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Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 17, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	MSCI
Entity Registrant Name	MSCI Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001408198
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		90,545,374
Entity Public Float			$ 7,080,925,883

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 791,834	$ 777,706
Accounts receivable (net of allowances of $1,035 and $1,117 at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	221,504	208,239
Prepaid income taxes	12,389	46,115
Prepaid and other assets	29,943	31,211
Total current assets	1,055,670	1,063,271
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $136,841 and $114,680 at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	95,585	98,926
Goodwill	1,555,850	1,565,621
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $462,860 and $418,512 at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	347,640	391,490
Deferred tax assets	9,531	9,180
Other non-current assets	18,302	18,499
Total assets	3,082,578	3,146,987
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	568	2,512
Accrued compensation and related benefits	119,113	116,619
Other accrued liabilities	82,531	61,433
Deferred revenue	334,358	317,552
Total current liabilities	536,570	498,116
Long-term debt	2,075,201	1,579,404
Deferred taxes	94,067	110,937
Other non-current liabilities	59,135	57,043
Total liabilities	2,764,973	2,245,500
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 4 and Note 8)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock (par value $0.01, 100,000,000 share authorized, no shares issued)
Common stock (par value $0.01; 750,000,000 common shares authorized; 128,996,344 and 128,200,189 common shares issued and 91,279,590 and 101,013,148 common shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	1,290	1,282
Treasury shares, at cost (37,716,754 and 27,187,041 common shares held at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	(2,170,739)	(1,395,695)
Additional paid in capital	1,225,565	1,173,183
Retained earnings	1,322,224	1,158,462
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(60,735)	(35,745)
Total shareholders' equity	317,605	901,487
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,082,578	$ 3,146,987

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowances	$ 1,035	$ 1,117
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, accumulated depreciation and amortization	136,841	114,680
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 462,860	$ 418,512
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	750,000,000	750,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	128,996,344	128,200,189
Common stock, shares outstanding	91,279,590	101,013,148
Treasury shares	37,716,754	27,187,041

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 292,812	$ 288,433	$ 290,596	$ 278,828	$ 272,893	$ 268,771	$ 270,580	$ 262,769		$ 1,150,669	$ 1,075,013	$ 996,680
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues	63,819	62,986	62,130	63,172	64,804	65,593	67,394	69,904		252,107	267,695	276,623
Selling and marketing	41,609	41,514	41,854	41,689	39,809	38,809	42,028	41,648		166,666	162,294	163,839
Research and development	18,960	18,750	18,566	18,928	17,776	15,548	20,807	23,189		75,204	77,320	71,095
General and administrative	21,467	21,859	22,019	21,890	23,590	19,960	22,080	20,377		87,235	86,007	76,369
Amortization of intangible assets	11,498	11,752	11,943	11,840	11,803	11,710	11,695	11,702		47,033	46,910	45,877
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	9,447	8,312	8,393	8,168	7,568	8,049	8,065	7,207		34,320	30,889	25,711
Total operating expenses	166,800	165,173	164,905	165,687	165,350	159,669	172,069	174,027		662,565	671,115	659,514
Operating income	126,012	123,260	125,691	113,141	107,543	109,102	98,511	88,742		488,104	403,898	337,166
Interest income	(901)	(799)	(585)	(621)	(492)	(285)	(185)	(204)		(2,906)	(1,166)	(851)
Interest expense	29,039	26,790	22,918	22,904	22,896	17,267	11,116	11,108		101,651	62,387	31,820
Other expense (income)	779	(253)	2,814	81	(297)	(6,922)	164	178		3,421	(6,877)	(2,141)
Other expense (income), net	28,917	25,738	25,147	22,364	22,107	10,060	11,095	11,082		102,166	54,344	28,828
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	97,095	97,522	100,544	90,777	85,436	99,042	87,416	77,660		385,938	349,554	308,338
Provision for income taxes	28,845	32,241	33,587	30,410	25,437	34,644	31,399	28,036		125,083	119,516	109,396
Income from continuing operations										260,855	230,038	198,942
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes					(593)			(5,797)			(6,390)	85,171
Net income	$ 68,250	$ 65,281	$ 66,957	$ 60,367	$ 59,406	$ 64,398	$ 56,017	$ 43,827		$ 260,855	$ 223,648	$ 284,113
Earnings per basic common share:
Earnings per basic common share from continuing operations	$ 0.73	$ 0.69	$ 0.69	$ 0.61	$ 0.59	$ 0.59	$ 0.50	$ 0.44		$ 2.72	$ 2.11	$ 1.72
Earnings per basic common share from discontinued operations											(0.06)	0.73
Earnings per basic common share	0.73	0.69	0.69	0.61	0.58	0.59	0.50	0.39		2.72	2.05	2.45
Earnings per diluted common share:
Earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations	0.73	0.68	0.69	0.60	0.58	0.59	0.50	0.44		2.70	2.09	1.70
Earnings per diluted common share from discontinued operations											(0.06)	0.73
Earnings per diluted common share	$ 0.73	$ 0.68	$ 0.69	$ 0.60	$ 0.57	$ 0.59	$ 0.50	$ 0.39		$ 2.70	$ 2.03	$ 2.43
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing earnings per share:
Basic	93,327	94,823	96,412	99,425	102,837	108,773	112,143	112,520		95,986	109,124	115,737
Diluted	93,845	95,473	96,888	99,998	103,590	109,440	112,931	113,522		96,540	109,926	116,706
Dividend declared per common share	$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 1.00	$ 0.80	$ 0.18

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 260,855	$ 223,648	$ 284,113
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(24,871)	(12,253)	(18,053)
Income tax effect	(714)	135	(132)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net	(25,585)	(12,118)	(18,185)
Pension and other post-retirement adjustments	660	1,872	(8,299)
Income tax effect	(65)	(528)	2,163
Pension and other post-retirement adjustments, net	595	1,344	(6,136)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(24,990)	(10,774)	(24,321)
Comprehensive income	$ 235,865	$ 212,874	$ 259,792

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,564,347	$ 1,256	$ (268,391)	$ 1,073,157	$ 758,975	$ (650)
Net income	284,113				284,113
Dividends	(20,397)		(4)		(20,393)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(24,321)					(24,321)
Common stock issued	5	5
Compensation payable in common stock and options	26,553			26,553
Common stock repurchased and held in treasury	(409,651)		(319,651)	(90,000)
Common stock issued to directors and held in treasury	(332)		(332)
Exercise of stock options	9,681	5		9,676
Excess tax benefits from employee stock incentive plans	2,835			2,835
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,432,833	1,266	(588,378)	1,022,221	1,022,695	(24,971)
Net income	223,648				223,648
Dividends	(87,852)			29	(87,881)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10,774)					(10,774)
Common stock issued	6	6
Compensation payable in common stock and options	25,963			25,963
Common stock repurchased and held in treasury	(716,782)		(806,782)	90,000
Common stock issued to directors and held in treasury	(506)		(535)	29
Exercise of stock options	19,698	10		19,688
Excess tax benefits from employee stock incentive plans	15,253			15,253
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	901,487	1,282	(1,395,695)	1,173,183	1,158,462	(35,745)
Net income	260,855				260,855
Dividends	(97,059)			34	(97,093)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(24,990)					(24,990)
Common stock issued	5	5
Compensation payable in common stock and options	39,648			39,648
Common stock repurchased and held in treasury	(774,565)		(774,565)
Common stock issued to directors and held in treasury	(441)		(479)	38
Exercise of stock options	5,040	3		5,037
Excess tax benefits from employee stock incentive plans	7,625			7,625
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 317,605	$ 1,290	$ (2,170,739)	$ 1,225,565	$ 1,322,224	$ (60,735)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 260,855	$ 223,648	$ 284,113
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of intangible assets	47,033	46,910	48,617
Stock-based compensation expense	32,001	28,558	26,585
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	34,320	30,889	25,930
Amortization of debt origination fees	3,068	2,135	7,748
Deferred taxes	(16,967)	(10,288)	(4,960)
Amortization of discount on long-term debt			2,218
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(7,625)	(15,253)	(2,835)
Gain on disposition	(449)		(84,620)
Other non-cash adjustments	1,192	(2,067)	1,847
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable	(18,494)	(30,900)	(26,821)
Prepaid income taxes	41,332	(1,972)	(14,998)
Prepaid and other assets	624	(1,217)	(9,857)
Accounts payable	(1,912)	(298)	2,128
Accrued compensation and related benefits	13,089	5,087	88
Other accrued liabilities	19,741	17,165	8,428
Deferred revenue	21,809	8,047	42,263
Other	5,121	5,550	(201)
Net cash provided by operating activities	434,738	305,994	305,673
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sales of investments		6,736
Disposition, net of cash provided	657		362,811
Proceeds from the sale of capital equipment		55	22
Capital expenditures	(32,284)	(40,652)	(42,659)
Capitalized software development costs	(10,344)	(8,500)	(8,216)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(60)	(6,500)	(14,921)
Net cash used in investing activities	(42,031)	(48,861)	297,037
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowing	500,000	800,000	800,000
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	7,625	15,253	2,835
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	5,040	3,631	9,681
Repayment of long-term debt			(810,000)
Repurchase of treasury shares	(774,565)	(700,715)	(409,651)
Payment of dividends	(96,191)	(87,743)	(20,393)
Payment of debt issuance costs in connection with debt	(7,183)	(10,477)	(14,800)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(365,274)	19,949	(442,328)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(13,305)	(8,175)	(10,017)
Net increase in cash	14,128	268,907	150,365
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	777,706	508,799	358,434
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	791,834	777,706	508,799
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	89,139	42,110	17,233
Cash paid for income taxes	97,845	129,534	120,419
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements in other accrued liabilities	4,422	3,644	$ 6,731
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities
Cash dividends declared, but not yet paid	$ 830	$ 84

Introduction and Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Introduction and Basis of Presentation

1. INTRODUCTION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Organization

MSCI Inc., together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or “MSCI”), offers products and services to support the needs of institutional investors throughout their investment processes. The Company’s products and services include the development and production of indexes and analytical models; the provision of ratings and analysis that identify environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities and the analysis of real estate in both privately and publicly owned portfolios.

On March 17, 2014, MSCI Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to sell Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”). As a result, the Company reported the operating results of ISS in “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes” in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. Unless otherwise indicated, the disclosures accompanying these consolidated financial statements reflect the Company’s continuing operations. The Company completed the sale of ISS on April 30, 2014. See Note 12, “Dispositions and Discontinued Operations,” for further details.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MSCI Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s policy is to consolidate all entities in which it owns more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock unless it does not control the entity. It is also the Company’s policy to consolidate any variable interest entity for which the Company is the primary beneficiary, of which the Company has none, as required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 810-10, “Consolidations.” For investments in any entities in which the Company owns 20% or less of the outstanding voting stock and significant influence does not exist, such investments are carried at cost. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had no such investments.

The Company’s operating expenses are grouped and presented in the following activity categories: cost of revenues, selling and marketing, research and development and general and administrative. Costs are assigned to these activity categories based on the nature of the expense, or, when not directly attributable, an estimate is allocated based on the type of effort involved.

Cost of revenues consists of costs related to the production and servicing of the Company’s products and services and primarily include information technology costs associated with the production and delivery of its products and services, including data center, platform and infrastructure costs; costs to acquire, produce and maintain market data information; costs of research to support, maintain and rebalance existing products; costs of product management teams; costs of client service and consultant teams to support customer needs; as well as other support costs directly attributable to the cost of revenues including certain human resources, finance and legal costs.

Selling and marketing expenses consist of costs associated with acquiring new clients or selling new products or product renewals to existing clients and primarily includes the costs of our sales force and marketing teams as well as costs incurred in other groups associated with acquiring new business, including product management, research, technology and sales operations.

Research and development expenses consist of costs to develop new or enhance existing products and the costs to develop new or improved technology and service platforms for the delivery of our products and services and primarily includes the costs of application development, research, product management, project management and the technology support associated with supporting these efforts.

General and administrative expenses consist of costs primarily related to finance operations, human resources, office of the CEO, legal, corporate technology, corporate development and certain other administrative costs that are not directly attributed, but are instead allocated, to a product or service.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Financial Statements and Use of Estimates

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). These accounting principles require the Company to make certain estimates and judgments that can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. Significant estimates and assumptions made by management include the deferral and recognition of revenue, research and development and software capitalization, impairment of long-lived assets, accrued compensation, income taxes and other matters that affect the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company believes that estimates used in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are reasonable; however, actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

Inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition

The Company applies SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104 (“SAB 104”), “Revenue Recognition,” in determining revenue recognition. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue when all the following criteria are met:

•

the Company has persuasive evidence of a legally binding arrangement,

•

delivery has occurred,

•

client fee is deemed fixed or determinable, and

•

collection is reasonably assured.

When a sales arrangement requires the delivery of more than one product and service, revenue is recognized pursuant to the requirements of ASC Subtopic 605-25, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.” Under the provisions of ASC Subtopic 605-25, elements within a multi-deliverable arrangement should be considered separate units of accounting if both of the following criteria are met:

•

the delivered items have value to the client on a standalone basis, which means they can be sold separately by any vendor or the client could resell the delivered items on a standalone basis; and

•

if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered items, delivery or performance of the undelivered items is considered probable and substantially in the control of the vendor.

The Company has signed contracts or agreements with substantially all clients that set forth the fees to be paid for its products and services. Further, the Company regularly assesses the receivable balances for each client for collectability. The Company’s application service license arrangements generally do not include acceptance provisions, which generally allow a client to test the solution for a defined period of time before committing to the license. If a license agreement includes an acceptance provision, the Company does not recognize subscription revenues until the earlier of the receipt of a written client acceptance or, if not notified by the client that it is cancelling the license agreement, the expiration of the acceptance period.

The Company’s subscription agreements for hosted services include provisions that, among other things, allow clients, for no additional fee, to receive updates and modifications that may be made from time to time when and if available, for the term of the agreement, which is typically one year. These arrangements do not provide the client with the right to take possession of the application at any time. For sales arrangements with multiple deliverables, which may include application service subscription and professional services associated with implementation and other services, the Company evaluates each deliverable in these multiple-element arrangements to determine whether it represents a separate unit of accounting and allocates revenue accordingly, based on the Company’s best estimated sales price.

In most cases, the Company recognizes revenues from subscription arrangements ratably over the term of the license agreement pursuant to contract terms. The contracts state the terms under which these fees are to be calculated. The fees are recognized as the Company supplies the product and service to the client over the license period and are generally billed in advance, prior to the license start date. When implementation services are included, the Company recognizes revenues allocated to the subscription ratably from the date the application is put into production to the end of the license period. Revenues associated with implementation services are recognized ratably over the useful life of those services from the date the application is put into production. For products and services whose fees are based on estimated assets under management linked to the Company’s indexes, or contract values related to futures and options, the Company recognizes revenues based on estimates from independent third-party sources or the most recently reported information from the client. Revenues from subscription agreements for the receipt of periodic benchmark reports, digests, and other publications, which are most often associated with the Company’s real estate operating segment, are primarily recognized upon delivery of such reports or data updates.

The Company’s software-related arrangements do not require significant modification or customization of any underlying software applications being licensed. Accordingly, the Company recognizes software revenues pursuant to the requirements of ASC Subtopic 985-605, “Software-Revenue Recognition.” The Company’s subscription agreements for software products include provisions that, among other things, would allow clients to receive unspecified, when and if available, software upgrades for no additional fee as well as the right to use the software products with maintenance and technical support for the term of the agreement, which is typically one year. Software agreements may include other consulting and professional services. In accordance with ASC Subtopic 985-605, “Software Revenue Recognition,” the Company does not have vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) for these elements and therefore begins to recognize software related revenue ratably over the term of the license agreement once delivered.

Share-Based Compensation

Certain of the Company’s employees have received share-based compensation under various compensation programs. The Company’s compensation expense reflects the fair value method of accounting for share-based payments under ASC Subtopic 718-10, “Compensation—Stock Compensation.” ASC Subtopic 718-10 requires measurement of compensation cost for equity-based awards at fair value and recognition of compensation cost over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures.

The fair value of MSCI restricted stock units (“RSUs”) is measured using the closing price of MSCI’s common stock on the date prior to grant. Restricted stock units subject to performance conditions (“PSUs”) are based on performance measures that impact the amount of shares that each recipient will receive upon vesting. The fair value of PSUs is measured using the closing price of MSCI’s common stock on the date prior to grant. Restricted stock units that are subject to the achievement of multi-year total shareholder return targets (“MSUs”) are performance awards with a market condition. The fair value of MSUs is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model that creates a normal distribution of future stock prices, which is then used to value the awards based on their individual terms.

