10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2012

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from         to

Commission File Number: 000-51280

MORNINGSTAR, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) 

Illinois	36-3297908
(State or Other Jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)	Identification Number)
22 West Washington Street
Chicago, Illinois	60602
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(312) 696-6000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YesxNoo

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YesxNoo

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer   x	Accelerated filer  o	Non-accelerated filer   o	Smaller reporting company  o
	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YesoNox

As of October 26, 2012, there were 47,131,295 shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value, outstanding.

MORNINGSTAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

PART 1		FINANCIAL INFORMATION		3
	Item 1.	Financial Statements		3
			Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	3
			Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	5
			Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011	6
			Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012	7
			Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	8
			Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	9
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		27
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk		50
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		50
PART 2		OTHER INFORMATION		51
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		51
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors		51
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		51
	Item 6.	Exhibits		51
SIGNATURE				52
EXHIBIT INDEX				52

2

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Morningstar, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

	Three months ended September 30					Nine months ended September 30
(in thousands except per share amounts)	2012		2011			2012			2011
Revenue	$	160,952	$	160,051		$	487,679		$	472,829
Operating expense (1):
Cost of goods sold	47,711		48,074			147,479			133,929
Development	12,857		13,482			38,664			39,151
Sales and marketing	25,732		27,253			81,431			80,502
General and administrative	23,966		26,431			77,090			83,255
Depreciation and amortization	10,822		10,947			31,616			31,712
Total operating expense	121,088		126,187			376,280			368,549
Operating income	39,864		33,864			111,399			104,280
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest income, net	1,719		797			3,848			1,142
Other income (expense), net	161		(1,376		)	(314		)	(938		)
Non-operating income (expense), net	1,880		(579		)	3,534			204
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	41,744		33,285			114,933			104,484
Income tax expense	15,186		12,343			41,441			35,585
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	478		428			1,541			1,397
Consolidated net income	27,036		21,370			75,033			70,296
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	34		10			62			106
Net income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	27,070	$	21,380		$	75,095		$	70,402
Net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Basic	$	0.56	$	0.42		$	1.53		$	1.40
Diluted	$	0.56	$	0.42		$	1.51		$	1.37
Dividends per common share:
Dividends declared per common share	$	0.10	$	0.05		$	0.30		$	0.15
Dividends paid per common share	$	0.10	$	0.05		$	0.30		$	0.15
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	47,975		50,278			49,028			50,082
Diluted	48,481		51,123			49,664			51,071

3

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
	2012		2011		2012		2011
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of:
Cost of goods sold	$	1,148	$	1,117	$	3,304	$	3,068
Development	471		545		1,435		1,588
Sales and marketing	493		489		1,433		1,392
General and administrative	1,882		1,800		5,422		5,395
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	3,994	$	3,951	$	11,594	$	11,443

 See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

Morningstar, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

	Three months ended September 30					Nine months ended September 30
(in thousands)	2012		2011			2012		2011
Consolidated net income	$	27,036	$	21,370		$	75,033	$	70,296
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7,375		(12,570		)	5,597		(6		)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period	1,026		(1,871		)	1,394		(1,472		)
Reclassification of (gains) losses included in net income	—		81			33		(171		)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	8,401		(14,360		)	7,024		(1,649		)
Comprehensive income	35,437		7,010			82,057		68,647
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	16		(47		)	77		52
Comprehensive income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	35,453	$	6,963		$	82,134	$	68,699

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

Morningstar, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

	As of September 30			As of December 31
(in thousands except share amounts)	2012			2011
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	152,181		$	200,437
Investments	190,899			269,755
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $723 and $835, respectively	119,877			113,312
Deferred tax asset, net	2,156			5,104
Income tax receivable, net	5,277			7,445
Other	22,546			15,980
Total current assets	492,936			612,033
Property, equipment, and capitalized software, net	77,873			68,196
Investments in unconsolidated entities	38,278			27,642
Goodwill	321,134			318,492
Intangible assets, net	122,832			139,809
Other assets	8,330			5,912
Total assets	$	1,061,383		$	1,172,084
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	40,356		$	41,403
Accrued compensation	55,131			73,124
Deferred revenue	164,360			155,494
Other	319			612
Total current liabilities	260,166			270,633
Accrued compensation	6,802			5,724
Deferred tax liability, net	14,262			15,940
Deferred rent	15,160			14,604
Other long-term liabilities	8,262			8,167
Total liabilities	304,652			315,068
Equity:
Morningstar, Inc. shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, of which 47,479,142 and 50,083,940 shares were outstanding as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	5			5
Treasury stock at cost, 4,125,568 shares as of September 30, 2012 and 980,177 shares as of December 31, 2011	(232,685		)	(46,701		)
Additional paid-in capital	509,896			491,432
Retained earnings	469,295			409,022
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation adjustment	7,548			1,936
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments	1,103			(324		)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	8,651			1,612
Total Morningstar, Inc. shareholders’ equity	755,162			855,370
Noncontrolling interest	1,569			1,646
Total equity	756,731			857,016
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,061,383		$	1,172,084

 See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

Morningstar, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012

	Morningstar, Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
													Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Common Stock							Additional Paid-in Capital							Non Controlling Interests
(in thousands, except share amounts)	Shares Outstanding		Par Value		Treasury Stock					Retained Earnings								Total Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2011	50,083,940		$	5	$	(46,701	)	$	491,432	$	409,022		$	1,612	$	1,646		$	857,016
Net income (loss)			—		—			—		75,095			—		(62		)	75,033
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments, net of income tax of $794			—		—			—		—			1,394		—			1,394
Reclassification of adjustments for losses included in net income, net of income tax of $19			—		—			—		—			33		—			33
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net			—		—			—		—			5,612		(15		)	5,597
Other comprehensive income (loss), net			—		—			—		—			7,039		(15		)	7,024
Issuance of common stock related to stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units, net	561,276		—		1,114			1,646		—			—		—			2,760
Stock-based compensation — restricted stock units			—		—			9,944		—			—		—			9,944
Stock-based compensation — restricted stock			—		—			1,332		—			—		—			1,332
Stock-based compensation — stock-options			—		—			318		—			—		—			318
Excess tax benefit derived from stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units			—		—			5,007		—			—		—			5,007
Common shares repurchased	(3,166,074	)	—		(187,098		)	—		—			—		—			(187,098		)
Dividends declared — common shares outstanding			—		—			—		(14,587		)	—		—			(14,587		)
Dividends declared — restricted stock units			—		—			217		(235		)	—		—			(18		)
Balance as of September 30, 2012	47,479,142		$	5	$	(232,685	)	$	509,896	$	469,295		$	8,651	$	1,569		$	756,731

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

7

Morningstar, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

	Nine months ended September 30
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Operating activities
Consolidated net income	$	75,033		$	70,296
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	31,616			31,712
Deferred income taxes	492			(1,559		)
Stock-based compensation expense	11,594			11,443
Provision for bad debt	990			1,076
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	(1,541		)	(1,397		)
Excess tax benefits from stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units	(5,007		)	(7,621		)
Other, net	342			1,607
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(6,569		)	(403		)
Other assets	(3,551		)	1,996
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,316		)	(5,275		)
Accrued compensation	(20,851		)	(3,242		)
Income taxes—current	7,220			9,442
Deferred revenue	7,684			618
Deferred rent	291			(984		)
Other liabilities	(1,111		)	(1,393		)
Cash provided by operating activities	92,316			106,316
Investing activities
Purchases of investments	(134,929		)	(298,876		)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments	216,350			222,599
Capital expenditures	(22,876		)	(14,689		)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			300
Purchases of equity and cost method investments	(10,304		)	—
Other, net	(4		)	875
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities	48,237			(89,791		)
Financing activities
Proceeds from stock-option exercises, net	2,760			6,630
Excess tax benefits from stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units	5,007			7,621
Common shares repurchased	(183,698		)	(28,526		)
Dividends paid	(14,867		)	(7,539		)
Other, net	(18		)	(363		)
Cash used for financing activities	(190,816		)	(22,177		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,007			(254		)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(48,256		)	(5,906		)
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period	200,437			180,176
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	$	152,181		$	174,270
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes	$	33,163		$	28,437
Supplemental information of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments	$	2,221		$	(2,598	)

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

8

MORNINGSTAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation of Interim Financial Information

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Morningstar, Inc. and subsidiaries (Morningstar, we, our, the Company) have been prepared to conform to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, the statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly our financial position, results of operations, equity, and cash flows. These financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012.

The acronyms that appear in the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements refer to the following:

ASC: Accounting Standards Codification

ASU: Accounting Standards Update

FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board

SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission

2. Correction

In 2012, we identified errors related to purchases of investments and proceeds from maturities and sales of investments included on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 that had not been previously detected. We did not properly disclose the correct amount for both categories by equal, but offsetting, amounts. The financial statements have been corrected to increase the purchases of investments and proceeds from maturities and sales of investments as shown in the table below. The error existed in the first quarter of 2012, but did not exist in the cumulative statement as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

The following tables shows our previously reported amounts, the correction, and our as corrected amounts:

	Nine months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Previously Reported			Correction			As Corrected
Investing Activities
Purchases of investments	$	(281,698	)	$	(17,178	)	$	(298,876	)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments	$	205,421		$	17,178		$	222,599
Cash used for investing activities	$	(89,791	)	$	—		$	(89,791	)

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

We discuss our significant accounting policies in Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012.

In addition, effective January 1, 2012, we adopted FASB ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. ASU No. 2011-04 clarifies existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, amends certain fair value measurement principles, and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of ASU No. 2011-04 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

9

4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The following table shows the changes in our goodwill balances from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012:

	($000)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	318,492
Net change, primarily currency translation	2,642
Balance as of September 30, 2012	$	321,134

We did not record any significant impairment losses in the first nine months of 2012 or 2011. We perform our annual impairment reviews in the fourth quarter.

Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes our intangible assets: 

	As of September 30, 2012								As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Useful  Life (years)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Useful  Life (years)
Intellectual property	$	32,343	$	(22,488	)	$	9,855	9	$	32,293	$	(20,455	)	$	11,838	9
Customer-related assets	135,772		(62,763		)	73,009		12	134,396		(52,611		)	81,785		12
Supplier relationships	240		(93		)	147		20	240		(84		)	156		20
Technology-based assets	81,308		(41,735		)	39,573		9	80,694		(35,130		)	45,564		9
Non-competition agreement	1,766		(1,518		)	248		4	1,751		(1,285		)	466		4
Total intangible assets	$	251,429	$	(128,597	)	$	122,832	10	$	249,374	$	(109,565	)	$	139,809	10

The following table summarizes our amortization expense related to intangible assets:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Amortization expense	$	5,941	$	6,894	$	17,972	$	20,039

We amortize intangible assets using the straight-line method over their expected economic useful lives.

We expect intangible amortization expense for 2012 and subsequent years as follows:

	($000)
2012	$	24,048
2013	21,317
2014	20,058
2015	19,186
2016	14,564
2017	9,954

Our estimates of future amortization expense for intangible assets may be affected by acquisitions, dispositions, changes in the estimated average useful life, and currency translations.

10

5. Income Per Share

The following table shows how we reconcile our net income and the number of shares used in computing basic and diluted income per share:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Basic net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Net income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:	$	27,070		$	21,380		$	75,095		$	70,402
Less: Distributed earnings available to participating securities	(12		)	(8		)	(39		)	(25		)
Less: Undistributed earnings available to participating securities	(53		)	(57		)	(144		)	(189		)
Numerator for basic net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,315		$	74,912		$	70,188
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975			50,278			49,028			50,082
Basic net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	0.56		$	0.42		$	1.53		$	1.40
Diluted net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Numerator for basic net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,315		$	74,912		$	70,188
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	53			57			144			189
Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities	(53		)	(56		)	(142		)	(186		)
Numerator for diluted net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,316		$	74,914		$	70,191
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975			50,278			49,028			50,082
Net effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units	506			845			636			989
Weighted average common shares outstanding for computing diluted income per share	48,481			51,123			49,664			51,071
Diluted net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	0.56		$	0.42		$	1.51		$	1.37

11

6. Segment and Geographical Area Information

Morningstar has two operating segments:

• Investment Information. The Investment Information segment includes all of our data, software, and research products and services. These products are typically sold through subscriptions or license agreements.

The largest products in this segment based on revenue are Morningstar Data (formerly Licensed Data), Morningstar Advisor Workstation (including Morningstar Office), Morningstar Direct, Morningstar.com, Morningstar Integrated Web Tools, and Morningstar Principia. Morningstar Data is a set of investment data spanning all of our investment databases, including real-time pricing and commodity data, and is available through electronic data feeds. Advisor Workstation is a web-based investment planning system for advisors. Advisor Workstation is available in two editions: Morningstar Office for independent financial advisors and an enterprise edition for financial advisors affiliated with larger firms. Morningstar Direct is a web-based institutional research platform. Morningstar.com includes both Premium Memberships and Internet advertising sales. Morningstar Integrated Web Tools is a set of services that helps institutional clients build customized websites or enhance their existing sites with Morningstar’s online tools and components. Principia is our CD-ROM-based investment research and planning software for advisors.

The Investment Information segment also includes Morningstar Equity Research, which we distribute through several channels. We sell Morningstar Equity Research to companies that purchase our research for their own use or provide our research to their affiliated advisors or individual investor clients.

The Investment Information segment also includes Morningstar Credit Research and Morningstar Structured Credit Ratings. The latter is provided by Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC, a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization specializing in structured finance. It offers securities ratings, research, surveillance services, and data to help institutional investors identify risk in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).

We also offer a variety of financial communications and newsletters, other institutional and advisor software, and investment indexes.

• Investment Management. The Investment Management segment includes all of our asset management operations, which earn the majority of their revenue from asset-based fees.

The key products and services in this segment based on revenue are Investment Advisory Services (formerly Investment Consulting), which focuses on investment monitoring and asset allocation for funds of funds, including mutual funds and variable annuities; Retirement Solutions, including the Morningstar Retirement Manager and Advice by Ibbotson platforms; and Morningstar Managed Portfolios, a fee-based discretionary asset management service that includes a series of mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, and stock portfolios tailored to meet a range of investment time horizons and risk levels that financial advisors can use for their clients' taxable and tax-deferred accounts. In addition, we offer Managed Portfolios through our subsidiary Ibbotson Australia which provides asset management services primarily to institutional clients and individual investors.

Our segment accounting policies are the same as those described in Note 3, except for the capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions. We exclude these items from our operating segment results to provide our chief operating decision maker with a better indication of each segment’s ability to generate cash flow. This information is one of the criteria used by our chief operating decision maker in determining how to allocate resources to each segment. We include capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions in the Corporate Items category. Our segment disclosures are consistent with the business segment information provided to our chief operating decision maker on a recurring basis; for that reason, we don’t present balance sheet information by segment. We disclose goodwill by segment in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC 350-20-50, Intangibles - Goodwill - Disclosure.

12

The following tables present information about our operating segments and by geographical area:

	Three months ended September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	129,357	$	31,595	$	—		$	160,952
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	85,366		16,145		4,761			106,272
Stock-based compensation expense	2,738		577		679			3,994
Depreciation and amortization	2,296		31		8,495			10,822
Operating income (loss)	$	38,957	$	14,842	$	(13,935	)	$	39,864
U.S. capital expenditures								$	3,066
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	1,888
	Three months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	125,804	$	34,247	$	—		$	160,051
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	89,652		15,587		6,050			111,289
Stock-based compensation expense	2,609		556		786			3,951
Depreciation and amortization	2,117		42		8,788			10,947
Operating income (loss)	$	31,426	$	18,062	$	(15,624	)	$	33,864
U.S. capital expenditures								$	4,560
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	1,711
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	391,031	$	96,648	$	—		$	487,679
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	265,719		49,277		18,074			333,070
Stock-based compensation expense	7,828		1,657		2,109			11,594
Depreciation and amortization	6,840		108		24,668			31,616
Operating income (loss)	$	110,644	$	45,606	$	(44,851	)	$	111,399
U.S. capital expenditures								$	17,280
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	5,596

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	Nine months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	374,319	$	98,510	$	—		$	472,829
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	259,899		43,258		22,237			325,394
Stock-based compensation expense	7,567		1,529		2,347			11,443
Depreciation and amortization	6,023		124		25,565			31,712
Operating income (loss)	$	100,830	$	53,599	$	(50,149	)	$	104,280
U.S. capital expenditures								$	8,084
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	6,605

	As of September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items		Total
Goodwill	$	279,451	$	41,683	$	—	$	321,134

	As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items		Total
Goodwill	$	277,059	$	41,433	$	—	$	318,492

External revenue by geographical area
	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
United States	$	114,021	$	112,790	$	346,442	$	334,395
United Kingdom	13,711		13,588		42,160		40,382
Europe, excluding the United Kingdom	11,643		12,609		35,980		36,750
Australia	10,090		10,614		29,230		30,600
Canada	7,605		6,723		22,351		20,124
Asia, excluding Japan	2,420		2,358		7,156		6,760
Japan	924		1,032		2,889		2,922
Other	538		337		1,471		896
Total Non-U.S.	46,931		47,261		141,237		138,434
Total	$	160,952	$	160,051	$	487,679	$	472,829

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Long-lived assets by geographical area
	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
United States	$	54,060	$	44,572
United Kingdom	7,611		7,512
Europe, excluding the United Kingdom	2,429		2,629
Australia	1,519		1,415
Canada	1,853		2,076
Asia, excluding Japan	10,033		9,656
Japan	207		282
Other	161		54
Total Non-U.S.	23,813		23,624
Total	$	77,873	$	68,196

7. Investments and Fair Value Measurements

We account for our investments in accordance with FASB ASC 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities. We classify our investments in three categories: available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, and trading. We monitor the concentration, diversification, maturity, and liquidity of our investment portfolio, which is primarily invested in fixed-income securities, and classify our investment portfolio as shown below:

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Available-for-sale	$	165,517	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity	19,948		16,347
Trading securities	5,434		5,491
Total	$	190,899	$	269,755

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The following table shows the cost, unrealized gains (losses), and fair values related to investments classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity:

	As of September 30, 2012									As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value		Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Government obligations	$	55,300	$	47	$	(622	)	$	54,725	$	139,099	$	72	$	(402	)	$	138,769
Corporate bonds	63,810		78		(431		)	63,457		61,589		14		(280		)	61,323
Commercial paper	4,995		2		—			4,997		29,964		2		(7		)	29,959
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	29,325		1,962		(346		)	30,941		8,461		368		(558		)	8,271
Mutual funds	10,360		1,076		(39		)	11,397		9,298		363		(66		)	9,595
Total	$	163,790	$	3,165	$	(1,438	)	$	165,517	$	248,411	$	819	$	(1,313	)	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity:
Certificates of deposit	$	19,948	$	—	$	—		$	19,948	$	16,347	$	—	$	—		$	16,347

As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, investments with unrealized losses for greater than a 12-month period were not material to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and were not deemed to have other than temporary declines in value.

The table below shows the cost and fair value of investments classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity based on their contractual maturities as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The expected maturities of certain fixed-income securities may differ from their contractual maturities because some of these holdings have call features that allow the issuers the right to prepay obligations without penalties.

	As of September 30, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Due in one year or less	$	107,770	$	106,979	$	155,651	$	155,247
Due in one to two years	16,061		15,938		75,001		74,804
Due in more than two years	274		262		—		—
Equity securities, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds	39,685		42,338		17,759		17,866
Total	$	163,790	$	165,517	$	248,411	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity:
Due in one year or less	$	19,942	$	19,942	$	16,342	$	16,342
Due in one to three years	6		6		5		5
Total	$	19,948	$	19,948	$	16,347	$	16,347

As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, held-to-maturity investments included a $1,500,000 and a $1,600,000 certificate of deposit, respectively, held primarily as collateral against bank guarantees for our office leases, primarily in Australia.

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The following table shows the realized gains and losses arising from sales of our investments classified as available-for-sale recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income: 

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011
Realized gains	$	689		$	270
Realized losses	(741		)	—
Realized gains (losses), net	$	(52	)	$	270

We determine realized gains and losses using the specific identification method.

The following table shows the net unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities as recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011
Unrealized gains (losses), net	$	337	$	(810	)

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The fair value of our assets subject to fair value measurements and that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using the fair value hierarchy and the necessary disclosures under FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, are as follows:

	Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2012
	as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
($000)	September 30, 2012		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale investments:
Government obligations	$	54,725	$	—	$	54,725	$	—
Corporate bonds	63,457		—		63,457		—
Commercial paper	4,997		—		4,997		—
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	30,941		30,941		—		—
Mutual funds	11,397		11,397		—		—
Trading securities	5,434		5,434		—		—
Cash equivalents	20,468		20,468		—		—
Total	$	191,419	$	68,240	$	123,179	$	—

	Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2011
	as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
($000)	December 31, 2011		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale investments:
Government obligations	$	138,769	$	—	$	138,769	$	—
Corporate bonds	61,323		—		61,323		—
Commercial paper	29,959		—		29,959		—
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	8,271		8,271		—		—
Mutual funds	9,595		9,595		—		—
Trading securities	5,491		5,491		—		—
Cash equivalents	30,818		30,818		—		—
Total	$	284,226	$	54,175	$	230,051	$	—

Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access.

Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

Based on our analysis of the nature and risks of our investments in equity securities and mutual funds, we have determined that presenting each of these investment categories in the aggregate is appropriate.

We measure the fair value of money market funds, mutual funds, equity securities, and exchange-traded funds based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. All other financial instruments were valued either based on recent trades of securities in inactive markets or based on quoted market prices of similar instruments and other significant inputs derived from observable market data. We did not hold any securities categorized as Level 3 as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

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8. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

Our investments in unconsolidated entities consist primarily of the following:

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Investment in MJKK	$	20,085	$	19,662
Other equity method investments	6,185		2,807
Investments accounted for using the cost method	12,008		5,173
Total investments in unconsolidated entities	$	38,278	$	27,642

Morningstar Japan K.K.Morningstar Japan K.K. (MJKK) develops and markets products and services customized for the Japanese market. MJKK’s shares are traded on the Osaka Stock Exchange, “Hercules Market,” using the ticker 4765. We account for our investment in MJKK using the equity method. The following table summarizes our ownership percentage in MJKK and the market value of this investment based on MJKK’s publicly quoted share price: 

	As of September 30			As of December 31
	2012			2011
Morningstar’s approximate ownership of MJKK	34		%	33		%
Approximate market value of Morningstar’s ownership in MJKK:
Japanese yen (¥000)	¥	2,843,568		¥	2,797,704
Equivalent U.S. dollars ($000)	$	36,369		$	36,146

OtherEquity Method Investments. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, other equity method investments consist of our investment in Morningstar Sweden AB (Morningstar Sweden) and YCharts, Inc. (YCharts). Morningstar Sweden develops and markets products and services customized for investors in Sweden. Our ownership interest in Morningstar Sweden was approximately 24% as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. YCharts is a technology company that provides stock research and analysis. Our ownership interest in YCharts was approximately 20% as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. As of September 30, 2012, other equity method investments also includes our investment in Inquiry Financial Europe AB (Inquiry Financial). In September 2012, we acquired a minority equity stake in Inquiry Financial for $3,554,000. Inquiry Financial is a provider of sell-side consensus estimate data. Our ownership interest in Inquiry Financial was approximately 34% as of September 30, 2012.

