As McKinsey & Co. marked its 100th anniversary with fanfare in Chicago, the consulting firm's leadership struck a confident public tone about its future. "We will kick some ass as we start our second century,†he said, portraying a firm ready to move past recent setbacks. Away from the celebrations, however, McKinsey managers have been discussing plans to cut about 10% of staff in non-client-facing roles over the next 18 to 24 months, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. Co ...

In boardrooms around the globe, a specific anxiety is taking hold. It isn’t just the fear of robots taking jobs; it is the paralyzing worry of “buyer’s remorse” in a market moving at breakneck speed. According to Bill Briggs, Deloitte’s chief technology officer, as we move from AI experimentation to impact/value at scale, that fear is driving a lopsided investment strategy where companies are pouring 93% of their AI budget into technology and only 7% into the people expected to use it. Briggs highlighted ...

Economic Data Releases - The convergence of major economic releases on Tuesday, including the November jobs report, retail sales, and PMI data, could significantly influence market direction heading into year-end [1][3] - The November jobs report will provide insights into employment trends, including nonfarm payrolls, unemployment rate, and wage growth, which are critical for assessing consumer spending capacity [1] - October retail sales data will be analyzed for evidence of consumer spending resilience during the holiday shopping season [1] - PMI releases will offer forward-looking perspectives on business activity in both goods-producing and services sectors [1] Inflation Reports - The November CPI report on Thursday will be crucial for understanding whether inflation pressures are moderating or remaining elevated, impacting the Fed's policy path [4] - Both headline and core CPI readings will be scrutinized, particularly energy prices, housing costs, and services inflation, which significantly influence overall price trends [4] - The Core PCE Price Index on Friday will provide the Fed's preferred inflation measure, offering final perspectives on October price trends [8] Company Earnings Insights - Micron's earnings report on Wednesday will provide insights into memory chip demand across various sectors, including data centers and automotive applications, amid concerns about AI infrastructure investment sustainability [5] - FedEx's earnings will offer insights into package volumes and e-commerce trends, serving as leading indicators for economic health [6][7] - Nike's earnings will assess athletic apparel demand and international market performance, particularly in China [7] - Accenture's results will provide perspectives on corporate consulting demand and IT services spending, indicating business confidence and investment intentions [7]

Summary of Wendel 2025 Investor Day Company Overview - **Company**: Wendel (OTCPK:WNDL.F) - **Event**: 24th Investor Day held on December 12, 2025 - **Focus**: Transformation into a leading investment firm in private assets with a long-term value creation strategy [1][2] Key Points and Arguments Transformation and Strategy - Wendel has evolved into a prominent investment firm focusing on private assets, emphasizing an owner-operator mindset to create long-term value for stakeholders [2][3] - The company operates two main value creation engines: - **Wendel Investment Managers**: A diversified asset management platform with €46 billion in assets under management, targeting mid-market investments in Europe and the U.S. [3][4] - **Wendel Principal Investment**: Focused on direct investments, aiming for a 12%-16% return on assets with a net asset value of €5.3 billion [4][5] Financial Performance and Returns - Wendel has returned 20% of its market cap to shareholders over the past three years, totaling €700 million, with €574 million through dividends (a 51% increase from 2022) and €129 million through share buybacks [7][8] - The company aims to generate at least €7 billion in cash by 2030, allocating funds for asset management growth (€2.5 billion), new company investments (€1.7 billion), and shareholder returns (€1.6 billion) [8][9] Future Outlook - By 2030, Wendel anticipates that 50% of its intrinsic value will derive from asset management, with a focus on creating a self-sustaining growth model [11][12] - The dividend policy is set at 2.5% of the investment portfolio, with expectations of growth to 3.5% of the firm's global value [12][13] Additional Insights Portfolio and Valuation - Wendel's portfolio consists of eight companies, with a balanced diversification across industries and geographies [15][16] - The valuation methodology includes peer multiples and transaction multiples, ensuring a robust and transparent approach to asset valuation [17][18] Operational Changes - Starting January 1st, Wendel will implement a new operational model, leveraging the expertise of IK Partners to enhance performance and scale in both asset management and principal investments [20][21] - The focus will remain on sectors where Wendel has established expertise, with an emphasis on maintaining a lean operational structure [24][25] Market Challenges and Adaptation - The company acknowledges current market pressures, particularly in the aerospace and automotive sectors, and is adapting its strategy to enhance resilience and efficiency [50][51] - Wendel aims for organic growth of €700 million by 2030, with a clear plan of 41 actions to achieve this goal [55][56] Conclusion Wendel is positioning itself as a robust player in the private asset investment space, with a clear strategy for growth, shareholder returns, and operational efficiency. The focus on long-term value creation, combined with a diversified portfolio and strategic partnerships, sets a strong foundation for future success.

Core Viewpoint - Accenture (ACN) is anticipated to report a year-over-year increase in earnings driven by higher revenues, with the actual results having a significant impact on its near-term stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The earnings report is expected to be released on December 18, and if the results exceed expectations, the stock may rise; conversely, a miss could lead to a decline [2]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts quarterly earnings of $3.74 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 4.2%, with revenues projected at $18.56 billion, up 4.9% from the previous year [3]. Estimate Revisions - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.08% lower, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate for Accenture is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -1.53%, suggesting a bearish outlook from analysts [12]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with a positive Earnings ESP indicating a higher likelihood of an earnings beat [8][10]. - A positive Earnings ESP combined with a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 has shown a nearly 70% success rate for predicting positive surprises [10]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Accenture was expected to post earnings of $2.98 per share but delivered $3.03, resulting in a surprise of +1.68% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, Accenture has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times [14]. Conclusion - Accenture does not currently appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider other factors when making decisions regarding the stock ahead of the earnings release [17].