The fair value of MSCI standard stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model and the single grant life method. Under the single grant life method, option awards with graded vesting are valued using a single weighted-average expected option life. The fair value of MSCI stock options that contain stock price contingencies is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

The Company recognizes the expense for an award granted to an employee who is not retirement-eligible utilizing the graded vesting method over the requisite service period. For all awards, the Company bases initial accruals of compensation cost on the estimated number of units for which the requisite service is expected to be rendered and, for PSUs, the performance targets expected to be achieved is also considered. If the estimated number of units or the number of units ultimately delivered changes from previous estimates, the cumulative effect on current and prior periods of a change is recognized in compensation cost in the period of the change. Because the probability of actual shares expected to be earned is reflected in the fair value of MSUs on the grant date, the expense to be recognized for these awards is not adjusted to reflect the actual shares earned.

Based on interpretive guidance related to share-based compensation, the Company’s policy is to accrue the estimated cost of share-based awards that are granted to retirement-eligible employees over the course of the prior year in which they were earned rather than expensing the awards on the date of grant. A portion of the awards granted to retirement-eligible employees consisted of PSUs. For those PSUs, the Company bases initial accruals of compensation cost on the estimated number of units for which the requisite service is expected to be rendered. If the estimated number of units expected to convert changes from previous estimates based on the performance targets expected to be achieved, the cumulative effect of a change is recognized in compensation cost in the period of the change.

Research and Development

The Company accounts for research and development costs in accordance with several accounting pronouncements, including ASC Subtopic 730-10, “Research and Development.” ASC Subtopic 730-10 requires that research and development costs generally be expensed as incurred. The majority of the Company’s research and development costs are incurred in developing, reviewing and enhancing the methodologies and data models offered within its product portfolio by monitoring investment trends and drivers globally, as well as analyzing product-specific needs in areas such as capitalization-weighted, factor and specialized indexes, and instrument valuation, risk modeling, portfolio construction, asset allocation and value-at-risk simulation.

The Company applies the provisions of ASC Subtopic 350-40, “Internal Use Software,” and accounts for the cost of computer software developed for internal use by capitalizing qualifying costs, which are substantially incurred during the application development stage. The amounts capitalized include external direct costs of services used in developing internal-use software and payroll and payroll-related costs of employees directly associated with the development activities. Additionally, costs incurred relating to upgrades and enhancements to the software are capitalized if it is determined that these upgrades or enhancements provide additional functionality to the software.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company capitalized $10.3 million of costs related to software developed for internal use in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition for the year ended December 31, 2016.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company capitalized $8.6 million of costs related to software developed for internal use and reversed $3.4 million of previously capitalized costs associated with the termination of a technology project in the Analytics segment. As a result, $5.2 million was the net amount capitalized in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Capitalized software development costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the related product, which is typically three to five years, beginning with the date the software is placed into service.

Costs incurred in the preliminary and post-implementation stages of our products are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense is provided for using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using currently enacted tax rates. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income tax matters within “Provision for income taxes” in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

The Company regularly evaluates the likelihood of additional assessments in each of the taxing jurisdictions in which it is required to file income tax returns. The Company has recorded additional tax expense related to open tax years, which the Company’s management believes is adequate in relation to the potential for assessments. These amounts have been recorded in “Other non-current liabilities” on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition. The Company’s management believes the resolution of tax matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition. However, to the extent the Company is required to pay amounts in excess of its reserves, a resolution could have a material impact on its Consolidated Statement of Income for a particular future period. In addition, an unfavorable tax settlement could require use of cash and result in an increase in the effective tax rate in the period in which such resolution occurs.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenues represent amounts billed to customers for products and services in advance of delivery. The Company’s clients generally pay subscription fees annually or quarterly in advance. Deferred revenue is generally amortized ratably over the service period as revenue recognition criteria are met. Where the service period has not begun and the client has not paid or the contract has not been renewed, deferred revenues and accounts receivable are not recognized.

Goodwill

Goodwill is recorded as part of the Company’s acquisitions of businesses when the purchase price exceeds the fair value of the net tangible and separately identifiable intangible assets acquired. The Company’s goodwill is not amortized, but rather is subject to an impairment test each year, or more often if conditions indicate impairment may have occurred, pursuant to ASC Subtopic 350-10, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other.”

The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis on July 1 and on an interim basis when certain events and circumstances exist. The testing for impairment is performed at the reporting unit level. Goodwill impairment is determined by comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with its respective book value. If the estimated fair value exceeds the book value, goodwill at the reporting unit level is not deemed to be impaired. If the estimated fair value is below book value, however, further analysis is required to determine the amount of impairment. Additionally, if the book value of a reporting unit is zero or a negative value and it is determined that it is more likely than not that the goodwill is impaired, further analysis is required. As the estimated fair value of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their respective book value on the testing dates, no impairment of goodwill was recorded during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Intangible Assets

The Company amortizes definite-lived intangible assets over their estimated useful lives. Definite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company also reviews the useful lives on a quarterly basis to determine if the period of economic benefit has changed. If the carrying value of an intangible asset exceeds its fair value an impairment charge would be recognized in an amount equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value. The Company has not identified a triggering event during any of the periods presented and as such has not recorded any impairment charges. The Company had no indefinite-lived intangibles.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of operations having non-U.S. dollar functional currencies are translated at year-end exchange rates, and income statement accounts are translated at weighted average exchange rates for the year. Gains or losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements, net of related tax effects, are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions incurred in currencies other than the local functional currency are included in non-operating “Other expense (income)” on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Derivative Instruments

The Company applies ASC Subtopic 815-10, “Derivatives and Hedging,” which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company may use interest rate swaps and forward contracts on foreign currency to manage risks generally associated with interest rate and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, respectively. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are used as risk management tools and not for speculative or trading purposes.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, the Company documents and links the relationships between the hedging instruments and hedged items. The Company also assesses and documents at the hedge’s inception whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions were effective in offsetting changes in fair values associated with the hedged items. ASC Subtopic 815-10 provides that, for derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting being used to hedge cash flows, changes in the fair value are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of shareholders’ equity, until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. In addition, the ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

The Company manages foreign currency exchange rate risk through the use of derivative financial instruments comprised principally of forward contracts on foreign currency which are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. The objective of the derivative instruments is to minimize the income statement impact associated with assets and liabilities that are denominated in certain foreign currencies. Derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition with gains and losses recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income in the period in which they are realized.

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation of furniture and fixtures and computer and communications equipment are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset.

Treasury Stock

The Company holds repurchased shares of common stock as treasury stock. The Company accounts for treasury stock under the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of shareholders’ equity.

In accordance with ASC Subtopic 505-10, “Equity,” the Company accounts for the capped accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreements into which it enters as two separate transactions: (a) as shares of common stock acquired in a treasury stock transaction recorded on the acquisition date of the shares and (b) as a forward contract indexed to the Company’s own common stock. As such, the Company accounts for the shares that it receives under capped ASR agreements during the period as a repurchase of its common stock for the purpose of calculating earnings per common share. The Company has determined that the forward contracts indexed to the Company’s common stock meet all the applicable criteria for equity classification in accordance with ASC Subtopic 815-10 and, therefore, the capped ASR agreements are not accounted for as derivative instruments.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company primarily licenses its products and services to institutional investors mainly in the United States, Europe and Asia (primarily Hong Kong and Japan). The Company periodically reviews receivable balances and maintains an allowance on customer accounts where estimated losses may result from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company does not require collateral.

An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded when it is probable and estimable that a receivable will not be collected. Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2016 were as follows:

	Amount
	(in thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	1,280
Addition to provision		452
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(875	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	857
Addition to provision		940
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(680	)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	1,117
Addition to provision		1,011
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(1,093	)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	1,035

Accrued Compensation

The Company makes significant estimates in determining its accrued non-stock based compensation and benefits expenses. A significant portion of the Company’s employee incentive compensation programs are discretionary. Each year end, the Company determines the amount of discretionary cash bonus expense. These estimates reflect an assessment of performance versus targets and other key performance indicators at the Company, segment and employee level. The Company also reviews compensation and benefits expenses throughout the year to determine how overall performance compares to management’s expectations. These and other factors, including historical performance, are taken into account in accruing discretionary cash compensation estimates quarterly.

Concentrations

For the year ended December 31, 2016, no single customer accounted for 10.0% or more of the Company’s consolidated operating revenues. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, BlackRock, Inc. accounted for 10.3% and 10.6%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated operating revenues. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, BlackRock, Inc. accounted for 17.3%, 19.2% and 20.1%, respectively, of the Index segment’s operating revenues. No single customer accounted for 10.0% or more of revenues within the Analytics and All Other segments for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Recent Accounting Standards Updates	12 Months Ended
Recent Accounting Standards Updates	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Standards Updates	2. RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATES In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09,“Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” or ASU 2014-09. The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Entities have the option of adopting ASU 2014-09 retrospectively to each prior period presented, or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment recognized as of the date of initial application. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, “Deferral of the Effective Date,” which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year by changing the effective date to be for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017 from December 15, 2016, with early adoption at the prior date permitted. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Principal Versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross Versus Net).” In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, “Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.” In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, “Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.” In December 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-20, “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” These updates provide supplemental adoption guidance and clarification to ASU 2014-09 and must be adopted concurrently. The Company is currently evaluating the overall impact and the method of adoption of ASU 2014-09, including the latest developments from the Transition Resources Group. Areas most likely impacted may include, but not be limited to, the following: the timing of revenue recognition and costs for implementation services; the timing of revenue recognition of licenses for desktop applications; and the accounting for contract modifications. In addition, the new standard may require certain amounts in accounts receivable and deferred revenues to be netted on the balance sheet and enhanced disclosures around performance obligations. The Company’s final determination of the adoption methodology will depend on a number of factors, such as the significance of the impact of the new standard on the financial results, system readiness and the ability to accumulate and analyze the information necessary to assess the impact on prior period financial statements and new disclosure requirements. The Company does not currently know or cannot reasonably estimate quantitative information related to the impact of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements: Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40),” or ASU 2014-15. The amendments in ASU 2014-15 provide guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance for the year ended December 31, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” or ASU 2016-02. The FASB issued ASU 2016-02 in order to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. To meet that objective, the FASB amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and created Topic 842, Leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2016-02 requires reporting organizations to take a modified retrospective transition approach (as opposed to a full retrospective transition approach). The Company is evaluating the potential impact that ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” or ASU 2016-09. The FASB issued ASU 2016-09 as part of its Simplification Initiative. The areas for simplification in ASU 2016-09 involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 will impact the provision for income tax expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income in relation to excess tax benefits and tax shortfalls from stock-based compensation that will be recognized in income tax expense as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur on a prospective basis. Prior to adoption, the impact was recorded as an item in “additional paid in capital” on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition. Also following the adoption of ASU 2016-09, excess tax benefits and shortfalls will no longer be reported as a reclassification from cash flows from operating activities into cash flows from financing activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. This change will be applied on a retrospective basis. In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” or ASU 2016-13. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 introduce an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” or ASU 2016-15. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 are intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash,” or ASU 2016-18. The amendments in ASU 2016-18 are intended to reduce diversity in practice related to the classification and presentation of changes in restricted or restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-18 require that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” or ASU 2017-01. The amendments in ASU 2017-01 provide a screen to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. Under ASU 2017-01, an entity first determines whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this threshold is met, the set is not a business. If it’s not met, the entity then evaluates whether the set meets the requirement that a business include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. ASU 2017-01 also narrows the definition of outputs by more closely aligning it with how outputs are described in ASC 606. ASU 2017-01 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” or ASU 2017-04. The amendments in ASU 2017-04 simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity had to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities. Instead, under the amendments in ASU 2017-04, an entity performs its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, but not more than the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of changes in accounting principles, including adoption of new accounting pronouncements, that describes the new methods, amount and effects on financial statement line items.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64853466&loc=d3e22580-107794

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Direct Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66092750

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Indirect Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515603

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064558&loc=d3e765-108305

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503790

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.10-01.(b)(6))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27015980&loc=d3e46468-122699

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64853466&loc=d3e22583-107794

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Change in Accounting Principle
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507316

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064558&loc=d3e725-108305

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Retrospective Application
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6523989

+ Details

Earnings Per Common Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Common Share

3. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing income available to MSCI common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Common shares outstanding include common stock and vested restricted stock unit awards where recipients have satisfied either the explicit vesting terms or retirement-eligible requirements. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed conversion of all dilutive securities. There were 398, 3,778 and 78,260, anti-dilutive securities excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, because of their anti-dilutive effect.

The Company computes EPS using the two-class method and determines whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities. The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted EPS:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,			December 31,
	2016		2015			2014
(in thousands, except per share data)
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes	$	260,855	$	230,038		$	198,942
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		—		(6,390	)		85,171
Net income	$	260,855	$	223,648		$	284,113
Less: Allocations of earnings to unvested restricted stock units ⁽¹⁾		—		—		$	(368	)
Earnings available to MSCI common shareholders	$	260,855	$	223,648		$	283,745
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		95,986		109,124			115,737
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock units		554		802			969
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		96,540		109,926			116,706
Earnings per basic common share from continuing operations	$	2.72	$	2.11		$	1.72
Earnings per basic common share from discontinued operations		—		(0.06	)		0.73
Earnings per basic common share	$	2.72	$	2.05		$	2.45
Earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations	$	2.70	$	2.09		$	1.70
Earnings per diluted common share from discontinued operations		—		(0.06	)		0.73
Earnings per diluted common share	$	2.70	$	2.03		$	2.43

⁽¹⁾

Restricted stock units granted to employees prior to 2013 and restricted stock units granted to independent directors of the Company prior to April 30, 2015 had a right to participate in all of the earnings of the Company in the computation of basic EPS and, therefore, these restricted stock units were not included as incremental shares in the diluted EPS computation.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

4. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal matters. From time to time, the Company is party to various litigation matters incidental to the conduct of its business. The Company is not presently party to any legal proceedings the resolution of which the Company believes would have a material effect on its business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows.

Leases. The Company leases facilities under non-cancelable operating lease agreements. The terms of certain lease agreements provide for rental payments on a graduated basis. The Company recognizes rent expense on the straight-line basis over the lease period and has accrued for rent expense incurred but not paid. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $24.2 million, $26.5 million and $27.0 million, respectively.

Future minimum commitments for the Company’s operating leases in place as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:

Years Ending December 31,	Amount
	(in thousands)
2017	$	27,869
2018		27,429
2019		22,559
2020		19,237
2021		17,413
Thereafter		131,815
Total	$	246,322

Senior Notes. The Company has issued an aggregate of $2.1 billion in senior unsecured notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) in the three discrete private offerings described below.

On November 20, 2014, the Company completed its private offering of $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior unsecured notes due 2024 (the “2024 Senior Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds from the offering of the 2024 Senior Notes, together with cash on hand, to repay in full its then outstanding term loan indebtedness of $794.8 million.

On August 13, 2015, the Company completed its private offering of $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the “2025 Senior Notes”). The $789.5 million of net proceeds from the offering of the 2025 Senior Notes were allocated for general corporate purposes.

On August 4, 2016, the Company completed its private offering of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the “2026 Senior Notes”). The $493.3 million of net proceeds from the offering of the 2026 Senior Notes were allocated for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, buybacks of its common stock and potential acquisitions.

The 2024 Senior Notes are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on November 15, 2024. At any time prior to November 15, 2019, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2024 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2024 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after November 15, 2019, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2024 Senior Notes. At any time prior to November 15, 2017, the Company may use the proceeds of certain equity offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Senior Notes, including any permitted additional notes, at a redemption price equal to 105.25% of the principal amount.

The 2025 Senior Notes are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on August 15, 2025. At any time prior to August 15, 2020, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after August 15, 2020, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes. At any time prior to August 15, 2018, the Company may use the proceeds of certain equity offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes, including any permitted additional notes, at a redemption price equal to 105.75% of the principal amount.

The 2026 Senior Notes are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on August 1, 2026. At any time prior to August 1, 2021, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2026 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2026 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after August 1, 2021, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2026 Senior Notes. At any time prior to August 1, 2019, the Company may use the proceeds of certain equity offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Senior Notes, including any permitted additional notes, at a redemption price equal to 104.75% of the principal amount.