We did not record any impairment losses on our equity method investments in the first nine months of 2012 or 2011.

Cost Method Investments.As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our cost method investments consist of minority investments in Pitchbook Data, Inc. (Pitchbook) and Bundle Corporation (Bundle). As of September 30, 2012, our cost method investments also include HelloWallet LLC (HelloWallet). Pitchbook offers detailed data and information about private equity transactions, investors, companies, limited partners, and service providers. Bundle is a social media company dedicated to helping people make smarter spending and saving choices. HelloWallet is a provider of personalized financial guidance to employees of Fortune 1000 companies. We paid approximately $6,750,000 for the minority equity stake in HelloWallet in the first quarter of 2012. We did not record any impairment losses on our cost method investments in the first nine months of 2012 or 2011.

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9. Liability for Vacant Office Space

We include our liability for vacant office space in "Accounts payable and accrued liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities," as appropriate, on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table shows the change in our liability for vacant office space from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012:

Liability for vacant office space	($000)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	919
Reduction of liability for lease and other related payments	(768		)
Balance as of September 30, 2012	$	151

10. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Our shareholders approved the Morningstar 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2011 Plan) on May 17, 2011. As of that date, we stopped granting awards under the Morningstar 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2004 Plan). The 2004 Plan amended and restated the Morningstar 1993 Stock Option Plan, the Morningstar 2000 Stock Option Plan, and the Morningstar 2001 Stock Option Plan.

The 2011 Plan provides for a variety of stock-based awards, including, among other things, stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock. We granted stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock under the 2004 Plan.

All of our employees and our non-employee directors are eligible for awards under the 2011 Plan.

Grants awarded under the 2011 Plan or the 2004 Plan that are forfeited, canceled, settled, or otherwise terminated without a distribution of shares, or shares withheld by us in connection with the exercise of options, will be available for awards under the 2011 Plan. Any shares subject to awards under the 2011 Plan, but not under the 2004 Plan, that are withheld by us in connection with the payment of any required income tax withholding will be available for awards under the 2011 Plan.

The following table summarizes the number of shares available for future grants under our 2011 Plan:

	As of September 30
(000)	2012
Shares available for future grants	4,760

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Awards

The following table summarizes our stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit we recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Restricted stock units	$	3,396	$	3,372	$	9,944	$	9,489
Restricted stock	444		444		1,332		1,752
Stock options	154		135		318		202
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	3,994	$	3,951	$	11,594	$	11,443
Income tax benefit related to the stock-based compensation expense	$	931	$	967	$	2,735	$	2,636

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The following table summarizes the amount of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense as of September 30, 2012 and the expected number of months over which the expense will be recognized:

	Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense ($000)		Expected amortization period (months)
Restricted stock units	$	30,356	33
Restricted stock	4,587		31
Stock options	1,201		30
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	$	36,144	33

In accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, we estimate forfeitures of employee stock-based awards and recognize compensation cost only for those awards expected to vest. Our largest annual equity grants typically have vesting dates in the second quarter. We adjust the stock-based compensation expense during the third quarter to reflect those awards that ultimately vested and update our estimate of the forfeiture rate that will be applied to awards not yet vested.

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units represent the right to receive a share of Morningstar common stock when that unit vests. Restricted stock units to employees vest ratably over a four-year period. Restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors vest ratably over a three-year period. For restricted stock units granted through December 31, 2008, employees could elect to defer receipt of the Morningstar common stock issued upon vesting of the restricted stock unit.

We measure the fair value of our restricted stock units on the date of grant based on the closing market price of the underlying common stock on the day prior to grant. We amortize that value to stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period.

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity during the first nine months of 2012:

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Unvested		Vested but Deferred		Total		Weighted Average Grant Date Value per RSU
RSUs outstanding—December 31, 2011	741,043		20,076		761,119		$	50.66
Granted	293,609		—		293,609		55.39
Dividend equivalents	3,720		130		3,850		51.32
Vested	(253,338	)	—		(253,338	)	50.70
Vested but deferred	1,424		(1,424	)	—		—
Issued	—		—		—		—
Forfeited	(66,395	)	—		(66,395	)	50.17
RSUs outstanding—September 30, 2012	720,063		18,782		738,845		52.59

Restricted Stock

In conjunction with the Realpoint acquisition in May 2010, we issued 199,174 shares of restricted stock to the selling employee-shareholders under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The restricted stock vests ratably over a five-year period from the acquisition date and may be subject to forfeiture if the holder terminates his or her employment during the vesting period.

Because of the terms of the restricted stock agreements prepared in conjunction with the Realpoint acquisition, we account for the grant of restricted stock as stock-based compensation expense and not as part of the acquisition consideration.

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We measured the fair value of the restricted stock on the date of grant based on the closing market price of our common stock on the day prior to the grant. We amortize the fair value of $9,363,000 to stock-based compensation expense over the vesting period. The stock-based compensation expense recorded in the first nine months of 2011 included approximately $396,000 of expense recognized upon the accelerated vesting of a restricted stock grant. We have assumed that all of the remaining restricted stock will ultimately vest, and therefore have not incorporated a forfeiture rate for purposes of determining the stock-based compensation expense.

Stock Options

Stock options granted to employees vest ratably over a four-year period. Grants to our non-employee directors vest ratably over a three-year period. All grants expire 10 years after the date of grant. Almost all of the options granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan have a premium feature in which the exercise price increases over the term of the option at a rate equal to the 10-year Treasury bond yield as of the date of grant. Options granted under the 2011 Plan have an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the grant date.

In May 2011, we granted 86,106 stock options under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. In November 2011, we granted 6,095 stock options under the 2011 Plan. We estimated the fair value of the options on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2011 was $23.81 per share, based on the following assumptions:

Assumptions for Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model
Expected life (years):	7.4
Volatility factor:	35.1	%
Dividend yield:	0.35	%
Interest rate:	2.87	%

The following tables summarize stock option activity in the first nine months of 2012 for our various stock option grants. The first table includes activity for options granted at an exercise price below the fair value per share of our common stock on the grant date; the second table includes activity for all other option grants. 

Options Granted At an Exercise Price Below the Fair Value Per Share on the Grant Date	Underlying Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding—December 31, 2011	398,859		$	19.72
Granted	—		—
Canceled	(600	)	14.70
Exercised	(78,147	)	20.06
Options outstanding—September 30, 2012	320,112		20.34
Options exercisable—September 30, 2012	320,112		$	20.34

All Other Option Grants, Excluding Activity Shown Above	Underlying Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding—December 31, 2011	818,552		$	22.76
Granted	—		—
Canceled	(22,304	)	39.77
Exercised	(301,761	)	16.71
Options outstanding—September 30, 2012	494,487		26.19
Options exercisable—September 30, 2012	438,864		$	22.22

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The following table summarizes the total intrinsic value (difference between the market value of our stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option) of options exercised:

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$	17,161	$	25,061

The table below shows additional information for options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2012:

	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number of  Options	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)		Exercisable Shares	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)
$8.57 - $14.70	140,153	0.57	$	8.58	$	7,576	140,153	0.57	$	8.58	$	7,576
$20.30 - $46.29	600,771	2.42	23.35		23,604		600,771	2.42	23.35		23,604
$57.28 - $59.35	73,675	8.79	57.45		383		18,052	8.75	57.28		97
$8.57 - $59.35	814,599	2.68	23.89		$	31,563	758,976	2.23	21.43		$	31,277
Vested or Expected to Vest
$8.57 - $59.35	814,599	2.68	$	23.89	$	31,563

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value all option holders would have received if they had exercised all outstanding options on September 30, 2012. The intrinsic value is based on our closing stock price of $62.64 on that date.

Excess Tax Benefits Related to Stock-Based Compensation

FASB ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, requires that we classify the cash flows that result from excess tax benefits as financing cash flows. Excess tax benefits correspond to the portion of the tax deduction taken on our income tax return that exceeds the amount of tax benefit related to the compensation cost recognized in our Statement of Income. The following table summarizes our excess tax benefits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation	$	459	$	1,450	$	5,007	$	7,621

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11. Income Taxes

Effective Tax Rate

The following table shows our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	$	41,744		$	33,285		$	114,933		$	104,484
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	478			428			1,541			1,397
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	34			10			62			106
Total	$	42,256		$	33,723		$	116,536		$	105,987
Income tax expense	$	15,186		$	12,343		$	41,441		$	35,585
Effective tax rate	35.9		%	36.6		%	35.6		%	33.6		%

Our effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2012 was 35.9%, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points compared with the prior-year period. Our effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2012 was 35.6%, an increase of 2.0 percentage points compared with the first nine months of 2011. The effective tax rate increase in the year-to-date period is due primarily to lower credit incentives in the current year.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The table below provides information concerning our gross unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The table also provides the effect these gross unrecognized tax benefits would have on our income tax expense, if they were recognized.

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	$	11,732	$	12,189
Gross unrecognized tax benefits that would affect income tax expense	$	11,674	$	11,907
Decrease in income tax expense upon recognition of gross unrecognized tax benefits	$	9,543	$	9,827

There were no significant changes to unrecognized tax benefits in the first nine months of 2012.

Our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits. These amounts include interest and penalties, less any associated tax benefits.

	As of September 30		As of December 31
Liabilities for Unrecognized Tax Benefits ($000)	2012		2011
Current liability	$	4,971	$	5,329
Non-current liability	6,278		6,200
Total liability for unrecognized tax benefits	$	11,249	$	11,529

We conduct business globally and as a result, we file income tax returns in U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business we are subject to examination by tax authorities throughout the world. The open tax years for our U.S. federal tax returns and most state tax returns include the years 2007 to the present. In non-U.S. jurisdictions, the statute of limitations generally extends to years prior to 2005.

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We are currently under audit by the U.S. federal and various state and local tax authorities in the United States, as well as tax authorities in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. It is possible, though not likely, that the examination phase of some of these audits will conclude in 2012. It is not possible to estimate the effect of current audits on previously recorded unrecognized tax benefits.

Our effective tax rate reflects the fact that we are not recording an income tax benefit related to losses recorded by certain of our non-U.S. operations. The net operating losses (NOLs) may become deductible in certain non-U.S. tax jurisdictions to the extent these non-U.S. operations become profitable. In the year certain non-U.S. entities record a loss, we do not record a corresponding tax benefit, thus increasing our effective tax rate. For each of our operations, we evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the tax benefits related to NOLs will be realized. As part of this evaluation, we consider evidence such as tax planning strategies, historical operating results, forecasted taxable income, and recent financial performance. Upon determining that it is more likely than not that the NOLs will be realized, we reduce the tax valuation allowances related to these NOLs, which results in a reduction to our income tax expense and our effective tax rate in the period.

12. Contingencies

Life's Good S.T.A.B.L. Hedge Fund

In September 2011, three individual investors in Life's Good S.T.A.B.L. Mortgage hedge fund (LG), Marta Klass, Gregory Martin, and Richard Roellig, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against LG, its principal Robert Stinson, and several other parties, including Morningstar, Inc. (the Klass Matter). The plaintiffs claim that Morningstar committed fraud and aided and abetted the other defendants' breach of fiduciary duty through the 5-star rating LG obtained from Morningstar. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages. Hedge fund managers self-report their performance data to Morningstar.

More than a year before the Klass Matter, in June 2010, the SEC filed suit against LG and other entities claiming they were part of a Ponzi scheme operated by Stinson. As a result, LG and the other entities were placed in court-appointed receivership. Morningstar was not part of the SEC suit or receivership. Since that time, the Receiver, as part of his duties, has been investigating whether to assert claims against third parties. Morningstar is aware of 14 lawsuits filed by the Receiver seeking to recover money for the fund.

In November 2011, Morningstar filed a motion to dismiss the Klass Matter. On behalf of the entities in receivership, the Receiver filed a motion to stay the proceedings because the Receivership Order does not permit suits against the entities in receivership without court permission. The court granted the Receiver's motion and stayed the Klass Matter. In April 2012, the Receiver filed a complaint against Morningstar, in which the Receiver claims that Morningstar is liable for contribution and aiding and abetting Stinson's breach of fiduciary duty and fraud through the 5-star rating LG obtained from Morningstar. The Receiver seeks unspecified damages. The same day the Receiver filed his complaint, Morningstar sought leave from the court to file a counter suit against Stinson and two of his entities-Keystone State Capital Corporation and LG-for, among other things, fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of user agreements. In June 2012, the court denied Morningstar's motion for leave to file suit. The court took no position on the merits of Morningstar's claims, and did not preclude Morningstar from renewing its motion to file a complaint at a later time, but deferred to the Receiver's request not to subject the receivership estate to additional litigation at this early point in the receivership. In August 2012, the court denied Morningstar's motion to dismiss the Receiver's complaint.

Morningstar believes the allegations against it by the Klass plaintiffs and the Receiver have no legal or factual basis and plans to vigorously contest the claims. Morningstar also intends to refile its affirmative claims against Stinson, Keystone, and LG at a later time consistent with the court's order. We cannot predict the outcome of the proceedings.

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Egan-Jones Rating Co.

In June 2010, Egan-Jones Rating Co. filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania against Realpoint, LLC (now known as Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC) and Morningstar, Inc. in connection with a December 2007 agreement between Egan-Jones and Morningstar Credit Ratings for certain data-sharing and other services. In addition to damages, Egan-Jones filed a petition seeking an injunction to temporarily prevent Morningstar from offering corporate credit ratings through December 31, 2010. In September 2010, the court denied Egan-Jones's request for a preliminary injunction against Morningstar's corporate credit ratings business. Morningstar Credit Ratings and Morningstar continue to vigorously contest liability on all of Egan-Jones' claims for damages. We cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.

Business Logic Holding Corporation

In November 2009, Business Logic Holding Corporation filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois against Ibbotson Associates, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc. relating to Ibbotson's prior commercial relationship with Business Logic. Business Logic is alleging breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation in connection with Ibbotson's development of a proprietary web-service software and user interface that connects plan participant data with the Ibbotson Wealth Forecasting Engine. Business Logic seeks, among other things, injunctive relief and unspecified damages. Ibbotson and Morningstar answered the complaint, and Ibbotson asserted a counterclaim against Business Logic alleging trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract, seeking damages and injunctive relief. While Morningstar and Ibbotson are vigorously contesting the claims against them, we cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.

Morningstar Associates, LLC Subpoena from the New York Attorney General's Office

In December 2004, Morningstar Associates, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc., received a subpoena from the New York Attorney General's office seeking information and documents related to an investigation the New York Attorney General's office is conducting. The subpoena asked for documents relating to the investment consulting services the company offers to retirement plan providers, including fund lineup recommendations for retirement plan sponsors. Morningstar Associates has provided the requested information and documents.

In 2005, Morningstar Associates received subpoenas seeking information and documents related to investigations being conducted by the SEC and United States Department of Labor. The subpoenas were similar in scope to the New York Attorney General subpoena. In January 2007 and September 2009, respectively, the SEC and Department of Labor each notified Morningstar Associates that it had ended its investigation, with no enforcement action, fines, or penalties.

In January 2007, Morningstar Associates received a Notice of Proposed Litigation from the New York Attorney General's office. The Notice centers on disclosure relating to an optional service offered to retirement plan sponsors (employers) that select 401(k) plan services from ING, one of Morningstar Associates' clients. The Notice gave Morningstar Associates the opportunity to explain why the New York Attorney General's office should not institute proceedings. Morningstar Associates promptly submitted its explanation and has cooperated fully with the New York Attorney General's office.

We cannot predict the scope, timing, or outcome of this matter, which may include the institution of administrative, civil, injunctive, or criminal proceedings, the imposition of fines and penalties, and other remedies and sanctions, any of which could lead to an adverse impact on our stock price, the inability to attract or retain key employees, and the loss of customers. We also cannot predict what impact, if any, this matter may have on our business, operating results, or financial condition.

We have not provided an estimate of loss or range of loss in connection with the matters described above because no such estimate can reasonably be made.

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Other Matters

In addition to these proceedings, we are involved in legal proceedings and litigation that have arisen in the normal course of our business. Although the outcome of a particular proceeding can never be predicted, we do not believe that the result of any of these other matters will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial position.

13. Share Repurchase Program

In September 2010, the board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $100 million in shares of our outstanding common stock. In December 2011, the board approved an increase to the 2010 share repurchase program. The board approval authorized the company to repurchase up to an additional $200 million in shares of our outstanding common stock with a revised expiration date of December 31, 2013. We may repurchase shares from time to time at prevailing market prices on the open market or in private transactions at our discretion. As of September 30, 2012, we had repurchased a total of 3,964,411 shares for $231,553,933 under this authorization.

14. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The objective of ASU No. 2011-08 is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. ASU No. 2011-08 provides an option for companies to use a qualitative approach to test goodwill for impairment if certain conditions are met. For Morningstar, the amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed in 2012. Early adoption will be permitted. We perform our annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter and do not expect the provisions of ASU No. 2011-08 to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

15. Subsequent Events

In October 2012, we sold Morningstar Investor Relations Services to UK-based Investis, a leading specialist in digital corporate communications for public companies. In October 2012, we also sold the Morningstar Australasia trade publishing assets to Sterling Publishing Pty Ltd. We have not reclassified the operating results of these businesses, included as part of our Investment Information segment, to discontinued operations, nor have we reclassified the related assets and liabilities to held for disposition, because these amounts are not significant to our consolidated statements or segment disclosures. We expect to include a gain of approximately $6 million to $7 million on the disposal of these businesses in our fourth quarter and full-year 2012 results.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The discussion included in this section, as well as other sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, contains forward-looking statements as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our current expectations about future events or future financial performance. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and often contain words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue.” These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the events we discuss not to occur or to differ significantly from what we expect. For us, these risks and uncertainties include, among others:

•general industry conditions and competition, including current global financial uncertainty;

•the impact of market volatility on revenue from asset-based fees;

•damage to our reputation resulting from claims made about possible conflicts of interest;

•liability for any losses that result from an actual or claimed breach of our fiduciary duties;

•financial services industry consolidation;

•liability related to the storage of personal information about our users;

•a prolonged outage of our database and network facilities;

•challenges faced by our non-U.S. operations; and

•the availability of free or low-cost investment information.

A more complete description of these risks and uncertainties can be found in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. If any of these risks and uncertainties materialize, our actual future results may vary significantly from what we expect. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

All dollar and percentage comparisons, which are often accompanied by words such as “increase,” “decrease,” “grew,” “declined,” “was up,” “was down,” “was flat,” or “was similar” refer to a comparison with the same period in the prior year unless otherwise stated.

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Understanding our Company

Our Business

Our mission is to create great products that help investors reach their financial goals. We offer an extensive line of data, software, and research products for individual investors, financial advisors, and institutional clients. We also offer investment management services for advisors, institutions, and retirement plan participants. Many of our products are sold through subscriptions or license agreements. As a result, we typically generate recurring revenue.

Our company has two operating segments: The Investment Information segment includes all of our data, software, and research products and services. These products and services are typically sold through subscriptions or license agreements. The Investment Management segment includes all of our asset management operations, which are registered investment advisors and earn more than half of their revenue from asset-based fees.

Over our 28-year history, we have focused primarily on organic growth by introducing new products and services and expanding our existing products. From 2006 through 2010, we also completed 24 acquisitions to support our five key growth strategies, which are:

• Enhance our position in each of our key market segments by focusing on our three major Internet-based platforms;

• Create a premier global investment database;

• Continue building thought leadership in independent investment research;

• Become a global leader in fund-of-funds investment management; and

• Expand our international brand presence, products, and services.

While we may make additional acquisitions to support these growth strategies, our primary focus is on integrating previous acquisitions and driving excellence throughout our organization.

Industry Overview

We monitor developments in the economic and financial information industry to help inform our company strategy, product development plans, and marketing initiatives.

Global markets rallied in the third quarter as investors responded favorably to both the actions of the world's central banks and the release of several positive economic indicators, including data suggesting signs of revival in the long-suffering U.S. housing market. The Federal Reserve began another round of monetary easing and extended its commitment to keep short-term interest rates near zero through mid-2015; and the European Central Bank moved more aggressively to address the continent's debt crisis. The Morningstar U.S. Market Index, a broad market benchmark, gained 6.2% in the quarter amid growing confidence in a sustainable—if somewhat muted—economic recovery, and the Global Ex-U.S. Index advanced to an even greater extent, posting a 7.6% gain over the same period.

U.S. mutual fund assets stood at $12.6 trillion as of August 31, 2012, based on data from the Investment Company Institute (ICI), up almost $1 trillion from December 31, 2011. Based on Morningstar's estimated asset flow data, investors added $16.5 billion to long-term open-end funds in September as inflows of $29.9 billion into taxable-bond funds outpaced redemptions of $16.8 billion from U.S.-stock funds at a rate of nearly 2 to 1. September was the 17^thconsecutive month of outflows for U.S.-stock funds and further evidence of investors' preference for the perceived safety of fixed income over equities.

Assets in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rose to $1.2 trillion as of August 31, 2012, compared with $1.0 trillion as of August 31, 2011, based on data from the ICI. In September, $18 billion flowed into U.S.-equity ETFs, an amount, as noted above, nearly equal to that lost by open-end U.S.-equity funds during the month.

While we've seen positive momentum in the markets and some signs of economic growth in the third quarter, overall we believe business conditions in the financial services industry remain challenging. Firms continue to be cautious about spending against a backdrop of worldwide economic and political uncertainty. Further, the historically low interest-rate environment has put significant pressure on the margins of many firms, most notably those in the variable annuity space. These difficult business conditions created headwinds for our results this quarter, and will continue to influence our operations going forward.

