SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- eGain Corporation (NASDAQ: EGAN), the leading AI knowledge platform for customer experience, today announced that Achmea, one of Europe's largest cooperative insurance and financial services groups, has selected the eGain AI Knowledge Hub™ and AI Agent software to modernize knowledge management and accelerate its transformation into a Digital Insurer. Headquartered in Zeist, Netherlands, with operations across Europe, Achmea is the parent company of leadi ...

Core Insights - Accenture reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $3.94, exceeding estimates of $3.73 and improving from last year's EPS of $3.59, indicating strong financial health and effective business strategies [2][6] - The company's revenue for the quarter reached approximately $18.74 billion, surpassing the estimated $18.53 billion, driven by advancements in its AI business [3][6] Financial Metrics - Accenture's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is around 31.38, reflecting investor confidence in its earnings potential [4] - The price-to-sales ratio stands at 3.29, and the enterprise value to sales ratio is 3.22, indicating its market value relative to revenue and total value [4] - The company maintains a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, suggesting limited reliance on debt, and a current ratio of 1.41, indicating a strong ability to cover short-term liabilities [5][6] - Accenture's earnings yield is 3.19%, highlighting its financial stability and solid return on investment for shareholders [5][6]

Core Insights - Accenture plc is a global leader in professional services, specializing in strategy and consulting, technology and operations, and interactive services, with a strong focus on application services, data management, digital transformation, and cybersecurity [1] Price Target Trends - The consensus price target for Accenture's stock has declined from $321.2 a year ago to $289.09 three months ago, and further to $292.5 last month, indicating a more conservative outlook from analysts [2][6] Revenue Performance - Despite the declining price target, Accenture has exceeded Wall Street's expectations for first-quarter revenue, driven by strong demand for its artificial intelligence solutions [3][6] - Analyst Moshe Katri from Wedbush has set a higher price target of $350 for Accenture, reflecting optimism about the company's future prospects [3] Stock Performance and Investor Focus - Accenture's stock has declined by 22% this year, increasing pressure on the company to address investor concerns regarding bookings, guidance, and investments in artificial intelligence [4] - The upcoming first-quarter earnings report on December 18 will be closely monitored for new guidance or strategic initiatives that could impact stock performance [4] Strategic Focus - Accenture continues to innovate and expand its service offerings, particularly in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, maintaining its position as a key player in the professional services industry [5][6]

Core Viewpoint - Atos Group has signed a binding agreement to sell Ideal GRP, a Nordic business, to MAIT Group as part of its transformation plan aimed at sustainable growth and improved profitability [1][3] Group 1: Company Overview - Atos Group is a global leader in AI-powered digital transformation with approximately 67,000 employees and annual revenue of around €10 billion, operating in 61 countries [4] - Ideal GRP, founded in 1992, operates under the Eviden brand and is active in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Estonia, generating approximately €20 million in annual revenue and employing around 80 people [2] Group 2: Transaction Details - The sale of Ideal GRP is part of Atos Group's 'Genesis' transformation plan, which focuses on core assets such as AI, cloud-enabled, and secure solutions [3] - The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks, pending the fulfillment of all closing conditions [3] Group 3: Strategic Implications - The divestment allows Ideal GRP to complement MAIT Group's expertise in lifecycle management and supports MAIT Group's ambition to expand its activities in the Nordic region [3]

Core Insights - The automotive retail industry is experiencing a digital transformation, with major dealership groups investing in cloud-based platforms to enhance operational efficiency [2] Group 1: Company Performance - Asbury Automotive operates 175 new vehicle dealerships and 39 collision centers, generating $4.80 billion in revenue during Q3 2025 [3] - AutoNation, the largest automotive retailer in the U.S., reported $27.92 billion in trailing twelve-month revenue [4] - Lithia Motors, the second-largest retailer, achieved $37.61 billion in revenue [5] Group 2: Digital Initiatives - Asbury is implementing Tekion's cloud-based dealership management system across its network, with a focus on improving operational efficiency [3][7] - AutoNation has invested in digital retail innovations, allowing customers to complete approximately 80% of the car-buying process online [4] - Lithia Motors has developed its Driveway digital platform, averaging 1.3 million unique visitors per month in Q2 2025 [5] Group 3: Financial Metrics - Asbury posted a 13% revenue growth year-over-year in Q3, outperforming AutoNation's 6.9% and Lithia's 4.9% [6][8] - Asbury's profit margin stands at 3.15%, exceeding AutoNation's 2.38% despite AutoNation's larger scale [6] - Asbury trades at an 8x P/E ratio, compared to AutoNation's 12x and Lithia's 10x, reflecting its faster growth [8]

Core Insights - The automotive retail industry is experiencing a significant digital transformation as dealership groups strive to modernize their operations through the adoption of cloud-based platforms [1] Industry Summary - Dealership groups are actively engaged in modernizing their operations to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape [1]

ASN Bank, a Netherlands-based retail bank, has selected HCLTech as its strategic partner to advance its digital transformation and improve customer experience. Under the partnership, HCLTech will support ASN Bank’s enterprise applications and streamline services using a distributed delivery model. This initiative includes consolidating IT services, reducing the number of technology vendors, and developing a “future-ready” organisation. The collaboration is part of ASN Bank’s ‘Simplify and Grow’ strateg ...