Interest payments attributable to the 2024 Senior Notes are due on May 15 and November 15 of each year. The first interest payment was made on May 15, 2015. Interest payments attributable to the 2025 Senior Notes are due on February 15 and August 15 of each year. The first interest payment was made on February 16, 2016. Interest payments attributable to the 2026 Senior Notes are due on February 1 and August 1 of each year. The first interest payment was made on February 1, 2017.

Revolver. On November 20, 2014, the Company entered into a $200.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “2014 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks. The 2014 Revolving Credit Agreement had an initial term of five years with an option to extend for two additional one-year terms. On August 4, 2016, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the 2014 Revolving Credit Agreement (the 2014 Revolving Credit Agreement as so amended, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). The Amendment, among other things, (i) increased aggregate commitments available to be borrowed to $220.0 million, (ii) increased the maximum consolidated leverage ratio and (iii) extended the initial term to August 2021 with an option to extended for an additional one-year term. At December 31, 2016, the Revolving Credit Agreement was undrawn.

Long-term debt at December 31, 2016 was $2,075.2 million, net of $24.8 million in deferred financing fees. Long-term debt at December 31, 2015 was $1,579.4 million, net of $20.6 million in deferred financing fees.

In connection with the closings of the Senior Notes offerings and entering into the 2014 Revolving Credit Agreement and the Amendment, the Company paid certain fees which, together with the existing fees related to prior credit facilities, are being amortized over the related lives. At December 31, 2016, $27.1 million of the deferred financing fees remain unamortized, $0.5 million of which is included in “Prepaid and other assets,” $1.8 million of which is included in “Other non-current assets” and $24.8 million of which is grouped and presented as part of “Long-term debt” on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company amortized $3.1 million, $2.1 million, and $7.7 million of deferred financing fees in interest expense, respectively. There was no unamortized debt discount outstanding as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Approximately $2.2 million of debt discount was amortized in interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2014.

At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the fair market value of the Company’s debt obligations was $2,192.5 million and $1,638.0 million, respectively. The fair market value is determined in accordance with accounting standards related to the determination of fair value and represents Level 2 valuations, which are based on one or more quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. The Company utilizes the market approach and obtains security pricing from a vendor who uses broker quotes and third-party pricing services to determine fair values.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities. The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, the Company had previously entered into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arose from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates, and may do so again in the future. The Company’s derivative financial instruments were used to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of the Company’s known or expected cash payments principally related to the Company’s borrowings. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company was not party to any interest rate swaps.

Certain of the Company’s foreign operations expose the Company to fluctuations of foreign exchange rates. These fluctuations may impact the value of the Company’s cash receipts and payments in terms of the Company’s functional currency, the U.S. dollar. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to protect the value or fix the amount of certain obligations in terms of its functional currency.

Non-designated Hedges of Foreign Exchange Risk. Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and are used to manage the Company’s economic exposure to foreign exchange rate movements but do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated in hedging relationships are recorded directly in earnings. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding foreign currency forwards with a notional amount of $25.5 million that were not designated as hedges in qualifying hedging relationships.

The following table presents the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments and the location in which they are presented on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition:

		As of
	Consolidated Statements of	December 31,			December 31,
(in thousands)	Financial Condition Location	2016			2015
Non-designated hedging instruments:
Asset derivatives:
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid and other assets	$	27		$	640
Liability derivatives:
Foreign exchange contracts	Other accrued liabilities	$	(124	)	$	(2	)

The following tables present the effect of the Company’s financial derivatives and the location in which they are presented on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and Consolidated Statements of Income:

		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized
		in Income on Derivatives for the
Derivatives Not Designated as	Location of Gain or	Years Ended
Hedging Instruments	(Loss) Recognized	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	in Income on Derivatives	2016		2015		2014
Foreign exchange contracts	Other expense (income)	$	1,566	$	366	$	(834	)

Gain on sale of investment

During the year ended December 31, 2015, MSCI sold an investment accounted for under the cost method and recognized a $6.3 million gain which is included within the “Other expense (income), net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

5. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:

		As of
	Estimated	December 31,			December 31,
	Useful Lives	2016			2015
		(in thousands)
Computer & related equipment	2 to 5 years	$	162,306		$	143,499
Furniture & fixtures	7 years		9,724			9,870
Leasehold improvements	1 to 21 years		49,442			47,579
Work-in-process	—		10,954			12,658
Subtotal			232,426			213,606
Accumulated depreciation and amortization			(136,841	)		(114,680	)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net		$	95,585		$	98,926

Depreciation and amortization expense of property, equipment and leasehold improvements was $34.3 million, $30.9 million and $25.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

6. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill.

The change to the Company’s goodwill was as follows:

(in thousands)	Index			Analytics			All Other				Total
Goodwill at December 31, 2014 ⁽¹⁾											$	1,564,904
Changes to goodwill												4,202		⁽²⁾
Foreign exchange translation adjustment												(3,485	)
Goodwill at December 31, 2015	$	1,208,454		$	302,551		$	54,616			$	1,565,621
Changes to goodwill		—			60	⁽³⁾		(110	)	⁽⁴⁾		(50	)
Foreign exchange translation adjustment		(6,006	)		—			(3,715	)			(9,721	)
Goodwill at December 31, 2016	$	1,202,448		$	302,611		$	50,791			$	1,555,850

⁽¹⁾

The Company changed its reportable segments during the year ended December 31, 2015. Simultaneously, segment reporting and goodwill reporting units were updated in connection with the change. The Company reallocated its goodwill to its reporting units using a relative fair value allocation approach.

⁽²⁾	Reflects the addition of $4.2 million of goodwill associated with the acquisition of Insignis, Inc. (“Insignis”) See Note 11, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

⁽³⁾	Reflects the final working capital adjustment payment made during the year ended December 31, 2016 to complete the acquisition of Insignis.

⁽⁴⁾	Reflects the value disposed in the sale of the Real Estate occupiers business.

Through the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company has never recognized an impairment of goodwill on its consolidated financial statements.

Intangible Assets.

Amortization expense related to intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, was $47.0 million, $46.9 million and $45.9 million, respectively.

The gross carrying and accumulated amortization amounts related to the Company’s identifiable intangible assets were as follows:

		As of
	Estimated	December 31,			December 31,
	Useful Lives	2016			2015
		(in thousands)
Gross intangible assets:
Customer relationships	5 to 21 years	$	361,199		$	361,746
Trademarks/trade names	5 to 21.5 years		223,382			223,382
Technology/software	3 to 8.5 years		210,013			199,889
Proprietary data	13 years		28,627			28,627
Covenant not to compete	2 years		1,225			1,225
Subtotal			824,446			814,869
Foreign exchange translation adjustment			(13,946	)		(4,867	)
Total gross intangible assets		$	810,500		$	810,002
Accumulated amortization:
Customer relationships		$	(166,923	)	$	(143,325	)
Trademarks/trade names			(105,077	)		(93,476	)
Technology/software			(184,290	)		(175,209	)
Proprietary data			(8,571	)		(6,698	)
Covenant not to compete			(1,089	)		(665	)
Subtotal			(465,950	)		(419,373	)
Foreign exchange translation adjustment			3,090			861
Total accumulated amortization		$	(462,860	)	$	(418,512	)
Net intangible assets:
Customer relationships		$	194,276		$	218,421
Trademarks/trade names			118,305			129,906
Technology/software			25,723			24,680
Proprietary data			20,056			21,929
Covenant not to compete			136			560
Subtotal			358,496			395,496
Foreign exchange translation adjustment			(10,856	)		(4,006	)
Total net intangible assets		$	347,640		$	391,490

Estimated amortization expense for succeeding years is presented below:

Years Ending December 31,	Amortization Expense
	(in thousands)
2017	$	44,123
2018		41,562
2019		39,594
2020		37,196
2021		35,846
Thereafter		149,319
Total	$	347,640

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

+ References + Details

Employee Benefits	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefits	Dec. 31, 2016
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Benefits	7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan for eligible U.S. employees and defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans that cover substantially all of its non-U.S. employees. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, costs relating to 401(k), pension and post-retirement benefit expenses were $21.6 million, $23.1 million and $22.2 million, respectively. Amounts included in cost of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $9.5 million, $10.7 million and $9.9 million, respectively. Amounts included in selling and marketing for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $6.7 million, $6.8 million and $7.2 million, respectively. Amounts included in research and development for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $4.0 million, $4.0 million and $3.7 million, respectively. Amounts included in general and administrative for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $1.3 million, $1.6 million and $1.3 million, respectively. 401(k) and Other Defined Contribution Plans. Eligible employees may participate in the MSCI 401(k) plan (or any other regional defined contribution plan sponsored by MSCI) immediately upon hire. Eligible employees receive 401(k) and other defined contribution plan matching contributions, which are subject to vesting and certain other limitations. The Company’s expenses associated with the 401(k) plan and other defined contribution plans for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $17.6 million, $18.4 million and $19.3 million, respectively. Net Periodic Benefit Expense. Net periodic benefit expense incurred by the Company related to defined benefit pension plans was $4.0 million, $4.7 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company uses a measurement date of December 31 to calculate obligations under its pension and postretirement plans. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company carried an $18.4 million and $17.1 million, respectively, net liability in other non-current liabilities on its Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition related to its future pension obligations. The fair value of the defined benefit plan assets were $17.5 million and $16.4 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

8. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

This note reflects the share repurchases and related activity as well as share-based compensation activity recognized by the Company, including the amounts recognized in both continuing operations and discontinued operations for all periods referenced.

Return of capital. On February 4, 2014, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $300.0 million worth of shares of MSCI’s common stock, which was increased to $850.0 million on September 17, 2014 (the “2014 Repurchase Program”). On October 14, 2015, the Company exhausted the $850.0 million share repurchase authorization under the 2014 Repurchase Program.

On September 18, 2014, as part of the 2014 Repurchase Program, the Company entered into an ASR agreement to initiate share repurchases aggregating $300.0 million (the “September 2014 ASR Agreement”). As a result of the September 2014 ASR Agreement, the Company received approximately 4.5 million shares of MSCI’s common stock on September 19, 2014 and received approximately 1.2 million shares of MSCI’s common stock on May 21, 2015 for a combined average price of $52.79 per share.

On June 2, 2015, the Company began purchasing shares of its common stock in the open market in accordance with SEC Rule 10b5-1.

During October 2015, the Company completed the $850.0 million repurchase authorization under the 2014 Repurchase Program.

On October 28, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $1.0 billion worth of shares of MSCI’s common stock (the “2015 Repurchase Program”).

On October 26, 2016, the Board of Directors approved an additional stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $750.0 million worth of shares of our common stock (together with the $330.3 million remaining authorization under the 2015 Repurchase Program, the “2016 Repurchase Program”). Share repurchases made pursuant to the 2016 Repurchase Program may take place in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time based on market and other conditions. This authorization may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time without prior notice.

The following table provides information with respect to repurchases of the Company’s common stock pursuant to open market repurchases:

Year Ended	Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Repurchased		Dollar Value of Shares Repurchased
			(in thousands)
December 31, 2014	$	—		—	$	—
December 31, 2015	$	62.63		10,710	$	670,824
December 31, 2016	$	73.71		10,303	$	759,427

The following table presents cash dividends declared and distributed per common share for the periods indicated:

	Dividends
	Per Share		Declared		Distributed		Deferred
2016			(in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31,	$	0.22	$	22,046	$	21,889	$	157
Three Months Ended June 30,		0.22		21,588		21,391		197
Three Months Ended September 30,		0.28		26,936		26,680		256
Three Months Ended December 31,		0.28		26,524		26,304		220
Total	$	1.00	$	97,094	$	96,264	$	830
2015
Three Months Ended March 31,	$	0.18	$	20,424	$	20,411	$	13
Three Months Ended June 30,		0.18		20,444		20,442		2
Three Months Ended September 30,		0.22		24,210		24,152		58
Three Months Ended December 31,		0.22		22,803		22,792		11
Total	$	0.80	$	87,881	$	87,797	$	84
2014
Three Months Ended December 31,	$	0.18	$	20,393	$	20,393	$	—

Common Stock.

The following table presents activity related to shares of common stock issued and repurchased for the periods indicated:

	Common		Treasury			Common Stock
	Stock Issued		Stock			Outstanding
Balance At December 31, 2013		125,555,268		(7,472,157	)		118,083,111
Dividend payable/paid		99		(99	)		—
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options		1,076,751		—			1,076,751
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises		—		(233,163	)		(233,163	)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs		—		(6,856,866	)		(6,856,866	)
Shares issued to directors		5,272		(2,636	)		2,636
Balance At December 31, 2014		126,637,390		(14,564,921	)		112,072,469
Dividend payable/paid		802		(385	)		417
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options		1,558,965		—			1,558,965
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises		—		(763,558	)		(763,558	)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs		—		(11,856,169	)		(11,856,169	)
Shares issued to directors		3,032		(2,008	)		1,024
Balance At December 31, 2015		128,200,189		(27,187,041	)		101,013,148
Dividend payable/paid		892		(472	)		420
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options		788,304		—			788,304
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises		—		(219,921	)		(219,921	)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs		—		(10,303,047	)		(10,303,047	)
Shares issued to directors		6,959		(6,273	)		686
Balance At December 31, 2016		128,996,344		(37,716,754	)		91,279,590

Shared-Based Compensation. The Company regularly issues share-based compensation to its employees and directors who were not employees of the Company. The accounting guidance for share-based compensation requires measurement of compensation cost for share-based awards at fair value and recognition of compensation cost over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures.

In February 2017, the Company granted a portion of its employees awards in the form of RSUs and MSUs. The total number of units granted was 259,672. The aggregate fair value of the awards was $22.2 million, of which approximately $2.1 million had been expensed in the year ended December 31, 2016 in relation to awards granted to retirement eligible employees under the award terms. A portion of the awards granted consisted of RSUs vesting over a three-year period, with one-third vesting on each anniversary of the grant in 2018, 2019 and 2020. A smaller portion of the awards granted consisted of MSUs that will time-vest over a three year period and are subject to the achievement of the applicable absolute total shareholder return compounded annual growth rate and relative total shareholder return compounded annual growth rate performance metrics measured over a minimum three-year performance period. The performance period may also be extended for an additional period of six months only in the event that both of the performance metrics achieved by the Company are below specified threshold performance levels.

For a small group of awards granted by the Company, all or a portion of the award may be cancelled in certain limited situations, including termination for cause, if employment is terminated before the end of the relevant restriction period. For the remainder of the awards granted by the Company, all or a portion of the award may be canceled if employment is terminated for certain reasons before the end of the relevant restriction period for non-retirement-eligible employees.

In connection with awards under its equity-based compensation and benefit plans, the Company is authorized to use newly issued shares or certain shares of common stock held in treasury.

The components of share-based compensation expense related to the awards to Company employees and directors who are not employees of the Company of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards (representing shares of common stock) and options to purchase shares of common stock, as applicable, are presented below:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,			December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015			2014
Deferred stock	$	32,525	$	27,549		$	25,830
Stock options		—		(73	)		1,201
Total	$	32,525	$	27,476		$	27,031

The following table presents the amount of share-based compensation expense by category for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Cost of revenues	$	7,971	$	6,909	$	7,187
Selling and marketing		9,526		6,564		7,296
Research and development		2,970		2,823		3,128
General and administrative		12,058		11,180		8,005
Total share-based compensation expense	$	32,525	$	27,476	$	25,616

There was no share-based compensation expense included in income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The amount included in income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $1.4 million.

The tax benefits for share-based compensation expense related to deferred stock and stock options granted to Company employees and to directors who are not employees of the Company were $7.4 million, $15.3 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

As of December 31, 2016, $41.5 million of compensation cost related to MSCI unvested share-based awards granted to the Company’s employees and to directors who are not employees of the Company had not yet been recognized. The unrecognized compensation cost relating to unvested stock-based awards expected to vest will be recognized primarily over the next one to three years.

In connection with awards under its equity-based compensation and benefit plans, the Company is authorized to issue shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2016, 7.6 million shares of common stock were available for future grants under these plans.

Deferred Stock Awards. Certain Company employees have been granted deferred stock awards pursuant to a share-based compensation plan. The plan provides for the deferral of a portion of certain employees’ discretionary compensation with awards made in the form of RSUs, PSUs and MSUs (together, the “Deferred Stock Awards”). Recipients of RSUs, PSUs and MSUs generally have rights to receive dividend equivalents that are subject to vesting. The Company reports the target number of PSUs and MSUs granted unless it has determined, based on the actual achievement of performance measures, that an employee will receive a different amount of shares underlying the PSUs and MSUs, in which case the Company reports the amount of shares employees are likely to receive.

