Company Performance - Nice closed at $155.82, with a +2.1% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.47% [1] - Prior to this trading session, Nice shares had decreased by 10.33%, lagging behind the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 3.41% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.64% [1] Upcoming Earnings Report - Nice is scheduled to release its earnings on August 14, 2025, with an expected EPS of $2.99, reflecting a 13.26% increase from the same quarter last year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projected at $713.93 million, which is a 7.46% increase from the previous year [2] Full-Year Estimates - The full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates for Nice indicate earnings of $12.38 per share and revenue of $2.93 billion, representing year-over-year changes of +11.33% and +7.06%, respectively [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions suggest optimism regarding Nice's business and profitability [3] Valuation Metrics - Nice is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.33, significantly lower than the industry average of 27.5, indicating a discount [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.12, compared to the Internet - Software industry's average PEG ratio of 2.23, suggesting favorable valuation relative to growth expectations [7] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 79, placing it in the top 32% of over 250 industries [8] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [8]

Company Performance - Nice (NICE) closed at $163.99, reflecting a -3.74% change from the previous day, which is less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.3% [1] - Over the past month, shares of Nice gained 0.86%, underperforming compared to the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 4.85% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.64% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Nice is expected to report an EPS of $2.99, representing a 13.26% increase from the same quarter last year, with anticipated revenue of $713.93 million, indicating a 7.46% increase [2] - For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $12.37 per share and revenue of $2.93 billion, reflecting increases of +11.24% and +7% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Revisions and Ratings - Recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Nice are crucial as they indicate changing business trends, with positive revisions suggesting analysts' confidence in the company's performance [3] - Nice currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with the Zacks Rank system showing a strong track record of exceeding expectations [5] Valuation Metrics - Nice has a Forward P/E ratio of 13.77, significantly lower than the industry average of 29.27, indicating it is trading at a discount [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.25, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 2.21, suggesting favorable growth expectations relative to its valuation [6] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 72, placing it in the top 30% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that industries in the top 50% rated by Zacks outperform those in the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Company Overview - Nice (NICE) shares increased by 4.9% to close at $170.37, supported by strong trading volume, contrasting with a 1.6% loss over the past four weeks [1] - The company is experiencing growth due to the strength of its cloud business, an expanding customer base, and AI-powered solutions [1] Earnings Expectations - Nice is projected to report quarterly earnings of $2.99 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 13.3% [2] - Expected revenues for the upcoming quarter are $713.93 million, which is a 7.5% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] Stock Performance Insights - The consensus EPS estimate for Nice has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without trends in earnings estimate revisions [3] - Nice currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting positive sentiment towards the stock [3] Industry Comparison - Nice is part of the Zacks Internet - Software industry, where another company, Vertex (VERX), saw a 0.9% decline in its last trading session and has returned -0.8% over the past month [3] - Vertex's consensus EPS estimate has also remained unchanged at $0.14, representing a 6.7% decrease from the previous year, and it holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [4]

Summary of NICE's Acquisition of Cognigy Conference Call Company and Industry - **Company**: NICE (NICE) - **Acquisition Target**: Cognigy - **Industry**: Customer Experience (CX) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Key Points and Arguments 1. **Acquisition Announcement**: NICE announced the acquisition of Cognigy, a leader in conversational AI for customer service, which is seen as a transformational move for both companies [2][4] 2. **Market Positioning**: The acquisition strengthens NICE's position in the rapidly expanding AI market, projected to reach $330 billion in the coming years [6] 3. **AI Capabilities**: Cognigy's advanced AI capabilities will enhance NICE's existing customer experience AI platform, allowing for seamless AI-led customer interactions [5][11] 4. **Growth Projections**: Cognigy's exit Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) for 2026 is expected to grow over 80% year-over-year to an estimated $85 million [18][19] 5. **Transaction Value**: The acquisition is valued at approximately $955 million, financed with cash on hand, without the need for additional debt or equity [19][21] 6. **Financial Impact**: NICE expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings per share (EPS) and free cash flow within 18 months [21][22] 7. **Integration Timeline**: The integration of Cognigy's technology into NICE's platform is expected to be relatively quick, leveraging existing partnerships [28][29] 8. **Customer Overlap**: Cognigy currently services around 1,000 brands, with significant opportunities for cross-selling into NICE's existing customer base [63] 9. **AI Market Opportunity**: The self-service resolution gap in customer interactions presents a significant market opportunity, with AI currently resolving only 5% of customer interactions [11][61] 10. **Retention Plans**: NICE has a retention plan in place to keep key Cognigy employees post-acquisition, ensuring continuity and innovation [20][72] Additional Important Content 1. **Open Platform Strategy**: NICE's CXone Empower platform remains open, allowing for integration with other technologies, ensuring flexibility for customers [26][55] 2. **Cultural Fit**: Cognigy is recognized for its strong cultural alignment with NICE, which is expected to facilitate a smooth integration [47][72] 3. **Future Growth**: NICE anticipates a cumulative increase in cloud revenue growth of 150 to 250 basis points annually due to the acquisition [19][22] 4. **Regulatory Approvals**: The deal is subject to regulatory approvals in Germany and the U.S., with expectations for closure in Q4 2025 [22] 5. **Customer Experience Focus**: The combined capabilities of NICE and Cognigy aim to deliver a more human-like, seamless customer experience across various channels [9][60] This summary encapsulates the critical aspects of the conference call regarding NICE's acquisition of Cognigy, highlighting the strategic importance, financial implications, and future growth potential in the AI-driven customer experience market.

