Core Insights - Meridian Growth Fund's third-quarter 2025 performance was negatively impacted by sector positioning and strict investment discipline, resulting in a return of -1.78% compared to the Russell 2500 Growth Index's 10.73% return [1] Group 1: Market Overview - Equities reached record highs in Q3 2025, driven by gains in technology and declining bond yields [1] - Easing tariff rhetoric and renewed investments in AI infrastructure contributed to the performance of large tech stocks [1] - The U.S. Federal Reserve lowered rates by 25 basis points in mid-September 2025 [1] Group 2: Alight, Inc. (NYSE:ALIT) Performance - Alight, Inc. experienced a one-month return of -17.45% and a 52-week loss of 71.66%, closing at $2.31 per share with a market capitalization of $1.269 billion on November 28, 2025 [2] - The company reported Q3 2025 revenue of $533 million, down from $555 million a year earlier [4] Group 3: Alight, Inc. Business Insights - Alight, Inc. is a cloud-based human capital technology provider that helps businesses manage HR functions more efficiently [3] - The company faced challenges due to a year-long technology transformation, which included migrating services to the cloud and integrating AI capabilities, leading to a decline in customer retention from approximately 98% to 93% [3] - Despite stabilizing EBITDA through cost controls, revenue normalization may take years, and the stock's valuation remains compelling [3] Group 4: Hedge Fund Interest - Alight, Inc. was held by 39 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, an increase from 30 in the previous quarter [4]

Core Insights - Alight, Inc. is a leading cloud-based human capital and technology-enabled services provider, serving many of the world's largest organizations and 35 million people and dependents [2][5]. Group 1: Company Overview - Alight provides services that unify the benefits ecosystem across health, wealth, wellbeing, absence management, and navigation, helping clients build a healthy and financially secure workforce [2]. - The Alight Worklife platform offers personalized benefits management and data-driven insights, enhancing employee wellbeing, engagement, and productivity [2]. Group 2: Recent Developments - Alight's CFO, Jeremy Heaton, will present at the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference on December 2, 2025 [1]. - The company reported third quarter results for 2025, with CEO Dave Guilmette highlighting record participant satisfaction levels since the completion of their technology transformation [5]. - Alight's Board of Directors has approved a proposal for the phased declassification of the Board, which will be voted on at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders [6].

Core Insights - Alight, Inc. has been recognized in the top 5 placements of Sapient Insights Group's 28th Annual HR Systems Survey Report, indicating its strong performance in the HR technology sector [1] Company Performance - Alight achieved top 5 rankings in User Experience and Vendor Satisfaction within the enterprise category, highlighting its effectiveness in delivering technology-enabled services [1]

Core Insights - Alight, Inc. has been recognized in the top 5 placements of Sapient Insights Group's 28th Annual HR Systems Survey Report, highlighting its strong performance in the HR technology sector [1] Company Performance - Alight achieved top 5 rankings in User Experience and Vendor Satisfaction within the enterprise category, indicating its effectiveness in delivering technology-enabled services [1]

Core Viewpoint - Alight Inc. (NYSE:ALIT) is viewed positively by analysts on Wall Street despite disappointing Q3 financial results, with multiple analysts maintaining "Buy" ratings and setting price targets between $4 and $6 [1][2]. Financial Performance - Alight reported a 4% decline in Q3 2025 revenue, totaling $533 million, primarily due to lower project revenue and the impact of divestment in Payroll and Professional Services [2]. - The loss from continuing operations increased significantly to $1.25 billion, compared to a loss of $53 million in the same quarter the previous year [2]. Management Commentary - CEO Dave Guilmette highlighted the company's progress and long-term outlook, emphasizing improvements in client management and delivery capabilities, as well as investments in AI and automation [3][4]. Dividend and Outlook - The board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share, payable on December 15, to shareholders of record as of December 1 [5]. - Management reaffirmed its full-year revenue outlook, expecting between $2,252 million and $2,282 million, with adjusted EPS projected between $0.54 and $0.58 [5]. Company Overview - Alight, Inc. is a cloud-based provider of human capital and technology services, assisting large organizations in managing employee benefits and human resources through its Alight Worklife platform [6].