The following table presents activity concerning the Company’s vested and unvested deferred stock awards applicable to its employees (share data in thousands) for the period indicated:

				Weighted
				Average
				Grant
	Number of			Date Fair
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016	Shares			Value
Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2015		1,075		$	47.70
Granted		1,081		$	65.43
Conversion to common stock		(588	)	$	43.12
Canceled		(61	)	$	57.06

Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2016 ⁽¹⁾		1,507		$	61.82

⁽¹⁾	As of December 31, 2016, 1,451 restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, with a weighted average price of $61.67, were vested or expected to vest.

The total fair value of Deferred Stock Awards held by the Company’s employees that converted to MSCI common stock during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $39.4 million, $34.1 million and $24.5 million, respectively.

The following table presents activity concerning the Company’s unvested deferred stock awards related to its employees (share data in thousands):

				Weighted
				Average
				Grant
	Number of			Date Fair
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016	Shares			Value
Unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2015		800		$	47.83
Granted		898		$	66.63
Vested		(430	)	$	43.47
Canceled		(61	)	$	57.07

Unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2016		1,207		$	62.89

Unvested deferred stock awards expected to vest		1,151		$	62.77

Stock Option Awards. No stock options were issued during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

The following table presents activity concerning MSCI stock options granted to the Company’s employees for the year ended December 31, 2016 (option data and dollar values in thousands, except exercise price):

						Weighted
				Weighted		Average
	Number			Average		Remaining		Aggregated
	of			Exercise		Life		Intrinsic
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016	Options			Price		(Years)		Value
Options outstanding at December 31, 2015		485		$	23.77		2.40	N/A
Granted or assumed		—		$	—	N/A		N/A
Forfeited		—		$	—	N/A		N/A
Conversion to common stock		(216	)	$	23.40	N/A		N/A

Options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016		269		$	24.06		2.22	$	14,727

All outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2016 are vested and exercisable.

The following table presents information relating to the Company’s outstanding and exercisable stock options as of December 31, 2016 (number of options outstanding and aggregate intrinsic value data in thousands):

As of December 31, 2016	Options Outstanding
			Weighted
			Average		Average		Aggregate
	Number		Exercise		Remaining		Intrinsic
Range of Exercise Prices	Outstanding		Price		Life (Years)		Value
$9.92 to $16.48		40	$	16.47		2.15	$	2,465
$18.00		53	$	18.00		0.86	$	3,249
$20.45 to $24.11		80	$	23.09		1.57	$	4,464
$25.64 to $40.23		96	$	31.38		3.55	$	4,549
Total		269					$	14,727

The intrinsic value of the stock options exercised by the Company’s employees during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $11.3 million, $37.3 million and $12.8 million, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, including other comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings, accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and amount of comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.E)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74567-122707

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21484-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21488-112644

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(31))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.C)
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+ Details

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

9. RECLASSIFICATIONS OUT OF ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

As required by ASC Subtopic 220-10, “Comprehensive Income—Overall,” the following table presents the amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by the respective line item in the Consolidated Statement of Income:

Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ⁽¹⁾


Details about Accumulated Other	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated										Affected Line Item in the
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)										Consolidated Statements of Income
	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
				(in thousands)
Defined benefit pension plans
Amount recognized as a component of net periodic benefit expense for curtailments and settlements	$	(261	)	$	(563	)	$	(104	)	⁽²⁾
		73			153			(15	)	⁽³⁾	Provision for income taxes
	$	(188	)	$	(410	)	$	(119	)	⁽⁴⁾	Net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$	—		$	—		$	4,184		⁽⁵⁾
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax	$	(188	)	$	(410	)	$	4,065

⁽¹⁾	Amounts in parentheses indicate expenses or losses moved to the Consolidated Statements of Income.

⁽²⁾	Includes $(186,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

⁽³⁾	Includes $6,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

⁽⁴⁾	Includes $(180,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

⁽⁵⁾	This accumulated other comprehensive income component for the year ended December 31, 2014 was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

10. INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes (benefits) by taxing jurisdiction consisted of:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Current
U.S. federal	$	93,071		$	85,540		$	84,959
U.S. state and local		16,363			22,108			13,929
Non U.S.		32,616			22,156			18,505
		142,050			129,804			117,393
Deferred
U.S. federal		(13,010	)		(10,546	)		(2,606	)
U.S. state and local		(2,235	)		1,460			(3,356	)
Non U.S.		(1,722	)		(1,202	)		(2,035	)
		(16,967	)		(10,288	)		(7,997	)
Provision for income taxes from continuing operations	$	125,083		$	119,516		$	109,396
Provision for income taxes from discontinued operations	$	—		$	6,390		$	1,059

The following table reconciles the provision to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate for income from continuing operations:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate		35.00	%		35.00	%		35.00	%
U.S. state and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax benefits		2.38	%		4.44	%		2.72	%
Change in tax rates applicable to non-U.S. earnings		(3.73	%)		(2.73	%)		(1.88	%)
Domestic tax credits and incentives		(0.26	%)		(2.62	%)		(0.86	%)
Other		(0.98	%)		0.10	%		0.50	%
Effective income tax rate		32.41	%		34.19	%		35.48	%

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, were as follows:

	As of
	December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Employee compensation and benefit plans	$	27,914		$	23,700
Deferred rent		7,869			7,485
Pension		1,965			2,030
Unearned revenue		1,322			1,555
Loss carryforwards - non-current		27,616			33,389
Other		558			678
Subtotal		67,244			68,837
Less: valuation allowance		(17,807	)		(21,052	)
Total deferred tax assets	$	49,437		$	47,785
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	$	(121,900	)	$	(138,832	)
Foreign currency translation		—			(352	)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net		(12,073	)		(10,358	)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(133,973	)	$	(149,542	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(84,536	)	$	(101,757	)

As presented in the table above, the Company has certain loss carryforward items. The tax value of the capital loss carryforward is $16.0 million which is set to expire in 2019. There is a full valuation allowance against this item. The tax value of the United States portion of the net operating loss carryforwards is $10.6 million which is subject to an annual limitation on utilization and will begin to expire in 2020. There is a valuation allowance against state tax losses of $1.3 million. As of December 31, 2016, the tax value of foreign net operating loss carryforwards was $1.0 million with a related valuation allowance of $0.5 million.

The following table presents changes in the Company’s deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	21,052		$	21,232		$	7
Additions charged to cost and expenses		1,862			—			21,225
Additions charged to other accounts		—			—			—
Deductions		(5,107	)		(180	)		—
Ending balance	$	17,807		$	21,052		$	21,232

The following table presents the components of income before provision for income taxes generated by domestic or foreign operations for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Domestic	$	263,536	$	282,764	$	269,944
Foreign ⁽¹⁾		122,402		66,790		38,394
Total income before provision for income taxes	$	385,938	$	349,554	$	308,338

⁽¹⁾	Foreign income before provision for income taxes is defined as income generated from operations located outside the U.S., which includes income from foreign branches of U.S. companies.

Cumulative earnings attributable to foreign subsidiaries were $341.6 million, $224.8 million and $149.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. No provisions for income tax that could occur upon repatriation have been recorded on these earnings which the Company intends to permanently reinvest abroad. At this time, it is not practicable to determine the amount of income taxes payable in the event all such foreign earnings are repatriated.

The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional assessments in each of the taxing jurisdictions in which it files income tax returns. The Company has established unrecognized tax benefits that the Company believes are adequate in relation to the potential for additional assessments. Once established, the Company adjusts unrecognized tax benefits only when more information is available or when an event occurs necessitating a change. As part of the Company’s periodic review of unrecognized tax benefits and based on new information regarding the status of federal and state examinations, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were remeasured. It is reasonably possible that significant changes in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next 12 months. At this time, however, it is not possible to reasonably estimate the expected change to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits and the impact on the effective tax rate over the next 12 months.

The Company believes the resolution of tax matters will not have a material effect on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition of the Company, although a resolution could have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income for a particular future period and on the Company’s effective tax rate for any period in which such resolution occurs.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	2016			2015			2014
(in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	8,692		$	6,525		$	7,089
Increases based on tax positions related to the current period		575			536			292
Increases based on tax positions related to prior periods		135			2,131			1,969
Decreases based on tax positions related to prior periods		(3	)		(500	)		(346	)
(Decreases) related to settlements with taxing authorities		(1,463	)		—			(1,652	)
(Decreases) related to a lapse of applicable statute of limitations		—			—			(827	)
Ending balance	$	7,936		$	8,692		$	6,525

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $7.1 million, net of federal benefit of state issues, competent authority and foreign tax credit offsets, as of December 31, 2016, which, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate in future periods. The Company recognizes the accrual of interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the Provision for Income Taxes in the Consolidated Statement of Income. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized $0.2 million of interest in the Consolidated Statement of Income with respect to unrecognized tax benefits. No significant penalties were recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2016. The amount of accrued interest, which includes interest related to uncertain tax positions and accrued income tax expense, recorded on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2016 was $1.5 million.

The Company is under examination by the IRS and other tax authorities in certain jurisdictions, including foreign jurisdictions, such as India, and states in which the Company has significant operations, such as New York. The tax years currently under examination vary by jurisdiction but include years ranging from 2005 through 2015. As a result of having previously been a member of the Morgan Stanley consolidated group, the Company may have future settlements with Morgan Stanley related to the ultimate disposition of their New York State and New York City examination relating to the tax years 2007 and 2008 and their IRS examination relating to the tax years 2006 through 2008. The Company does not believe it has any material exposure to the New York State and New York City examinations. Additionally, the Company believes it has adequate reserves for any tax issues that may arise out of the IRS examination relating to the tax years 2006 through 2008 and therefore does not believe any related settlement with Morgan Stanley will have a material impact.

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Acquisitions	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	11. ACQUISITIONS The acquisition method of accounting is based on ASC Subtopic 805-10, “Business Combinations,” and uses the fair value concepts defined in ASC Subtopic 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” which the Company has adopted as required. The total purchase price is allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets based upon their fair values as of the acquisition dates. The excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible assets and intangible assets was recorded as goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price was based upon a valuation and is subject to change within the one-year measurement period following the acquisition. MSCI expects to continue to obtain information to assist it in determining the fair value of the net assets acquired at the acquisition date during the measurement period. Acquisition of Insignis On October 16, 2015, the Company completed the purchase of Insignis for $6.5 million through its subsidiary InvestorForce. Insignis is a financial data provider, including data on positions, transactions and complex instruments such as exchange-traded futures and options, OTC swaps and foreign exchange spot and forward contracts. The purchase price allocations for the Insignis acquisition were $4.2 million for goodwill, $2.2 million for identifiable intangible assets and $0.1 million for assets other than identifiable intangible assets. Acquisition of GMI Ratings On August 11, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of GMI Ratings for $15.5 million in cash through its subsidiary MSCI ESG Research Inc. GMI Ratings is a provider of corporate governance research and ratings on companies worldwide. Clients of GMI Ratings include institutional investors, banks, insurers, auditors, regulators and corporations seeking to incorporate ESG factors into risk assessment and decision-making. The purchase price allocations for the GMI Ratings acquisition were $9.9 million for goodwill, $3.6 million for identifiable intangible assets, $6.7 million for assets other than identifiable intangible assets and $4.7 million for other liabilities.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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+ Details

Disposition and Discontinued Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Disposition and Discontinued Operations

12. DISPOSITIONS AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Disposition of Real Estate occupiers

On August 1, 2016, MSCI completed the sale of its Real Estate occupiers business. The value of the disposed assets and liabilities and the resulting gain on disposal were not material to the Company.

Disposition of ISS

On March 17, 2014, MSCI entered into a definitive agreement to sell ISS. The results of operations from ISS and the CFRA product line are reflected in “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes” in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The sale of ISS was completed on April 30, 2014 for $367.4 million. The value of the assets and liabilities of ISS that were disposed, directly attributable transaction costs and the resulting gain on disposal that has been reported in “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes” for the year ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

	Amount
	(in thousands)
Cash proceeds	$	367,355
Less: Initial working capital adjustments		(311	)
Total proceeds		367,044
Less assets sold and liabilities relieved resulting from disposal:
Cash and cash equivalents		(4,544	)
Accounts receivable		(15,765	)
Deferred taxes (current)		(3,174	)
Prepaid taxes		(617	)
Prepaid and other assets		(4,500	)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $4,213)		(8,544	)
Goodwill		(254,233	)
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $50,283)		(121,269	)
Other non-current assets		(1,645	)
Accounts payable		574
Accrued compensation and related benefits		6,783
Other accrued liabilities		4,034
Deferred revenue		51,767
Deferred taxes (non-current)		59,129
Other non-current liabilities		5,576
Other comprehensive income including currency translation adjustments and pension and other post-retirement adjustments		4,004
Net assets sold		(282,424	)
Less: Transaction costs		(5,946	)
Gain on sale of ISS	$	78,674

Income (loss) from discontinued operations. Amounts associated with discontinued operations reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,
	2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Revenue from discontinued operations	$	—		$	43,122
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	—		$	86,230
Provision for income taxes		6,390			1,059
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	(6,390	)	$	85,171

The year ended December 31, 2015 reflects the impact of out-of-period income tax charges associated with the tax obligations triggered upon the sale of ISS.

- Definition

The entire disclosure related to a disposal group. Includes, but is not limited to, a discontinued operation, disposal classified as held-for-sale or disposed of by means other than sale or disposal of an individually significant component.

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+ Details

Segment Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

13. SEGMENT INFORMATION

ASC Subtopic 280-10, “Segment Reporting,” establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or CODM, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. MSCI’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, who are considered to be its CODM, review financial information presented on an operating segment basis for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing financial performance.

The CODM measures and evaluates reportable segments based on segment operating revenues as well as Adjusted EBITDA and other measures. The Company excludes the following items from segment Adjusted EBITDA: income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, provision for income taxes, other expense (income), net, depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, amortization of intangible assets and certain transactions or adjustments that the CODM does not consider for the purposes of making decisions to allocate resources among segments or to assess segment performance. Although these amounts are excluded from segment Adjusted EBITDA, they are included in reported consolidated net income and are included in the reconciliation that follows.

The Company’s computation of segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies because all companies do not calculate segment Adjusted EBITDA in the same fashion.

Revenues and expenses directly associated with each segment are included in determining its operating results. Other expenses that are not directly attributable to a particular segment are allocated based upon allocation methodologies, including time estimates, headcount, sales targets, data center consumption and other relevant usage measures. Due to the integrated structure of our business, certain costs incurred by one segment may benefit other segments. A segment may use the content and data produced by another segment without incurring an arm’s-length intersegment charge.

The CODM does not review any information regarding total assets on an operating segment basis. Operating segments do not record intersegment revenue, and, accordingly, there is none to be reported. The accounting policies for segment reporting are the same as for MSCI as a whole.

The Company has four operating segments: Index, Analytics, ESG and Real Estate.

The Index operating segment is primarily a provider of equity indexes. The indexes are used in many areas of the investment process, including index-linked product creation and performance benchmarking, as well as portfolio construction and rebalancing and asset allocation.

The Analytics operating segment uses analytical content to create products and services which offer institutional investors an integrated view of risk and return. Its research-enhanced products and services help institutional investors understand and control for market, credit, liquidity and counterparty risk across all major asset classes, spanning short, medium and long-term time horizons. The Analytics global risk and performance platform is built for scale, enabling clients to conduct complex calculations and stress tests. Analytics offers products and services that assist institutional investors with portfolio construction, risk management, performance attribution and regulatory reporting.

The ESG operating segment offers products and services that help institutional investors understand how environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors can impact the long-term risk of their investments. In addition, the ESG operating segment’s data and ratings products are used in the construction of equity and fixed income indexes to help institutional investors benchmark ESG investment performance, issue index-based investment products, as well as manage, measure and report on ESG mandates.

The Real Estate operating segment is a provider of real estate performance analysis for funds, investors, managers and lenders, as well as occupiers through the disposition of the Real Estate occupiers business. This segment provides products and offers services that include research, reporting and benchmarking. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company disposed of the Real Estate occupiers business and recorded a gain on the disposition which was recorded in “Other expense (income),” in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

The operating segments of ESG and Real Estate do not individually meet the segment reporting thresholds and have been combined and presented as part of All Other for disclosure purposes.