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Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 vs. Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

Consolidated Results

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
Key Metrics ($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Revenue	$	160,952		$	160,051		0.6	%		$	487,679		$	472,829		3.1	%
Operating income	$	39,864		$	33,864		17.7	%		$	111,399		$	104,280		6.8	%
Operating margin	24.8		%	21.2		%	3.6		pp	22.8		%	22.1		%	0.7		pp
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities	$	45,274		$	(34,440	)	NMF			$	48,237		$	(89,791	)	NMF
Cash used for financing activities	$	(80,682	)	$	(27,666	)	191.6	%		$	(190,816	)	$	(22,177	)	760.4	%
Cash provided by operating activities	$	37,527		$	45,160		(16.9	)%		$	92,316		$	106,316		(13.2	)%
Capital expenditures	(4,954		)	(6,271		)	(21.0	)%		(22,876		)	(14,689		)	55.7	%
Free cash flow	$	32,573		$	38,889		(16.2	)%		$	69,440		$	91,627		(24.2	)%

____________________________________________________________________________________________

pp — percentage points

NMF — Not meaningful

We define free cash flow as cash provided by or used for operating activities less capital expenditures. We present free cash flow solely as supplemental disclosure to help investors better understand how much cash is available after we spend money to operate our business. Our management team uses free cash flow to evaluate our business. Free cash flow is not equivalent to any measure required to be reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Also, the free cash flow definition we use may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Consolidated Revenue

In the third quarter of 2012, our consolidated revenue increased 0.6% to $161.0 million, compared with $160.1 million in the third quarter of 2011. Currency movements had a negative effect in the quarter, lowering revenue by approximately $2.1 million.

Excluding the effect of foreign currency translations, our consolidated revenue rose by about $3.0 million, or 1.9%, in the third quarter of 2012. Leading the growth was Morningstar Direct, followed by Morningstar Data (formerly Licensed Data) and Morningstar Advisor Workstation. Integrated Web Tools also contributed to the organic revenue increase, although to a lesser extent. These positive factors helped offset the loss of business from a large client in our Investment Management division. As previously announced, a large Investment Advisory Services client moved to in-house management of several fund-of-funds portfolios in April 2012. We recognized about $3.1 million in associated revenue in the third quarter of 2011.

Lower revenue for Morningstar.com and Morningstar Structured Credit Ratings also partially offset our organic revenue growth. Revenue for Morningstar.com was down because of a difficult advertising sales market and declining paid Premium subscriptions, primarily in the United States. Revenue for Morningstar Structured Credit Ratings was down primarily because ofcompetitive pricing pressure and fewer new issue ratings compared with the prior-year period.

Revenue for the first nine months of the year increased 3.1% to $487.7 million. Currency movements had a negative effect, lowering revenue by approximately $4.9 million. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translations, our consolidated revenue rose about $19.8 million, or 4.2%, in the first nine months of 2012.

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To make it easier for investors to compare our results in different periods, we provide information on both organic revenue, which reflects our underlying business excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency translations, and revenue from acquisitions. We did not complete any acquisitions during the 12 months ended September 30, 2012.

The table below reconciles consolidated revenue with organic revenue (revenue excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency translations):

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		Change		2012		2011		Change
Consolidated revenue	$	160,952	$	160,051	0.6	%	$	487,679	$	472,829	3.1	%
Less: acquisitions	—		—		n/a		—		—		n/a
Unfavorable impact of foreign currency translations	2,085		—		NMF		4,912		—		NMF
Organic revenue	$	163,037	$	160,051	1.9	%	$	492,591	$	472,829	4.2	%

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________

n/a — not applicable

Organic revenue (revenue excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency translations) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The definition of organic revenue we use may not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies. Organic revenue should not be considered an alternative to any measure of performance as promulgated under GAAP.

International revenue made up 29.2% of our consolidated revenue in both the third quarter and first nine months of 2012. More than half of our international revenue is from Europe, with most of the remainder from Australia and Canada. Revenue from international operations was down $0.3 million, or 0.7%, to $46.9 million for the third quarter, but rose 2.0%, or $2.8 million, to $141.2 million in the first nine months of 2012.

Foreign currency translations had a negative effect in both periods, primarily from the euro. Excluding acquisitions and the effect of foreign currency translations, non-U.S. revenue rose 3.7% in the third quarter and 5.6% in the first nine months of 2012, reflecting stronger product sales in Europe and in Canada, partially offset by weaker results in Australia.

International organic revenue (international revenue excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency translations) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The definition of international organic revenue we use may not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies. International organic revenue should not be considered an alternative to any measure of performance as promulgated under GAAP.

The tables below present a reconciliation from international revenue to international organic revenue (international revenue excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency translations):

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		Change		2012		2011		Change
International revenue	$	46,931	$	47,261	(0.7	)%	$	141,237	$	138,434	2.0	%
Less: acquisitions	—		—		n/a		—		—		n/a
Unfavorable impact of foreign currency translations	2,085		—		NMF		4,912		—		NMF
International organic revenue	$	49,016	$	47,261	3.7	%	$	146,149	$	138,434	5.6	%

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Consolidated Operating Expense

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Operating expense	$	121,088		$	126,187		(4.0	)%		$	376,280		$	368,549		2.1	%
% of revenue	75.2		%	78.8		%	(3.6	)	pp	77.2		%	77.9		%	(0.7	)	pp

In the third quarter of 2012, our consolidated operating expense decreased $5.1 million, or 4.0%.

Lower bonus expense of $2.6 million in the third quarter contributed to the decline in operating expense. We review and update our estimates and the bonus pool size quarterly, primarily based on our expectations for full-year operating income relative to budget. A decrease in discretionary spending, including travel expense and advertising and marketing expense, also contributed to the lower operating expense. In addition, our results in the third quarter of 2012 included a benefit of approximately $1.0 million for the resolution of a prior-year business tax expense matter. Higher salary expense and professional fees partially offset the decrease.

For the first nine months of 2012, operating expense increased $7.7 million, or 2.1%. Higher salary expense of $12.1 million was the primary driver of this increase. The majority of the increase in salary expense reflects regular pay raises and market adjustments made for some positions in July 2011. The rest of the increase represents additional headcount as well as regular pay raises made in July 2012.

We had approximately 3,525 employees worldwide as of September 30, 2012, compared with 3,465 as of December 31, 2011 and 3,395 as of September 30, 2011. The year-over-year increase in headcount reflects hiring for our development center in India and in the United States. The headcount growth during the third quarter of 2012 includes about 35 employees hired in July as part of the Morningstar Development Program, our career development program for entry-level positions.

Higher employee benefit costs, production expense, and professional fees also contributed to the increase in operating expense in the first nine months of the year, although to a lesser extent. Partially offsetting these increases was a reduction of bonus expense of approximately $5.0 million in the first nine months of 2012. In addition, we capitalized $6.0 million of operating expense in the first nine months of 2012, primarily for software development for Morningstar Direct, Morningstar Commodity Data, and Structured Credit Ratings. In comparison, we capitalized $2.6 million of operating expense in the first nine months of 2011.

General and administrative expense (G&A) in the first nine months of 2012 included about $1.6 million for a litigation settlement and an impairment charge for one of our smaller products. However, as mentioned above, our results for the first nine months of the year included a benefit of approximately $1.0 million from the resolution of a prior-year business tax expense matter. Conversely, our results for the first nine months of 2011 included $1.4 million of expense related to this business tax. G&A for the first nine months of 2011 included $3.2 million of expense for a previously announced separation agreement with our former chief operating officer. This expense did not recur in the first nine months of 2012.

Intangible amortization expense decreased $1.0 million in the quarter and $2.1 million in the first nine months of the year, primarily because certain intangible assets from some of our earlier acquisitions are now fully amortized. However, depreciation expense rose $0.8 million in the quarter and $2.0 million in the first nine months of the year.

Cost of Goods Sold

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Cost of goods sold	$	47,711		$	48,074		(0.8	)%		$	147,479		$	133,929		10.1	%
% of revenue	29.6		%	30.0		%	(0.4	)	pp	30.2		%	28.3		%	1.9		pp
Gross profit	$	113,241		$	111,977		1.1	%		$	340,200		$	338,900		0.4	%
Gross margin	70.4		%	70.0		%	0.4		pp	69.8		%	71.7		%	(1.9	)	pp

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Cost of goods sold is our largest category of operating expense, representing more than one-third of our total operating expense. Our business relies heavily on human capital, and cost of goods sold includes the compensation expense for employees who produce our products and services. Compensation expense for approximately half of our employees is included in this category.

Cost of goods sold declined $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2012. Slightly lower travel expense, bonus expense, and bad debt expense were partially offset by higher salary expense.

Cost of goods sold rose $13.6 million in the first nine months of 2012. Higher salaries and other compensation-related expense contributed approximately $8.7 million of the increase in the first nine months of the year. Higher production expense of $2.1 million and higher bonus expense of $1.7 million also contributed to the increase in the first nine months of the year. Please refer to the section, Bonus Expense, for additional information on the increase in the first nine months of the year.

Our gross margin improved slightly in the third quarter but declined 1.9 percentage points in the first nine months of the year as costs in this category, primarily salary expense, increased at a faster rate compared with revenue growth.

Development Expense

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Development expense	$	12,857		$	13,482		(4.6	)%		$	38,664		$	39,151		(1.2	)%
% of revenue	8.0		%	8.4		%	(0.4	)	pp	7.9		%	8.3		%	(0.4	)	pp

Development expense decreased $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $0.5 million in the first nine months of 2012. We capitalized $1.9 million of software development expense in the third quarter of 2012 and $6.0 million in the year-to-date period, reducing the expense that we would otherwise report in this category. In comparison, we capitalized $1.6 million and $2.6 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively. Lower bonus expense of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2012 also contributed to the decline. Higher salaries and other compensation-related expense for our development teams partially offset the favorable effect of the capitalized operating expense in the first nine months of 2012.

As a percentage of revenue, development expense was lower in both the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, primarily reflecting the effect of capitalizing software development.

Sales and Marketing Expense

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Sales and marketing expense	$	25,732		$	27,253		(5.6	)%		$	81,431		$	80,502		1.2	%
% of revenue	16.0		%	17.0		%	(1.0	)	pp	16.7		%	17.0		%	(0.3	)	pp

Sales and marketing expense decreased $1.5 million in the third quarter and increased $0.9 million in the first nine months of 2012. Lower bonus expense, advertising and marketing expense, and travel expense all contributed to the decrease in operating expense in the third quarter. Higher salary-related expense represented almost all of the overall expense increase in the year-to-date period. Lower advertising and marketing expense, lower commissions, and, to a lesser extent, lower bonus expense, partially offset the increase in the first nine months of the year.

As a percentage of revenue, sales and marketing expense was down 1.0 percentage points in the quarter and 0.3 percentage points for the first nine months of the year, primarily reflecting lower advertising and marketing expense and bonus expense as a percentage of revenue.

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General and Administrative Expense

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
General and administrative expense	$	23,966		$	26,431		(9.3	)%		$	77,090		$	83,255		(7.4	)%
% of revenue	14.9		%	16.5		%	(1.6	)	pp	15.8		%	17.6		%	(1.8	)	pp

G&A declined $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $6.2 million in the first nine months of 2012.

The decrease in the third quarter primarily reflects lower bonus expense of $1.4 million. In addition, our results in the third quarter of 2012 included a benefit of approximately $1.0 million for the resolution of a prior-year business tax expense matter. Higher professional fees partially offset the decline.

The decrease in the first nine months of the year primarily reflects lower bonus expense of $5.9 million. Current-year bonus expense included in this category was down $3.0 million. In addition, in the first quarter of 2011, we paid a greater portion of the 2010 bonus to employees in this category compared with our initial estimate, contributing $2.6 million to the bonus expense recorded in the first quarter of 2011. Please refer to the section, Bonus Expense, for additional information.

G&A in the first nine months of 2012 included about $1.6 million of expense for a litigation settlement and an impairment charge for one of our smaller products. However, as mentioned above, our results for the first nine months of the year included a benefit of approximately $1.0 million from the resolution of a prior-year business tax expense matter. Conversely, our results for the first nine months of 2011 included $1.4 million of expense related to this business tax. G&A for the first nine months of 2011 also included $3.2 million of expense for a previously announced separation agreement with our former chief operating officer. This expense did not recur in 2012. Higher professional fees partially offset the decline.

As a percentage of revenue, G&A expense declined 1.6 percentage points in the third quarter of 2012, primarily because of lower bonus expense. As a percentage of revenue, G&A expense declined 1.8 percentage points in the first half of 2012, primarily because of lower bonus expense and the $3.2 million of separation agreement expense from 2011 that did not recur in 2012.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Depreciation expense	$	4,881		$	4,053		20.4	%		$	13,644		$	11,673		16.9	%
Amortization expense	5,941			6,894			(13.8	)%		17,972			20,039			(10.3	)%
Total depreciation and amortization expense	$	10,822		$	10,947		(1.1	)%		$	31,616		$	31,712		(0.3	)%
% of revenue	6.7		%	6.8		%	(0.1	)	pp	6.5		%	6.7		%	(0.2	)	pp

Depreciation expense rose $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2012. Amortization expense decreased $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $2.1 million in the year-to-date period, primarily because certain intangible assets from some of our earlier acquisitions are now fully amortized.

We expect that amortization of intangible assets will be an ongoing cost for the remaining lives of the assets. We estimate that aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets will be approximately $24.0 million in 2012 and $21.3 million in 2013. Our estimates of future amortization expense for intangible assets may be affected by additional acquisitions, dispositions, changes in the estimated average useful lives, and currency translations.

As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization expense was down slightly in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012.

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Stock-Based Compensation Expense

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Restricted stock units	$	3,396		$	3,372		0.7	%		$	9,944		$	9,489		4.8	%
Restricted stock	444			444			—	%		1,332			1,752			(24.0	)%
Stock options	154			135			14.1	%		318			202			57.4	%
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	3,994		$	3,951		1.1	%		$	11,594		$	11,443		1.3	%
% of revenue	2.5		%	2.5		%	—		pp	2.4		%	2.4		%	—		pp

Our stock-based compensation expense relates to grants of restricted stock units (RSUs), restricted stock, and stock options. We include this cost in each of our operating expense categories. Stock-based compensation expense was flat in the third quarter, increased $0.2 million in the first nine months of 2012, and was unchanged as a percentage of revenue for both periods compared with the same periods in 2011.

Restricted Stock Units: We began granting RSUs in May 2006 and have made additional grants each year, primarily in the second quarter. We recognize the expense related to RSUs over the vesting period, which is four years for employees and three years for non-employee directors. We estimate forfeitures for these awards and typically adjust the estimated forfeitures to actual forfeiture experience in the third quarter.

Restricted Stock: Beginning in 2010, we began recording expense related to restricted stock issued with the acquisition of Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC. In May 2010, we issued 199,174 shares. The restricted stock vests ratably over a five-year period from the acquisition date and may be subject to forfeiture or acceleration upon a termination of the holder's employment during the vesting period depending on the circumstances. The expense in the first nine months of 2011 included $0.4 million for accelerated vesting of a portion of these restricted stock grants.

Stock Options: In 2011, we granted 92,201 stock options to our executive officers and non-employee directors. These stock options vest ratably over a four-year period for executive officers and a three-year period for non-employee directors and expire 10 years after the date of grant. Using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, we estimated the fair value of these grants to be approximately $2.2 million. We will amortize this value to stock-based compensation expense ratably over the options' vesting period.

We describe our stock-based compensation in more detail in Note 10 of the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Based on grants of RSUs, stock options, and restricted stock made through September 30, 2012, we anticipate that stock-based compensation expense will be approximately $15.6 million in 2012. This amount is subject to change based on additional equity grants or changes in our estimated forfeiture rate related to these grants.

Bonus Expense

The amount of bonus expense is not a fixed cost. We review and update our estimates and the bonus pool size quarterly, primarily based on our expectations for full-year operating income relative to budget. We record bonus expense throughout the year and pay annual bonuses to employees in the first quarter of the following year.

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Bonus expense	$	7,751		$	10,388		(25.4	)%		$	26,469		$	31,503		(16.0	)%
% of revenue	4.8		%	6.5		%	(1.7	)	pp	5.4		%	6.7		%	(1.3	)	pp

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Bonus expense, which we include in each of our operating expense categories, decreased $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $5.0 million in the first nine months of 2012. Bonus expense as a percentage of revenue decreased about 1.7 percentage points in the third quarter of 2012 and 1.3 percentage points in the first nine months of 2012.

Bonus expense for the first nine months of both years consisted of both the current-year bonus expense and the true-up related to the prior-year bonus accrual. We adjust the prior-year bonus estimate to the actual bonus payout during the first quarter, which is when the payout occurs. This true-up had a favorable effect of $0.1 million on total bonus expense in the first nine months of 2012 and $0.4 million in the first nine months of 2011. Although in total, the bonuses paid out in 2012 and 2011 were only slightly lower compared with the amounts expensed in 2011 and 2010, respectively, there were some differences by cost category. The table below presents the effect of these two factors by cost category and in total:

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change
Cost of goods sold:
Current year expense	$	12,706		$	12,700		$	6
Prior year true-up	116			(1,577		)	1,693
Total cost of sales	12,822			11,123			1,699
Development:
Current year expense	4,960			5,189			(229		)
Prior year true-up	(950		)	(959		)	9
Total development	4,010			4,230			(220		)
Sales and marketing:
Current year expense	2,600			4,676			(2,076		)
Prior year true-up	973			(521		)	1,494
Total sales and marketing	3,573			4,155			(582		)
General and administrative:
Current year expense	6,339			9,386			(3,047		)
Prior year true-up	(275		)	2,609			(2,884		)
Total general and administrative	6,064			11,995			(5,931		)
Total current year expense	26,605			31,951			(5,346		)
Total prior year true-up	(136		)	(448		)	312
Total bonus expense	$	26,469		$	31,503		$	(5,034	)

Consolidated Operating Income

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Operating income	$	39,864		$	33,864		17.7	%		$	111,399		$	104,280		6.8	%
% of revenue	24.8		%	21.2		%	3.6		pp	22.8		%	22.1		%	0.7		pp

Consolidated operating income increased $6.0 million in the third quarter of 2012 as our operating costs declined $5.1 million and revenue increased $0.9 million. Our operating margin was 24.8%, an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared with the third quarter of 2011.

Lower bonus expense as a percentage of revenue contributed approximately 1.7 percentage points to the margin improvement in the third quarter. Lower discretionary costs, including travel expense and advertising and marketing, as a percentage of revenue also contributed to the margin improvement in the third quarter.

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Consolidated operating income increased $7.1 million in the first nine months of 2012 as the $14.9 million increase in revenue outpaced the $7.7 million increase in our costs. Our operating margin was 22.8%, a slight increase of 0.7 percentage points compared with the first nine months of 2011. Lower bonus expense as a percentage of revenue contributed to the margin improvement, increasing the margin by approximately 1.3 percentage points.

Higher salary expense as a percentage of revenue of 1.4 percentage points partially offset the margin improvement.

The $3.2 million of expense recorded in the first quarter of 2011 related to a separation agreement lowered our margin for the first nine months of 2011 by approximately 0.7 percentage points, favorably affecting the current-year comparison.

Consolidated Free Cash Flow

As described in more detail above, we define free cash flow as cash provided by or used for operating activities less capital expenditures.

	Three months ended September 30								Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change		2012			2011			Change
Cash provided by operating activities	$	37,527		$	45,160		(16.9	)%	$	92,316		$	106,316		(13.2	)%
Capital expenditures	(4,954		)	(6,271		)	(21.0	)%	(22,876		)	(14,689		)	55.7	%
Free cash flow	$	32,573		$	38,889		(16.2	)%	$	69,440		$	91,627		(24.2	)%

We generated positive free cash flow in both the third quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 and 2011. Free cash flow decreased $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $22.2 million in the first nine months of 2012, however.

Cash provided by operating activities:Cash provided by operating activities decreased $7.6 million in the third quarter of 2012 reflecting the negative cash effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities and a $4.4 million increase in income tax payments partially offset by higher net income, adjusted for non-cash items.

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To provide investors with additional insight into our financial results, we provide a comparison between the change in consolidated net income and the change in operating cash flow:

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Consolidated net income	$	27,036		$	21,370		$	5,666		$	75,033		$	70,296		$	4,737
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Excess tax benefits from stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units	(459		)	(1,450		)	991			(5,007		)	(7,621		)	2,614
Depreciation and amortization expense	10,822			10,947			(125		)	31,616			31,712			(96		)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,994			3,951			43			11,594			11,443			151
All other non-cash items included in net income	(415		)	259			(674		)	283			(273		)	556
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Cash paid for bonuses	—			—			—			(42,820		)	(37,464		)	(5,356		)
Cash paid for income taxes	(11,758		)	(7,333		)	(4,425		)	(33,163		)	(28,437		)	(4,726		)
Cash paid for separation agreements	—			(686		)	686			(137		)	(3,442		)	3,305
Accounts receivable	(2,175		)	(1,020		)	(1,155		)	(6,569		)	(403		)	(6,166		)
Deferred revenue	(4,649		)	(7,579		)	2,930			7,684			618			7,066
Income taxes — current	14,453			14,033			420			40,383			37,879			2,504
Accrued compensation	6,069			11,972			(5,903		)	22,106			37,664			(15,558		)
Other assets	89			1,388			(1,299		)	(3,551		)	1,996			(5,547		)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,968		)	(15		)	(4,953		)	(4,316		)	(5,275		)	959
All other	(512		)	(677		)	165			(820		)	(2,377		)	1,557
Cash provided by operating activities	$	37,527		$	45,160		$	(7,633	)	$	92,316		$	106,316		$	(14,000	)

In the third quarter of 2012, cash provided by operations decreased despite the increase in net income adjusted for non-cash items, primarily because of the negative cash flow effect of accrued compensation and the timing of income tax payments.

In the first nine months of 2012, the decrease in cash from operations exceeded the positive change in net income adjusted for non-cash items, primarily because of the negative cash flow effect of accrued compensation, the bonus payments, and the timing of income tax payments.

FASB ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, requires that we classify excess tax benefits as a financing activity, which contributes to the difference between net income and cash from operations. In the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, we classified $5.0 million and $7.6 million, respectively, of excess tax benefits as financing activities. We describe these excess tax benefits in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section.

Capital expenditures:We spent $5.0 million for capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2012 and $22.9 million in the first nine months of 2012, primarily for computer hardware and software, internally developed capitalized software, and spending for an expansion of office space in Chicago. In the first nine months of 2012, capital expenditures increased $8.2 million, primarily for computer hardware and software for our U.S. operations, and internally developed capitalized software.

