Dow Jones indexes might fetch $600 million

Chris Nolter of TheDeal.com writes Monday that Dow Jones might get as much as $600 million by selling its index business, which includes the Dow Jones industrial average.

Nolter writes, “With reports that the business is on the block, Wells Fargo Securities LLC analyst John Janedis suggests the Dow Jones Indexes are worth $600 million to $650 million in a Monday note. He bases the valuation on estimates of $55 million in operating income for the 12 months ending June 2009 and $60 million to $65 million in Ebitda during the period.

“The Dow Jones Indexes business is part of News Corp.’s Enterprise Media Group.

“Dow Jones began licensing its Dow Jones Industrial Averages and other indexes in 1997. The unit has more than 130,000 indexes and sells or licenses the data associated with the financial gauges. Competitors include New York indexing and analysis firm MSCI Inc., McGraw Hill Cos.’ Standard & Poor’s unit and FTSE Group, which is co-owned by the London Stock Exchange Group plc and Pearsons plc’s the Financial Times.

“‘Given the high margins, what we view as a business that had significant opportunity going forward, and a significant contributor to Dow Jones’ cash flow, we’re somewhat surprised at the timing,’ Janedis wrote.”

Read more here.