The following table presents operating revenue by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

		Years Ended
		December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
		2016		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Operating revenues
Index		$	613,551	$	558,964	$	503,892
Analytics			448,353		433,424		414,085
All Other			88,765		82,625		78,703
Total		$	1,150,669	$	1,075,013	$	996,680

The following table presents segment profitability and a reconciliation to net income for the periods indicated:

		Years Ended
		December 31,		December 31,			December 31,
		2016		2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Index Adjusted EBITDA		$	431,478	$	392,987		$	349,685
Analytics Adjusted EBITDA			128,507		95,468			72,173
All Other Adjusted EBITDA			9,472		(6,758	)		(13,104	)
Total operating segment profitability			569,457		481,697			408,754
Amortization of intangible assets			47,033		46,910			45,877
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements			34,320		30,889			25,711
Operating income			488,104		403,898			337,166
Other expense (income), net			102,166		54,344			28,828
Provision for income taxes			125,083		119,516			109,396
Income from continuing operations			260,855		230,038			198,942
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes			—		(6,390	)		85,171
Net income		$	260,855	$	223,648		$	284,113

Revenue by geography is based on the shipping address of the ultimate customer utilizing the product. The following table presents revenue by geographic area for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2016			2015	2014
Revenues
Americas:
United States	$	556,777	$	519,429	$	471,145
Other		45,185		41,552		37,189
Total Americas		601,962		560,981		508,334
Europe, the Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"):
United Kingdom		175,749		166,019		154,308
Other		229,010		215,192		209,893
Total EMEA		404,759		381,211		364,201
Asia & Australia:
Japan		52,161		45,371		46,642
Other		91,787		87,450		77,503
Total Asia & Australia		143,948		132,821		124,145
Total	$	1,150,669	$	1,075,013	$	996,680

Long-lived assets consist of property, equipment, leasehold improvements, goodwill and intangible assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. The following table presents long-lived assets by geographic area on the dates indicated:

	As of
	December 31,		December 31,
	2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Long-lived assets
Americas:
United States	$	1,876,366	$	1,916,689
Other		1,543		2,279
Total Americas		1,877,909		1,918,968
EMEA:
United Kingdom		89,466		110,261
Other		23,780		16,849
Total EMEA		113,246		127,110
Asia & Australia:
Japan		357		570
Other		7,563		9,389
Total Asia & Australia		7,920		9,959
Total	$	1,999,075	$	2,056,037

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 34
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8981-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8380-108599

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 32
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 26
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Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
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-Paragraph 35
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8984-108599

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 40
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e9031-108599

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 42
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e9054-108599

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8538-108599

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 29
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8864-108599

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 31
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8924-108599

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
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-Paragraph 30
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68060357&loc=d3e8906-108599

+ Details

Quarterly Results of Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Results of Operations

14. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited):

	2016												2015
	First			Second			Third			Fourth			First			Second			Third			Fourth
	Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Operating revenues	$	278,828		$	290,596		$	288,433		$	292,812		$	262,769		$	270,580		$	268,771		$	272,893
Cost of revenues		63,172			62,130			62,986			63,819			69,904			67,394			65,593			64,804
Selling and marketing		41,689			41,854			41,514			41,609			41,648			42,028			38,809			39,809
Research and development		18,928			18,566			18,750			18,960			23,189			20,807			15,548			17,776
General and administrative		21,890			22,019			21,859			21,467			20,377			22,080			19,960			23,590
Amortization of intangible assets		11,840			11,943			11,752			11,498			11,702			11,695			11,710			11,803
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements		8,168			8,393			8,312			9,447			7,207			8,065			8,049			7,568
Total operating expenses		165,687			164,905			165,173			166,800			174,027			172,069			159,669			165,350
Operating income		113,141			125,691			123,260			126,012			88,742			98,511			109,102			107,543
Interest income		(621	)		(585	)		(799	)		(901	)		(204	)		(185	)		(285	)		(492	)
Interest expense		22,904			22,918			26,790			29,039			11,108			11,116			17,267			22,896
Other expense (income)		81			2,814			(253	)		779			178			164			(6,922	)		(297	)
Other expense (income), net		22,364			25,147			25,738			28,917			11,082			11,095			10,060			22,107
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes		90,777			100,544			97,522			97,095			77,660			87,416			99,042			85,436
Provision for income taxes		30,410			33,587			32,241			28,845			28,036			31,399			34,644			25,437
Income from continuing operations		60,367			66,957			65,281			68,250			49,624			56,017			64,398			59,999
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		—			—			—			—			(5,797	)		—			—			(593	)
Net income	$	60,367		$	66,957		$	65,281		$	68,250		$	43,827		$	56,017		$	64,398		$	59,406
Earnings per basic common share
From continuing operations	$	0.61		$	0.69		$	0.69		$	0.73		$	0.44		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.59
From discontinued operations		—			—			—			—			(0.05	)		—			—			(0.01	)
Earnings per basic common share	$	0.61		$	0.69		$	0.69		$	0.73		$	0.39		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.58
Earnings per diluted common share
From continuing operations	$	0.60		$	0.69		$	0.68		$	0.73		$	0.44		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.58
From discontinued operations		—			—			—			—			(0.05	)		—			—			(0.01	)
Earnings per diluted commons hare	$	0.60		$	0.69		$	0.68		$	0.73		$	0.39		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.57
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing per share data
Basic		99,425			96,412			94,823			93,327			112,520			112,143			108,773			102,837
Diluted		99,998			96,888			95,473			93,845			113,522			112,931			109,440			103,590

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Dec. 31, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On February 1, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per share of common stock to be paid on March 15, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on February 17, 2017. Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2016 and through February 17, 2017, the Company repurchased an additional 1.0 million shares of common stock at an average price of $80.70 per share for a total value of $77.5 million.

Introduction and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Financial Statements and Use of Estimates

Inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition

•

the Company has persuasive evidence of a legally binding arrangement,

•

delivery has occurred,

•

client fee is deemed fixed or determinable, and

•

collection is reasonably assured.

•

the delivered items have value to the client on a standalone basis, which means they can be sold separately by any vendor or the client could resell the delivered items on a standalone basis; and

•

Share-Based Compensation

Research and Development

Costs incurred in the preliminary and post-implementation stages of our products are expensed as incurred.

Foreign Currency Translation

Derivative Instruments

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Treasury Stock

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

	Amount
	(in thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	1,280
Addition to provision		452
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(875	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	857
Addition to provision		940
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(680	)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	1,117
Addition to provision		1,011
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(1,093	)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	1,035

Accrued Compensation

Concentrations

Recent Accounting Standards Updates

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09,“Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” or ASU 2014-09. The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Entities have the option of adopting ASU 2014-09 retrospectively to each prior period presented, or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment recognized as of the date of initial application. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, “Deferral of the Effective Date,” which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year by changing the effective date to be for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017 from December 15, 2016, with early adoption at the prior date permitted.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Principal Versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross Versus Net).” In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, “Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.” In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, “Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.” In December 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-20, “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” These updates provide supplemental adoption guidance and clarification to ASU 2014-09 and must be adopted concurrently. The Company is currently evaluating the overall impact and the method of adoption of ASU 2014-09, including the latest developments from the Transition Resources Group. Areas most likely impacted may include, but not be limited to, the following: the timing of revenue recognition and costs for implementation services; the timing of revenue recognition of licenses for desktop applications; and the accounting for contract modifications. In addition, the new standard may require certain amounts in accounts receivable and deferred revenues to be netted on the balance sheet and enhanced disclosures around performance obligations. The Company’s final determination of the adoption methodology will depend on a number of factors, such as the significance of the impact of the new standard on the financial results, system readiness and the ability to accumulate and analyze the information necessary to assess the impact on prior period financial statements and new disclosure requirements. The Company does not currently know or cannot reasonably estimate quantitative information related to the impact of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements: Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40),” or ASU 2014-15. The amendments in ASU 2014-15 provide guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance for the year ended December 31, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” or ASU 2016-02. The FASB issued ASU 2016-02 in order to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. To meet that objective, the FASB amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and created Topic 842, Leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2016-02 requires reporting organizations to take a modified retrospective transition approach (as opposed to a full retrospective transition approach). The Company is evaluating the potential impact that ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” or ASU 2016-09. The FASB issued ASU 2016-09 as part of its Simplification Initiative. The areas for simplification in ASU 2016-09 involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 will impact the provision for income tax expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income in relation to excess tax benefits and tax shortfalls from stock-based compensation that will be recognized in income tax expense as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur on a prospective basis. Prior to adoption, the impact was recorded as an item in “additional paid in capital” on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition. Also following the adoption of ASU 2016-09, excess tax benefits and shortfalls will no longer be reported as a reclassification from cash flows from operating activities into cash flows from financing activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. This change will be applied on a retrospective basis.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” or ASU 2016-13. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 introduce an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” or ASU 2016-15. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 are intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash,” or ASU 2016-18. The amendments in ASU 2016-18 are intended to reduce diversity in practice related to the classification and presentation of changes in restricted or restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-18 require that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” or ASU 2017-01. The amendments in ASU 2017-01 provide a screen to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. Under ASU 2017-01, an entity first determines whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this threshold is met, the set is not a business. If it’s not met, the entity then evaluates whether the set meets the requirement that a business include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. ASU 2017-01 also narrows the definition of outputs by more closely aligning it with how outputs are described in ASC 606. ASU 2017-01 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” or ASU 2017-04. The amendments in ASU 2017-04 simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity had to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities. Instead, under the amendments in ASU 2017-04, an entity performs its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, but not more than the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Introduction and Basis of Presentation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Changes in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2016 were as follows:

	Amount
	(in thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	1,280
Addition to provision		452
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(875	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	857
Addition to provision		940
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(680	)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	1,117
Addition to provision		1,011
Amounts written off, net of recoveries		(1,093	)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	1,035

Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Computation of Basic and Diluted EPS

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,			December 31,
	2016		2015			2014
(in thousands, except per share data)
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes	$	260,855	$	230,038		$	198,942
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		—		(6,390	)		85,171
Net income	$	260,855	$	223,648		$	284,113
Less: Allocations of earnings to unvested restricted stock units ⁽¹⁾		—		—		$	(368	)
Earnings available to MSCI common shareholders	$	260,855	$	223,648		$	283,745
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		95,986		109,124			115,737
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock units		554		802			969
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		96,540		109,926			116,706
Earnings per basic common share from continuing operations	$	2.72	$	2.11		$	1.72
Earnings per basic common share from discontinued operations		—		(0.06	)		0.73
Earnings per basic common share	$	2.72	$	2.05		$	2.45
Earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations	$	2.70	$	2.09		$	1.70
Earnings per diluted common share from discontinued operations		—		(0.06	)		0.73
Earnings per diluted common share	$	2.70	$	2.03		$	2.43

⁽¹⁾

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Future Minimum Commitments Under Operating Leases

Future minimum commitments for the Company’s operating leases in place as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:

Years Ending December 31,	Amount
	(in thousands)
2017	$	27,869
2018		27,429
2019		22,559
2020		19,237
2021		17,413
Thereafter		131,815
Total	$	246,322

Summary of Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

The following table presents the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments and the location in which they are presented on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition:

		As of
	Consolidated Statements of	December 31,			December 31,
(in thousands)	Financial Condition Location	2016			2015
Non-designated hedging instruments:
Asset derivatives:
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid and other assets	$	27		$	640
Liability derivatives:
Foreign exchange contracts	Other accrued liabilities	$	(124	)	$	(2	)

Effect of Financial Derivatives on Statements of Income

		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized
		in Income on Derivatives for the
Derivatives Not Designated as	Location of Gain or	Years Ended
Hedging Instruments	(Loss) Recognized	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	in Income on Derivatives	2016		2015		2014
Foreign exchange contracts	Other expense (income)	$	1,566	$	366	$	(834	)

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:

		As of
	Estimated	December 31,			December 31,
	Useful Lives	2016			2015
		(in thousands)
Computer & related equipment	2 to 5 years	$	162,306		$	143,499
Furniture & fixtures	7 years		9,724			9,870
Leasehold improvements	1 to 21 years		49,442			47,579
Work-in-process	—		10,954			12,658
Subtotal			232,426			213,606
Accumulated depreciation and amortization			(136,841	)		(114,680	)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net		$	95,585		$	98,926

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Change to Company's Goodwill

The change to the Company’s goodwill was as follows:

(in thousands)	Index			Analytics			All Other				Total
Goodwill at December 31, 2014 ⁽¹⁾											$	1,564,904
Changes to goodwill												4,202		⁽²⁾
Foreign exchange translation adjustment												(3,485	)
Goodwill at December 31, 2015	$	1,208,454		$	302,551		$	54,616			$	1,565,621
Changes to goodwill		—			60	⁽³⁾		(110	)	⁽⁴⁾		(50	)
Foreign exchange translation adjustment		(6,006	)		—			(3,715	)			(9,721	)
Goodwill at December 31, 2016	$	1,202,448		$	302,611		$	50,791			$	1,555,850

⁽¹⁾

⁽²⁾	Reflects the addition of $4.2 million of goodwill associated with the acquisition of Insignis, Inc. (“Insignis”) See Note 11, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.

⁽³⁾	Reflects the final working capital adjustment payment made during the year ended December 31, 2016 to complete the acquisition of Insignis.

⁽⁴⁾	Reflects the value disposed in the sale of the Real Estate occupiers business.

Schedule of Gross Carrying and Accumulated Amortization Amounts Related to Company's Identifiable Intangible Assets

The gross carrying and accumulated amortization amounts related to the Company’s identifiable intangible assets were as follows:

		As of
	Estimated	December 31,			December 31,
	Useful Lives	2016			2015
		(in thousands)
Gross intangible assets:
Customer relationships	5 to 21 years	$	361,199		$	361,746
Trademarks/trade names	5 to 21.5 years		223,382			223,382
Technology/software	3 to 8.5 years		210,013			199,889
Proprietary data	13 years		28,627			28,627
Covenant not to compete	2 years		1,225			1,225
Subtotal			824,446			814,869
Foreign exchange translation adjustment			(13,946	)		(4,867	)
Total gross intangible assets		$	810,500		$	810,002
Accumulated amortization:
Customer relationships		$	(166,923	)	$	(143,325	)
Trademarks/trade names			(105,077	)		(93,476	)
Technology/software			(184,290	)		(175,209	)
Proprietary data			(8,571	)		(6,698	)
Covenant not to compete			(1,089	)		(665	)
Subtotal			(465,950	)		(419,373	)
Foreign exchange translation adjustment			3,090			861
Total accumulated amortization		$	(462,860	)	$	(418,512	)
Net intangible assets:
Customer relationships		$	194,276		$	218,421
Trademarks/trade names			118,305			129,906
Technology/software			25,723			24,680
Proprietary data			20,056			21,929
Covenant not to compete			136			560
Subtotal			358,496			395,496
Foreign exchange translation adjustment			(10,856	)		(4,006	)
Total net intangible assets		$	347,640		$	391,490

Estimated Amortization Expense for Succeeding Years

Estimated amortization expense for succeeding years is presented below:

Years Ending December 31,	Amortization Expense
	(in thousands)
2017	$	44,123
2018		41,562
2019		39,594
2020		37,196
2021		35,846
Thereafter		149,319
Total	$	347,640

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Company's Common Stock Repurchases Pursuant to Open Market Repurchases

The following table provides information with respect to repurchases of the Company’s common stock pursuant to open market repurchases:

Year Ended	Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Repurchased		Dollar Value of Shares Repurchased
			(in thousands)
December 31, 2014	$	—		—	$	—
December 31, 2015	$	62.63		10,710	$	670,824
December 31, 2016	$	73.71		10,303	$	759,427

Schedule of Cash Dividends Declared and Distributed Per Common Share

The following table presents cash dividends declared and distributed per common share for the periods indicated:

	Dividends
	Per Share		Declared		Distributed		Deferred
2016			(in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31,	$	0.22	$	22,046	$	21,889	$	157
Three Months Ended June 30,		0.22		21,588		21,391		197
Three Months Ended September 30,		0.28		26,936		26,680		256
Three Months Ended December 31,		0.28		26,524		26,304		220
Total	$	1.00	$	97,094	$	96,264	$	830
2015
Three Months Ended March 31,	$	0.18	$	20,424	$	20,411	$	13
Three Months Ended June 30,		0.18		20,444		20,442		2
Three Months Ended September 30,		0.22		24,210		24,152		58
Three Months Ended December 31,		0.22		22,803		22,792		11
Total	$	0.80	$	87,881	$	87,797	$	84
2014
Three Months Ended December 31,	$	0.18	$	20,393	$	20,393	$	—

Summary of Activity Related to Shares of Common Stock Issued and Repurchased

The following table presents activity related to shares of common stock issued and repurchased for the periods indicated:

	Common		Treasury			Common Stock
	Stock Issued		Stock			Outstanding
Balance At December 31, 2013		125,555,268		(7,472,157	)		118,083,111
Dividend payable/paid		99		(99	)		—
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options		1,076,751		—			1,076,751
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises		—		(233,163	)		(233,163	)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs		—		(6,856,866	)		(6,856,866	)
Shares issued to directors		5,272		(2,636	)		2,636
Balance At December 31, 2014		126,637,390		(14,564,921	)		112,072,469
Dividend payable/paid		802		(385	)		417
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options		1,558,965		—			1,558,965
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises		—		(763,558	)		(763,558	)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs		—		(11,856,169	)		(11,856,169	)
Shares issued to directors		3,032		(2,008	)		1,024
Balance At December 31, 2015		128,200,189		(27,187,041	)		101,013,148
Dividend payable/paid		892		(472	)		420
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options		788,304		—			788,304
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises		—		(219,921	)		(219,921	)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs		—		(10,303,047	)		(10,303,047	)
Shares issued to directors		6,959		(6,273	)		686
Balance At December 31, 2016		128,996,344		(37,716,754	)		91,279,590

Components of Share-Based Compensation Expense

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,			December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015			2014
Deferred stock	$	32,525	$	27,549		$	25,830
Stock options		—		(73	)		1,201
Total	$	32,525	$	27,476		$	27,031

Summary of Share-based Compensation Expense

The following table presents the amount of share-based compensation expense by category for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Cost of revenues	$	7,971	$	6,909	$	7,187
Selling and marketing		9,526		6,564		7,296
Research and development		2,970		2,823		3,128
General and administrative		12,058		11,180		8,005
Total share-based compensation expense	$	32,525	$	27,476	$	25,616

Summary of Vested and Unvested Deferred Stock Awards Activity

The following table presents activity concerning the Company’s vested and unvested deferred stock awards applicable to its employees (share data in thousands) for the period indicated:

				Weighted
				Average
				Grant
	Number of			Date Fair
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016	Shares			Value
Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2015		1,075		$	47.70
Granted		1,081		$	65.43
Conversion to common stock		(588	)	$	43.12
Canceled		(61	)	$	57.06

Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2016 ⁽¹⁾		1,507		$	61.82

⁽¹⁾	As of December 31, 2016, 1,451 restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, with a weighted average price of $61.67, were vested or expected to vest.