Segment Results

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
Key Metrics ($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Revenue
Investment Information	$	129,357		$	125,804		2.8	%		$	391,031		$	374,319		4.5	%
Investment Management	31,595			34,247			(7.7	)%		96,648			98,510			(1.9	)%
Consolidated revenue	$	160,952		$	160,051		0.6	%		$	487,679		$	472,829		3.1	%
Operating income (loss)
Investment Information	$	38,957		$	31,426		24.0	%		$	110,644		$	100,830		9.7	%
Investment Management	14,842			18,062			(17.8	)%		45,606			53,599			(14.9	)%
Intangible amortization and corporate depreciation expense	(8,495		)	(8,788		)	(3.3	)%		(24,668		)	(25,565		)	(3.5	)%
Corporate unallocated	(5,440		)	(6,836		)	(20.4	)%		(20,183		)	(24,584		)	(17.9	)%
Consolidated operating income	$	39,864		$	33,864		17.7	%		$	111,399		$	104,280		6.8	%
Operating margin
Investment Information	30.1		%	25.0		%	5.1		pp	28.3		%	26.9		%	1.4		pp
Investment Management	47.0		%	52.7		%	(5.7	)	pp	47.2		%	54.4		%	(7.2	)	pp
Consolidated operating margin	24.8		%	21.2		%	3.6		pp	22.8		%	22.1		%	0.7		pp

Investment Information Segment

The Investment Information segment includes all of our data, software, and research products and services. These products are typically sold through subscriptions or license agreements.

The largest products in this segment based on revenue are Morningstar Data (formerly Licensed Data), Morningstar Advisor Workstation (including Morningstar Office), Morningstar Direct, Morningstar.com, Morningstar Integrated Web Tools, and Morningstar Principia. Morningstar Data is a set of investment data spanning all of our investment databases, including real-time pricing and commodity data, and is available through electronic data feeds. Advisor Workstation is a web-based investment planning system for advisors. Advisor Workstation is available in two editions: Morningstar Office for independent financial advisors and an enterprise edition for financial advisors affiliated with larger firms. Morningstar Direct is a web-based institutional research platform. Morningstar.com includes both Premium Memberships and Internet advertising sales. Morningstar Integrated Web Tools is a set of services that help institutional clients build customized websites or enhance their existing sites with our online tools and components. Principia is our CD-ROM-based investment research and planning software for advisors.

The Investment Information segment also includes Morningstar Equity Research, which we distribute through several channels. We sell Morningstar Equity Research to companies that purchase our research for their own use or provide our research to their affiliated advisors or individual investor clients. The segment also includes Morningstar Credit Research and Morningstar Structured Credit Ratings. The latter is provided by Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC, a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization specializing in structured finance. It offers securities ratings, research, surveillance services, and data to help institutional investors identify risk in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).

We also offer a variety of financial communications and newsletters, other institutional and advisor software, and investment indexes.

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In the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, this segment represented approximately 80% of our consolidated revenue.

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
Key Metrics ($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Revenue	$	129,357		$	125,804		2.8	%		$	391,031		$	374,319		4.5	%
Operating income	$	38,957		$	31,426		24.0	%		$	110,644		$	100,830		9.7	%
Operating margin (%)	30.1		%	25.0		%	5.1		pp	28.3		%	26.9		%	1.4		pp

Revenue

In the third quarter of 2012, Investment Information segment revenue increased $3.6 million, or 2.8%, to $129.4 million. Investment Information segment revenue increased $16.7 million, or 4.5%, to $391.0 million in the first nine months of 2012. Morningstar Direct, Morningstar Data, and Advisor Workstation were the main contributors to revenue growth in both periods, partially offset by lower revenue for Morningstar.com and Morningstar Structured Credit Ratings.

Morningstar Direct was the largest contributor to the increase in segment revenue and contributed approximately 67% and 50% of the organic revenue growth for the segment in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, respectively. The number of licenses for Morningstar Direct increased to 7,115 worldwide as of September 30, 2012, compared with 5,726 as of September 30, 2011, with strong growth globally. The growth reflects additional licenses for both new and existing clients, and, to a lesser extent, client migrations from both Institutional Workstation and Morningstar EnCorr.

Morningstar Data was the second-largest contributor to the increase in the segment revenue in both the third quarter and first nine months of 2012. Morningstar Data's revenue growth reflects strong renewal rates for managed product data. Morningstar Data gives institutions access to a full range of proprietary investment data spanning numerous investment databases, including real-time pricing data and commodity data. The data packages we offer include proprietary statistics, such as the Morningstar Style Box and Morningstar Rating, and a wide range of other information on investment performance, risk, portfolios, operations data, fees and expenses, cash flows, and ownership.

Custom solutions revenue and advisor software revenue also contributed to the growth, but to a lesser extent. Higher revenue from Morningstar Advisor Workstation (mainly Morningstar Office) and Morningstar Integrated Web Tools more than offset slightly lower revenue from Principia. The number of U.S. licenses for Morningstar Advisor Workstation was up slightly to 161,957 as of September 30, 2012 compared with 160,287 as of December 31, 2011 and 160,710 as of September 30, 2011. Principia subscriptions totaled 27,695 as of September 30, 2012, down from 31,270 as of December 31, 2011 and 31,318 as of September 30, 2011.

Revenue for Morningstar.com was down for both 2012 periods because of a difficult advertising sales market and declining paid Premium subscriptions, primarily in the United States. Premium subscriptions for the U.S. version of Morningstar.com declined to 125,006 as of September 30, 2012, compared with 130,354 as of December 31, 2011 and 133,734 as of September 30, 2011. However, consistent with the trend over the past few years, we moderately increased subscription prices for U.S. Premium Membership in both January 2012 and 2011, which partly offset the revenue decline associated with the lower subscription levels.

Revenue for Morningstar Structured Credit Ratings was down in both the third quarter and the first nine months of the year, primarily because ofcompetitive pricing pressure and fewer new-issue ratings compared with the prior-year periods.

Operating Income

In the third quarter of 2012, operating income for the Investment Information segment increased $7.5 million, or 24.0%. Operating expense was down $4.0 million in the third quarter of 2012. Lower bonus expense and lower discretionary costs, including travel expense and advertising and marketing, both contributed to the decline in operating expense.

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In the first nine months of 2012, operating income for the Investment Information segment increased $9.8 million, or 9.7%. Operating expense was up $6.9 million, or 2.5% in the first nine months of 2012. Higher salary expense was the primary contributor to the increase in the period. Lower advertising and marketing expense, bonus expense, and commission expense partially offset the increase.

The Investment Information segment's operating margin increased 5.1 percentage points in the third quarter. The margin improvement reflects the higher revenue base and the decrease in operating expense. Lower bonus expense and lower discretionary costs, including travel and advertising and marketing expense, all as a percentage of revenue, contributed the margin increase. Lower bonus expense contributed approximately 1.3 percentage points to the margin improvement in the quarter.

The Investment Information segment's operating margin improved 1.4 percentage points in the first nine months of 2012. Lower bonus expense and lower discretionary costs, including advertising and marketing were partially offset by higher salary expense, all as a percentage of revenue.

Investment Management Segment

The Investment Management segment includes all of our asset management operations, which earn more than half of their revenue from asset-based fees.

The key products and services in this segment based on revenue are Investment Advisory Services (formerly named Investment Consulting), which focuses on investment monitoring and asset allocation for funds of funds, including mutual funds and variable annuities; Retirement Solutions, including the Morningstar Retirement Manager and Advice by Ibbotson platforms; and Morningstar Managed Portfolios, a fee-based discretionary asset management service that includes a series of mutual fund, ETF, and stock portfolios tailored to meet a range of investment time horizons, risk levels, and investment strategies that financial advisors can use for their clients’ taxable and tax-deferred accounts.

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Our Investment Advisory Services business has multiple fee structures, which vary by client. In general, we seek to receive asset-based fees for any work we perform that involves managing investments or acting as a subadvisor to investment portfolios. For any individual contract, we may receive flat fees, variable asset-based fees, or a combination of the two. Some of our contracts include minimum fee levels that provide us with a flat payment up to a specified asset level, above which we also receive variable asset-based fees. In the majority of our contracts that include variable asset-based fees, we bill clients quarterly in arrears based on average assets for the quarter. The method of calculation varies by client; some contracts include provisions for calculating average assets based on daily data, while others use weekly or monthly data. Other contracts may include provisions for monthly billing or billing based on assets as of the last day of the billing period rather than on average assets.

In our Retirement Solutions business, our contracts may include one-time setup fees, technology licensing fees, asset-based fees for managed retirement accounts, fixed and variable fees for advice and guidance, or a combination of these fee structures. Our Retirement Solutions business also includes plan sponsor and custom target date consulting arrangements. Fees for these services may be based on the level of assets under advisement in these arrangements.

We do not disclose a fee range for our Investment Advisory Services and Retirement Solutions businesses because our fee structures are customized by client. In addition, we believe disclosing a fee range would be detrimental to our competitive position. We disclose changes in the nature of the underlying services we provide or their associated fee structures (for example, a change from flat fees to asset-based fees) in our periodic filings to the extent that they are material to our financial results.

For Morningstar Managed Portfolios, we charge asset-based fees, which are based on a tiered schedule that depends on the client’s account balance. Fees for our mutual fund and ETF portfolios generally range from 30 to 40 basis points. We charge fees of 55 basis points for our customized stock portfolios.

In addition, we offer Managed Portfolios through our subsidiary Ibbotson Australia, which provides asset management services primarily to institutional clients and individual investors.

In the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, this segment represented approximately 20% of our consolidated revenue.

	Three months ended September 30									Nine months ended September 30
Key Metrics ($000)	2012			2011			Change			2012			2011			Change
Revenue	$	31,595		$	34,247		(7.7	)%		$	96,648		$	98,510		(1.9	)%
Operating income	$	14,842		$	18,062		(17.8	)%		$	45,606		$	53,599		(14.9	)%
Operating margin (%)	47.0		%	52.7		%	(5.7	)	pp	47.2		%	54.4		%	(7.2	)	pp

Revenue

Investment Management segment revenue decreased $2.7 million, or 7.7%, in the third quarter of 2012. Investment Management segment revenue decreased $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2012. Our largest client in the Investment Management segment began managing several fund-of-funds portfolios in-house in April 2012. We did not receive any revenue from our work on these portfolios in the third quarter of 2012, compared with about $3.1 million in the third quarter of 2011, which represented about 9.1% of Investment Management segment revenue. We received $3.8 million in revenue from our work on these portfolios in the first nine months of 2012 compared with $9.3 million in revenue in the first nine months of 2011. This loss of this business was the primary driver of the segment revenue decline in both periods.

Excluding the loss of business discussed above, Investment Advisory Services revenue was down slightly in the third quarter of 2012. Revenue for Morningstar Managed Portfolios, and to a lesser extent, Retirement Solutions, were up in the third quarter of 2012, partially offsetting the revenue decline for Investment Advisory Services.

While overall segment revenue was down, Morningstar Managed Portfolios made positive contributions to revenue in the first nine months of 2012. Managed Portfolios for Ibbotson Australia and Retirement Solutions were both down in the first nine months of 2012. Revenue for the Retirement Solutions business declined slightly because of lower non-asset-related fees and a change in contract terms for one of our clients.

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The variable annuity industry, which accounted for approximately 15% of Investment Management segment revenue in the third quarter of 2012, continues to face challenges. Accordingly, we expect that there will be further pressure on revenue from clients in the variable annuity industry.

We had approximately $21.1 million in revenue from asset-based fees in the third quarter of 2012, a decrease of $0.8 million compared with $21.9 million in the third quarter of 2011. Within the Investment Management segment, revenue from asset-based fees made up about 65% of segment revenue in both periods of 2012 and 2011.

The asset totals as of the end of each period don't fully reflect the change in average asset levels during the quarter. The asset-based fees we earn are primarily based on average asset levels during each quarter. Average assets under advisement and management (calculated based on available quarterly or monthly data) were approximately $190.7 billion in the third quarter of 2012, up 12.8% from approximately $169.2 billion in the third quarter of 2011.

Assets under Advisement and Management for Investment Advisory Services

	As of September 30
($ billions)	2012		2011
Assets under advisement – U.S.	$	137.7	$	117.6
Assets under advisement – International	4.7		1.7
Total	$	142.4	$	119.3

We provided Investment Advisory Services on approximately $142.4 billion in assets as of September 30, 2012 compared with approximately $137.5 billion as of December 31, 2011 and approximately $119.3 billion as of September 30, 2011.

These assets include relationships for which we receive basis-point fees, including consulting arrangements and other agreements where we act as a portfolio construction manager for a mutual fund or variable annuity. We also provide Investment Advisory Services for some assets for which we receive a flat fee; we do not include these assets in the total reported above. Excluding changes related to new contracts and cancellations, changes in the value of assets under advisement can come from two primary sources: gains or losses related to overall trends in market performance, and net inflows or outflows caused when investors add to or redeem shares from these portfolios.

Assets under advisement and management increased about $23.1 billion, or 19.4%, compared with September 30, 2011. As mentioned above, our largest Investment Management client began managing several fund-of-funds portfolios in-house in April this year. These portfolios represented $11.3 billion, or 9.5%, of our Investment Advisory Services assets under advisement and management as of September 30, 2011. This loss was offset by additional assets for an existing fund-of-funds program for which Morningstar now receives asset-based fees. The new fee structure began late in 2011 and represents incremental growth for an existing revenue stream. Excluding assets from this program and the portfolio for which we no longer provide advisory services, assets under advisement and management rose 20.3%, primarily reflecting positive market performance.

We cannot quantify cash inflows and outflows for these portfolios because we do not have custody of the assets in the majority of our investment management businesses. The information we receive from many of our clients does not separately identify the effect of cash inflows and outflows on asset balances for each period. We also cannot precisely quantify the effect of market appreciation or depreciation because the majority of our clients have discretionary authority to implement their own portfolio allocations.

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Assets under Advisement and Management for Retirement Solutions

	As of September 30
($ billions)	2012		2011
Assets under management	$	24.2	$	18.9
Assets under advisement	21.2		17.4
Total	$	45.4	$	36.3

Assets under management for managed retirement accounts increased to $24.2 billion as of September 30, 2012, compared with $19.9 billion as of December 31, 2011 and $18.9 billion as of September 30, 2011. Assets under advisement for plan sponsor and custom target-date arrangements increased to $21.2 billion as of September 30, 2012, compared with $17.4 billion as of September 30, 2011, and $17.5 billion as of December 31, 2011.

We cannot separately quantify the factors affecting assets under management for our managed retirement accounts. These factors primarily consist of employer and employee contributions, plan administrative fees, market movements, and participant loans and hardship withdrawals. We cannot quantify the impact of these other factors because the information we receive from the plan providers does not separately identify these transactions or the changes in balances caused by market movement.

Morningstar Managed Portfolios

Revenue for Morningstar Managed Portfolios increased $0.7 million and $1.3 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, respectively. This growth mainly reflects higher average asset levels during the first nine months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Assets under management and advisement for Morningstar Managed Portfolios rose to $4.0 billion as of September 30, 2012, up from $3.0 billion as of December 31, 2011 and $2.8 billion as of September 30, 2011, reflecting positive market performance and strong net inflows.

Ibbotson Australia Managed Portfolios

Revenue for Ibbotson Australia Managed Portfolios was flat in the third quarter of 2012 and declined about $0.8 million in the first nine months of 2012. The lower revenue mainly reflects lower average assets levels during the first nine months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Assets under management for Ibbotson Australia totaled $3.1 billion as of September 30, 2012, up slightly from $2.9 billion as of December 31, 2011, and up about $0.3 billion compared with $2.8 billion as of September 30, 2011.

Operating Income

Operating income for the Investment Management segment decreased $3.2 million, or 17.8%, in the third quarter of 2012. Operating expense in the segment rose $0.6 million, or 3.5%, in the third quarter of 2012.

Operating income for the Investment Management segment decreased $8.0 million in the first nine months of 2012. Operating expense in the segment rose $6.1 million, or 13.7%, in the first nine months of 2012. Operating expense rose in the first nine months of 2012 primarily because of higher expense for operations outside of the United States as well as higher salary expense and professional fees in the United States. Lower bonus expense of $2.7 million partially offset the higher operating expense.

Operating margin decreased 5.8 percentage points and 7.2 percentage points in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, respectively, as operating expense growth exceeded the growth in revenue. Higher salary expense, professional fees, and higher costs for operations outside the United States, all as a percentage of revenue, contributed to the margin decline. Lower bonus expense as a percentage of revenue partially offset these increases.

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Corporate Items

We do not allocate corporate costs to our business segments. The corporate items category includes capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs and amortization expense related to intangible assets recorded for acquisitions. The table below shows the components of corporate items that affected our consolidated operating income:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		Change		2012		2011		Change
Amortization expense	$	5,941	$	6,894	(13.8	)%	$	17,972	$	20,039	(10.3	)%
Depreciation expense	2,554		1,894		34.8	%	6,696		5,526		21.2	%
Corporate unallocated	5,440		6,836		(20.4	)%	20,183		24,584		(17.9	)%
Corporate items	$	13,935	$	15,624	(10.8	)%	$	44,851	$	50,149	(10.6	)%

Amortization of intangible assets decreased $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $2.1 million in the first nine months of 2012, primarily because certain intangible assets from some of our earlier acquisitions are now fully amortized. As of September 30, 2012, we had $122.8 million of net intangible assets. We amortize these assets over their estimated lives, ranging from one to 25 years. We estimate that aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets will be approximately $24.0 million in 2012.

Corporate unallocated expense decreased $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2012, mainly reflecting the benefit of approximately $1.0 million for the resolution of a prior-year business tax expense. We capitalized $1.9 million and $1.6 million of expense for software development in the third quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Higher professional fees partially offset the decrease in operating expense.

Corporate unallocated decreased $4.4 million in the first nine months of 2012. Corporate unallocated expense for the first nine months of 2011 included $3.2 million of expense for the separation agreement with our former chief operating officer. This expense did not recur in 2012. Corporate unallocated in the first quarter of 2012 included about $1.6 million of expense for a litigation settlement and an impairment charge for one of our smaller products. In addition, we capitalized $6.0 million of expense for software development in the first nine months of 2012, an increase of $3.4 million compared with $2.6 million in the same period of 2011. In addition, as mentioned above, corporate unallocated in the year-to-date period of 2012 included a benefit of approximately $1.0 million for the resolution of a prior-year business tax expense matter. Conversely, corporate unallocated in the first nine months of 2011 included $1.4 million of expense for this same matter. Partially offsetting these benefits, was about $1.6 million of expense for a litigation settlement and an impairment charge for one of our smaller products recorded in the first quarter of 2012.

Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated Entities, Non-Operating Income (Expense), and Income Tax Expense

Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated Entities

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	$	478	$	428	$	1,541	$	1,397

Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities includes our portion of the net income (loss) of Morningstar Japan K.K. (MJKK), Morningstar Sweden AB, and, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, YCharts, Inc.

We describe our investments in unconsolidated entities in more detail in Note 8 of the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Non-Operating Income (Expense)

The following table presents the components of net non-operating income (expense):

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Interest income	$	1,774		$	938		$	4,094		$	2,324
Interest expense	(55		)	(141		)	(246		)	(1,182		)
Other income (expense), net	161			(1,376		)	(314		)	(938		)
Non-operating income (expense), net	$	1,880		$	(579	)	$	3,534		$	204

Interest income mainly reflects interest from our investment portfolio. Interest income in the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 increased compared with the prior-year periods primarily because of higher balances of cash equivalents and investments during the periods. Interest income in the third quarter of 2012 also includes approximately $0.7 million of interest income related to the $1.0 million of business tax refund for prior years recorded in the third quarter of 2012, as discussed above in the section, Consolidated Operating Expense. Interest expense in the first nine months of 2011 of $1.2 million related primarily to the $1.4 million of business tax expense for prior years recorded in the second quarter of 2011, as discussed above in the section, Consolidated Operating Expense.

Other income (expense), net primarily represents foreign currency exchange gains and losses arising from the ordinary course of business. It also includes royalty income from MJKK and realized gains and losses from our investment portfolio.

Income Tax Expense

The following table shows our effective tax rate:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	$	41,744		$	33,285		$	114,933		$	104,484
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	478			428			1,541			1,397
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	34			10			62			106
Total	$	42,256		$	33,723		$	116,536		$	105,987
Income tax expense	$	15,186		$	12,343		$	41,441		$	35,585
Effective tax rate	35.9		%	36.6		%	35.6		%	33.6		%

Our effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2012 was 35.9%, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points compared with 36.6% in the prior-year period. Year to date, our effective tax rate was 35.6%, compared with 33.6% in the first nine months of 2011.

There were no significant changes to unrecognized tax benefits in the first nine months of 2012. As of September 30, 2012, we had $11.7 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which $11.7 million, if recognized, would reduce our effective income tax rate and decrease our income tax expense by $9.5 million. As of December 31, 2011, we had $12.2 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which $11.9 million, if recognized, would reduce our effective income tax rate and decrease our income tax expense by $9.8 million.

As of September 30, 2012, our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet included a current liability of approximately $5.0 million and a non-current liability of $6.3 million for unrecognized tax benefits. As of December 31, 2011, our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet included a current liability of $5.3 million and a non-current liability of $6.2 million for unrecognized tax benefits. These amounts include interest and penalties, less any associated tax benefits.

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We have not provided federal and state income taxes on accumulated undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries because these earnings have been permanently reinvested. Approximately 32% of our cash, cash equivalents, and investments as of September 30, 2012 were held by our operations outside of the United States. As such, we believe that our cash balances and investments in the United States, along with cash generated from our U.S. operations, will be sufficient to meet our U.S. operating and cash needs for the foreseeable future, without requiring us to repatriate earnings from these foreign subsidiaries. It is not possible to determine the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to the undistributed earnings.

We are currently under audit by federal and various state and local tax authorities in the United States, as well as tax authorities in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. It is possible, though not likely, that the examination phase of some of these audits will conclude in 2012. It is not possible to estimate the effect of current audits on previously recorded unrecognized tax benefits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We believe our available cash balances and investments, along with cash generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet our operating and cash needs for at least the next 12 months. We invest our cash reserves in cash equivalents and investments, consisting primarily of fixed-income securities. We maintain a conservative investment policy for our investments and invest a portion of these assets in government obligations and corporate bonds with high-quality stand-alone credit ratings. Investments in our portfolio have a maximum maturity of two years; the weighted average maturity is approximately one year. We also invest a portion of our investments balance (approximately 25% as of September 30, 2012) in proprietary Morningstar portfolios, exchange-traded funds that seek to track the performance of certain Morningstar proprietary indexes, and various mutual funds. The proprietary Morningstar portfolios may consist of stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds. Approximately 68% of our cash, cash equivalents, and investments as of September 30, 2012 was held by our operations in the United States, down from approximately 80% as of December 31, 2011.

