Q3	 	 	 	36,818	 	 	 	13,710	 	 	 	50,528	 	 	 	1,888	 	 	 	52,416	 	
 	 	 	Q4	 	 	 	36,342	 	 	 	15,404	 	 	 	51,746	 	 	 	2,315	 	 	 	54,061	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Fiscal 2002	 	 	143,657	 	 	 	54,637	 	 	 	198,294	 	 	 	7,559	 	 	 	205,853	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
2003	 	 	Q1	 	 	 	38,818	 	 	 	14,000	 	 	 	52,818	 	 	 	1,995	 	 	 	54,813	 	
 	 	 	Q2	 	 	 	40,355	 	 	 	14,727	 	 	 	55,082	 	 	 	1,573	 	 	 	56,655	 	
 	 	 	Q3	 	 	 	41,997	 	 	 	14,835	 	 	 	56,832	 	 	 	2,274	 	 	 	59,106	 	
 	 	 	Q4	 	 	 	43,723	 	 	 	13,840	 	 	 	57,563	 	 	 	2,137	 	 	 	59,700	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
Fiscal 2003	 	 	164,893	 	 	 	57,402	 	 	 	222,295	 	 	 	7,979	 	 	 	230,274	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	 	 		 	
* See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
 41 

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Quarterly Data	 	August 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 ½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
Reconciliation of Net Subscriptions* 
This table is presented to facilitate comparisons of FactSet’s net subscriptions presented in this annual report to historical amounts previously reported on a gross basis. The amounts in columns A are the amounts previously reported. Net subscriptions represent gross subscription amounts less estimated clearing fee recoveries for the periods presented. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	A	 	B	 	A-B	
 	 	 	 	Estimated	 	 	
 	 	 	 	Clearing Fee	 	 	
 	 	 	 	Recoveries	 	 	
 	 	Gross	 	Included in	 	Net	
Thousands	 	Subscriptions	 	Subscriptions	 	Subscriptions	
	 		 		 		
August 31, 2002	 	 	218,970	 	 	 	7,514	 	 	 	211,456	 	
November 30, 2002	 	 	221,212	 	 	 	7,252	 	 	 	213,960	 	
February 28, 2003	 	 	230,320	 	 	 	7,423	 	 	 	222,897	 	
May 31, 2003	 	 	235,898	 	 	 	7,876	 	 	 	228,022	 	
August 31, 2003	 	 	242,716	 	 	 	7,734	 	 	 	234,982	 	
* See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
Stock Information 
Common Stock 
The principal stock exchange, on which the Company’s common stock (par value $0.01 per share) is listed, is the New York Stock Exchange. At October 28, 2003, there were approximately 9,900 shareholders of the Company’s common stock. 
Quarterly Stock Prices 
Quarterly stock prices reflect the high and low prices for the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange composite tape for the last two fiscal years. 
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	First	 	Second	 	Third	 	Fourth	
 	 		 		 		 		
2003	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
High	 	$	31.25	 	 	$	33.79	 	 	$	38.56	 	 	$	49.49	 	
Low	 	 	22.02	 	 	 	24.28	 	 	 	24.35	 	 	 	36.40	 	
2002	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
High	 	$	31.55	 	 	$	39.20	 	 	$	41.45	 	 	$	32.73	 	
Low	 	 	17.80	 	 	 	29.45	 	 	 	29.56	 	 	 	21.15	 	
42  

Table of Contents
 	 	 	
Directors and Management	 	½ FactSet Research Systems Inc.	
D i r e c t o r s 
Philip A. Hadley
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer 
Charles J. Snyder
Vice Chairman of the Board and
Retired President 
Michael F. DiChristina
President and Chief Operating Officer 
Scott A. Billeadeau
Lead Independent Director
Senior Vice President and
Senior Portfolio Manager
Paladin Investment Associates, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Joseph E. Laird, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Laird Squared, LLC
New York, New York 
James J. McGonigle
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The Corporate Executive Board
Washington, D.C. 
John C. Mickle
President
Sullivan, Morrissey & Mickle
Capital Management Corporation
New York, New York 
Walter F. Siebecker
President
Burgess Consulting LLC
New York, New York 
Howard E. Wille
Retired Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer 
M a n a g e m e n t 
Philip A. Hadley
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer 
Michael F. DiChristina
President and Chief Operating Officer 
Michael D. Frankenfield
Senior Vice President and
Director of Sales and Marketing 
Townsend Thomas
Senior Vice President and
Chief Technology Officer 
Ernest S. Wong
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary 
Scott L. Beyer
Director, International Operations 
Michael E. Cham
Director, Software Engineering 
Christopher Ellis
Director, Portfolio Analytics 
Kieran M. Kennedy
Director, Investment Banking and
Brokerage Services 
Maurizio Nicolelli
Comptroller 
Laura C. Ruhe
Director, Product Development 
James Suppelsa
Director, Data Warehousing 
43 