Industry Overview - The Internet Software and Services sector is experiencing growth due to increased IT spending on solutions that support hybrid operating environments [1] - The penetration of mobile devices among users is driving businesses to invest in web-based infrastructure, applications, and security software [1] - The Internet Software industry is currently ranked in the top 32% of Zacks Industry Rank, indicating an expectation to outperform the market in the next three to six months [2] Company Summaries UiPath Inc. (PATH) - UiPath offers an end-to-end automation platform with a range of robotic process automation solutions, primarily in the US and Europe [6] - The platform incorporates AI, ML, and NLP capabilities to enhance decision-making and information processing, with new generative AI features introduced [7] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 8.5% and 5.7%, respectively, with a 7.7% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 60 days [8] Calix Inc. (CALX) - Calix provides cloud and software platforms for broadband service providers across various regions [9] - The Calix Cloud platform includes configurable solutions for revenue-generating services and applications [10] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for 2025 are 15.3% and over 100%, respectively, with a 25.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last seven days [11] Arista Networks Inc. (ANET) - Arista Networks is positioned for cloud and AI networking with a focus on proactive products and zero-touch automation [12] - The EOS Smart AI Suite and Arista AVA enhance AI job monitoring and network security [13] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 19.3% and 13.7%, respectively, with a 0.4% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [14] HubSpot Inc. (HUBS) - HubSpot provides a cloud-based CRM platform and is seeing multi-hub adoption from enterprise customers [15] - The integration of HubSpot AI features is adding value for customers, with a pricing model that lowers barriers for new users [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 15.4% and 15.2%, respectively, with a 2.3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 90 days [17] NICE Ltd. (NICE) - NICE is benefiting from its cloud business and the adoption of AI-powered solutions to enhance customer experience [18] - Investments in automation and analytics are strengthening its competitive edge [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7% and 11.2%, respectively, with a 1.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 90 days [19]

Group 1 - Both Nice (NICE) and Adyen N.V. Unsponsored ADR (ADYEY) are currently rated with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions for both companies [3] - Value investors typically utilize traditional metrics such as P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share to identify undervalued stocks [4] - NICE has a forward P/E ratio of 12.84 and a PEG ratio of 1.17, while ADYEY has a forward P/E of 45.12 and a PEG ratio of 2.25, suggesting that NICE is more attractively valued [5] Group 2 - NICE's P/B ratio is 2.87, compared to ADYEY's P/B of 12.49, further indicating that NICE is a better value option [6] - Based on the valuation metrics analyzed, NICE is considered the superior value investment compared to ADYEY [7]