We intend to use our cash, cash equivalents, and investments for general corporate purposes, including working capital, funding future growth, repurchasing shares under our share repurchase program, and paying quarterly dividends. To date, we have not needed to access any significant commercial credit and have not attempted to borrow or establish any lines of credit.

In December 2011, our board of directors approved an increase to the $100 million share repurchase program we announced in 2010. This approval authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200 million in shares of our outstanding common stock. We may repurchase shares from time to time at prevailing market prices on the open market or in private transactions at our discretion. In the first nine months of 2012, we repurchased a total of 3,166,074 shares for approximately $187.0 million, of which $3.4 million was settled and paid early in the fourth quarter of 2012. As of September 30, 2012, we have repurchased a total of 3,964,411 shares for $231.6 million since we announced the share repurchase program in 2010.

We expect to make a recurring quarterly dividend payment of 10 cents per share in 2012. In the first nine months of 2012, we paid dividends of $14.9 million. On September 28, 2012, our board of directors approved a payment of a regular quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share payable on October 31, 2012 to shareholders of record as of October 12, 2012. As of September 30, 2012, we recorded a liability for dividends payable of $4.8 million.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments

As of September 30, 2012, we had cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $343.1 million, a decrease of $127.1 million compared with $470.2 million as of December 31, 2011. The decrease reflects $183.7 million used to repurchase common stock through our share repurchase program, bonus payments of $42.8 million made during the first quarter of 2012 related to the 2011 bonus, $22.9 million of capital expenditures, and $14.9 million of dividends paid. In addition, we used cash of approximately $10.3 million to acquire minority equity stakes in HelloWallet LLC and Inquiry Financial Europe AB.

These items, which decreased our cash, cash equivalents, and investments balance, were partially offset by cash inflows from net income, adjusted for non-cash items, the positive effect of changes in our operating assets and liabilities, and, to a much lesser extent, $7.8 million of cash from stock-option proceeds and excess tax benefits.

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Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Our main source of capital is cash generated from operating activities.

In the first nine months of 2012, cash provided by operating activities was $92.3 million, driven by $113.5 million of net income, adjusted for non-cash items, partially offset by $21.2 million in changes from our net operating assets and liabilities. A decrease in accrued compensation was the primary contributor to the unfavorable impact of changes in our net operating assets and liabilities. The decline in accrued compensation primarily reflects the bonus payments made in the first quarter of 2012 of approximately $42.8 million, partially offset by the current-year bonus liability for the first nine months of 2012.

Cash provided by operating activities decreased $14.0 million compared with the same period in 2011. The decrease primarily reflects the negative cash effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities, and, to a lesser extent, the $5.3 million increase in bonuses paid in the first quarter. We paid $42.8 million in annual bonuses in the first quarter of 2012, compared with $37.5 million in the prior-year period. Higher net income adjusted for non-cash items partially offset the decline.

Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities

Cash provided by (used for) investing activities consists primarily of cash used for acquisitions, purchases of investments less proceeds from the maturity or sale of investments, cash used for capital expenditures, and purchases of equity and cost method investments. The level of investing activities varies from period to period depending on activity in these categories. In the first nine months of 2012, cash provided by investing activities was $48.2 million, compared with cash used for investing activities of $89.8 million in the same period of 2011.

In the first nine months of 2012, proceeds from the maturity and sale of investments exceeded purchases of investments by $81.4 million. In contrast, purchases of investments exceeded the proceeds from the maturity or sale of investments by $76.3 millionin the first nine months of 2011. We have used these proceeds to fund our share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had investments, consisting primarily of fixed-income securities, of $190.9 million and $269.8 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2012, our investments represented approximately 56% of our total cash, cash equivalents, and investments balance, down slightly compared with 57% as of December 31, 2011.

Capital expenditures were $22.9 million in the first nine months of 2012, an increase of $8.2 million compared with the first nine months of 2011. Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2012 reflect spending primarily for computer hardware and software, capitalized software, and an expansion of our office space in Chicago. The capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2011 included the remaining payments for our development center in China. We expect to make total capital expenditures of approximately $28 million to $31 million in 2012, primarily for computer hardware and software, leasehold improvements for new and existing office locations, and capitalized software.

We did not complete any acquisitions in the first nine months of 2012 or 2011. However, in 2012, we used cash of approximately $10.3 million to acquire minority equity stakes in HelloWallet LLC and Inquiry Financial Europe AB. In the first nine months of 2011, we received cash of approximately $0.3 million, primarily as an adjustment to the purchase price of an acquisition made in a previous year.

Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities

Cash provided by (used for) financing activities consists primarily of net proceeds from stock-option exercises and excess tax benefits related to stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units. These cash inflows may be offset by dividend payments and cash used to repurchase common stock through our share repurchase program.

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Excess tax benefits occur at the time a stock option is exercised when the intrinsic value of the option (the difference between the fair value of our stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option) is greater than the fair value of the option at the time of grant. Similarly, the vesting of restricted stock units generates excess tax benefits when the market value of our common stock on the vesting date exceeds the grant price of the restricted stock units. These excess tax benefits reduce the cash we pay for income taxes in the year we recognize them. It is not possible to predict the timing of stock-option exercises or the intrinsic value that will be achieved at the time options are exercised or upon vesting of restricted stock units. As a result, we expect cash flow from financing activities to vary over time. Note 10 in the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements includes additional information concerning stock options and restricted stock units outstanding as of September 30, 2012.

Cash used for financing activities was $190.8 million in the first nine months of 2012. We used cash of approximately $183.7 million under our share repurchase program in the first nine months of 2012. In addition, we made dividend payments of $14.9 million. Partially offsetting these cash outflows were proceeds from stock-option exercises of $2.8 million and excess tax benefits related to stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units totaling $5.0 million.

Cash used for financing activities was $22.2 million in the first nine months of 2011. Proceeds from stock-option exercises totaled $6.6 million, and excess tax benefits related to stock-option exercises totaled $7.6 million. Partially offsetting these cash inflows was $7.5 million of dividends paid. We made purchases of $28.5 million under our share repurchase program in the first nine months of 2011.

Employees exercised approximately 0.4 million and 0.6 million stock options in the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The total intrinsic value (the difference between the market value of our stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option) of options exercised during the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 was $17.2 million and $25.1 million, respectively.

Reclassifications

Beginning in 2012, as a part of the new organization structure for our Data division, we reviewed the revenue classification for our Morningstar Data product (previously Licensed Data). The Morningstar Data product now includes Morningstar Commodity Data. In addition, as part of our global product structure, we reviewed the revenue classification for our Investment Advisory Services (formerly Investment Consulting) revenue to better align our non-U.S. operations with our U.S. product definitions. Following our first quarter 10-Q, as part of the changes to our organizational structure with a focus on our global product lines, we made some additional, minor reclassifications for Morningstar Advisor Workstation and Morningstar.com. We reclassified the prior-year information for consistency with the current-year presentation. As presented in the tables below, these reclassifications changed the order of Advisor Workstation and Investment Advisory Services in our top five products in 2011, but did not have any effect on the order of our top five products in 2010. 

Top Five Products 2011	Reclassified for Consistency with 2012 Product Revenue ($000)		As Reported Revenue ($000)
Morningstar Data (formerly Licensed Data)	$	140,594	$	106,732
Morningstar Advisor Workstation	77,882		77,459
Investment Advisory Services (formerly Investment Consulting)	71,253		78,574
Morningstar.com	56,352		54,169
Morningstar Direct	52,481		52,481
Top Five Products 2010	Reclassified for Consistency with 2012 Product Revenue ($000)		As Reported Revenue ($000)
Morningstar Data (formerly Licensed Data)	$	131,488	$	98,186
Morningstar Advisor Workstation	69,782		69,321
Investment Advisory Services (formerly Investment Consulting)	58,742		66,264
Morningstar.com	51,756		49,673
Morningstar Direct	38,069		38,069

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We discuss our critical accounting policies and estimates in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012. We also discuss our significant accounting policies in Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The objective of ASU No. 2011-08 is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. ASU No. 2011-08 provides an option for companies to use a qualitative approach to test goodwill for impairment if certain conditions are met. For Morningstar, the amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed in 2012. Early adoption will be permitted. We perform our annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter and do not expect the provisions of ASU No. 2011-08 to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plans

Our directors and executive officers may exercise stock options or purchase or sell shares of our common stock in the market from time to time. We encourage them to make these transactions through plans that comply with Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1(c). Morningstar will not receive any proceeds, other than proceeds from the exercise of stock options, related to these transactions. The following table, which we are providing on a voluntary basis, shows the Rule 10b5-1 sales plans entered into by our directors and executive officers that were in effect as of October 26, 2012:

Name and Position	Date of Plan	Plan Termination Date	Number of Shares to be Sold under the Plan	Timing of Sales under the Plan	Number of Shares Sold under the Plan through October 26, 2012	Projected Beneficial Ownership (1)
Chris Boruff President, Software Division	7/31/2012	5/2/2013	2,500	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches specified prices	—	147,868
Bevin Desmond President, International Operations and Global Human Resources	5/27/2011	5/31/2013	92,243	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches specified prices	70,993	106,135 (2)
Bevin Desmond President, International Operations and Global Human Resources	8/21/2012	4/30/2013	7,500	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches a specified price	—	98,635 (2)
Scott Cooley Chief Financial Officer	7/31/2012	2/28/2013	20,000	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches a specified price	—	36,324
Cheryl Francis Director	8/1/2012	5/31/2013	2,400	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches a specified price	—	21,295
Steve Kaplan Director	3/7/2012	5/5/2013	9,000	Shares to be sold under the plan on specified dates	3,000	54,467
Cathy Odelbo Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Partnerships	8/13/2008	12/31/2012	100,000	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches specified prices	—	98,919
Don Phillips President, Research	3/12/2012	4/30/2013	150,000	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches specified prices	130,000	185,788
Paul Sturm Director	3/19/2012	5/15/2013	30,000	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches specified prices	21,500	56,916
Richard Robbins General Counsel and Corporate Secretary	8/1/2012	4/30/2013	7,723	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches a specified price	—	18,100
David Williams Managing Director, Design	9/10/2008	12/31/2012	20,000	Shares to be sold under the plan if the stock reaches specified prices	15,800	80,674

During the third quarter of 2012, David Williams' previously disclosed Rule 10b5-1 sales plan expired in accordance with its terms.

_______________________________

(1)   This column reflects an estimate of the number of shares each identified director and executive officer will beneficially own following the sale of all shares under the Rule 10b5-1 sales plans identified above. This information reflects the beneficial ownership of our common stock on September 30, 2012, and includes shares of our common stock subject to options that were then exercisable or that will have become exercisable by November 29, 2012 and restricted stock units that will vest by November 29, 2012. The estimates do not reflect any changes to beneficial ownership that may have occurred since September 30, 2012. Each director and executive officer identified in the table may amend or terminate his or her Rule 10b5-1 sales plan and may adopt additional Rule 10b5-1 plans in the future.

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(2) Consists of two Rule 10b5-1 sales plans, one for Bevin and one for her spouse. Projected beneficial ownership also includes shares owned by her spouse.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Our investment portfolio is actively managed and may suffer losses from fluctuating interest rates, market prices, or adverse security selection. We invest our investment portfolio mainly in high-quality fixed-income securities. As of September 30, 2012, our cash, cash equivalents, and investments balance was $343.1 million. Based on our estimates, a 100 basis-point change in interest rates would change the fair value of our investment portfolio by approximately $0.3 million.

As our non-U.S. revenue increases as a percentage of our consolidated revenue, fluctuations in foreign currencies present a greater potential risk. Our European operations are subject to currency risk related to the euro. To date, we have not engaged in currency hedging, and we do not currently have any positions in derivative instruments to hedge our currency risk. Our results could suffer if certain foreign currencies decline relative to the U.S. dollar. In addition, because we use the local currency of our subsidiaries as the functional currency, we are affected by the translation of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation and Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of September 30, 2012. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported as and when required and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART 2. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We incorporate by reference the information regarding legal proceedings set forth in Note 11, Contingencies, of the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part 1, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A—Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities*

The following table presents information related to repurchases of common stock we made during the three months ended September 30, 2012:

Period:	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs (1)	Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the programs (1)
Cumulative through June 30, 2012	2,660,557	$	57.83	2,660,557	$	146,079,927
July 1, 2012 – July 31, 2012	447,247	59.17		447,247	$	119,607,848
August 1, 2012 – August 31, 2012	485,416	58.32		485,416	$	91,286,421
September 1, 2012 – September 30, 2012	371,191	61.51		371,191	$	68,446,067
Total	3,964,411	$	58.39	3,964,411	$	68,446,067

_________________________________________________

* Subject to applicable law, we may repurchase shares at prevailing market prices directly on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in amounts that we deem appropriate.

(1) In September 2010, our board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the purchase of up to $100 million of our outstanding common stock with an expiration date of December 31, 2012. In December 2011, the board approved an increase to this program. The board approval authorized the company to repurchase up to an additional $200 million in shares of our outstanding common stock with a revised expiration date of December 31, 2013.

Item 6. Exhibits

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit Index included herewith.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

			MORNINGSTAR, INC.
Date: October 30, 2012	By:	/s/ Scott Cooley
			Scott Cooley
			Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No	Description of Exhibit
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101	The following financial information from Morningstar Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on October 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (iii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statement

______________________________________

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EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Joe Mansueto, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Morningstar, Inc.;

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

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

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

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

b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

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

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

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

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

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

Date: October 30, 2012	/s/ Joe Mansueto
	Joe Mansueto
	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Scott Cooley, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Morningstar, Inc.;

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

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

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

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

b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

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

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

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

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

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

Date: October 30, 2012	/s/ Scott Cooley
	Scott Cooley
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Joe Mansueto, as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar, Inc. (the Company), certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m); and

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

/s/ Joe Mansueto

Joe Mansueto

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Date: October 30, 2012

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Scott Cooley, as Chief Financial Officer of Morningstar, Inc. (the Company), certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m); and

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

/s/ Scott Cooley

Scott Cooley

Chief Financial Officer

Date: October 30, 2012

XML

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Amortization Expense) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ 5,941	$ 6,894	$ 17,972	$ 20,039
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	24,048
2013	21,317
2014	20,058
2015	19,186
2016	14,564
2017	$ 9,954

XML

Stock-Based Compensation (Assumptions for Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model) (Details) (Stock Options [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Years
Stock Options [Member]
Assumptions for Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 23.81
Expected life (years):	7.4
Volatility factor:	35.10%
Dividend yield:	0.35%
Interest rate:	2.87%

XML

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details)	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 HelloWallet [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Inquiry Financial Europe AB [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Morningstar Japan KK [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Morningstar Japan KK [Member] JPY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2011 Morningstar Japan KK [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Morningstar Japan KK [Member] JPY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2012 Other Equity Method Investments [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Equity Method Investments [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 YCharts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 YCharts [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Morningstar Sweden AB [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Morningstar Sweden AB [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Inquiry Financial Europe AB [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments						$ 20,085,000		$ 19,662,000		$ 6,185,000	$ 2,807,000
Cost method investments	12,008,000		5,173,000
Total investments in unconsolidated entities	38,278,000		27,642,000
Equity method investment, ownership percentage						34.00%	34.00%	33.00%	33.00%			20.00%	20.00%	24.00%	24.00%	34.00%
Equity method investment, approximate market value						36,369,000	2,843,568,000	36,146,000	2,797,704,000
Equity-method investments, other than temporary impairment	0	0
Purchases of equity and cost method investments	10,304,000	0		6,750,000	3,554,000
Cost-method investments, other than temporary impairment	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Stock-Based Compensation (Stock Option Activity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised [Abstract]
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 17,161	$ 25,061
Options Granted At Discount [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options outstanding, Beginning Balance, Underlying Shares	398,859
Granted, Underlying Shares	0
Canceled, Underlying Shares	(600)
Exercised, Underlying Shares	(78,147)
Options outstanding, Ending Balance, Underlying Shares	320,112
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options outstanding, Beginning Balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 19.72
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 0.00
Canceled, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 14.70
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 20.06
Options outstanding, Ending Balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 20.34
Options, Exercisable, Number of Shares and Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options exercisable, Underlying Shares	320,112
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 20.34
Option Grants Excluding Options Granted at Discount [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options outstanding, Beginning Balance, Underlying Shares	818,552
Granted, Underlying Shares	0
Canceled, Underlying Shares	(22,304)
Exercised, Underlying Shares	(301,761)
Options outstanding, Ending Balance, Underlying Shares	494,487
Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options outstanding, Beginning Balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 22.76
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 0.00
Canceled, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 39.77
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 16.71
Options outstanding, Ending Balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 26.19
Options, Exercisable, Number of Shares and Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Options exercisable, Underlying Shares	438,864
Options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 22.22

XML

Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Unrealized Gains on Trading Securities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Unrealized gains (losses), net	$ 337	$ (810)

XML

Liability for Vacant Office Space (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Liability for Vacant Office Space

The following table shows the change in our liability for vacant office space from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012:

Liability for vacant office space	($000)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	919
Reduction of liability for lease and other related payments	(768		)
Balance as of September 30, 2012	$	151

XML

Stock-Based Compensation (Excess Tax Benefits Related to Stock-Based Compensation) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation	$ 459	$ 1,450	$ 5,007	$ 7,621

XML

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

In addition, effective January 1, 2012, we adopted FASB ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. ASU No. 2011-04 clarifies existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, amends certain fair value measurement principles, and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of ASU No. 2011-04 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Our segment accounting policies are the same as those described in Note 3, except for the capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions. We exclude these items from our operating segment results to provide our chief operating decision maker with a better indication of each segment’s ability to generate cash flow. This information is one of the criteria used by our chief operating decision maker in determining how to allocate resources to each segment. We include capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions in the Corporate Items category. Our segment disclosures are consistent with the business segment information provided to our chief operating decision maker on a recurring basis; for that reason, we don’t present balance sheet information by segment. We disclose goodwill by segment in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC 350-20-50, Intangibles - Goodwill - Disclosure

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We account for our investments in accordance with FASB ASC 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities. We classify our investments in three categories: available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, and trading. We monitor the concentration, diversification, maturity, and liquidity of our investment portfolio, which is primarily invested in fixed-income securities, and classify our investment portfolio as shown below:

XML

Stock-Based Compensation (Shares Available For Future Grants) (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Shares available for future grants	4,760

XML

Segment and Geographical Area Information Segment and Geographical Area Information (External Revenue and Long-Lived Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	$ 160,952	$ 160,051	$ 487,679	$ 472,829
Long-lived assets	77,873		77,873		68,196
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	114,021	112,790	346,442	334,395
Long-lived assets	54,060		54,060		44,572
Non United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	46,931	47,261	141,237	138,434
Long-lived assets	23,813		23,813		23,624
United Kingdom
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	13,711	13,588	42,160	40,382
Long-lived assets	7,611		7,611		7,512
Europe, excluding the United Kingdom
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	11,643	12,609	35,980	36,750
Long-lived assets	2,429		2,429		2,629
Australia
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	10,090	10,614	29,230	30,600
Long-lived assets	1,519		1,519		1,415
Canada
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	7,605	6,723	22,351	20,124
Long-lived assets	1,853		1,853		2,076
Asia, excluding Japan
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	2,420	2,358	7,156	6,760
Long-lived assets	10,033		10,033		9,656
Japan
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	924	1,032	2,889	2,922
Long-lived assets	207		207		282
Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
External revenue	538	337	1,471	896
Long-lived assets	$ 161		$ 161		$ 54

XML

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 318,492
Other, primarily currency translation	2,642
Goodwill, Ending Balance	321,134
Goodwill impairment loss	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule of Unrecognized Stock-based Compensation Expense) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Months
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	$ 36,144
Expected amortization period (months)	33
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	30,356
Expected amortization period (months)	33
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	4,587
Expected amortization period (months)	31
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	$ 1,201
Expected amortization period (months)	30

XML

Share Repurchase Program (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Common stock, dividends, per share, declared		$ 0.10	$ 0.05	$ 0.30	$ 0.15
Share repurchase program, authorized amount	$ 100,000,000
Increase to share repurchase rogram, authorized amount						200,000,000
Shares repurchased, program life to date, shares		3,964,411		3,964,411
Shares repurchased, program life to date, value		$ 231,553,933		$ 231,553,933

XML

Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value of Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Government Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	$ 54,725	$ 138,769
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	63,457	61,323
Commercial Paper [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	4,997	29,959
Equity Securities and Exchange-traded Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	30,941	8,271
Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	11,397	9,595
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading securities, fair value	5,434	5,491
Cash equivalents, fair value	20,468	30,818
Total investments, fair value	191,419	284,226
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Government Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	54,725	138,769
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	63,457	61,323
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	4,997	29,959
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Equity Securities and Exchange-traded Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	30,941	8,271
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	11,397	9,595
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading securities, fair value	5,434	5,491
Cash equivalents, fair value	20,468	30,818
Total investments, fair value	68,240	54,175
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Government Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Equity Securities and Exchange-traded Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	30,941	8,271
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	11,397	9,595
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading securities, fair value	0	0
Cash equivalents, fair value	0	0
Total investments, fair value	123,179	230,051
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Government Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	54,725	138,769
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	63,457	61,323
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	4,997	29,959
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity Securities and Exchange-traded Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading securities, fair value	0	0
Cash equivalents, fair value	0	0
Total investments, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Government Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Equity Securities and Exchange-traded Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating activities
Consolidated net income	$ 75,033	$ 70,296
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	31,616	31,712
Deferred income taxes	492	(1,559)
Stock-based compensation expense	11,594	11,443
Provision for bad debt	990	1,076
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	(1,541)	(1,397)
Excess tax benefits from stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units	(5,007)	(7,621)
Other, net	342	1,607
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(6,569)	(403)
Other assets	(3,551)	1,996
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,316)	(5,275)
Accrued compensation	(20,851)	(3,242)
Income taxes- current	7,220	9,442
Deferred revenue	7,684	618
Deferred rent	291	(984)
Other liabilities	(1,111)	(1,393)
Cash provided by operating activities	92,316	106,316
Investing activities
Purchases of investments	(134,929)	(298,876)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments	216,350	222,599
Capital expenditures	(22,876)	(14,689)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	300
Purchases of equity and cost method investments	10,304	0
Other, net	(4)	875
Cash used for investing activities	48,237	(89,791)
Financing activities
Proceeds from stock-option exercises, net	2,760	6,630
Excess tax benefits from stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units	5,007	7,621
Common shares repurchased	(183,698)	(28,526)
Dividends paid	(14,867)	(7,539)
Other, net	(18)	(363)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(190,816)	(22,177)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,007	(254)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(48,256)	(5,906)
Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of period	200,437	180,176
Cash and cash equivalents-end of period	152,181	174,270
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes	33,163	28,437
Supplemental information of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available For Sale Investments	$ 2,221	$ (2,598)