Group 1 - Employers are planning for salary budget increases in 2026, with estimates around 3.5%, a slight decrease from 2025 [3][4] - There is a significant disparity in salary increases between high-wage and low-wage roles, with high-wage salaries rising over 30% since January 2023, while low-wage salaries increased by only 10% [4] - The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on hiring and compensation strategies is mixed, with 84% of hiring managers indicating plans to offer higher salaries for in-demand skills related to AI, machine learning, and data science [5][6] Group 2 - A recent survey by Mercer indicates that U.S. organizations expect average merit-based salary increases of 3.2% and overall increases of 3.5% for 2026, with most companies planning to distribute these increases evenly [7] - There is a noted disconnect between employers' pay strategies and their broader priorities, such as talent development and market competitiveness, suggesting an opportunity for organizations to realign their budgets towards in-demand skills [7]

Core Insights - FTI Consulting has appointed Mitch Harris as a Senior Managing Director in the Healthcare Risk Management & Advisory practice, enhancing its expertise in addressing regulatory and operational challenges in the healthcare sector [1][3][4] Company Overview - FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm specializing in crisis and transformation, with over 8,100 employees across 32 countries as of September 30, 2025 [5] - The company generated $3.70 billion in revenues during the fiscal year 2024, indicating strong financial performance [5] Industry Context - The healthcare industry is facing rising costs, increased regulatory complexity, and intensified oversight, leading to operational and financial volatility [4] - There is a growing demand for expert support and advice in navigating these challenges, highlighting the importance of FTI Consulting's services [4]

Core Insights - Anthropic has partnered with Accenture to scale AI projects, creating the Accenture Anthropic Business Group to train around 30,000 professionals [2][3] - The collaboration aims to assist CIOs in implementing AI-powered software solutions for regulated industries, including financial services and healthcare [3][4] - Accenture is now one of Anthropic's three largest enterprise customers, leveraging Anthropic's Claude capabilities for productivity gains [4] Company Collaboration - The partnership will enable Accenture developers to utilize Claude Code, marking the largest deployment of Anthropic's AI models to date [2] - The initiative is designed to help clients transition from AI experimentation to practical implementation [3] Market Context - Approximately 80% of Anthropic's revenue is derived from business customers using AI for complex tasks such as coding and compliance [5] - The adoption of agentic AI varies significantly among enterprises, with those already invested in automation progressing faster than others [6]

Core Insights - Korn Ferry shares increased following the release of stronger quarterly profit and revenue, driven by broad-based growth across its businesses [1][2] Financial Performance - The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.33, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.31 [2] - Quarterly sales reached $729.80 million, exceeding the expected $705.97 million [2] - Fee revenue for the second quarter was $721.7 million, reflecting a 7% increase year-over-year [3] - Executive Search revenue rose by 10%, while Professional Search & Interim revenue increased by 17% [3] - Adjusted EBITDA grew to $124.8 million, a 7% increase from the previous year, with a margin of 17.3% remaining stable [5] - The company ended the quarter with cash and equivalents totaling $761.579 million [5] - Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts were $1.842 billion, marking a 20% year-over-year increase [5] Strategic Positioning - Korn Ferry emphasizes the need for adaptable strategies in a rapidly changing economy, positioning itself as a partner to help organizations align strategy, operations, and talent [4] - The CEO highlighted the company's outstanding performance, noting the fourth consecutive quarter of accelerated growth, particularly from Marquee and Diamond accounts [4] Dividend Announcement - The company declared a cash dividend of 48 cents per share, payable on January 15, 2026, to shareholders of record on December 19, 2025 [6] Future Outlook - For the third quarter, Korn Ferry expects adjusted EPS between $1.19 and $1.25, aligning closely with the Street's estimate of $1.24 [7] - The projected GAAP EPS for the third quarter is between $1.15 and $1.21, which is below the Street's estimate of $1.26 [7] - Fee revenue for the third quarter is anticipated to be between $680 million and $694 million [7] - At the time of publication, Korn Ferry shares were up 3.52% at $67.26 [7]

Core Insights - Accenture has expanded its partnership with Anthropic, marking its second deal with a leading AI developer in eight days, aimed at accelerating AI adoption among clients [1] - The formation of the "Accenture Anthropic Business Group" will train approximately 30,000 employees in delivering Claude-powered solutions [2] - The collaboration will also provide access to Claude Code for tens of thousands of developers at Accenture, along with a new offering for CIOs to measure and scale AI solutions [2][3] Group 1 - The partnership with Anthropic is intended to enhance client choice, meet demand, and drive innovation in AI solutions [5] - Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, stated that the rollout of Claude Code to Accenture employees represents the largest deployment in the company's history [3] - Accenture previously announced a similar partnership with OpenAI, providing its employees with ChatGPT Enterprise for various operational tasks [3][4] Group 2 - The professional services industry is notably impacted by AI-driven transformation, with firms striving to demonstrate effective AI deployment both internally and for clients [5] - Global consulting firms, including Deloitte, are also forming partnerships with AI developers, providing their extensive workforces with AI-powered solutions [6] - The top consulting firms maintain a range of partnerships with major AI companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia, and Anthropic [7]