Industry Overview - The artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure space is gaining momentum, with previous concerns about DeepSeek being overstated. The global trend towards digitization is creating opportunities in markets such as 5G, blockchain, and AI. Companies are rapidly adopting generative AI, machine learning (ML), blockchain, and data science to secure a competitive edge [1] Company Recommendations - Five AI-focused stocks with favorable Zacks Ranks that have potential for double-digit returns in the short term are HubSpot Inc. (HUBS), Okta Inc. (OKTA), Adobe Inc. (ADBE), NICE Ltd. (NICE), and Teradata Corp. (TDC). Each stock carries either a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [2] HubSpot Inc. (HUBS) - HubSpot provides a cloud-based customer relationship management platform and is experiencing steady multi-hub adoption from enterprise customers. Pricing optimization in its starter edition is leading to solid client additions [5][6] - The integration of HubSpot AI features is enhancing customer value, and its seat pricing model reduces barriers for customer engagement. The growing adoption of inbound applications is a positive factor [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for HubSpot are 15.4% and 15%, respectively, for the current year, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [7] - The short-term average price target for HUBS indicates a potential increase of 39.7% from the last closing price of $542.41, with a maximum upside of 71.5% [8] Okta Inc. (OKTA) - Okta operates as an identity partner, offering a suite of products for identity management and security. The company leverages AI to enhance security and user experience [10][11] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Okta are 9.4% and 16.7%, respectively, for the current year, with an improvement in earnings estimates [13] - The average short-term price target for OKTA suggests a potential increase of 29.9% from the last closing price of $95.43, with a maximum upside of 55.1% [14] Adobe Inc. (ADBE) - Adobe has integrated AI applications across its flagship products and introduced generative AI-driven tools like Adobe Firefly. The company is diversifying into digital marketing services [15][16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Adobe are 9.5% and 11.8%, respectively, for the current year, with a recent improvement in earnings estimates [17] - The average short-term price target for ADBE indicates a potential increase of 35.2% from the last closing price of $365.79, with a maximum upside of 65.4% [18] NICE Ltd. (NICE) - NICE is benefiting from the strength of its cloud business and the adoption of AI-powered solutions, enhancing customer experience through its CXone platform [19][20] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for NICE are 7% and 11.2%, respectively, for the current year, with an improvement in earnings estimates [21] - The average short-term price target for NICE suggests a potential increase of 33.9% from the last closing price of $153.41, with a maximum upside of 95.6% [22] Teradata Corp. (TDC) - Teradata is experiencing strong cloud annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth, supported by strategic partnerships and demand for its AI solutions [23][24] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Teradata are 2% and 8.3%, respectively, for the next year, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [24] - The average short-term price target for TDC indicates a potential increase of 19.5% from the last closing price of $21.59, with a maximum upside of 62.1% [25]

Core Viewpoint - NICE (NICE) has experienced a significant downtrend, declining 9.4% over the past four weeks, but is now in oversold territory, suggesting a potential turnaround as analysts expect better earnings than previously predicted [1]. Group 1: Technical Analysis - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a key technical indicator used to identify oversold conditions, with a reading below 30 typically indicating that a stock is oversold [2]. - NICE's current RSI reading is 23.59, indicating that the heavy selling pressure may be exhausting, which could lead to a price rebound towards the equilibrium of supply and demand [5]. - Stocks oscillate between overbought and oversold conditions, and the RSI helps investors identify potential reversal points, making it a useful tool for spotting entry opportunities [3]. Group 2: Fundamental Analysis - There is strong consensus among sell-side analysts regarding NICE's earnings estimates, with a 0.1% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which typically correlates with price appreciation [7]. - NICE holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, further supporting the potential for a near-term turnaround [8].

Group 1 - The article compares two stocks in the Internet - Software sector: Nice (NICE) and Informatica Inc. (INFA), evaluating which presents a better value opportunity for investors [1] - NICE has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger improvement in its earnings outlook compared to INFA, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3][7] - Value investors utilize various valuation metrics, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, to assess whether a company is undervalued [4] Group 2 - NICE has a forward P/E ratio of 13.76, while INFA has a forward P/E of 21.17, suggesting that NICE is more attractively priced [5] - The PEG ratio for NICE is 1.25, compared to INFA's PEG ratio of 2.79, indicating that NICE may offer better value relative to its expected earnings growth [5] - NICE's P/B ratio is 3.08, while INFA's P/B ratio is 3.24, further supporting the notion that NICE is the superior value option based on these metrics [6]

Core Viewpoint - NICE (NICE) has shown a recent price increase of 1.7% and has a mean price target of $204.64, indicating a potential upside of 25.9% from its current price of $162.61 [1] Price Targets and Analyst Estimates - The mean estimate consists of 14 short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $35.22, suggesting variability in analyst predictions. The lowest estimate is $161.00 (1% decline), while the highest is $300.00 (84.5% increase) [2] - Analysts' price targets can often mislead investors, as empirical research indicates that these targets rarely reflect actual stock price movements [7] - A low standard deviation among price targets indicates a high degree of agreement among analysts regarding the stock's price direction, which can serve as a starting point for further research [9] Earnings Estimates and Market Sentiment - Analysts are optimistic about NICE's earnings prospects, as indicated by a strong consensus in revising EPS estimates higher, which correlates with near-term stock price movements [11] - Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged, with one estimate moving higher and no negative revisions [12] - NICE holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates, suggesting a strong potential for upside [13] Conclusion on Price Movement - While the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of the extent of NICE's potential gains, the implied direction of price movement appears to be a useful guide [14]