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Subsequent Events (Details) (Disposal of businesses [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 30, 2012
Minimum [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal, pretax	$ 6
Maximum [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal, pretax	$ 7

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Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Classification of Securities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Available-for-sale	$ 165,517	$ 247,917
Held-to-maturity	19,948	16,347
Trading securities	5,434	5,491
Total	$ 190,899	$ 269,755

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Income Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The following table shows how we reconcile our net income and the number of shares used in computing basic and diluted income per share:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Basic net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Net income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:	$	27,070		$	21,380		$	75,095		$	70,402
Less: Distributed earnings available to participating securities	(12		)	(8		)	(39		)	(25		)
Less: Undistributed earnings available to participating securities	(53		)	(57		)	(144		)	(189		)
Numerator for basic net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,315		$	74,912		$	70,188
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975			50,278			49,028			50,082
Basic net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	0.56		$	0.42		$	1.53		$	1.40
Diluted net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Numerator for basic net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,315		$	74,912		$	70,188
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	53			57			144			189
Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities	(53		)	(56		)	(142		)	(186		)
Numerator for diluted net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,316		$	74,914		$	70,191
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975			50,278			49,028			50,082
Net effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units	506			845			636			989
Weighted average common shares outstanding for computing diluted income per share	48,481			51,123			49,664			51,071
Diluted net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	0.56		$	0.42		$	1.51		$	1.37

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Acquisitions, Goodwill, and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill

The following table shows the changes in our goodwill balances from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012:

	($000)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	318,492
Net change, primarily currency translation	2,642
Balance as of September 30, 2012	$	321,134

Schedule of Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes our intangible assets: 

	As of September 30, 2012								As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Useful  Life (years)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Useful  Life (years)
Intellectual property	$	32,343	$	(22,488	)	$	9,855	9	$	32,293	$	(20,455	)	$	11,838	9
Customer-related assets	135,772		(62,763		)	73,009		12	134,396		(52,611		)	81,785		12
Supplier relationships	240		(93		)	147		20	240		(84		)	156		20
Technology-based assets	81,308		(41,735		)	39,573		9	80,694		(35,130		)	45,564		9
Non-competition agreement	1,766		(1,518		)	248		4	1,751		(1,285		)	466		4
Total intangible assets	$	251,429	$	(128,597	)	$	122,832	10	$	249,374	$	(109,565	)	$	139,809	10

Schedule of Intangible Asset, Amortization Expense

The following table summarizes our amortization expense related to intangible assets:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Amortization expense	$	5,941	$	6,894	$	17,972	$	20,039

Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense

We expect intangible amortization expense for 2012 and subsequent years as follows:

	($000)
2012	$	24,048
2013	21,317
2014	20,058
2015	19,186
2016	14,564
2017	9,954

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Stock-Based Compensation (Additional Information on Options) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Closing stock price used to calculate intrinsic value	$ 62.64
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Expiration Date	10 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	4 years
Range One [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices	$8.57 - $14.70
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Limit	$ 8.57
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Limit	$ 14.70
Options Outstanding, Number of Options	140,153
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	0.57
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 8.58
Options Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 7,576
Options Exercisable, Exercisable Shares	140,153
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	0.57
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 8.58
Options Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	7,576
Range Two [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices	$20.30 - $46.29
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Limit	$ 20.30
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Limit	$ 46.29
Options Outstanding, Number of Options	600,771
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	2.42
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 23.35
Options Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	23,604
Options Exercisable, Exercisable Shares	600,771
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	2.42
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 23.35
Options Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	23,604
Range Three [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices	$57.28 - $59.35
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Limit	$ 57.28
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Limit	$ 59.35
Options Outstanding, Number of Options	73,675
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	8.79
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 57.45
Options Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	383
Options Exercisable, Exercisable Shares	18,052
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	8.75
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 57.28
Options Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	97
Range Four [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices	$8.57 - $59.35
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Limit	$ 8.57
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Limit	$ 59.35
Options Outstanding, Number of Options	814,599
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	2.68
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 23.89
Options Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	31,563
Options Exercisable, Exercisable Shares	758,976
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	2.23
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 21.43
Options Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	31,277
Vested or Expected to Vest [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Limit	$ 8.57
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Limit	$ 59.35
Vested or Expected to Vest, Range of Exercise Prices	$8.57 - $59.35
Vested or Expected to Vest, Number of Options	814,599
Vested or Expected to Vest, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	2.68
Vested or Expected to Vest, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 23.89
Vested or Expected to Vest, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 31,563

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Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Gains (Losses) on Investments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Available-for-sale:
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	$ 163,790		$ 248,411
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Gain	3,165		819
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Loss	(1,438)		(1,313)
Available-for-sale securities, Current	165,517		247,917
Held-to-maturity:
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost	19,948		16,347
Held-to-maturity securities, Unrecognized Gain	0		0
Held-to-maturity securities, Unrecognized Loss	0		0
Held-to-maturity securities, Current	19,948		16,347
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss) [Abstract]
Available-for-sale securities, realized gains	689	270
Available-for-sale securities, realized losses	(741)	0
Available-for-sale securities, realized gains (losses), net	(52)	270
Government Obligations [Member]
Available-for-sale:
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	55,300		139,099
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Gain	47		72
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Loss	(622)		(402)
Available-for-sale securities, Fair Value	54,725		138,769
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Available-for-sale:
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	63,810		61,589
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Gain	78		14
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Loss	(431)		(280)
Available-for-sale securities, Fair Value	63,457		61,323
Commercial Paper [Member]
Available-for-sale:
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	4,995		29,964
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Gain	2		2
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Loss	0		(7)
Available-for-sale securities, Fair Value	4,997		29,959
Equity Securities and Exchange-traded Funds [Member]
Available-for-sale:
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	29,325		8,461
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Gain	1,962		368
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Loss	(346)		(558)
Available-for-sale securities, Fair Value	30,941		8,271
Mutual Funds [Member]
Available-for-sale:
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	10,360		9,298
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Gain	1,076		363
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized Loss	(39)		(66)
Available-for-sale securities, Fair Value	$ 11,397		$ 9,595

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Segment and Geographical Area Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

The following tables present information about our operating segments and by geographical area:

	Three months ended September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	129,357	$	31,595	$	—		$	160,952
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	85,366		16,145		4,761			106,272
Stock-based compensation expense	2,738		577		679			3,994
Depreciation and amortization	2,296		31		8,495			10,822
Operating income (loss)	$	38,957	$	14,842	$	(13,935	)	$	39,864
U.S. capital expenditures								$	3,066
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	1,888
	Three months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	125,804	$	34,247	$	—		$	160,051
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	89,652		15,587		6,050			111,289
Stock-based compensation expense	2,609		556		786			3,951
Depreciation and amortization	2,117		42		8,788			10,947
Operating income (loss)	$	31,426	$	18,062	$	(15,624	)	$	33,864
U.S. capital expenditures								$	4,560
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	1,711
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	391,031	$	96,648	$	—		$	487,679
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	265,719		49,277		18,074			333,070
Stock-based compensation expense	7,828		1,657		2,109			11,594
Depreciation and amortization	6,840		108		24,668			31,616
Operating income (loss)	$	110,644	$	45,606	$	(44,851	)	$	111,399
U.S. capital expenditures								$	17,280
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	5,596

	Nine months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	374,319	$	98,510	$	—		$	472,829
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	259,899		43,258		22,237			325,394
Stock-based compensation expense	7,567		1,529		2,347			11,443
Depreciation and amortization	6,023		124		25,565			31,712
Operating income (loss)	$	100,830	$	53,599	$	(50,149	)	$	104,280
U.S. capital expenditures								$	8,084
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	6,605

	As of September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items		Total
Goodwill	$	279,451	$	41,683	$	—	$	321,134

	As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items		Total
Goodwill	$	277,059	$	41,433	$	—	$	318,492

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas [Table Text Block]

External revenue by geographical area
	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
United States	$	114,021	$	112,790	$	346,442	$	334,395
United Kingdom	13,711		13,588		42,160		40,382
Europe, excluding the United Kingdom	11,643		12,609		35,980		36,750
Australia	10,090		10,614		29,230		30,600
Canada	7,605		6,723		22,351		20,124
Asia, excluding Japan	2,420		2,358		7,156		6,760
Japan	924		1,032		2,889		2,922
Other	538		337		1,471		896
Total Non-U.S.	46,931		47,261		141,237		138,434
Total	$	160,952	$	160,051	$	487,679	$	472,829

Long-lived assets by geographical area
	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
United States	$	54,060	$	44,572
United Kingdom	7,611		7,512
Europe, excluding the United Kingdom	2,429		2,629
Australia	1,519		1,415
Canada	1,853		2,076
Asia, excluding Japan	10,033		9,656
Japan	207		282
Other	161		54
Total Non-U.S.	23,813		23,624
Total	$	77,873	$	68,196

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Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Investments

We monitor the concentration, diversification, maturity, and liquidity of our investment portfolio, which is primarily invested in fixed-income securities, and classify our investment portfolio as shown below:

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Available-for-sale	$	165,517	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity	19,948		16,347
Trading securities	5,434		5,491
Total	$	190,899	$	269,755

Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

The following table shows the cost, unrealized gains (losses), and fair values related to investments classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity:

	As of September 30, 2012									As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value		Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Government obligations	$	55,300	$	47	$	(622	)	$	54,725	$	139,099	$	72	$	(402	)	$	138,769
Corporate bonds	63,810		78		(431		)	63,457		61,589		14		(280		)	61,323
Commercial paper	4,995		2		—			4,997		29,964		2		(7		)	29,959
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	29,325		1,962		(346		)	30,941		8,461		368		(558		)	8,271
Mutual funds	10,360		1,076		(39		)	11,397		9,298		363		(66		)	9,595
Total	$	163,790	$	3,165	$	(1,438	)	$	165,517	$	248,411	$	819	$	(1,313	)	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity:
Certificates of deposit	$	19,948	$	—	$	—		$	19,948	$	16,347	$	—	$	—		$	16,347

Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date

The expected maturities of certain fixed-income securities may differ from their contractual maturities because some of these holdings have call features that allow the issuers the right to prepay obligations without penalties.

	As of September 30, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Due in one year or less	$	107,770	$	106,979	$	155,651	$	155,247
Due in one to two years	16,061		15,938		75,001		74,804
Due in more than two years	274		262		—		—
Equity securities, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds	39,685		42,338		17,759		17,866
Total	$	163,790	$	165,517	$	248,411	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity:
Due in one year or less	$	19,942	$	19,942	$	16,342	$	16,342
Due in one to three years	6		6		5		5
Total	$	19,948	$	19,948	$	16,347	$	16,347

Schedule of Realized Gain (Loss) on Available-For-Sale Securities

The following table shows the realized gains and losses arising from sales of our investments classified as available-for-sale recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income: 

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011
Realized gains	$	689		$	270
Realized losses	(741		)	—
Realized gains (losses), net	$	(52	)	$	270

Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Trading Securities

The following table shows the net unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities as recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011
Unrealized gains (losses), net	$	337	$	(810	)

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis

The fair value of our assets subject to fair value measurements and that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using the fair value hierarchy and the necessary disclosures under FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, are as follows:

	Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2012
	as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
($000)	September 30, 2012		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale investments:
Government obligations	$	54,725	$	—	$	54,725	$	—
Corporate bonds	63,457		—		63,457		—
Commercial paper	4,997		—		4,997		—
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	30,941		30,941		—		—
Mutual funds	11,397		11,397		—		—
Trading securities	5,434		5,434		—		—
Cash equivalents	20,468		20,468		—		—
Total	$	191,419	$	68,240	$	123,179	$	—

	Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2011
	as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
($000)	December 31, 2011		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale investments:
Government obligations	$	138,769	$	—	$	138,769	$	—
Corporate bonds	61,323		—		61,323		—
Commercial paper	29,959		—		29,959		—
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	8,271		8,271		—		—
Mutual funds	9,595		9,595		—		—
Trading securities	5,491		5,491		—		—
Cash equivalents	30,818		30,818		—		—
Total	$	284,226	$	54,175	$	230,051	$	—

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Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Tax	$ 794
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment for Sale of Securities Included in Net Income, Tax	$ 19

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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities [Abstract]

Schedule of Equity Method And Cost Method Investments

Our investments in unconsolidated entities consist primarily of the following:

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Investment in MJKK	$	20,085	$	19,662
Other equity method investments	6,185		2,807
Investments accounted for using the cost method	12,008		5,173
Total investments in unconsolidated entities	$	38,278	$	27,642

Schedule of Equity Method Investments

The following table summarizes our ownership percentage in MJKK and the market value of this investment based on MJKK’s publicly quoted share price: 

	As of September 30			As of December 31
	2012			2011
Morningstar’s approximate ownership of MJKK	34		%	33		%
Approximate market value of Morningstar’s ownership in MJKK:
Japanese yen (¥000)	¥	2,843,568		¥	2,797,704
Equivalent U.S. dollars ($000)	$	36,369		$	36,146

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Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$ 27,070	$ 21,380	$ 75,095	$ 70,402
Less: Distributed Earnings Available to Participating Securities	(12)	(8)	(39)	(25)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(53)	(57)	(144)	(189)
Numerator for basic net income per share - undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	27,005	21,315	74,912	70,188
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975	50,278	49,028	50,082
Basic net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$ 0.56	$ 0.42	$ 1.53	$ 1.40
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Numerator for basic net income per share - undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	27,005	21,315	74,912	70,188
Add: Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Participating Securities	53	57	144	189
Less: Undistributed Earnings Reallocated to Participating Securities	(53)	(56)	(142)	(186)
Numerator for diluted net income per share - undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$ 27,005	$ 21,316	$ 74,914	$ 70,191
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975	50,278	49,028	50,082
Net effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units	506	845	636	989
Weighted average common shares outstanding for computing diluted income per share	48,481	51,123	49,664	51,071
Diluted net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$ 0.56	$ 0.42	$ 1.51	$ 1.37

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Stock-Based Compensation (Restricted Stock Units Activity) (Details) (Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested [Roll Forward]
RSUs outstanding, Beginning Balance, Unvested	741,043
RSUs outstanding, Beginning Balance, Vested but Deferred	20,076
RSUs outstanding, Beginning Balance, Total	761,119
RSUs outstanding, Beginning Balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Valueper RSU	$ 50.66
Granted, Unvested	293,609
Granted, Total	293,609
Granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Valueper RSU	$ 55.39
Dividend equivalents, Unvested	3,720
Dividend equivalents, Vestedd but Deferred	130
Dividend equivalents, Total	3,850
Dividend equivalents, Weighted Average Grant Date Valueper RSU	$ 51.32
Vested, Unvested	(253,338)
Vested, Total	(253,338)
Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Valueper RSU	$ 50.70
Vested but deferred, Unvested	1,424
Vested but deferred, Vested but Deferred	(1,424)
Vested but deferred, Total	0
Issued, Vested but Deferred	0
Issued, Total	0
Issued, Weighted Average Grant Date Valueper RSU	$ 0.00
Forfeited, Unvested	(66,395)
Forfeited, Total	(66,395)
Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant Date Valueper RSU	$ 50.17
RSUs outstanding, Ending Balance, Unvested	720,063
RSUs outstanding, Ending Balance, Vested but Deferred	18,782
RSUs outstanding, Ending Balance, Total	738,845
RSUs outstanding, Ending Balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Valueper RSU	$ 52.59

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue	$ 160,952		$ 160,051		$ 487,679	$ 472,829
Operating expense (1):
Cost of goods sold	47,711	[1]	48,074	[1]	147,479	133,929
Development	12,857	[1]	13,482	[1]	38,664	39,151
Sales and marketing	25,732	[1]	27,253	[1]	81,431	80,502
General and administrative	23,966	[1]	26,431	[1]	77,090	83,255
Depreciation and amortization	10,822	[1]	10,947	[1]	31,616	31,712
Total operating expense	121,088	[1]	126,187	[1]	376,280	368,549
Operating income (loss)	39,864		33,864		111,399	104,280
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest income (expense), net	1,719		797		3,848	1,142
Other income (expense), net	161		(1,376)		(314)	(938)
Non-operating income (expense), net	1,880		(579)		3,534	204
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	41,744		33,285		114,933	104,484
Income tax expense	15,186		12,343		41,441	35,585
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	478		428		1,541	1,397
Consolidated net income	27,036		21,370		75,033	70,296
Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	34		10		62	106
Net income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$ 27,070		$ 21,380		$ 75,095	$ 70,402
Net income per share attributable to:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56		$ 0.42		$ 1.53	$ 1.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56		$ 0.42		$ 1.51	$ 1.37
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.10		$ 0.05		$ 0.30	$ 0.15
Dividends paid per common share	$ 0.10		$ 0.05		$ 0.30	$ 0.15
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	47,975		50,278		49,028	50,082
Diluted (in shares)	48,481		51,123		49,664	51,071

[1] Three months ended September 30 Nine months ended September 30 2012 2011 2012 2011(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of: Cost of goods sold $1,148 $1,117 $3,304 $3,068Development 471 545 1,435 1,588Sales and marketing 493 489 1,433 1,392General and administrative 1,882 1,800 5,422 5,395Total stock-based compensation expense $3,994 $3,951 $11,594 $11,443

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Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Cost and Fair Value of Investments Classified by Maturity) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale securities, Due in one year or less, Cost	$ 107,770,000	$ 155,651,000
Available-for-sale securities, Due in one year or less, Fair Vlaue	106,979,000	155,247,000
Available-for-sale securities, Due in one to two years, Cost	16,061,000	75,001,000
Available-for-sale securities, Due in one to two years, Fair Value	15,938,000	74,804,000
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Two Years Amortized Cost Basis	274,000	0
Available For Sale Securities Debit Maturities More than Two Years Fair Value	262,000	0
Available-for-sale securities, Equity securities, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds, Cost	39,685,000	17,759,000
Available-for-sale securities, Equity securities, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds, Fair Value	42,338,000	17,866,000
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	163,790,000	248,411,000
Available-for-sale securities, Current	165,517,000	247,917,000
Held-to-maturity Securities, Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Held-to-maturity securities, Due in one year or less, Cost	19,942,000	16,342,000
Held-to-maturity securities, Due within one year or less, Fair Value	19,942,000	16,342,000
Held-to-maturity securities, Due in one to three years, Cost	6,000	5,000
Held-to-maturity securities, Due in one to three years, Fair Value	6,000	5,000
Held-to-maturity securities, Cost	19,948,000	16,347,000
Held-to-maturity securities, Current	19,948,000	16,347,000
Certificate of deposit held as collateral against Australia office lease	$ 1,500,000	$ 1,600,000

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	$ 723	$ 835
Common Stock, No Par Value	$ 0	$ 0
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	47,479,142	50,083,940
Treasury Stock, Shares	4,125,568	980,177

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Income Taxes (Income Tax Reconciliation and Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Income Tax Reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	$ 41,744	$ 33,285	$ 114,933	$ 104,484
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	478	428	1,541	1,397
Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	34	10	62	106
Total	42,256	33,723	116,536	105,987
Income tax expense	15,186	12,343	41,441	35,585
Effective income tax rate	35.90%	36.60%	35.60%	33.60%
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, change in percentage points compared with prior year period	(0.7)		2.0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract]
Current liabilities	4,971		4,971		5,329
Non-current liabilities	6,278		6,278		6,200
Total liability for unrecognized tax benefits	$ 11,249		$ 11,249		$ 11,529

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Income Taxes (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation

The following table shows our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	$	41,744		$	33,285		$	114,933		$	104,484
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	478			428			1,541			1,397
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	34			10			62			106
Total	$	42,256		$	33,723		$	116,536		$	105,987
Income tax expense	$	15,186		$	12,343		$	41,441		$	35,585
Effective tax rate	35.9		%	36.6		%	35.6		%	33.6		%

Schedule of Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The table below provides information concerning our gross unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The table also provides the effect these gross unrecognized tax benefits would have on our income tax expense, if they were recognized.

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	$	11,732	$	12,189
Gross unrecognized tax benefits that would affect income tax expense	$	11,674	$	11,907
Decrease in income tax expense upon recognition of gross unrecognized tax benefits	$	9,543	$	9,827

Schedule of Liabilities for Unrecognized Tax Benefits

Our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits. These amounts include interest and penalties, less any associated tax benefits.

	As of September 30		As of December 31
Liabilities for Unrecognized Tax Benefits ($000)	2012		2011
Current liability	$	4,971	$	5,329
Non-current liability	6,278		6,200
Total liability for unrecognized tax benefits	$	11,249	$	11,529

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Share Repurchase Program

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]

Share Repurchase Program Disclosure [Text Block]

Share Repurchase Program

In September 2010, the board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $100 million in shares of our outstanding common stock. In December 2011, the board approved an increase to the 2010 share repurchase program. The board approval authorized the company to repurchase up to an additional $200 million in shares of our outstanding common stock with a revised expiration date of December 31, 2013. We may repurchase shares from time to time at prevailing market prices on the open market or in private transactions at our discretion. As of September 30, 2012, we had repurchased a total of 3,964,411 shares for $231,553,933 under this authorization.

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Correction (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Purchases of investments	$ (134,929)	$ (298,876)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments	216,350	222,599
Cash used for investing activities	48,237	(89,791)
Previously Reported [Member]
Purchases of investments		(281,698)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments		205,421
Cash used for investing activities		(89,791)
Correction [Member]
Purchases of investments		(17,178)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments		17,178
Cash used for investing activities		$ 0

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Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events

In October 2012, we sold Morningstar Investor Relations Services to UK-based Investis, a leading specialist in digital corporate communications for public companies. In October 2012, we also sold the Morningstar Australasia trade publishing assets to Sterling Publishing Pty Ltd. We have not reclassified the operating results of these businesses, included as part of our Investment Information segment, to discontinued operations, nor have we reclassified the related assets and liabilities to held for disposition, because these amounts are not significant to our consolidated statements or segment disclosures. We expect to include a gain of approximately $6 million to $7 million on the disposal of these businesses in our fourth quarter and full-year 2012 results.