Core Insights - The AI Agent Expo in Tokyo showcased the increasing demand for AI-driven digital transformation in Japan, with AI customer support being the top priority for enterprises [1] - GPTBots.ai's solutions, particularly in intelligent automation, received significant interest from various sectors including manufacturing, finance, technology, and consumer goods [1] Group 1: Key DX Needs from Japanese Enterprises - Japanese enterprises are focusing on three main areas for digital transformation: real-time communication, customer engagement, and internal collaboration [2][4] - LiveSpeechly, an enterprise-grade AI solution by GPTBots, enhances real-time multilingual translation and meeting transcription, facilitating better cross-border collaboration [2] Group 2: GPTBots as a Preferred DX Partner - GPTBots offers AI-powered virtual sales agents and automated customer support to improve customer experience and drive growth [4] - The company provides seamless integration with major CRM platforms like Salesforce, ensuring unified data management [4][5] - GPTBots emphasizes flexible deployment options, including cloud and on-premise solutions, with a focus on data security and compliance with Japanese regulations [5] Group 3: Empowering Digital Transformation - GPTBots is dedicated to supporting Japanese enterprises in their AI-driven digital transformation journey, offering scalable and customizable solutions that provide measurable business value [6] - The company positions itself as a leader in enterprise AI agent platforms, enabling organizations to automate and elevate their business operations [7]

Core Viewpoint - The consulting services industry is experiencing a positive demand environment driven by economic strength, encouraging service activities, and the success of remote work trends, making stocks like FTI Consulting, Exponent, and CBIZ attractive for investors [1][2]. Industry Overview - The consulting services industry encompasses companies providing professional advice in various fields such as management, IT, human resources, and marketing, serving multiple end markets [3]. - The industry is focusing on enhancing operational efficiency through technology, digital transformation, and data-driven decision-making to capitalize on post-pandemic economic recovery opportunities [4]. Growth Drivers - The consulting services industry has seen exponential growth since the 2008 financial crisis, supported by digital transformation and innovation, leading to stable revenues and profits [5]. - The sector benefits from a resilient economy, with GDP growth of 3.8% in Q2 2025, and strong non-manufacturing activities, as indicated by the Services PMI remaining above 50% [6]. Demand Environment - The consulting services industry has remained relatively unaffected by global uncertainties, with organizations seeking guidance to safeguard their workforce and strengthen consumer and shareholder relationships [7]. - The industry's early adoption of remote collaboration has allowed it to operate efficiently, leveraging AI-driven insights and digital platforms [7]. Industry Ranking - The consulting services industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 80, placing it in the top 33% of 243 Zacks industries, indicating solid near-term growth prospects [8][9]. Market Performance - Over the past year, the consulting services industry has underperformed the S&P 500, declining 27% compared to the S&P 500's gain of 18% [11]. - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19.76X, which is below the S&P 500's 23.3X and the sector's 20.56X [12]. Company Highlights - **FTI Consulting**: The company generated nearly 36% of its revenues from international operations in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.5% from 2020 to 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS has increased by 4.3% to $8.43 [13][14]. - **Exponent**: Positioned to benefit from technological innovation, Exponent has seen year-over-year growth in dispute-related activities and is focusing on areas with substantial growth potential, such as digital health and AI usability. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS has increased by 4.6% to $2.06 [15][16][17]. - **CBIZ**: As a major provider of financial, insurance, and advisory services, CBIZ is entering a growth phase supported by strategic expansion and the integration of Marcum, which is expected to enhance service offerings. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS has increased marginally to $3.62 [17][18][19].

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) is one of the best FinTech stocks to buy in 2026. As of December 16, Wall Street’s consensus view on FIS remains a Moderate Buy, with analysts tracked by MarketBeat assigning an average 12-month price target of about $85.4, implying roughly 28% upside from current trading levels. The price target range spans from roughly $70 on the low end up to about $113 on the high, reflecting some divergence among analysts but a generally bullish tilt overall. H ...