Summary of Unvested Deferred Stock Awards Activity

The following table presents activity concerning the Company’s unvested deferred stock awards related to its employees (share data in thousands):

				Weighted
				Average
				Grant
	Number of			Date Fair
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016	Shares			Value
Unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2015		800		$	47.83
Granted		898		$	66.63
Vested		(430	)	$	43.47
Canceled		(61	)	$	57.07

Unvested deferred stock awards at December 31, 2016		1,207		$	62.89

Unvested deferred stock awards expected to vest		1,151		$	62.77

Summary of Stock Options Activity

						Weighted
				Weighted		Average
	Number			Average		Remaining		Aggregated
	of			Exercise		Life		Intrinsic
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016	Options			Price		(Years)		Value
Options outstanding at December 31, 2015		485		$	23.77		2.40	N/A
Granted or assumed		—		$	—	N/A		N/A
Forfeited		—		$	—	N/A		N/A
Conversion to common stock		(216	)	$	23.40	N/A		N/A

Options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016		269		$	24.06		2.22	$	14,727

Summary of Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable by Exercise Price Range

As of December 31, 2016	Options Outstanding
			Weighted
			Average		Average		Aggregate
	Number		Exercise		Remaining		Intrinsic
Range of Exercise Prices	Outstanding		Price		Life (Years)		Value
$9.92 to $16.48		40	$	16.47		2.15	$	2,465
$18.00		53	$	18.00		0.86	$	3,249
$20.45 to $24.11		80	$	23.09		1.57	$	4,464
$25.64 to $40.23		96	$	31.38		3.55	$	4,549
Total		269					$	14,727

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Schedule of Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ⁽¹⁾


Details about Accumulated Other	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated										Affected Line Item in the
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)										Consolidated Statements of Income
	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
				(in thousands)
Defined benefit pension plans
Amount recognized as a component of net periodic benefit expense for curtailments and settlements	$	(261	)	$	(563	)	$	(104	)	⁽²⁾
		73			153			(15	)	⁽³⁾	Provision for income taxes
	$	(188	)	$	(410	)	$	(119	)	⁽⁴⁾	Net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$	—		$	—		$	4,184		⁽⁵⁾
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax	$	(188	)	$	(410	)	$	4,065

⁽¹⁾	Amounts in parentheses indicate expenses or losses moved to the Consolidated Statements of Income.

⁽²⁾	Includes $(186,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

⁽³⁾	Includes $6,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

⁽⁴⁾	Includes $(180,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014 that was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

⁽⁵⁾	This accumulated other comprehensive income component for the year ended December 31, 2014 was reclassified to “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes” as part of the gain on the disposition of ISS.

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Provision for Income Taxes (Benefits) by Taxing Jurisdiction

The provision for income taxes (benefits) by taxing jurisdiction consisted of:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Current
U.S. federal	$	93,071		$	85,540		$	84,959
U.S. state and local		16,363			22,108			13,929
Non U.S.		32,616			22,156			18,505
		142,050			129,804			117,393
Deferred
U.S. federal		(13,010	)		(10,546	)		(2,606	)
U.S. state and local		(2,235	)		1,460			(3,356	)
Non U.S.		(1,722	)		(1,202	)		(2,035	)
		(16,967	)		(10,288	)		(7,997	)
Provision for income taxes from continuing operations	$	125,083		$	119,516		$	109,396
Provision for income taxes from discontinued operations	$	—		$	6,390		$	1,059

Reconciliation of Provision to U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate for Income from Continuing Operations

The following table reconciles the provision to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate for income from continuing operations:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate		35.00	%		35.00	%		35.00	%
U.S. state and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax benefits		2.38	%		4.44	%		2.72	%
Change in tax rates applicable to non-U.S. earnings		(3.73	%)		(2.73	%)		(1.88	%)
Domestic tax credits and incentives		(0.26	%)		(2.62	%)		(0.86	%)
Other		(0.98	%)		0.10	%		0.50	%
Effective income tax rate		32.41	%		34.19	%		35.48	%

Significant Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, were as follows:

	As of
	December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Employee compensation and benefit plans	$	27,914		$	23,700
Deferred rent		7,869			7,485
Pension		1,965			2,030
Unearned revenue		1,322			1,555
Loss carryforwards - non-current		27,616			33,389
Other		558			678
Subtotal		67,244			68,837
Less: valuation allowance		(17,807	)		(21,052	)
Total deferred tax assets	$	49,437		$	47,785
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	$	(121,900	)	$	(138,832	)
Foreign currency translation		—			(352	)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net		(12,073	)		(10,358	)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(133,973	)	$	(149,542	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(84,536	)	$	(101,757	)

Summary of Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance

The following table presents changes in the Company’s deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	21,052		$	21,232		$	7
Additions charged to cost and expenses		1,862			—			21,225
Additions charged to other accounts		—			—			—
Deductions		(5,107	)		(180	)		—
Ending balance	$	17,807		$	21,052		$	21,232

Summary of Components of Income Before Provision for Income Taxes

The following table presents the components of income before provision for income taxes generated by domestic or foreign operations for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Domestic	$	263,536	$	282,764	$	269,944
Foreign ⁽¹⁾		122,402		66,790		38,394
Total income before provision for income taxes	$	385,938	$	349,554	$	308,338

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	2016			2015			2014
(in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	8,692		$	6,525		$	7,089
Increases based on tax positions related to the current period		575			536			292
Increases based on tax positions related to prior periods		135			2,131			1,969
Decreases based on tax positions related to prior periods		(3	)		(500	)		(346	)
(Decreases) related to settlements with taxing authorities		(1,463	)		—			(1,652	)
(Decreases) related to a lapse of applicable statute of limitations		—			—			(827	)
Ending balance	$	7,936		$	8,692		$	6,525

Disposition and Discontinued Operations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Schedule of Value of Assets and Liabilities Disposed

	Amount
	(in thousands)
Cash proceeds	$	367,355
Less: Initial working capital adjustments		(311	)
Total proceeds		367,044
Less assets sold and liabilities relieved resulting from disposal:
Cash and cash equivalents		(4,544	)
Accounts receivable		(15,765	)
Deferred taxes (current)		(3,174	)
Prepaid taxes		(617	)
Prepaid and other assets		(4,500	)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $4,213)		(8,544	)
Goodwill		(254,233	)
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $50,283)		(121,269	)
Other non-current assets		(1,645	)
Accounts payable		574
Accrued compensation and related benefits		6,783
Other accrued liabilities		4,034
Deferred revenue		51,767
Deferred taxes (non-current)		59,129
Other non-current liabilities		5,576
Other comprehensive income including currency translation adjustments and pension and other post-retirement adjustments		4,004
Net assets sold		(282,424	)
Less: Transaction costs		(5,946	)
Gain on sale of ISS	$	78,674

Schedule of Income (Loss) Amounts Associated with Discontinued Operations

Amounts associated with discontinued operations reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	Years Ended
	December 31,			December 31,
	2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Revenue from discontinued operations	$	—		$	43,122
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	—		$	86,230
Provision for income taxes		6,390			1,059
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	(6,390	)	$	85,171

Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Operating Revenue by Reportable Segment

The following table presents operating revenue by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

		Years Ended
		December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
		2016		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Operating revenues
Index		$	613,551	$	558,964	$	503,892
Analytics			448,353		433,424		414,085
All Other			88,765		82,625		78,703
Total		$	1,150,669	$	1,075,013	$	996,680

Segment Profitability and Reconciliation to Net Income

The following table presents segment profitability and a reconciliation to net income for the periods indicated:

		Years Ended
		December 31,		December 31,			December 31,
		2016		2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Index Adjusted EBITDA		$	431,478	$	392,987		$	349,685
Analytics Adjusted EBITDA			128,507		95,468			72,173
All Other Adjusted EBITDA			9,472		(6,758	)		(13,104	)
Total operating segment profitability			569,457		481,697			408,754
Amortization of intangible assets			47,033		46,910			45,877
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements			34,320		30,889			25,711
Operating income			488,104		403,898			337,166
Other expense (income), net			102,166		54,344			28,828
Provision for income taxes			125,083		119,516			109,396
Income from continuing operations			260,855		230,038			198,942
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes			—		(6,390	)		85,171
Net income		$	260,855	$	223,648		$	284,113

Revenue by Geographic Area

Revenue by geography is based on the shipping address of the ultimate customer utilizing the product. The following table presents revenue by geographic area for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended
	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2016			2015	2014
Revenues
Americas:
United States	$	556,777	$	519,429	$	471,145
Other		45,185		41,552		37,189
Total Americas		601,962		560,981		508,334
Europe, the Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"):
United Kingdom		175,749		166,019		154,308
Other		229,010		215,192		209,893
Total EMEA		404,759		381,211		364,201
Asia & Australia:
Japan		52,161		45,371		46,642
Other		91,787		87,450		77,503
Total Asia & Australia		143,948		132,821		124,145
Total	$	1,150,669	$	1,075,013	$	996,680

Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area

	As of
	December 31,		December 31,
	2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Long-lived assets
Americas:
United States	$	1,876,366	$	1,916,689
Other		1,543		2,279
Total Americas		1,877,909		1,918,968
EMEA:
United Kingdom		89,466		110,261
Other		23,780		16,849
Total EMEA		113,246		127,110
Asia & Australia:
Japan		357		570
Other		7,563		9,389
Total Asia & Australia		7,920		9,959
Total	$	1,999,075	$	2,056,037

Quarterly Results of Operations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations

	2016												2015
	First			Second			Third			Fourth			First			Second			Third			Fourth
	Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Operating revenues	$	278,828		$	290,596		$	288,433		$	292,812		$	262,769		$	270,580		$	268,771		$	272,893
Cost of revenues		63,172			62,130			62,986			63,819			69,904			67,394			65,593			64,804
Selling and marketing		41,689			41,854			41,514			41,609			41,648			42,028			38,809			39,809
Research and development		18,928			18,566			18,750			18,960			23,189			20,807			15,548			17,776
General and administrative		21,890			22,019			21,859			21,467			20,377			22,080			19,960			23,590
Amortization of intangible assets		11,840			11,943			11,752			11,498			11,702			11,695			11,710			11,803
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements		8,168			8,393			8,312			9,447			7,207			8,065			8,049			7,568
Total operating expenses		165,687			164,905			165,173			166,800			174,027			172,069			159,669			165,350
Operating income		113,141			125,691			123,260			126,012			88,742			98,511			109,102			107,543
Interest income		(621	)		(585	)		(799	)		(901	)		(204	)		(185	)		(285	)		(492	)
Interest expense		22,904			22,918			26,790			29,039			11,108			11,116			17,267			22,896
Other expense (income)		81			2,814			(253	)		779			178			164			(6,922	)		(297	)
Other expense (income), net		22,364			25,147			25,738			28,917			11,082			11,095			10,060			22,107
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes		90,777			100,544			97,522			97,095			77,660			87,416			99,042			85,436
Provision for income taxes		30,410			33,587			32,241			28,845			28,036			31,399			34,644			25,437
Income from continuing operations		60,367			66,957			65,281			68,250			49,624			56,017			64,398			59,999
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		—			—			—			—			(5,797	)		—			—			(593	)
Net income	$	60,367		$	66,957		$	65,281		$	68,250		$	43,827		$	56,017		$	64,398		$	59,406
Earnings per basic common share
From continuing operations	$	0.61		$	0.69		$	0.69		$	0.73		$	0.44		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.59
From discontinued operations		—			—			—			—			(0.05	)		—			—			(0.01	)
Earnings per basic common share	$	0.61		$	0.69		$	0.69		$	0.73		$	0.39		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.58
Earnings per diluted common share
From continuing operations	$	0.60		$	0.69		$	0.68		$	0.73		$	0.44		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.58
From discontinued operations		—			—			—			—			(0.05	)		—			—			(0.01	)
Earnings per diluted commons hare	$	0.60		$	0.69		$	0.68		$	0.73		$	0.39		$	0.50		$	0.59		$	0.57
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing per share data
Basic		99,425			96,412			94,823			93,327			112,520			112,143			108,773			102,837
Diluted		99,998			96,888			95,473			93,845			113,522			112,931			109,440			103,590

Introduction and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Minimum percentage of voting stock for consolidation	50.00%
Maximum percentage of voting stock in variable interest entity for consolidation	20.00%
Cost method investments	$ 0
Capitalized software development costs	10,344,000	$ 8,500,000	$ 8,216,000
Capitalized software development costs, net		5,200,000
Impairment of goodwill	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Operating Revenues [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Percentage of operating revenues accounted for by major customer	10.00%
Operating Revenues [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member] \| Blackrock Inc [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Percentage of operating revenues accounted for by major customer		10.30%	10.60%
Minimum [Member] \| Software and Software Development Costs [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Estimates of useful lives	3 years
Maximum [Member] \| Software and Software Development Costs [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Estimates of useful lives	5 years
Analytics [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Reversed previously capitalized costs		$ 3,400,000
Analytics [Member] \| Operating Revenues [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Percentage of operating revenues accounted for by major customer	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Index [Member] \| Operating Revenues [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member] \| Blackrock Inc [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Percentage of operating revenues accounted for by major customer	17.30%	19.20%	20.10%
All Other [Member] \| Operating Revenues [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Percentage of operating revenues accounted for by major customer	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. [Member]
Introduction And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Sale completion date	Apr. 30, 2014

Introduction and Basis of Presentation - Changes in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 1,117	$ 857	$ 1,280
Addition to provision	1,011	940	452
Amounts written off, net of recoveries	(1,093)	(680)	(875)
Balance at ending of year	$ 1,035	$ 1,117	$ 857

Earnings Per Common Share - Additional Information (Detail) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS	398	3,778	78,260