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Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non Controlling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 857,016	$ 5	$ (46,701)	$ 491,432	$ 409,022	$ 1,612	$ 1,646
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	50,083,940	50,083,940
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net Income (Loss)	75,033				75,095		(62)
Other Comprehensive Income (loss)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments, net of income tax of $189	1,394					1,394	0
Reclassification of adjustments for losses (gains) included in net income, net of income tax of $16	33					33	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net	5,597					5,612	(15)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	7,024					7,039	(15)
Issuance of common stock related to stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units, net	2,760	0	1,114	1,646
Issuance of common stock related to stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units, net (in shares)		561,276
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition
Stock-based compensation - restricted stock units	9,944			9,944
Stock-based compensation - restricted stock	1,332			1,332
Stock-based compensation - stock options	318			318
Excess tax benefit derived from stock-option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units	5,007			5,007
Common share repurchased	(187,098)		(187,098)
Common share repurchased (in shares)		(3,166,074)
Dividends declared - common shares outstanding	(14,587)				(14,587)
Dividends declared - restricted stock units	(18)			217	(235)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 756,731	$ 5	$ (232,685)	$ 509,896	$ 469,295	$ 8,651	$ 1,569
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	47,479,142	47,479,142

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of:
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 3,994	$ 3,951	$ 11,594	$ 11,443
Cost of Sales
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of:
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	1,148	1,117	3,304	3,068
Development
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of:
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	471	545	1,435	1,588
Sales and Marketing
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of:
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	493	489	1,433	1,392
General and Administrative
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of:
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 1,882	$ 1,800	$ 5,422	$ 5,395

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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities [Abstract]

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

Our investments in unconsolidated entities consist primarily of the following:

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Investment in MJKK	$	20,085	$	19,662
Other equity method investments	6,185		2,807
Investments accounted for using the cost method	12,008		5,173
Total investments in unconsolidated entities	$	38,278	$	27,642

Morningstar Japan K.K.Morningstar Japan K.K. (MJKK) develops and markets products and services customized for the Japanese market. MJKK’s shares are traded on the Osaka Stock Exchange, “Hercules Market,” using the ticker 4765. We account for our investment in MJKK using the equity method. The following table summarizes our ownership percentage in MJKK and the market value of this investment based on MJKK’s publicly quoted share price: 

	As of September 30			As of December 31
	2012			2011
Morningstar’s approximate ownership of MJKK	34		%	33		%
Approximate market value of Morningstar’s ownership in MJKK:
Japanese yen (¥000)	¥	2,843,568		¥	2,797,704
Equivalent U.S. dollars ($000)	$	36,369		$	36,146

OtherEquity Method Investments. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, other equity method investments consist of our investment in Morningstar Sweden AB (Morningstar Sweden) and YCharts, Inc. (YCharts). Morningstar Sweden develops and markets products and services customized for investors in Sweden. Our ownership interest in Morningstar Sweden was approximately 24% as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. YCharts is a technology company that provides stock research and analysis. Our ownership interest in YCharts was approximately 20% as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. As of September 30, 2012, other equity method investments also includes our investment in Inquiry Financial Europe AB (Inquiry Financial). In September 2012, we acquired a minority equity stake in Inquiry Financial for $3,554,000. Inquiry Financial is a provider of sell-side consensus estimate data. Our ownership interest in Inquiry Financial was approximately 34% as of September 30, 2012.

We did not record any impairment losses on our equity method investments in the first nine months of 2012 or 2011.

Cost Method Investments.As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our cost method investments consist of minority investments in Pitchbook Data, Inc. (Pitchbook) and Bundle Corporation (Bundle). As of September 30, 2012, our cost method investments also include HelloWallet LLC (HelloWallet). Pitchbook offers detailed data and information about private equity transactions, investors, companies, limited partners, and service providers. Bundle is a social media company dedicated to helping people make smarter spending and saving choices. HelloWallet is a provider of personalized financial guidance to employees of Fortune 1000 companies. We paid approximately $6,750,000 for the minority equity stake in HelloWallet in the first quarter of 2012. We did not record any impairment losses on our cost method investments in the first nine months of 2012 or 2011.

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Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 26, 2012
Document and Entity Information Abstract
Entity Registrant Name	MORNINGSTAR, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001289419
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		47,131,295

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Liability for Vacant Office Space

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Liability for Vacant Office Space

Liability for Vacant Office Space

We include our liability for vacant office space in "Accounts payable and accrued liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities," as appropriate, on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table shows the change in our liability for vacant office space from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012:

Liability for vacant office space	($000)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	919
Reduction of liability for lease and other related payments	(768		)
Balance as of September 30, 2012	$	151

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidated net income	$ 27,036	$ 21,370	$ 75,033	$ 70,296
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7,375	(12,570)	5,597	(6)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period	1,026	(1,871)	1,394	(1,472)
Reclassification of adjustments for (gains) losses included in net income	0	81	33	(171)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	8,401	(14,360)	7,024	(1,649)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	35,437	7,010	82,057	68,647
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	16	(47)	77	52
Comprehensive income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$ 35,453	$ 6,963	$ 82,134	$ 68,699

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The following table shows the changes in our goodwill balances from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012:

	($000)
Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	318,492
Net change, primarily currency translation	2,642
Balance as of September 30, 2012	$	321,134

We did not record any significant impairment losses in the first nine months of 2012 or 2011. We perform our annual impairment reviews in the fourth quarter.

Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes our intangible assets: 

	As of September 30, 2012								As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Useful  Life (years)	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Useful  Life (years)
Intellectual property	$	32,343	$	(22,488	)	$	9,855	9	$	32,293	$	(20,455	)	$	11,838	9
Customer-related assets	135,772		(62,763		)	73,009		12	134,396		(52,611		)	81,785		12
Supplier relationships	240		(93		)	147		20	240		(84		)	156		20
Technology-based assets	81,308		(41,735		)	39,573		9	80,694		(35,130		)	45,564		9
Non-competition agreement	1,766		(1,518		)	248		4	1,751		(1,285		)	466		4
Total intangible assets	$	251,429	$	(128,597	)	$	122,832	10	$	249,374	$	(109,565	)	$	139,809	10

The following table summarizes our amortization expense related to intangible assets:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Amortization expense	$	5,941	$	6,894	$	17,972	$	20,039

We amortize intangible assets using the straight-line method over their expected economic useful lives.

We expect intangible amortization expense for 2012 and subsequent years as follows:

	($000)
2012	$	24,048
2013	21,317
2014	20,058
2015	19,186
2016	14,564
2017	9,954

Our estimates of future amortization expense for intangible assets may be affected by acquisitions, dispositions, changes in the estimated average useful life, and currency translations.

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Correction

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Correction

In 2012, we identified errors related to purchases of investments and proceeds from maturities and sales of investments included on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 that had not been previously detected. We did not properly disclose the correct amount for both categories by equal, but offsetting, amounts. The financial statements have been corrected to increase the purchases of investments and proceeds from maturities and sales of investments as shown in the table below. The error existed in the first quarter of 2012, but did not exist in the cumulative statement as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

The following tables shows our previously reported amounts, the correction, and our as corrected amounts:

	Nine months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Previously Reported			Correction			As Corrected
Investing Activities
Purchases of investments	$	(281,698	)	$	(17,178	)	$	(298,876	)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments	$	205,421		$	17,178		$	222,599
Cash used for investing activities	$	(89,791	)	$	—		$	(89,791	)

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The objective of ASU No. 2011-08 is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. ASU No. 2011-08 provides an option for companies to use a qualitative approach to test goodwill for impairment if certain conditions are met. For Morningstar, the amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed in 2012. Early adoption will be permitted. We perform our annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter and do not expect the provisions of ASU No. 2011-08 to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Our shareholders approved the Morningstar 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2011 Plan) on May 17, 2011. As of that date, we stopped granting awards under the Morningstar 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2004 Plan). The 2004 Plan amended and restated the Morningstar 1993 Stock Option Plan, the Morningstar 2000 Stock Option Plan, and the Morningstar 2001 Stock Option Plan.

The 2011 Plan provides for a variety of stock-based awards, including, among other things, stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock. We granted stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock under the 2004 Plan.

All of our employees and our non-employee directors are eligible for awards under the 2011 Plan.

Grants awarded under the 2011 Plan or the 2004 Plan that are forfeited, canceled, settled, or otherwise terminated without a distribution of shares, or shares withheld by us in connection with the exercise of options, will be available for awards under the 2011 Plan. Any shares subject to awards under the 2011 Plan, but not under the 2004 Plan, that are withheld by us in connection with the payment of any required income tax withholding will be available for awards under the 2011 Plan.

The following table summarizes the number of shares available for future grants under our 2011 Plan:

	As of September 30
(000)	2012
Shares available for future grants	4,760

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Awards

The following table summarizes our stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit we recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Restricted stock units	$	3,396	$	3,372	$	9,944	$	9,489
Restricted stock	444		444		1,332		1,752
Stock options	154		135		318		202
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	3,994	$	3,951	$	11,594	$	11,443
Income tax benefit related to the stock-based compensation expense	$	931	$	967	$	2,735	$	2,636

The following table summarizes the amount of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense as of September 30, 2012 and the expected number of months over which the expense will be recognized:

	Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense ($000)		Expected amortization period (months)
Restricted stock units	$	30,356	33
Restricted stock	4,587		31
Stock options	1,201		30
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	$	36,144	33

In accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, we estimate forfeitures of employee stock-based awards and recognize compensation cost only for those awards expected to vest. Our largest annual equity grants typically have vesting dates in the second quarter. We adjust the stock-based compensation expense during the third quarter to reflect those awards that ultimately vested and update our estimate of the forfeiture rate that will be applied to awards not yet vested.

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units represent the right to receive a share of Morningstar common stock when that unit vests. Restricted stock units to employees vest ratably over a four-year period. Restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors vest ratably over a three-year period. For restricted stock units granted through December 31, 2008, employees could elect to defer receipt of the Morningstar common stock issued upon vesting of the restricted stock unit.

We measure the fair value of our restricted stock units on the date of grant based on the closing market price of the underlying common stock on the day prior to grant. We amortize that value to stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period.

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity during the first nine months of 2012:

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Unvested		Vested but Deferred		Total		Weighted Average Grant Date Value per RSU
RSUs outstanding—December 31, 2011	741,043		20,076		761,119		$	50.66
Granted	293,609		—		293,609		55.39
Dividend equivalents	3,720		130		3,850		51.32
Vested	(253,338	)	—		(253,338	)	50.70
Vested but deferred	1,424		(1,424	)	—		—
Issued	—		—		—		—
Forfeited	(66,395	)	—		(66,395	)	50.17
RSUs outstanding—September 30, 2012	720,063		18,782		738,845		52.59

Restricted Stock

In conjunction with the Realpoint acquisition in May 2010, we issued 199,174 shares of restricted stock to the selling employee-shareholders under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The restricted stock vests ratably over a five-year period from the acquisition date and may be subject to forfeiture if the holder terminates his or her employment during the vesting period.

Because of the terms of the restricted stock agreements prepared in conjunction with the Realpoint acquisition, we account for the grant of restricted stock as stock-based compensation expense and not as part of the acquisition consideration.

We measured the fair value of the restricted stock on the date of grant based on the closing market price of our common stock on the day prior to the grant. We amortize the fair value of $9,363,000 to stock-based compensation expense over the vesting period. The stock-based compensation expense recorded in the first nine months of 2011 included approximately $396,000 of expense recognized upon the accelerated vesting of a restricted stock grant. We have assumed that all of the remaining restricted stock will ultimately vest, and therefore have not incorporated a forfeiture rate for purposes of determining the stock-based compensation expense.

Stock Options

Stock options granted to employees vest ratably over a four-year period. Grants to our non-employee directors vest ratably over a three-year period. All grants expire 10 years after the date of grant. Almost all of the options granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan have a premium feature in which the exercise price increases over the term of the option at a rate equal to the 10-year Treasury bond yield as of the date of grant. Options granted under the 2011 Plan have an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the grant date.

In May 2011, we granted 86,106 stock options under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. In November 2011, we granted 6,095 stock options under the 2011 Plan. We estimated the fair value of the options on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2011 was $23.81 per share, based on the following assumptions:

Assumptions for Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model
Expected life (years):	7.4
Volatility factor:	35.1	%
Dividend yield:	0.35	%
Interest rate:	2.87	%

The following tables summarize stock option activity in the first nine months of 2012 for our various stock option grants. The first table includes activity for options granted at an exercise price below the fair value per share of our common stock on the grant date; the second table includes activity for all other option grants. 

Options Granted At an Exercise Price Below the Fair Value Per Share on the Grant Date	Underlying Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding—December 31, 2011	398,859		$	19.72
Granted	—		—
Canceled	(600	)	14.70
Exercised	(78,147	)	20.06
Options outstanding—September 30, 2012	320,112		20.34
Options exercisable—September 30, 2012	320,112		$	20.34

All Other Option Grants, Excluding Activity Shown Above	Underlying Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding—December 31, 2011	818,552		$	22.76
Granted	—		—
Canceled	(22,304	)	39.77
Exercised	(301,761	)	16.71
Options outstanding—September 30, 2012	494,487		26.19
Options exercisable—September 30, 2012	438,864		$	22.22

The following table summarizes the total intrinsic value (difference between the market value of our stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option) of options exercised:

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$	17,161	$	25,061

The table below shows additional information for options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2012:

	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number of  Options	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)		Exercisable Shares	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)
$8.57 - $14.70	140,153	0.57	$	8.58	$	7,576	140,153	0.57	$	8.58	$	7,576
$20.30 - $46.29	600,771	2.42	23.35		23,604		600,771	2.42	23.35		23,604
$57.28 - $59.35	73,675	8.79	57.45		383		18,052	8.75	57.28		97
$8.57 - $59.35	814,599	2.68	23.89		$	31,563	758,976	2.23	21.43		$	31,277
Vested or Expected to Vest
$8.57 - $59.35	814,599	2.68	$	23.89	$	31,563

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value all option holders would have received if they had exercised all outstanding options on September 30, 2012. The intrinsic value is based on our closing stock price of $62.64 on that date.

Excess Tax Benefits Related to Stock-Based Compensation

FASB ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, requires that we classify the cash flows that result from excess tax benefits as financing cash flows. Excess tax benefits correspond to the portion of the tax deduction taken on our income tax return that exceeds the amount of tax benefit related to the compensation cost recognized in our Statement of Income. The following table summarizes our excess tax benefits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation	$	459	$	1,450	$	5,007	$	7,621

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Segment and Geographical Area Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment and Geographical Area Information

Segment and Geographical Area Information

Morningstar has two operating segments:

• Investment Information. The Investment Information segment includes all of our data, software, and research products and services. These products are typically sold through subscriptions or license agreements.

The largest products in this segment based on revenue are Morningstar Data (formerly Licensed Data), Morningstar Advisor Workstation (including Morningstar Office), Morningstar Direct, Morningstar.com, Morningstar Integrated Web Tools, and Morningstar Principia. Morningstar Data is a set of investment data spanning all of our investment databases, including real-time pricing and commodity data, and is available through electronic data feeds. Advisor Workstation is a web-based investment planning system for advisors. Advisor Workstation is available in two editions: Morningstar Office for independent financial advisors and an enterprise edition for financial advisors affiliated with larger firms. Morningstar Direct is a web-based institutional research platform. Morningstar.com includes both Premium Memberships and Internet advertising sales. Morningstar Integrated Web Tools is a set of services that helps institutional clients build customized websites or enhance their existing sites with Morningstar’s online tools and components. Principia is our CD-ROM-based investment research and planning software for advisors.

The Investment Information segment also includes Morningstar Equity Research, which we distribute through several channels. We sell Morningstar Equity Research to companies that purchase our research for their own use or provide our research to their affiliated advisors or individual investor clients.

The Investment Information segment also includes Morningstar Credit Research and Morningstar Structured Credit Ratings. The latter is provided by Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC, a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization specializing in structured finance. It offers securities ratings, research, surveillance services, and data to help institutional investors identify risk in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).

We also offer a variety of financial communications and newsletters, other institutional and advisor software, and investment indexes.

• Investment Management. The Investment Management segment includes all of our asset management operations, which earn the majority of their revenue from asset-based fees.

The key products and services in this segment based on revenue are Investment Advisory Services (formerly Investment Consulting), which focuses on investment monitoring and asset allocation for funds of funds, including mutual funds and variable annuities; Retirement Solutions, including the Morningstar Retirement Manager and Advice by Ibbotson platforms; and Morningstar Managed Portfolios, a fee-based discretionary asset management service that includes a series of mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, and stock portfolios tailored to meet a range of investment time horizons and risk levels that financial advisors can use for their clients' taxable and tax-deferred accounts. In addition, we offer Managed Portfolios through our subsidiary Ibbotson Australia which provides asset management services primarily to institutional clients and individual investors.

Our segment accounting policies are the same as those described in Note 3, except for the capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions. We exclude these items from our operating segment results to provide our chief operating decision maker with a better indication of each segment’s ability to generate cash flow. This information is one of the criteria used by our chief operating decision maker in determining how to allocate resources to each segment. We include capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions in the Corporate Items category. Our segment disclosures are consistent with the business segment information provided to our chief operating decision maker on a recurring basis; for that reason, we don’t present balance sheet information by segment. We disclose goodwill by segment in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC 350-20-50, Intangibles - Goodwill - Disclosure.

The following tables present information about our operating segments and by geographical area:

	Three months ended September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	129,357	$	31,595	$	—		$	160,952
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	85,366		16,145		4,761			106,272
Stock-based compensation expense	2,738		577		679			3,994
Depreciation and amortization	2,296		31		8,495			10,822
Operating income (loss)	$	38,957	$	14,842	$	(13,935	)	$	39,864
U.S. capital expenditures								$	3,066
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	1,888
	Three months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	125,804	$	34,247	$	—		$	160,051
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	89,652		15,587		6,050			111,289
Stock-based compensation expense	2,609		556		786			3,951
Depreciation and amortization	2,117		42		8,788			10,947
Operating income (loss)	$	31,426	$	18,062	$	(15,624	)	$	33,864
U.S. capital expenditures								$	4,560
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	1,711
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	391,031	$	96,648	$	—		$	487,679
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	265,719		49,277		18,074			333,070
Stock-based compensation expense	7,828		1,657		2,109			11,594
Depreciation and amortization	6,840		108		24,668			31,616
Operating income (loss)	$	110,644	$	45,606	$	(44,851	)	$	111,399
U.S. capital expenditures								$	17,280
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	5,596

	Nine months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items			Total
External revenue	$	374,319	$	98,510	$	—		$	472,829
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	259,899		43,258		22,237			325,394
Stock-based compensation expense	7,567		1,529		2,347			11,443
Depreciation and amortization	6,023		124		25,565			31,712
Operating income (loss)	$	100,830	$	53,599	$	(50,149	)	$	104,280
U.S. capital expenditures								$	8,084
Non-U.S. capital expenditures								$	6,605

	As of September 30, 2012
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items		Total
Goodwill	$	279,451	$	41,683	$	—	$	321,134

	As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Investment Information		Investment Management		Corporate Items		Total
Goodwill	$	277,059	$	41,433	$	—	$	318,492

External revenue by geographical area
	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
United States	$	114,021	$	112,790	$	346,442	$	334,395
United Kingdom	13,711		13,588		42,160		40,382
Europe, excluding the United Kingdom	11,643		12,609		35,980		36,750
Australia	10,090		10,614		29,230		30,600
Canada	7,605		6,723		22,351		20,124
Asia, excluding Japan	2,420		2,358		7,156		6,760
Japan	924		1,032		2,889		2,922
Other	538		337		1,471		896
Total Non-U.S.	46,931		47,261		141,237		138,434
Total	$	160,952	$	160,051	$	487,679	$	472,829

Long-lived assets by geographical area
	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
United States	$	54,060	$	44,572
United Kingdom	7,611		7,512
Europe, excluding the United Kingdom	2,429		2,629
Australia	1,519		1,415
Canada	1,853		2,076
Asia, excluding Japan	10,033		9,656
Japan	207		282
Other	161		54
Total Non-U.S.	23,813		23,624
Total	$	77,873	$	68,196

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Income Taxes (Income Tax Contingency) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	$ 11,732	$ 12,189
Gross unrecognized tax benefits which would affect income tax expense	11,674	11,907
Decrease in income tax expense upon recognition of gross unrecognized tax benefits	$ 9,543	$ 9,827

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

We discuss our significant accounting policies in Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012.

In addition, effective January 1, 2012, we adopted FASB ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. ASU No. 2011-04 clarifies existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, amends certain fair value measurement principles, and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of ASU No. 2011-04 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Income Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Income Per Share

Income Per Share

The following table shows how we reconcile our net income and the number of shares used in computing basic and diluted income per share:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Basic net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Net income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:	$	27,070		$	21,380		$	75,095		$	70,402
Less: Distributed earnings available to participating securities	(12		)	(8		)	(39		)	(25		)
Less: Undistributed earnings available to participating securities	(53		)	(57		)	(144		)	(189		)
Numerator for basic net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,315		$	74,912		$	70,188
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975			50,278			49,028			50,082
Basic net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	0.56		$	0.42		$	1.53		$	1.40
Diluted net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Numerator for basic net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,315		$	74,912		$	70,188
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	53			57			144			189
Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities	(53		)	(56		)	(142		)	(186		)
Numerator for diluted net income per share — undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders	$	27,005		$	21,316		$	74,914		$	70,191
Weighted average common shares outstanding	47,975			50,278			49,028			50,082
Net effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units	506			845			636			989
Weighted average common shares outstanding for computing diluted income per share	48,481			51,123			49,664			51,071
Diluted net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	$	0.56		$	0.42		$	1.51		$	1.37

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Investments and Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Investments and Fair Value Measurements

Investments and Fair Value Measurements

We account for our investments in accordance with FASB ASC 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities. We classify our investments in three categories: available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, and trading. We monitor the concentration, diversification, maturity, and liquidity of our investment portfolio, which is primarily invested in fixed-income securities, and classify our investment portfolio as shown below:

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Available-for-sale	$	165,517	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity	19,948		16,347
Trading securities	5,434		5,491
Total	$	190,899	$	269,755

The following table shows the cost, unrealized gains (losses), and fair values related to investments classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity:

	As of September 30, 2012									As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value		Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Government obligations	$	55,300	$	47	$	(622	)	$	54,725	$	139,099	$	72	$	(402	)	$	138,769
Corporate bonds	63,810		78		(431		)	63,457		61,589		14		(280		)	61,323
Commercial paper	4,995		2		—			4,997		29,964		2		(7		)	29,959
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	29,325		1,962		(346		)	30,941		8,461		368		(558		)	8,271
Mutual funds	10,360		1,076		(39		)	11,397		9,298		363		(66		)	9,595
Total	$	163,790	$	3,165	$	(1,438	)	$	165,517	$	248,411	$	819	$	(1,313	)	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity:
Certificates of deposit	$	19,948	$	—	$	—		$	19,948	$	16,347	$	—	$	—		$	16,347

As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, investments with unrealized losses for greater than a 12-month period were not material to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and were not deemed to have other than temporary declines in value.

