Which 3 financial data providers are secretly outperforming MSCI in ETF-linked revenue growth?
7/24/2025 06:13am
Financial data providers are increasingly leveraging ETFs to drive revenue growth, with MSCI leading the charge. Here’s a deep dive into the competitive landscape:
1. **MSCI’s Dominance in ETF-Linked Revenue Growth**:
- MSCI reported a revenue growth of 9.69% and $745.83 million in revenue for 2025 Q1.
- Assets in ETFs linked to MSCI’s global equity indexes surpassed $2 trillion, a 17% increase since the start of 2025.
- MSCI’s Index segment contributed $434.8 million, with recurring subscriptions increasing 8.6% and asset-based fees growing 12.7%.
2. **Competitors’ Revenue and Growth Rates**:
- SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) do not provide quarterly revenue data.
- IEF (iShares Core S&P Total Market ETF) reported an MRQ revenue of $735,000 for 2025 Q1, which is significantly lower than MSCI’s reported revenue.
3. **Secret Performers Outshining MSCI**:
- The search for data providers with higher revenue growth rates and greater MRQ revenues than MSCI yielded no results.
- This suggests that either MSCI is uniquely positioned in its high-growth market or there may be undisclosed factors influencing its competitors’ lower visibility.
4. **Market Dynamics and MSCI’s Strategic Advantage**:
- MSCI’s strong revenue growth is attributed to record ETF assets and a 17% increase in asset-based fees.
- The company’s extensive index offerings and leadership in equity ETF cash inflows contribute to its robust revenue model.
5. **Implications for the Financial Data Provider Landscape**:
- MSCI’s success highlights the importance of diversified revenue streams, including asset-based fees from ETFs.
- As ETFs continue to grow, financial data providers must innovate and expand their product suites to capture increasing market share and revenue opportunities.
In conclusion, while MSCI is not secretly outperformed by other financial data providers in terms of revenue growth and market leadership in ETF-linked revenues, its strategic focus on ETF assets and innovative solutions positions it as a leader in this space.