Earnings Per Common Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted EPS (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes									$ 260,855	$ 230,038	$ 198,942
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes					$ (593)			$ (5,797)		(6,390)	85,171
Net income	$ 68,250	$ 65,281	$ 66,957	$ 60,367	$ 59,406	$ 64,398	$ 56,017	$ 43,827	260,855	223,648	284,113
Less: Allocations of earnings to unvested restricted stock units											(368)
Earnings available to MSCI common shareholders									$ 260,855	$ 223,648	$ 283,745
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	93,327	94,823	96,412	99,425	102,837	108,773	112,143	112,520	95,986	109,124	115,737
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock units									554	802	969
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	93,845	95,473	96,888	99,998	103,590	109,440	112,931	113,522	96,540	109,926	116,706
Earnings per basic common share from continuing operations	$ 0.73	$ 0.69	$ 0.69	$ 0.61	$ 0.59	$ 0.59	$ 0.50	$ 0.44	$ 2.72	$ 2.11	$ 1.72
Earnings per basic common share from discontinued operations										(0.06)	0.73
Earnings per basic common share	0.73	0.69	0.69	0.61	0.58	0.59	0.50	0.39	2.72	2.05	2.45
Earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations	0.73	0.68	0.69	0.60	0.58	0.59	0.50	0.44	2.70	2.09	1.70
Earnings per diluted common share from discontinued operations										(0.06)	0.73
Earnings per diluted common share	$ 0.73	$ 0.68	$ 0.69	$ 0.60	$ 0.57	$ 0.59	$ 0.50	$ 0.39	$ 2.70	$ 2.03	$ 2.43

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 04, 2016	Aug. 13, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 20, 2014
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Annual rent expense			$ 24,200,000	$ 26,500,000	$ 27,000,000
Revolving credit agreement, conditional description			The 2014 Revolving Credit Agreement had an initial term of five years with an option to extend for two additional one-year terms. On August 4, 2016, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the 2014 Revolving Credit Agreement (the 2014 Revolving Credit Agreement as so amended, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). The Amendment, among other things, (i) increased aggregate commitments available to be borrowed to $220.0 million, (ii) increased the maximum consolidated leverage ratio and (iii) extended the initial term to August 2021 with an option to extended for an additional one-year term. At December 31, 2016, the Revolving Credit Agreement was undrawn.
Long-term debt			$ 2,075,201,000	1,579,404,000
Deferred financing fees			24,800,000	20,600,000
Amortized deferred financing fees			3,068,000	2,135,000	7,748,000
Unamortized debt discount outstanding			0	0	0
Amortization of discount on long-term debt					$ 2,218,000
Fair market value of debt obligations			2,192,500,000	$ 1,638,000,000
Other Expense (Income) [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain on sale of investment			6,300,000
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Foreign Currency Forwards [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Foreign currency forwards, notional amount			25,500,000
Prepaid and Other Assets [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees			500,000
Other Non-Current Assets [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees			1,800,000
Long-term Debt [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees			$ 24,800,000
2014 Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing						$ 200,000,000
Revolving credit agreement, term			5 years
Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing	$ 220,000,000
Revolving credit agreement, extended term	1 year
5.250% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt instrument principal amount						$ 800,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate						5.25%
Maturity date			Nov. 15, 2024
Redemption description			At any time prior to November 15, 2019, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2024 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption.
Percentage of aggregate principal amount redeemed			35.00%
Redemption price			105.25%
Debt instrument description			Interest payments attributable to the 2024 Senior Notes are due on May 15 and November 15 of each year.
Debt instrument, first interest payment date			May 15, 2015
Term Loan [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding indebtedness, amount						$ 794,800,000
5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt instrument principal amount		$ 800,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate		5.75%
Net proceeds from borrowing		$ 789,500,000
4.75% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2026 [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt instrument principal amount	$ 500,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate	4.75%
Net proceeds from borrowing	$ 493,300,000
Maturity date			Aug. 01, 2016
Redemption description			At any time prior to August 1, 2021, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2026 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption.
Percentage of aggregate principal amount redeemed			35.00%
Redemption price			104.75%
Debt instrument description			Interest payments attributable to the 2026 Senior Notes are due on February 1 and August 1 of each year.
Debt instrument, first interest payment date			Feb. 01, 2017
5.75% Senior Notes Due In 2025 [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maturity date			Aug. 15, 2025
Redemption description			At any time prior to August 15, 2020, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption.
Percentage of aggregate principal amount redeemed			35.00%
Redemption price			105.75%
Debt instrument description			Interest payments attributable to the 2025 Senior Notes are due on February 15 and August 15 of each year.
Debt instrument, first interest payment date			Feb. 16, 2016
Senior Notes [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt instrument principal amount			$ 2,100,000,000
Senior Notes and Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Schedule Of Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees			$ 27,100,000

Commitments and Contingencies - Summary of Future Minimum Commitments Under Operating Leases (Detail) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2017	$ 27,869
2018	27,429
2019	22,559
2020	19,237
2021	17,413
Thereafter	131,815
Total	$ 246,322

Commitments and Contingencies - Summary of Fair Values of Derivative Instruments (Detail) - Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] - Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Prepaid and Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset derivatives:	$ 27	$ 640
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability derivatives:	$ (124)	$ (2)

Commitments and Contingencies - Effect of Financial Derivatives on Statements of Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] \| Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Other Expense (Income) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	$ 1,566	$ 366	$ (834)

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements - Schedule of Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Computer & related equipment	$ 162,306	$ 143,499
Furniture & fixtures	9,724	9,870
Leasehold improvements	49,442	47,579
Work-in-process	10,954	12,658
Subtotal	232,426	213,606
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(136,841)	(114,680)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$ 95,585	$ 98,926
Computer & Related Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	2 years
Computer & Related Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	5 years
Furniture & Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	7 years
Leasehold improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	1 year
Leasehold improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives	21 years

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	$ 9,447	$ 8,312	$ 8,393	$ 8,168	$ 7,568	$ 8,049	$ 8,065	$ 7,207	$ 34,320	$ 30,889	$ 25,711

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Change to Company's Goodwill (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	$ 1,565,621	$ 1,564,904
Changes to goodwill	(50)	4,202
Foreign exchange translation adjustment	(9,721)	(3,485)
Goodwill, Ending balance	1,555,850	1,565,621
Index [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	1,208,454
Foreign exchange translation adjustment	(6,006)
Goodwill, Ending balance	1,202,448	1,208,454
Analytics [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	302,551
Changes to goodwill	60
Goodwill, Ending balance	302,611	302,551
All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	54,616
Changes to goodwill	(110)
Foreign exchange translation adjustment	(3,715)
Goodwill, Ending balance	$ 50,791	$ 54,616

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Change to Company's Goodwill (Parenthetical) (Detail) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Insignis [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Adjustments to goodwill from acquisitions	$ 4.2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Impairment of goodwill									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 11,498,000	$ 11,752,000	$ 11,943,000	$ 11,840,000	$ 11,803,000	$ 11,710,000	$ 11,695,000	$ 11,702,000	$ 47,033,000	$ 46,910,000	$ 45,877,000

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Gross Carrying and Accumulated Amortization Amounts Related to Company's Identifiable Intangible Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value	$ 810,500	$ 810,002
Accumulated amortization	(462,860)	(418,512)
Net carrying value	347,640	391,490
Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value	361,199	361,746
Accumulated amortization	(166,923)	(143,325)
Net carrying value	$ 194,276	218,421
Customer Relationships [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	5 years
Customer Relationships [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	21 years
Trademarks/Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value	$ 223,382	223,382
Accumulated amortization	(105,077)	(93,476)
Net carrying value	$ 118,305	129,906
Trademarks/Trade Names [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	5 years
Trademarks/Trade Names [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	21 years 6 months
Technology/Software [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value	$ 210,013	199,889
Accumulated amortization	(184,290)	(175,209)
Net carrying value	$ 25,723	24,680
Technology/Software [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	3 years
Technology/Software [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	8 years 6 months
Proprietary Data [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	13 years
Gross carrying value	$ 28,627	28,627
Accumulated amortization	(8,571)	(6,698)
Net carrying value	$ 20,056	21,929
Covenant Not to Compete [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Estimated Remaining Useful Lives	2 years
Gross carrying value	$ 1,225	1,225
Accumulated amortization	(1,089)	(665)
Net carrying value	136	560
Subtotal [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value	824,446	814,869
Accumulated amortization	(465,950)	(419,373)
Net carrying value	358,496	395,496
Foreign Exchange Translation Adjustment [Member]
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying value	(13,946)	(4,867)
Accumulated amortization	3,090	861
Net carrying value	$ (10,856)	$ (4,006)

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Estimated Amortization Expense for Succeeding Years (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
2017	$ 44,123
2018	41,562
2019	39,594
2020	37,196
2021	35,846
Thereafter	149,319
Net carrying value	$ 347,640	$ 391,490

Employee Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Pension and post-retirement benefit expenses	$ 21.6	$ 23.1	$ 22.2
Defined contribution plan expenses	17.6	18.4	19.3
Net periodic benefit expense	4.0	4.7	2.8
Fair value of the defined benefit plan assets	17.5	16.4
Other Non-current Liabilities [Member]
Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, liability	18.4	17.1
Cost of Revenues [Member]
Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Pension and post-retirement benefit expenses	9.5	10.7	9.9
Selling and Marketing [Member]
Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Pension and post-retirement benefit expenses	6.7	6.8	7.2
Research and Development [Member]
Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Pension and post-retirement benefit expenses	4.0	4.0	3.7
General and Administrative [Member]
Employee Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Pension and post-retirement benefit expenses	$ 1.3	$ 1.6	$ 1.3

Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)					2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			20 Months Ended
	Feb. 24, 2017	May 21, 2015	Sep. 19, 2014	Sep. 18, 2014	Feb. 17, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 14, 2015	Feb. 28, 2017	Oct. 26, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 28, 2015	Sep. 17, 2014	Feb. 04, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired						$ 774,565,000	$ 716,782,000	$ 409,651,000
Shares repurchases, value						$ 774,565,000	$ 700,715,000	$ 409,651,000
Common shares received						10,303,047	11,856,169	6,856,866
Number of shares grants in period						0	0	0
Allocated share based compensation expense						$ 32,525,000	$ 27,476,000	$ 25,616,000
Tax benefits for share-based compensation expense related to deferred stock and stock options						7,400,000	15,300,000	2,800,000
Compensation cost related to unvested share-based awards not yet recognized						$ 41,500,000
Number of shares available for future grants						7,600,000
Total fair value of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards converted or vested to common stock						$ 39,400,000	34,100,000	24,500,000
Intrinsic value of the stock options exercised						$ 11,300,000	37,300,000	12,800,000
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation cost related to unvested share-based awards not yet recognized, period for recognition						1 year
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation cost related to unvested share-based awards not yet recognized, period for recognition						3 years
Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Income Taxes [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated share based compensation expense						$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,400,000
Subsequent Events [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares repurchases, value					$ 77,500,000
Common shares received					1,000,000
Repurchased common shares, average purchase price paid per share					$ 80.70
2015 Bonus Award [Member] \| Subsequent Events [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares grants in period	259,672
Amount of the award granted to retirement-eligible employees										$ 2,100,000
Aggregate fair value										$ 22,200,000
2015 Bonus Award [Member] \| Subsequent Events [Member] \| RSUs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of awards	3 years
Fraction of bonus award vested per year	33.00%
2015 Bonus Award [Member] \| Subsequent Events [Member] \| MSUs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of awards	3 years
Minimum performance period	3 years
Additional extended performance period	6 months
2014 Repurchase Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Repurchase program authorizing the purchase of shares												$ 850,000,000		$ 850,000,000	$ 300,000,000
Treasury stock acquired									$ 850,000,000
2014 Repurchase Program [Member] \| September 2014 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares repurchases, value				$ 300,000,000
Common shares received		1,200,000	4,500,000
Repurchased common shares, average purchase price paid per share						$ 52.79
Accelerated share repurchase agreement, description						On September 18, 2014, as part of the 2014 Repurchase Program, the Company entered into an ASR agreement to initiate share repurchases aggregating $300.0 million (the “September 2014 ASR Agreement”). As a result of the September 2014 ASR Agreement, the Company received approximately 4.5 million shares of MSCI’s common stock on September 19, 2014 and received approximately 1.2 million shares of MSCI’s common stock on May 21, 2015 for a combined average price of $52.79 per share.
2015 Repurchase Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Repurchase program authorizing the purchase of shares													$ 1,000,000,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount											$ 330,300,000
2016 Repurchase Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Repurchase program authorizing the purchase of shares											$ 750,000,000

Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Company's Common Stock Repurchases Pursuant to Open Market Repurchases (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity Class Of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Total Number of Shares Repurchased	10,303,047	11,856,169	6,856,866
Dollar Value of Shares Repurchased	$ 774,565	$ 716,782	$ 409,651
Open Market Purchases of Common Stock [Member]
Equity Class Of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Average Price Paid Per Share	$ 73.71	$ 62.63
Total Number of Shares Repurchased	10,303,000	10,710,000
Dollar Value of Shares Repurchased	$ 759,427	$ 670,824

Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Cash Dividends Declared and Distributed Per Common Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Dividend declared per common share	$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 1.00	$ 0.80	$ 0.18
Cash dividends declared, Amount	$ 26,524	$ 26,936	$ 21,588	$ 22,046	$ 22,803	$ 24,210	$ 20,444	$ 20,424	$ 20,393	$ 97,094	$ 87,881
Cash dividends distributed, Amount	26,304	26,680	21,391	21,889	22,792	24,152	20,442	20,411	$ 20,393	96,264	87,797
Cash dividends deferred, Amount	$ 220	$ 256	$ 197	$ 157	$ 11	$ 58	$ 2	$ 13		$ 830	$ 84

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Activity Related to Shares of Common Stock Issued and Repurchased (Detail) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Common Stock Outstanding [Line Items]
Beginning balance	101,013,148	112,072,469	118,083,111
Dividend payable/paid	420	417
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options	788,304	1,558,965	1,076,751
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises	(219,921)	(763,558)	(233,163)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs	(10,303,047)	(11,856,169)	(6,856,866)
Shares issued to directors	686	1,024	2,636
Ending balance	91,279,590	101,013,148	112,072,469
Common Stock Issued [Member]
Common Stock Outstanding [Line Items]
Beginning balance	128,200,189	126,637,390	125,555,268
Dividend payable/paid	892	802	99
Common stock issued and exercise of stock options	788,304	1,558,965	1,076,751
Shares issued to directors	6,959	3,032	5,272
Ending balance	128,996,344	128,200,189	126,637,390
Treasury Stock [Member]
Common Stock Outstanding [Line Items]
Beginning balance	(27,187,041)	(14,564,921)	(7,472,157)
Dividend payable/paid	(472)	(385)	(99)
Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises	(219,921)	(763,558)	(233,163)
Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs	(10,303,047)	(11,856,169)	(6,856,866)
Shares issued to directors	(6,273)	(2,008)	(2,636)
Ending balance	(37,716,754)	(27,187,041)	(14,564,921)

Shareholders' Equity - Components of Share-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 32,525	$ 27,476	$ 27,031
Deferred Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 32,525	27,549	25,830
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense (benefit)		$ (73)	$ 1,201

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Share-based Compensation Expense (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 32,525	$ 27,476	$ 25,616
Cost of Revenues [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	7,971	6,909	7,187
Selling and Marketing [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	9,526	6,564	7,296
Research and Development [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	2,970	2,823	3,128
General and Administrative [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 12,058	$ 11,180	$ 8,005

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Vested and Unvested Deferred Stock Awards Activity (Detail) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at the beginning of period, Number of Shares \| shares	1,075
Granted, Number of Shares \| shares	1,081
Conversion to common stock, Number of Shares \| shares	(588)
Canceled, Number of Shares \| shares	(61)
Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at the end of period, Number of Shares \| shares	1,507
Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at the beginning of period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	$ 47.70
Granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	65.43
Conversion to common stock, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	43.12
Canceled, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	57.06
Vested and unvested deferred stock awards at the end of period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	$ 61.82

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Vested and Unvested Deferred Stock Awards Activity (Parenthetical) (Detail) shares in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, vested or expected to vest \| shares	1,451
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards vested or expected to vest, weighted average price \| $ / shares	$ 61.67

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Unvested Deferred Stock Awards Activity (Detail) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, balance at the beginning of the period \| $ / shares	$ 47.83
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted \| $ / shares	66.63
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested \| $ / shares	43.47
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Canceled \| $ / shares	57.07
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, balance at the end of the period \| $ / shares	62.89
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Expected to vest \| $ / shares	$ 62.77
Unvested Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unvested deferred stock awards, balance at the beginning of period \| shares	800
Number of Shares, Granted \| shares	898
Number of Shares, Vested \| shares	(430)
Number of Shares, Canceled \| shares	(61)
Unvested deferred stock awards, balance at the end of period \| shares	1,207
Unvested deferred stock awards expected to vest \| shares	1,151