The table below shows the cost and fair value of investments classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity based on their contractual maturities as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The expected maturities of certain fixed-income securities may differ from their contractual maturities because some of these holdings have call features that allow the issuers the right to prepay obligations without penalties.

	As of September 30, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
($000)	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Due in one year or less	$	107,770	$	106,979	$	155,651	$	155,247
Due in one to two years	16,061		15,938		75,001		74,804
Due in more than two years	274		262		—		—
Equity securities, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds	39,685		42,338		17,759		17,866
Total	$	163,790	$	165,517	$	248,411	$	247,917
Held-to-maturity:
Due in one year or less	$	19,942	$	19,942	$	16,342	$	16,342
Due in one to three years	6		6		5		5
Total	$	19,948	$	19,948	$	16,347	$	16,347

As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, held-to-maturity investments included a $1,500,000 and a $1,600,000 certificate of deposit, respectively, held primarily as collateral against bank guarantees for our office leases, primarily in Australia.

The following table shows the realized gains and losses arising from sales of our investments classified as available-for-sale recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income: 

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011
Realized gains	$	689		$	270
Realized losses	(741		)	—
Realized gains (losses), net	$	(52	)	$	270

We determine realized gains and losses using the specific identification method.

The following table shows the net unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities as recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011
Unrealized gains (losses), net	$	337	$	(810	)

The fair value of our assets subject to fair value measurements and that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using the fair value hierarchy and the necessary disclosures under FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, are as follows:

	Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2012
	as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
($000)	September 30, 2012		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale investments:
Government obligations	$	54,725	$	—	$	54,725	$	—
Corporate bonds	63,457		—		63,457		—
Commercial paper	4,997		—		4,997		—
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	30,941		30,941		—		—
Mutual funds	11,397		11,397		—		—
Trading securities	5,434		5,434		—		—
Cash equivalents	20,468		20,468		—		—
Total	$	191,419	$	68,240	$	123,179	$	—

	Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2011
	as of		Using Fair Value Hierarchy
($000)	December 31, 2011		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale investments:
Government obligations	$	138,769	$	—	$	138,769	$	—
Corporate bonds	61,323		—		61,323		—
Commercial paper	29,959		—		29,959		—
Equity securities and exchange-traded funds	8,271		8,271		—		—
Mutual funds	9,595		9,595		—		—
Trading securities	5,491		5,491		—		—
Cash equivalents	30,818		30,818		—		—
Total	$	284,226	$	54,175	$	230,051	$	—

Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access.

Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

Based on our analysis of the nature and risks of our investments in equity securities and mutual funds, we have determined that presenting each of these investment categories in the aggregate is appropriate.

We measure the fair value of money market funds, mutual funds, equity securities, and exchange-traded funds based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. All other financial instruments were valued either based on recent trades of securities in inactive markets or based on quoted market prices of similar instruments and other significant inputs derived from observable market data. We did not hold any securities categorized as Level 3 as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

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Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Shares Available for Future Grants

The following table summarizes the number of shares available for future grants under our 2011 Plan:

	As of September 30
(000)	2012
Shares available for future grants	4,760

Schedule of Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The following table summarizes our stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit we recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Restricted stock units	$	3,396	$	3,372	$	9,944	$	9,489
Restricted stock	444		444		1,332		1,752
Stock options	154		135		318		202
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	3,994	$	3,951	$	11,594	$	11,443
Income tax benefit related to the stock-based compensation expense	$	931	$	967	$	2,735	$	2,636

Schedule of Unrecognized Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The following table summarizes the amount of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense as of September 30, 2012 and the expected number of months over which the expense will be recognized:

	Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense ($000)		Expected amortization period (months)
Restricted stock units	$	30,356	33
Restricted stock	4,587		31
Stock options	1,201		30
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	$	36,144	33

Schedule of Restricted Stock Units Award Activity

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity during the first nine months of 2012:

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Unvested		Vested but Deferred		Total		Weighted Average Grant Date Value per RSU
RSUs outstanding—December 31, 2011	741,043		20,076		761,119		$	50.66
Granted	293,609		—		293,609		55.39
Dividend equivalents	3,720		130		3,850		51.32
Vested	(253,338	)	—		(253,338	)	50.70
Vested but deferred	1,424		(1,424	)	—		—
Issued	—		—		—		—
Forfeited	(66,395	)	—		(66,395	)	50.17
RSUs outstanding—September 30, 2012	720,063		18,782		738,845		52.59

Schedule of Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions

The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2011 was $23.81 per share, based on the following assumptions:

Assumptions for Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model
Expected life (years):	7.4
Volatility factor:	35.1	%
Dividend yield:	0.35	%
Interest rate:	2.87	%

Schedule of Options Granted at Exercise Price Below Fair Value per Share on Grant Date

The first table includes activity for options granted at an exercise price below the fair value per share of our common stock on the grant date; the second table includes activity for all other option grants. 

Options Granted At an Exercise Price Below the Fair Value Per Share on the Grant Date	Underlying Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding—December 31, 2011	398,859		$	19.72
Granted	—		—
Canceled	(600	)	14.70
Exercised	(78,147	)	20.06
Options outstanding—September 30, 2012	320,112		20.34
Options exercisable—September 30, 2012	320,112		$	20.34

Schedule of All Other Option Granted

All Other Option Grants, Excluding Activity Shown Above	Underlying Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding—December 31, 2011	818,552		$	22.76
Granted	—		—
Canceled	(22,304	)	39.77
Exercised	(301,761	)	16.71
Options outstanding—September 30, 2012	494,487		26.19
Options exercisable—September 30, 2012	438,864		$	22.22

Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Stock Options Exercised During Period

The following table summarizes the total intrinsic value (difference between the market value of our stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option) of options exercised:

	Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$	17,161	$	25,061

Schedule of Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding and Exercisable

The table below shows additional information for options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2012:

	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number of  Options	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)		Exercisable Shares	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($000)
$8.57 - $14.70	140,153	0.57	$	8.58	$	7,576	140,153	0.57	$	8.58	$	7,576
$20.30 - $46.29	600,771	2.42	23.35		23,604		600,771	2.42	23.35		23,604
$57.28 - $59.35	73,675	8.79	57.45		383		18,052	8.75	57.28		97
$8.57 - $59.35	814,599	2.68	23.89		$	31,563	758,976	2.23	21.43		$	31,277
Vested or Expected to Vest
$8.57 - $59.35	814,599	2.68	$	23.89	$	31,563

Schedule of Tax Benefits Related to Share Based Compensation

The following table summarizes our excess tax benefits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation	$	459	$	1,450	$	5,007	$	7,621

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Stock-Based Compensation (Allocation of Stock-Based Compensation Costs by Plan) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 3,994	$ 3,951	$ 11,594	$ 11,443
Income tax benefit related to the stock-based compensation expense	931	967	2,735	2,636
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	3,396	3,372	9,944	9,489
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	444	444	1,332	1,752
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 154	$ 135	$ 318	$ 202

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Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies

Contingencies

Life's Good S.T.A.B.L. Hedge Fund

In September 2011, three individual investors in Life's Good S.T.A.B.L. Mortgage hedge fund (LG), Marta Klass, Gregory Martin, and Richard Roellig, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against LG, its principal Robert Stinson, and several other parties, including Morningstar, Inc. (the Klass Matter). The plaintiffs claim that Morningstar committed fraud and aided and abetted the other defendants' breach of fiduciary duty through the 5-star rating LG obtained from Morningstar. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages. Hedge fund managers self-report their performance data to Morningstar.

More than a year before the Klass Matter, in June 2010, the SEC filed suit against LG and other entities claiming they were part of a Ponzi scheme operated by Stinson. As a result, LG and the other entities were placed in court-appointed receivership. Morningstar was not part of the SEC suit or receivership. Since that time, the Receiver, as part of his duties, has been investigating whether to assert claims against third parties. Morningstar is aware of 14 lawsuits filed by the Receiver seeking to recover money for the fund.

In November 2011, Morningstar filed a motion to dismiss the Klass Matter. On behalf of the entities in receivership, the Receiver filed a motion to stay the proceedings because the Receivership Order does not permit suits against the entities in receivership without court permission. The court granted the Receiver's motion and stayed the Klass Matter. In April 2012, the Receiver filed a complaint against Morningstar, in which the Receiver claims that Morningstar is liable for contribution and aiding and abetting Stinson's breach of fiduciary duty and fraud through the 5-star rating LG obtained from Morningstar. The Receiver seeks unspecified damages. The same day the Receiver filed his complaint, Morningstar sought leave from the court to file a counter suit against Stinson and two of his entities-Keystone State Capital Corporation and LG-for, among other things, fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of user agreements. In June 2012, the court denied Morningstar's motion for leave to file suit. The court took no position on the merits of Morningstar's claims, and did not preclude Morningstar from renewing its motion to file a complaint at a later time, but deferred to the Receiver's request not to subject the receivership estate to additional litigation at this early point in the receivership. In August 2012, the court denied Morningstar's motion to dismiss the Receiver's complaint.

Morningstar believes the allegations against it by the Klass plaintiffs and the Receiver have no legal or factual basis and plans to vigorously contest the claims. Morningstar also intends to refile its affirmative claims against Stinson, Keystone, and LG at a later time consistent with the court's order. We cannot predict the outcome of the proceedings.

Egan-Jones Rating Co.

In June 2010, Egan-Jones Rating Co. filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania against Realpoint, LLC (now known as Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC) and Morningstar, Inc. in connection with a December 2007 agreement between Egan-Jones and Morningstar Credit Ratings for certain data-sharing and other services. In addition to damages, Egan-Jones filed a petition seeking an injunction to temporarily prevent Morningstar from offering corporate credit ratings through December 31, 2010. In September 2010, the court denied Egan-Jones's request for a preliminary injunction against Morningstar's corporate credit ratings business. Morningstar Credit Ratings and Morningstar continue to vigorously contest liability on all of Egan-Jones' claims for damages. We cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.

Business Logic Holding Corporation

In November 2009, Business Logic Holding Corporation filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois against Ibbotson Associates, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc. relating to Ibbotson's prior commercial relationship with Business Logic. Business Logic is alleging breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation in connection with Ibbotson's development of a proprietary web-service software and user interface that connects plan participant data with the Ibbotson Wealth Forecasting Engine. Business Logic seeks, among other things, injunctive relief and unspecified damages. Ibbotson and Morningstar answered the complaint, and Ibbotson asserted a counterclaim against Business Logic alleging trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract, seeking damages and injunctive relief. While Morningstar and Ibbotson are vigorously contesting the claims against them, we cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.

Morningstar Associates, LLC Subpoena from the New York Attorney General's Office

In December 2004, Morningstar Associates, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc., received a subpoena from the New York Attorney General's office seeking information and documents related to an investigation the New York Attorney General's office is conducting. The subpoena asked for documents relating to the investment consulting services the company offers to retirement plan providers, including fund lineup recommendations for retirement plan sponsors. Morningstar Associates has provided the requested information and documents.

In 2005, Morningstar Associates received subpoenas seeking information and documents related to investigations being conducted by the SEC and United States Department of Labor. The subpoenas were similar in scope to the New York Attorney General subpoena. In January 2007 and September 2009, respectively, the SEC and Department of Labor each notified Morningstar Associates that it had ended its investigation, with no enforcement action, fines, or penalties.

In January 2007, Morningstar Associates received a Notice of Proposed Litigation from the New York Attorney General's office. The Notice centers on disclosure relating to an optional service offered to retirement plan sponsors (employers) that select 401(k) plan services from ING, one of Morningstar Associates' clients. The Notice gave Morningstar Associates the opportunity to explain why the New York Attorney General's office should not institute proceedings. Morningstar Associates promptly submitted its explanation and has cooperated fully with the New York Attorney General's office.

We cannot predict the scope, timing, or outcome of this matter, which may include the institution of administrative, civil, injunctive, or criminal proceedings, the imposition of fines and penalties, and other remedies and sanctions, any of which could lead to an adverse impact on our stock price, the inability to attract or retain key employees, and the loss of customers. We also cannot predict what impact, if any, this matter may have on our business, operating results, or financial condition.

We have not provided an estimate of loss or range of loss in connection with the matters described above because no such estimate can reasonably be made.

Other Matters

In addition to these proceedings, we are involved in legal proceedings and litigation that have arisen in the normal course of our business. Although the outcome of a particular proceeding can never be predicted, we do not believe that the result of any of these other matters will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial position.

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Investments and Fair value Measurements (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We account for our investments in accordance with FASB ASC 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities. We classify our investments in three categories: available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, and trading. We monitor the concentration, diversification, maturity, and liquidity of our investment portfolio, which is primarily invested in fixed-income securities, and classify our investment portfolio as shown below:

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Liability for Vacant Office Space (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Liability for Vacant Office Space [Roll Forward]
Vacant office space liability, beginning balance	$ 919
Reduction of liability for lease and other related payments	(768)
Vacant office space liability, ending balance	$ 151

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Segment and Geographical Area Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
External revenue	$ 160,952		$ 160,051		$ 487,679	$ 472,829
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	106,272		111,289		333,070	325,394
Stock-based compensation expense	3,994		3,951		11,594	11,443
Depreciation and amortization	10,822	[1]	10,947	[1]	31,616	31,712
Operating income (loss)	39,864		33,864		111,399	104,280
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Goodwill	321,134				321,134		318,492
Investment Information [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
External revenue	129,357		125,804		391,031	374,319
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	85,366		89,652		265,719	259,899
Stock-based compensation expense	2,738		2,609		7,828	7,567
Depreciation and amortization	2,296		2,117		6,840	6,023
Operating income (loss)	38,957		31,426		110,644	100,830
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Goodwill	279,451				279,451		277,059
Investment Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
External revenue	31,595		34,247		96,648	98,510
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	16,145		15,587		49,277	43,258
Stock-based compensation expense	577		556		1,657	1,529
Depreciation and amortization	31		42		108	124
Operating income (loss)	14,842		18,062		45,606	53,599
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Goodwill	41,683				41,683		41,433
Corporate Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
External revenue	0		0		0	0
Operating expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and amortization	4,761		6,050		18,074	22,237
Stock-based compensation expense	679		786		2,109	2,347
Depreciation and amortization	8,495		8,788		24,668	25,565
Operating income (loss)	(13,935)		(15,624)		(44,851)	(50,149)
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Goodwill	0				0		0
U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
External revenue	114,021		112,790		346,442	334,395
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Capital expenditure	3,066		4,560		17,280	8,084
Non-U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
External revenue	46,931		47,261		141,237	138,434
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Capital expenditure	$ 1,888		$ 1,711		$ 5,596	$ 6,605

[1] Three months ended September 30 Nine months ended September 30 2012 2011 2012 2011(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of: Cost of goods sold $1,148 $1,117 $3,304 $3,068Development 471 545 1,435 1,588Sales and marketing 493 489 1,433 1,392General and administrative 1,882 1,800 5,422 5,395Total stock-based compensation expense $3,994 $3,951 $11,594 $11,443

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 152,181	$ 200,437
Investments	190,899	269,755
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $723 and $835, respectively	119,877	113,312
Deferred tax asset, net	2,156	5,104
Income tax receivable, net	5,277	7,445
Other	22,546	15,980
Total current assets	492,936	612,033
Property, equipment, and capitalized software, net	77,873	68,196
Investments in unconsolidated entities	38,278	27,642
Goodwill	321,134	318,492
Intangible assets, net	122,832	139,809
Other assets	8,330	5,912
Total assets	1,061,383	1,172,084
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	40,356	41,403
Accrued compensation	55,131	73,124
Deferred revenue	164,360	155,494
Other	319	612
Total current liabilities	260,166	270,633
Accrued compensation	6,802	5,724
Deferred tax liability, net	14,262	15,940
Deferred rent	15,160	14,604
Other long-term liabilities	8,262	8,167
Total liabilities	304,652	315,068
Morningstar, Inc. shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, of which 47,479,142 and 50,083,940 shares were outstanding as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	5	5
Treasury stock at cost, 4,125,568 shares as of September 30, 2012 and 980,177 shares as of December 31, 2011	(232,685)	(46,701)
Additional paid-in capital	509,896	491,432
Retained earnings	469,295	409,022
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Currency translation adjustment	7,548	1,936
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	1,103	(324)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	8,651	1,612
Total Morningstar, Inc. shareholders' equity	755,162	855,370
Noncontrolling interest	1,569	1,646
Total equity	756,731	857,016
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,061,383	$ 1,172,084

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Basis of Presentation of Interim Financial Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation of Interim Financial Information

Basis of Presentation of Interim Financial Information

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Morningstar, Inc. and subsidiaries (Morningstar, we, our, the Company) have been prepared to conform to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, the statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly our financial position, results of operations, equity, and cash flows. These financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012.

The acronyms that appear in the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements refer to the following:

ASC: Accounting Standards Codification

ASU: Accounting Standards Update

FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board

SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission

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Restricted Stock Activity Related to the Realpoint Acquisition (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 Restricted Stock [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted Stock [Member]	May 03, 2010 Realpoint, LLC [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Shares of Restricted Stock			199,174
Share Based Compensation, Fair Value of Share Based Compensation Expensed Over Vesting Period		$ 9,363,000
Share Based Compensation, Expense Recognized Upon Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock	$ 396,000

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Correction (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments

The following tables shows our previously reported amounts, the correction, and our as corrected amounts:

	Nine months ended September 30, 2011
($000)	Previously Reported			Correction			As Corrected
Investing Activities
Purchases of investments	$	(281,698	)	$	(17,178	)	$	(298,876	)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments	$	205,421		$	17,178		$	222,599
Cash used for investing activities	$	(89,791	)	$	—		$	(89,791	)

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule of Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Years	Dec. 31, 2011 Years
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	$ 251,429	$ 249,374
Accumulated Amortization	(128,597)	(109,565)
Intangible assets, Net	122,832	139,809
Weighted-Average Useful Life (years)	10	10
Intellectual Property [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	32,343	32,293
Accumulated Amortization	(22,488)	(20,455)
Intangible assets, Net	9,855	11,838
Weighted-Average Useful Life (years)	9	9
Customer Related Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	135,772	134,396
Accumulated Amortization	(62,763)	(52,611)
Intangible assets, Net	73,009	81,785
Weighted-Average Useful Life (years)	12	12
Supplier Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	240	240
Accumulated Amortization	(93)	(84)
Intangible assets, Net	147	156
Weighted-Average Useful Life (years)	20	20
Technology-Based Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	81,308	80,694
Accumulated Amortization	(41,735)	(35,130)
Intangible assets, Net	39,573	45,564
Weighted-Average Useful Life (years)	9	9
Non-competition Agreement [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	1,766	1,751
Accumulated Amortization	(1,518)	(1,285)
Intangible assets, Net	$ 248	$ 466
Weighted-Average Useful Life (years)	4	4

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Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Effective Tax Rate

The following table shows our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	Three months ended September 30						Nine months ended September 30
($000)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	$	41,744		$	33,285		$	114,933		$	104,484
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	478			428			1,541			1,397
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	34			10			62			106
Total	$	42,256		$	33,723		$	116,536		$	105,987
Income tax expense	$	15,186		$	12,343		$	41,441		$	35,585
Effective tax rate	35.9		%	36.6		%	35.6		%	33.6		%

Our effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2012 was 35.9%, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points compared with the prior-year period. Our effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2012 was 35.6%, an increase of 2.0 percentage points compared with the first nine months of 2011. The effective tax rate increase in the year-to-date period is due primarily to lower credit incentives in the current year.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The table below provides information concerning our gross unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The table also provides the effect these gross unrecognized tax benefits would have on our income tax expense, if they were recognized.

	As of September 30		As of December 31
($000)	2012		2011
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	$	11,732	$	12,189
Gross unrecognized tax benefits that would affect income tax expense	$	11,674	$	11,907
Decrease in income tax expense upon recognition of gross unrecognized tax benefits	$	9,543	$	9,827

There were no significant changes to unrecognized tax benefits in the first nine months of 2012.

Our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits. These amounts include interest and penalties, less any associated tax benefits.

	As of September 30		As of December 31
Liabilities for Unrecognized Tax Benefits ($000)	2012		2011
Current liability	$	4,971	$	5,329
Non-current liability	6,278		6,200
Total liability for unrecognized tax benefits	$	11,249	$	11,529

We conduct business globally and as a result, we file income tax returns in U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business we are subject to examination by tax authorities throughout the world. The open tax years for our U.S. federal tax returns and most state tax returns include the years 2007 to the present. In non-U.S. jurisdictions, the statute of limitations generally extends to years prior to 2005.

We are currently under audit by the U.S. federal and various state and local tax authorities in the United States, as well as tax authorities in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. It is possible, though not likely, that the examination phase of some of these audits will conclude in 2012. It is not possible to estimate the effect of current audits on previously recorded unrecognized tax benefits.

Our effective tax rate reflects the fact that we are not recording an income tax benefit related to losses recorded by certain of our non-U.S. operations. The net operating losses (NOLs) may become deductible in certain non-U.S. tax jurisdictions to the extent these non-U.S. operations become profitable. In the year certain non-U.S. entities record a loss, we do not record a corresponding tax benefit, thus increasing our effective tax rate. For each of our operations, we evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the tax benefits related to NOLs will be realized. As part of this evaluation, we consider evidence such as tax planning strategies, historical operating results, forecasted taxable income, and recent financial performance. Upon determining that it is more likely than not that the NOLs will be realized, we reduce the tax valuation allowances related to these NOLs, which results in a reduction to our income tax expense and our effective tax rate in the period.