Exhibit 12.1 DST SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) 9 MONTHS YEARS ENDED DECMEBER 31, 2004 ENDED SEPTEMBER -------------------------------------------------------------- 30, 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 -------------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Pretax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries or income or loss from equity $220,785 $417,707 $310,132 $354,977 $325,318 $207,716 investees Add: Fixed Charges 53,833 50,328 38,946 31,851 29,351 19,643 Amortization of capitalized interest 139 167 179 162 118 100 Distributed earnings of equity investees - 102 371 49 92 468 Subtract: Capitalized interest (597) (571) (210) (1,005) (852) (285) --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Pretax income as adjusted $274,160 $467,734 $349,418 $386,034 $354,027 $227,642 ========= ========== ========= ========= ========= ========= Fixed charges: Interest expense $40,676 $26,877 $13,379 $ 7,452 $ 5,561 $ 5,154 Interest capitalized 597 571 210 1,005 852 285 --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- 41,273 27,448 13,589 8,457 6,413 5,439 Portion of rents representative of an appropriate interest factor 12,560 22,880 25,357 23,394 22,938 14,204 --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total fixed charges $53,833 $50,328 $38,946 $31,851 $29,351 $19,643 ========= ========== ========= ========= ========= ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 5.1 9.3 (3) 9.0(3) 12.1 (2) 12.1 11.6 (1) In 1998, the Company recognized $33.1 million in merger and integrated costs related to the USCS International, Inc. and Custima International acquisition. Excluding these merger charges, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 9.1. (2) In 2001, the Company recognized a $32.8 million pretax gain on the sale of its Portfolio Accounting System (PAS) business to State Street Corporation. Excluding the gain on the sale, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 11.1. (3) In 2002 and 2003, the Company recorded costs associated with facility consolidations in its Output Solutions segment of $12.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively. In 2003, the Company recorded a gain from the sale of OMS of $108.9 million and the additional cost associated with Option Reload Cancellation of $15.9 million. Excluding these material items, the 2002 and 2003 ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 9.3 and 7.5, respectively.