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Stock Options Activity (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Number of Options, Options outstanding, Beginning balance	485,000
Number of Options, Granted or assumed	0	0	0
Number of Options, Conversion to common stock	(216,000)
Number of Options, Options outstanding and exercisable, Ending balance	269,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options outstanding, Beginning balance	$ 23.77
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Conversion to common stock	23.40
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options outstanding and exercisable, Ending balance	$ 24.06
Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years), Options outstanding		2 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years), Options outstanding and exercisable	2 years 2 months 19 days
Aggregated Intrinsic Value, Options outstanding and exercisable	$ 14,727

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable by Exercise Price Range (Detail) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number Outstanding, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| shares	269
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding and Exercisable	$ 24.06
Average Remaining Life (Years), Options Outstanding and Exercisable	2 years 2 months 19 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| $	$ 14,727
First Exercise Price Range [Member]
Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Price, Minimum	$ 9.92
Range of Exercise Price, Maximum	$ 16.48
Number Outstanding, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| shares	40
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding and Exercisable	$ 16.47
Average Remaining Life (Years), Options Outstanding and Exercisable	2 years 1 month 24 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| $	$ 2,465
Second Exercise Price Range [Member]
Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices	$ 18.00
Number Outstanding, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| shares	53
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding and Exercisable	$ 18.00
Average Remaining Life (Years), Options Outstanding and Exercisable	10 months 10 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| $	$ 3,249
Third Exercise Price Range [Member]
Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Price, Minimum	$ 20.45
Range of Exercise Price, Maximum	$ 24.11
Number Outstanding, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| shares	80
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding and Exercisable	$ 23.09
Average Remaining Life (Years), Options Outstanding and Exercisable	1 year 6 months 26 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| $	$ 4,464
Fourth Exercise Price Range [Member]
Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Price, Minimum	$ 25.64
Range of Exercise Price, Maximum	$ 40.23
Number Outstanding, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| shares	96
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding and Exercisable	$ 31.38
Average Remaining Life (Years), Options Outstanding and Exercisable	3 years 6 months 18 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding and Exercisable \| $	$ 4,549

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
(Provision) for income tax benefit	$ (28,845)	$ (32,241)	$ (33,587)	$ (30,410)	$ (25,437)	$ (34,644)	$ (31,399)	$ (28,036)	$ (125,083)	$ (119,516)	$ (109,396)
Net income	$ 68,250	$ 65,281	$ 66,957	$ 60,367	$ 59,406	$ 64,398	$ 56,017	$ 43,827	260,855	223,648	284,113
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net income									(188)	(410)	4,065
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Defined Benefit Pension Plans Amount Recognized as a Component of Net Periodic Benefit Expense [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit expense for curtailments and settlements									(261)	(563)	(104)
(Provision) for income tax benefit									73	153	(15)
Net income									$ (188)	$ (410)	(119)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation adjustment											$ 4,184

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before taxes				$ 86,230,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, taxes			$ 6,390,000	1,059,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$ (593,000)	$ (5,797,000)	$ (6,390,000)	85,171,000
Curtailments and Settlements [Member] \| Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Defined Benefit Pension Plans Amount Recognized as a Component of Net Periodic Benefit Expense [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before taxes				(186,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, taxes				6,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes				$ (180,000)

- Definition

Amount before tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References + Details

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) related to a discontinued operation. Includes, but is not limited to, tax expense (benefit) related to income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, tax expense (benefit) related to gain (loss) on disposal, tax expense (benefit) related to gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and tax expense (benefit) related to adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References + Details

- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References + Details

Income Taxes - Summary of Provision for Income Taxes (Benefits) by Taxing Jurisdiction (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Current, U.S. federal									$ 93,071	$ 85,540	$ 84,959
Current, U.S. state and local									16,363	22,108	13,929
Current, Non U.S.									32,616	22,156	18,505
Current provision for income taxes (benefits)									142,050	129,804	117,393
Deferred, U.S. federal									(13,010)	(10,546)	(2,606)
Deferred, U.S. state and local									(2,235)	1,460	(3,356)
Deferred, Non U.S.									(1,722)	(1,202)	(2,035)
Deferred provision for income taxes (benefits)									(16,967)	(10,288)	(7,997)
Provision for income taxes from continuing operations	$ 28,845	$ 32,241	$ 33,587	$ 30,410	$ 25,437	$ 34,644	$ 31,399	$ 28,036	$ 125,083	119,516	109,396
Provision for income taxes from discontinued operations										$ 6,390	$ 1,059

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Provision to U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate for Income from Continuing Operations (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
U.S. state and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax benefits	2.38%	4.44%	2.72%
Change in tax rates applicable to non-U.S. earnings	(3.73%)	(2.73%)	(1.88%)
Domestic tax credits and incentives	(0.26%)	(2.62%)	(0.86%)
Other	(0.98%)	0.10%	0.50%
Effective income tax rate	32.41%	34.19%	35.48%

Income Taxes - Significant Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred tax assets:
Employee compensation and benefit plans	$ 27,914	$ 23,700
Deferred rent	7,869	7,485
Pension	1,965	2,030
Unearned revenue	1,322	1,555
Loss carryforwards - non-current	27,616	33,389
Other	558	678
Subtotal	67,244	68,837
Less: valuation allowance	(17,807)	(21,052)
Total deferred tax assets	49,437	47,785
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	(121,900)	(138,832)
Foreign currency translation		(352)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net	(12,073)	(10,358)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(133,973)	(149,542)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (84,536)	$ (101,757)

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Earnings attributable to foreign subsidiaries	$ 341,600,000	$ 224,800,000	$ 149,100,000
Significant change in unrecognized tax benefits, reasonably possible	It is reasonably possible that significant changes in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next 12 months.
Significant change in unrecognized tax benefits, not possible	At this time, however, it is not possible to reasonably estimate the expected change to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits and the impact on the effective tax rate over the next 12 months.
Total amount of unrecognized tax benefits	$ 7,100,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest on income tax expenses	200,000
Penalties recognized during the year	0
Amount of accrued interest	$ 1,500,000
Minimum [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Tax years under examination	2005
Maximum [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Tax years under examination	2015
Capital Loss Carryforward [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Capital loss carryforward tax value	$ 16,000,000
Expiration period	2019
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 10,600,000
Expiration period	2020
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] \| Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Morgan Stanley [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Tax years under examination	2006
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] \| Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Morgan Stanley [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Tax years under examination	2008
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards, valuation allowance	$ 1,300,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] \| New York State Division of Taxation and Finance [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Morgan Stanley [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Tax years under examination	2007
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] \| New York State Division of Taxation and Finance [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Morgan Stanley [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Tax years under examination	2008
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 1,000,000
Operating loss carryforwards, valuation allowance	$ 500,000

Income Taxes - Summary of Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance (Detail) - Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 21,052	$ 21,232	$ 7
Additions charged to cost and expenses	1,862		21,225
Deductions	(5,107)	(180)
Ending balance	$ 17,807	$ 21,052	$ 21,232

Income Taxes - Summary of Components of Income Before Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Domestic									$ 263,536	$ 282,764	$ 269,944
Foreign									122,402	66,790	38,394
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	$ 97,095	$ 97,522	$ 100,544	$ 90,777	$ 85,436	$ 99,042	$ 87,416	$ 77,660	$ 385,938	$ 349,554	$ 308,338

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Beginning balance	$ 8,692	$ 6,525	$ 7,089
Increases based on tax positions related to the current period	575	536	292
Increases based on tax positions related to prior periods	135	2,131	1,969
Decreases based on tax positions related to prior periods	(3)	(500)	(346)
(Decreases) related to settlements with taxing authorities	(1,463)		(1,652)
(Decreases) related to a lapse of applicable statute of limitations			(827)
Ending balance	$ 7,936	$ 8,692	$ 6,525

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Oct. 16, 2016	Aug. 11, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 1,565,621	$ 1,555,850	$ 1,564,904
Insignis [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Company paid cash to acquire property	$ 6,500
Date of Acquisition	Oct. 16, 2015
Goodwill	$ 4,200
Purchase price allocated to identifiable intangible assets	2,200
Purchase price allocated for assets other than identifiable intangible assets	$ 100
GMI Ratings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Company paid cash to acquire property		$ 15,500
Date of Acquisition			Aug. 11, 2014
Goodwill		9,900
Purchase price allocated to identifiable intangible assets		3,600
Purchase price allocated for assets other than identifiable intangible assets		6,700
Purchase price allocated to other liabilities		$ 4,700

Disposition and Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) - Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Definitive sale agreement date		Mar. 17, 2014
Sale proceeds from divestiture	$ 367,400		$ 367,355

Disposition and Discontinued Operations - Schedule of Value of Assets and Liabilities Disposed (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total proceeds		$ 6,736
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash proceeds	$ 367,400		$ 367,355
Less: Initial working capital adjustments			(311)
Total proceeds			367,044
Less assets sold and liabilities relieved resulting from disposal:
Cash and cash equivalents			(4,544)
Accounts receivable			(15,765)
Deferred taxes (current)			(3,174)
Prepaid taxes			(617)
Prepaid and other assets			(4,500)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $4,213)			(8,544)
Goodwill			(254,233)
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $50,283)			(121,269)
Other non-current assets			(1,645)
Accounts payable			574
Accrued compensation and related benefits			6,783
Other accrued liabilities			4,034
Deferred revenue			51,767
Deferred taxes (non-current)			59,129
Other non-current liabilities			5,576
Other comprehensive income including currency translation adjustments and pension and other post-retirement adjustments			4,004
Net assets sold			(282,424)
Less: Transaction costs			(5,946)
Gain on sale of ISS			$ 78,674

Disposition and Discontinued Operations - Schedule of Value of Assets and Liabilities Disposed (Parenthetical) (Detail) - Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. [Member] $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ 4,213
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 50,283

Disposition and Discontinued Operations - Schedule of Income (Loss) Amounts Associated with Discontinued Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Revenue from discontinued operations				$ 43,122
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes				86,230
Provision for income taxes			$ 6,390	1,059
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ (593)	$ (5,797)	$ (6,390)	$ 85,171

- Definition

+ References + Details

- Definition

+ References + Details

- Definition

+ References + Details

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2016 Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	4

Segment Information - Operating Revenue by Reportable Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total	$ 292,812	$ 288,433	$ 290,596	$ 278,828	$ 272,893	$ 268,771	$ 270,580	$ 262,769	$ 1,150,669	$ 1,075,013	$ 996,680
Index [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total									613,551	558,964	503,892
Analytics [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total									448,353	433,424	414,085
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total									$ 88,765	$ 82,625	$ 78,703

Segment Information - Segment Profitability and Reconciliation to Net Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 569,457	$ 481,697	$ 408,754
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 11,498	$ 11,752	$ 11,943	$ 11,840	$ 11,803	$ 11,710	$ 11,695	$ 11,702	47,033	46,910	45,877
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	9,447	8,312	8,393	8,168	7,568	8,049	8,065	7,207	34,320	30,889	25,711
Operating income	126,012	123,260	125,691	113,141	107,543	109,102	98,511	88,742	488,104	403,898	337,166
Other expense (income), net	28,917	25,738	25,147	22,364	22,107	10,060	11,095	11,082	102,166	54,344	28,828
Provision for income taxes	28,845	32,241	33,587	30,410	25,437	34,644	31,399	28,036	125,083	119,516	109,396
Income from continuing operations									260,855	230,038	198,942
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes					(593)			(5,797)		(6,390)	85,171
Net income	$ 68,250	$ 65,281	$ 66,957	$ 60,367	$ 59,406	$ 64,398	$ 56,017	$ 43,827	260,855	223,648	284,113
Index [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA									431,478	392,987	349,685
Analytics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA									128,507	95,468	72,173
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 9,472	$ (6,758)	$ (13,104)

Segment Information - Revenue by Geographic Area (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 292,812	$ 288,433	$ 290,596	$ 278,828	$ 272,893	$ 268,771	$ 270,580	$ 262,769	$ 1,150,669	$ 1,075,013	$ 996,680
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									556,777	519,429	471,145
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									45,185	41,552	37,189
Total Americas [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									601,962	560,981	508,334
United Kingdom [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									175,749	166,019	154,308
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									229,010	215,192	209,893
Europe, the Middle East and Africa ("EMEA") [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									404,759	381,211	364,201
Japan [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									52,161	45,371	46,642
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									91,787	87,450	77,503
Total Asia & Australia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating revenues									$ 143,948	$ 132,821	$ 124,145

Segment Information - Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 1,999,075	$ 2,056,037
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	1,876,366	1,916,689
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	1,543	2,279
Total Americas [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	1,877,909	1,918,968
United Kingdom [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	89,466	110,261
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	23,780	16,849
Total EMEA [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	113,246	127,110
Japan [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	357	570
Other [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	7,563	9,389
Total Asia & Australia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 7,920	$ 9,959

Quarterly Results of Operations - Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 292,812	$ 288,433	$ 290,596	$ 278,828	$ 272,893	$ 268,771	$ 270,580	$ 262,769	$ 1,150,669	$ 1,075,013	$ 996,680
Cost of revenues	63,819	62,986	62,130	63,172	64,804	65,593	67,394	69,904	252,107	267,695	276,623
Selling and marketing	41,609	41,514	41,854	41,689	39,809	38,809	42,028	41,648	166,666	162,294	163,839
Research and development	18,960	18,750	18,566	18,928	17,776	15,548	20,807	23,189	75,204	77,320	71,095
General and administrative	21,467	21,859	22,019	21,890	23,590	19,960	22,080	20,377	87,235	86,007	76,369
Amortization of intangible assets	11,498	11,752	11,943	11,840	11,803	11,710	11,695	11,702	47,033	46,910	45,877
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	9,447	8,312	8,393	8,168	7,568	8,049	8,065	7,207	34,320	30,889	25,711
Total operating expenses	166,800	165,173	164,905	165,687	165,350	159,669	172,069	174,027	662,565	671,115	659,514
Operating income	126,012	123,260	125,691	113,141	107,543	109,102	98,511	88,742	488,104	403,898	337,166
Interest income	(901)	(799)	(585)	(621)	(492)	(285)	(185)	(204)	(2,906)	(1,166)	(851)
Interest expense	29,039	26,790	22,918	22,904	22,896	17,267	11,116	11,108	101,651	62,387	31,820
Other expense (income)	779	(253)	2,814	81	(297)	(6,922)	164	178	3,421	(6,877)	(2,141)
Other expense (income), net	28,917	25,738	25,147	22,364	22,107	10,060	11,095	11,082	102,166	54,344	28,828
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	97,095	97,522	100,544	90,777	85,436	99,042	87,416	77,660	385,938	349,554	308,338
Provision for income taxes	28,845	32,241	33,587	30,410	25,437	34,644	31,399	28,036	125,083	119,516	109,396
Income from continuing operations	68,250	65,281	66,957	60,367	59,999	64,398	56,017	49,624
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes					(593)			(5,797)		(6,390)	85,171
Net income	$ 68,250	$ 65,281	$ 66,957	$ 60,367	$ 59,406	$ 64,398	$ 56,017	$ 43,827	$ 260,855	$ 223,648	$ 284,113
Earnings per basic common share
From continuing operations	$ 0.73	$ 0.69	$ 0.69	$ 0.61	$ 0.59	$ 0.59	$ 0.50	$ 0.44	$ 2.72	$ 2.11	$ 1.72
From discontinued operations					(0.01)			(0.05)
Earnings per basic common share	0.73	0.69	0.69	0.61	0.58	0.59	0.50	0.39	2.72	2.05	2.45
Earnings per diluted common share
From continuing operations	0.73	0.68	0.69	0.60	0.58	0.59	0.50	0.44	2.70	2.09	1.70
From discontinued operations					(0.01)			(0.05)
Earnings per diluted common share	$ 0.73	$ 0.68	$ 0.69	$ 0.60	$ 0.57	$ 0.59	$ 0.50	$ 0.39	$ 2.70	$ 2.03	$ 2.43
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing per share data
Basic	93,327	94,823	96,412	99,425	102,837	108,773	112,143	112,520	95,986	109,124	115,737
Diluted	93,845	95,473	96,888	99,998	103,590	109,440	112,931	113,522	96,540	109,926	116,706

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2017	Feb. 17, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Quarterly dividend declared			$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 1.00	$ 0.80	$ 0.18
Total Number of Shares Repurchased												10,303,047	11,856,169	6,856,866
Value of shares repurchased												$ 774,565	$ 700,715	$ 409,651
Subsequent Events [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Quarterly dividend declared	$ 0.28
Quarterly dividend declared date	Feb. 01, 2017
Quarterly dividend payable date	Mar. 15, 2017
Quarterly dividend record date	Feb. 17, 2017
Total Number of Shares Repurchased		1,000,000
Average Price Paid Per Share		$ 80.70
Value of shares repurchased		$ 77,500