Table of Contents
Corporate Information 
H e a d q u a r t e r s
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
One Greenwich Plaza
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
203.863.1500 /203.863.1501 fax 
I n t e r n e t  A d d r e s s
www.factset.com 
O f f i c e s
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
One Cummings Point Road
Stamford, Connecticut 06902
203.356.3700 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
300 First Stamford Place
Stamford, Connecticut 06902
203.905.7000 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
90 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10016
212.476.4300 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
440 9th Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10001
212.404.2000 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
77 Sundial Avenue
Manchester, New Hampshire 03103
603.665.2300 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
One Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
617.757.1100 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
311 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
312.386.1500 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
2600 Campus Drive
San Mateo, California 94403
650.286.4900 
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
2002 McFarland Boulevard, Suite 205
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35404
205.343.0255 
FactSet Mergerstat, LLC
2150 Colorado Avenue, Suite 150
Santa Monica, California 90404
310.315.3100 
FactSet Limited
One Angel Court
London EC2R 7HJ
United Kingdom
44.(0)20.7606.0001 
FactSet GmbH
An der Welle 3
D-60322 Frankfurt
Germany
49.69.7706.1600 
FactSet France, Inc.
Regus Paris Madeleine
19, Boulevard Malesherbes
Paris, France 75008
33.1.55.27.37.37 
LionShares Europe S.A.S.
44 Avenue de Valvins
Avon, France 77210
33.1.60.74.98.70 
FactSet Pacific, Inc.
Daini Okamotoya Building 8F
1-22-16 Toranomon
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001
Japan
81.3.5512.7700 
FactSet Pacific, Inc.
25/F Bank of China Tower
One Garden Road
Central, Hong Kong
852.2251.1833 
FactSet Pacific, Inc.
14 Martin Place, Level 7
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia
61.2.9224.8930 
Additional information, including the
Form 10-K, can be obtained from our
Web site or by contacting Investor
Relations at 203.863.1500. 
Independent Public Accountants
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Stamford, Connecticut 
Legal Counsel
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
New York, New York 
Stock Transfer Agent/Registrar
Mellon Investor Services
800.288.9541
www.melloninvestor.com 
Common Stock Information
FactSet Research Systems Inc. trades
on the New York Stock Exchange
under the ticker symbol “FDS”. 
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of stockholders
will be held at 10:00 a.m. on
Thursday, January 8, 2004, at the
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
Headquarters, One Greenwich Plaza,
Greenwich, Connecticut. 
On November 25, 2003, proxy
material was sent to stockholders of
record as of November 7, 2003. 
44 
Design: SVP Partners / Wilton, CT 

Table of Contents

                                                                      EXHIBIT 21

                           SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY

FactSet Data Systems, Inc.
FactSet France, Inc.
FactSet GmbH
FactSet Limited
FactSet Mergerstat, LLC
FactSet Pacific, Inc.
Innovative Systems Techniques, Inc.
LionShares Europe S.A.S.

                                                                      EXHIBIT 23

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-22319, 333-59839, 333-56870 and 333-57880) of
FactSet Research Systems Inc. of our report dated September 15, 2003 relating to
the financial statements, which appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders,
which is incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- --------------------------------------

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Stamford, Connecticut
November 25, 2003

                                                                    EXHIBIT 31.1

            CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
                      EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Philip A. Hadley, Chief Executive Officer of FactSet Research Systems Inc.,
certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of FactSet Research Systems
     Inc.;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
     make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
     statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
     information included in this report, fairly present in all material
     respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
     the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

     a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
          disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
          supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
          registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
          us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
          which this report is being prepared;

     b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
          and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
          effectiveness of the controls and procedures, as of the end of the
          period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

     c)   disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's
          most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
          reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting; and

5.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
     our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
     the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
     of directors:

     a)   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
          operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
          reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
          record, process, summarize, and report information; and

     b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
          employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting.

Date: November 25, 2003

                              /s/ Philip A. Hadley
                             ----------------------
                                Philip A. Hadley
                             Chief Executive Officer

                                                                    EXHIBIT 31.2

            CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
                      EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Ernest S. Wong, Chief Financial Officer of FactSet Research Systems Inc.,
certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of FactSet Research Systems
     Inc.;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
     make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
     statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
     information included in this report, fairly present in all material
     respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
     the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

     a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
          disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
          supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
          registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
          us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
          which this report is being prepared;

     b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
          and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
          effectiveness of the controls and procedures, as of the end of the
          period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

     c)   disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's
          most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
          reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting; and

5.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
     our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
     the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
     of directors:

     a)   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
          operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
          reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
          record, process, summarize, and report information; and

     b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
          employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting.

Date: November 25, 2003

                               /s/ Ernest S. Wong
                              --------------------
                                 Ernest S. Wong
                             Chief Financial Officer

                                                                    EXHIBIT 32.1

                          FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC.

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Annual Report of FactSet Research Systems Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-K for the period ending August 31, 2003 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Philip
A. Hadley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss.1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

/s/ Philip A. Hadley
- ----------------------------
    Philip A. Hadley
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    November 25, 2003

     A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has
been provided to FactSet Research Systems Inc. and will be retained by FactSet
Research Systems Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or
its staff upon request.

                                                                    EXHIBIT 32.2

                          FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC.

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Annual Report of FactSet Research Systems Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-K for the period ending August 31, 2003 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Ernest
S. Wong, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
ss.1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that:

     (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

/s/ Ernest S. Wong
- ---------------------------
    Ernest S. Wong
    Chief Financial Officer
    November 25, 2003

     A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has
been provided to FactSet Research Systems Inc. and will be retained by FactSet
Research Systems Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or
its staff upon request.