Financial Data Platforms

FactSet vs S&P Capital IQ

FactSet is better for buy-side portfolio analytics and fundamental equity research, while S&P Capital IQ offers better private company and M&A data for investment banking and deal teams.

FactSet

Premier financial data platform for buy-side equity research with fundamental data, estimates, and Mercury AI analytics.

CloudOn-Premise

Pricing$0

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S&P Capital IQ

S&P Global's premier financial intelligence platform for M&A, private equity, credit analysis, and investment banking.

Cloud

Pricing$0

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	FactSet	S&P Capital IQ
Category	F	i
Deployment Model	Cloud, On-premise	Cloud
Pricing Model	subscription	subscription
Target Audience	Enterprise	Enterprise
Platforms	Desktop, Web, Api	Web, Desktop, Api
Available Regions	global	global
Key Features	✓Best fundamental data for equity research ✓FactSet Mercury AI for financial analysis ✓Portfolio analytics and attribution ✓Estimates and consensus data ✓Deep company financials and filings	✓Best private company and M&A data ✓Kensho AI for financial intelligence ✓Comprehensive credit and fixed income data ✓Excel plugin for financial model building ✓Screening tools for deal sourcing
Pros	✓Best fundamental and estimates data for equity research ✓Lower price than Bloomberg for research workflows ✓FactSet Mercury AI reduces research time significantly	✓Best private market and M&A data for deal teams ✓Kensho AI delivers unique financial intelligence ✓Most comprehensive credit and fixed income coverage
Cons	✗Less real-time market data than Bloomberg ✗Primarily buy-side focused — less sell-side tools ✗API access requires additional licensing	✗Very expensive — enterprise pricing only ✗Less real-time market data than Bloomberg ✗Interface less intuitive than FactSet
AI Integrations	FactSet Mercury AIClaudeGPT-4Python	S&P AIKensho AIClaudeGPT-4Python
Data Connectors	FactSet Excel Add-InFactSet APIPython factset-api-clientRJupyter	Capital IQ Excel PluginCapital IQ APIPythonCapIQ Pro Spreadsheets
Website	FactSet ↗	S&P Capital IQ ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for buy-side research?

FactSet is better for buy-side research with integrated portfolio analytics, performance attribution, and risk reporting. Its multi-asset class support makes it the preferred platform for asset managers and hedge funds managing complex portfolios.

Which is better for M&A deal sourcing?

S&P Capital IQ is better for M&A deal sourcing with superior private company data, transaction comps, and industry screening. Investment banking teams rely on Capital IQ's comprehensive M&A database and league table analysis.

Which has better Excel integration?

Both offer strong Excel integration. FactSet's Excel add-in is more intuitive for portfolio analysis and financial modeling. S&P Capital IQ's Excel plugin is equally powerful for company valuations and transaction analysis, with slightly better data refresh capabilities.

Which is more cost-effective for analysts?

Both are priced in a similar range. FactSet tends to be more cost-effective for buy-side firms needing integrated portfolio analytics. S&P Capital IQ is often more cost-effective for investment banking teams focused on M&A and private company analysis.