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgent need for energy to support its growth [1][2][3] - A specific company is highlighted as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for meeting the increasing energy demands of AI technologies [3][7] Investment Landscape - Wall Street is investing hundreds of billions into AI, but there is a pressing concern regarding the energy supply needed to sustain this growth [2] - AI data centers, such as those powering large language models, consume energy equivalent to that of small cities, indicating a significant strain on global power grids [2] Company Profile - The company in focus is not a chipmaker or cloud platform but is positioned as a vital player in the energy sector, particularly in nuclear energy infrastructure [7] - It is capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects across various energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewable fuels [7] Financial Position - The company is noted for being completely debt-free and holding a substantial cash reserve, which is nearly one-third of its market capitalization [8] - It is trading at less than 7 times earnings, making it an attractive investment opportunity compared to other energy and utility firms burdened with debt [10] Market Trends - The company is poised to benefit from the onshoring trend driven by tariffs, as well as the surge in U.S. LNG exports under the current administration's energy policies [5][14] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation and advancements, further solidifying the importance of energy infrastructure [12] Future Outlook - The combination of AI, energy needs, and infrastructure development presents a unique investment opportunity, with the potential for significant returns in the coming years [15][19] - The company is positioned to capitalize on the anticipated energy spike driven by AI, making it a strategic investment choice for those looking to engage in the AI revolution [3][11]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgency to invest now [1][13] - The energy demands of AI technologies are highlighted, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities, leading to concerns about power grid strain and rising electricity prices [2][3] Investment Opportunity - A specific company is positioned as a critical player in the AI energy sector, owning essential energy infrastructure assets that will benefit from the anticipated surge in electricity demand due to AI [3][6] - This company is not a chipmaker or cloud platform but is described as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, collecting fees from energy exports [4][5] Market Position - The company is noted for its ownership of nuclear energy infrastructure, which aligns with America's future power strategy, and its capability to execute large-scale engineering projects across various energy sectors [7][8] - It is highlighted that this company is debt-free and has significant cash reserves, equating to nearly one-third of its market capitalization, making it financially robust compared to other firms in the sector [8][10] Growth Potential - The company also holds a substantial equity stake in another AI-related venture, providing investors with indirect exposure to multiple growth opportunities without the associated premium costs [9][10] - The stock is described as undervalued, trading at less than seven times earnings, which presents a compelling investment case given its ties to the booming AI and energy sectors [10][11] Industry Trends - The ongoing AI infrastructure supercycle, the onshoring boom driven by tariffs, and a surge in U.S. LNG exports are identified as key trends that will benefit this company [14] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation and advancements, reinforcing the importance of investing in AI-related companies [12]

Revenue Performance - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $533 million, a decrease of $22 million or 4.0% compared to $555 million in Q3 2024, driven by lower Net Commercial Activity and project revenue[182][193]. - Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $1,609 million, a decrease of $43 million or 2.6% compared to $1,652 million in the prior year period[207]. - Total Employer Solutions Revenue for Q3 2025 was $533 million, a decrease of $22 million from $555 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to declines in project revenue[230]. Recurring Revenues - Recurring revenues decreased by $15 million or 3.0%, from $504 million in Q3 2024 to $489 million in Q3 2025, primarily due to lower Net Commercial Activity[194]. - Recurring revenues decreased by $17 million or 1.1%, from $1,518 million in the prior year period to $1,501 million, primarily due to lower Net Commercial Activity[208]. Expenses and Costs - Cost of services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, decreased by $31 million or 8.7% in Q3 2025 compared to the prior year, attributed to lower compensation expenses and productivity initiatives[195]. - Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $55 million or 38.7% in Q3 2025, driven by lower professional fees and a reduction in compensation expenses[197]. - Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization, decreased by $56 million or 5.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, driven by productivity initiatives and lower revenues[209]. - Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $113 million or 26.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, primarily due to lower compensation expenses and professional fees[211]. Goodwill Impairment - A non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $1,338 million was recorded in Q3 2025, with no impairment recognized in Q3 2024[199]. - The company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $2,321 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, with no impairment recognized in the prior year[213]. - The company reported a Goodwill impairment charge of $1,338 million for Q3 2025, contributing to a net loss from continuing operations of $(1,054) million[226]. Loss from Operations - Loss from continuing operations before taxes was $1,253 million in Q3 2025, compared to a loss of $53 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to the goodwill impairment charge[204]. - Loss from continuing operations before taxes was $2,349 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to a loss of $203 million in the prior year[219]. Tax and Interest - Income tax benefit was $204 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, with an effective tax rate of 9%, lower than the 21% U.S. statutory corporate income tax rate[220]. - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) resulted in a deferred tax benefit of approximately $12 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025[221]. - Interest expense decreased by $15 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, primarily due to partial debt repayment and loan repricing[217]. Cash Flow and Liquidity - Free Cash Flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $151 million, a significant improvement from $(20) million in the same period of 2024[237]. - Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $236 million, compared to $75 million in the prior year, driven by lower separation costs[236]. - Cash provided by operating activities was $236 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $75 million for the same period in 2024[252]. - Cash used in investing activities was $98 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to cash provided of $877 million in the prior year[253]. - Cash used in financing activities was $288 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, down from $1,028 million in the same period in 2024[254]. - The company anticipates that its liquidity position will remain strong, supported by cash flows from operations and availability under its revolving credit facility[239]. Share Repurchase and Dividends - As of September 30, 2025, the company repurchased 6,580,136 shares for $25 million and 13,881,417 shares for $65 million during the nine months[245]. - The company authorized a total of $281 million for share repurchases as of February 13, 2025[244]. - The quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share was approved for payment on December 15, 2025[248]. Adjusted Metrics - Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations for Q3 2025 was $62 million, compared to $48 million in Q3 2024, reflecting a 29.2% increase[226]. - Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations for Q3 2025 was $138 million, up from $118 million in Q3 2024, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 25.9% compared to 21.3% in the prior year[228]. - Gross Profit for Q3 2025 increased to $178 million from $174 million in Q3 2024, with an Adjusted Gross Profit of $206 million, up from $200 million[233]. - Adjusted Gross Profit Margin for Q3 2025 was 38.6%, an increase from 36.0% in Q3 2024, indicating improved operational efficiency[233]. Other Financial Information - The change in fair value of the Tax Receivable Agreement resulted in a gain of $66 million in Q3 2025, an increase of $93 million compared to a loss of $27 million in Q3 2024[201]. - The change in fair value of the tax receivable agreement resulted in a gain of $34 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of $85 million compared to a loss of $51 million in the prior year[216]. - Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $5 million or 21.7% in Q3 2025, primarily driven by capitalized software[196]. - Total operating expenses for Q3 2025 were $1,500 million, significantly higher than $216 million in Q3 2024, largely due to the goodwill impairment charge[182]. - The company has a remaining cash outflow of $49 million for 2025 related to its strategic partnership with Wipro[263]. - The company expects to make payments of approximately $164 million under the Tax Receivable Agreement in 2026[261].

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Core Viewpoint - Alight, Inc. reported quarterly earnings of $0.12 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.13 per share, representing an earnings surprise of -7.69% [1][2] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $533 million for the quarter ended September 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.49%, and down from $555 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Alight has not surpassed consensus EPS estimates [2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.27 on revenues of $686.55 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.60 on revenues of $2.3 billion [7] Stock Performance - Alight shares have declined approximately 61% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 15.1% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating expectations of underperformance in the near future [6] Industry Outlook - The Internet - Software industry, to which Alight belongs, is currently in the top 34% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact Alight's stock performance [5]