Core Insights - Franklin Covey reported quarterly earnings of $0.34 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.43 per share, and down from $0.89 per share a year ago, indicating an earnings surprise of -20.93% [1] - The company posted revenues of $71.25 million for the quarter ended August 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.39%, but down from $84.12 million year-over-year [2] - Franklin Covey shares have declined approximately 55.2% year-to-date, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 15.1% [3] Earnings Outlook - The future performance of Franklin Covey's stock will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the company's earnings outlook [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.18 on revenues of $64.8 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.80 on revenues of $267.62 million [7] Industry Context - The Consulting Services industry, to which Franklin Covey belongs, is currently ranked in the top 14% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact Franklin Covey's stock performance [5][6]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, providing additional stock ratings based on value, growth, and momentum [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with higher scores indicating better chances of outperforming the market [3] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [4] - The Growth Score assesses stocks based on projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to identify sustainable growth opportunities [5] - The Momentum Score evaluates stocks based on recent price changes and earnings estimate trends to identify favorable buying opportunities [6] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors [6] Zacks Rank and Style Scores Interaction - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.93% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7] - There are over 800 top-rated stocks available, making it essential to use Style Scores to narrow down choices [8] - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - Stocks with lower ranks, even with high Style Scores, may still face downward price trends due to negative earnings outlooks [10] Company Spotlight: Accenture (ACN) - Accenture has established itself as a leading consulting services provider, with a revenue increase of 1.2% in fiscal 2024 [11] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) by Zacks, Accenture has a VGM Score of B and a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 17.62 [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates by six analysts have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $13.78 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +3.2% [12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenues before reimbursements of $72.2 million, a decrease of 7% compared to the prior year [14] - Adjusted earnings per share were $0.37, at the midpoint of quarterly guidance, compared to $0.43 in the prior year [20] - GAAP net income for the third quarter totaled $2.5 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.09, down from $8.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share in the previous year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global GS&BT segment revenues were $42.4 million, a decrease of 2% year-over-year, but excluding declines from OneStream and iPaaS, it was up over 4% [14][15] - Oracle Solutions segment revenues were $16.4 million, a decrease of 25% year-over-year due to prolonged decision-making [15] - SAP Solutions segment revenues increased by 4% to $13.4 million, driven by implementation services [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 23% of total revenues before reimbursements consist of recurring multi-year and subscription-based revenues [16] - The company’s Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) improved to 71 days from 73 days in the previous quarter [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on GenAI-enabled transformation, which is seen as a generational opportunity to change operational models and consulting service delivery [28][29] - The recent launch of version 4 of the AI Explorer platform is expected to enhance capabilities and attract new clients [5][29] - Strategic alliances are being pursued to expand growth opportunities, with ongoing discussions with potential partners [36][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while demand for digital transformation remains strong, economic concerns are causing organizations to assess competing priorities [28] - The company expects continued growth in GenAI revenues, particularly in Q4 and into 2026, despite some revenue declines in other segments [15][23] - Management anticipates that the integration of GenAI capabilities will lead to improved revenue growth margins and operational efficiencies [32] Other Important Information - The company announced a $40 million Dutch tender offer to repurchase approximately 8% of its common stock [10][22] - The board declared a fourth-quarter dividend of $0.12 per share, payable on January 9, 2026 [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide an update on potential alliances? - Management expressed confidence in attracting one or two major alliance partners soon, especially following the release of version 4 [36][38] Question: What is the outlook for software licensing? - Licensing for version 4 is expected to begin late in Q4 or early Q1, with many current opportunities likely converting to AI Explorer licenses [48] Question: How is the GS&BT segment performing? - The GS&BT segment is primarily driven by strategy and business transformation initiatives, which are expected to contribute significantly to operating profits in the future [52] Question: Are there concerns about labor resources in GS&BT? - Management indicated no concerns regarding labor resources, citing productivity improvements from new platforms [60][62] Question: What differentiates version 4 from alternatives? - Version 4 offers enhanced capabilities in simulating and informing client-specific automation footprints, significantly improving ideation and solutioning processes [64][66]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues before reimbursements for Q3 2025 were $72.2 million, a decrease of 7% compared to the prior year [15] - Adjusted earnings per share for Q3 2025 were $0.37, at the midpoint of quarterly guidance [4] - GAAP net income for Q3 2025 was $2.5 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.09, down from $8.6 million or $0.31 in the same quarter last year [19] - Adjusted EBITDA was $15.3 million, or 21.2% of revenues before reimbursements, compared to 22.7% in the prior year [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global GS&BT segment revenues were $42.4 million, a decrease of 2% year-over-year, but would have increased by 4% excluding the OneStream practice and iPaaS contract [15][16] - Oracle Solutions segment revenues were $16.4 million, down 25% year-over-year due to prolonged decision-making [16] - SAP Solutions segment revenues were $13.4 million, an increase of 4% year-over-year, driven by implementation services [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 23% of total revenues before reimbursements consist of recurring multi-year and subscription-based revenues [17] - Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) improved to 71 days from 73 days in the previous quarter [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on GenAI-enabled transformation, which is seen as a generational opportunity to change operational and consulting service delivery [27][28] - The recent launch of version 4 of the AI Explorer platform is expected to enhance client engagement and pipeline activity [4][39] - Strategic alliances are being pursued to expand growth opportunities, with ongoing discussions with potential partners [34][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The demand for digital transformation remains strong but is impacted by economic concerns and decision-making delays [27] - The company expects continued growth in GenAI revenues, particularly in Q4 and into 2026 [16][39] - Management anticipates a decrease in available billing days in Q4 due to holiday schedules, estimating revenues before reimbursements to be in the range of $69.5-$71 million [23] Other Important Information - The company announced a $40 million Dutch tender offer to repurchase approximately 8% of its common stock [11][22] - Cash balances increased to $13.9 million at the end of Q3, up from $10.1 million in the previous quarter [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Plans for alliances and partnerships - Management expressed confidence in attracting major alliance partners due to the capabilities demonstrated by version 4 of AI Explorer [34][35] Question: Licensing progress for ZBrain and Explorer - Licensing for version 4 is expected to begin late in Q4 or early Q1, with anticipated interest from current clients [41][42] Question: Trends within GS&BT segment - The strategy and business transformation group represents a significant portion of GS&BT revenues, with expectations for GenAI initiatives to drive future profits [43][44] Question: Decision-making trends among clients - Management noted that while clients are cautious about 2025 spending, there is an increasing willingness to invest in digital transformation initiatives [46] Question: Labor resources to meet AI demand - Management indicated that productivity improvements from new platforms will reduce reliance on headcount growth [47]

Core Insights - Gartner reported quarterly earnings of $2.76 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.41 per share, and showing an increase from $2.50 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +14.52% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $1.52 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.35% and up from $1.48 billion year-over-year [2] - Gartner's stock has underperformed, losing approximately 49.2% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 16.5% [3] Earnings Outlook - The future performance of Gartner's stock will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the revisions of earnings estimates [3][4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $3.26, with expected revenues of $1.75 billion, and for the current fiscal year, the EPS estimate is $12.19 on revenues of $6.49 billion [7] Industry Context - The Consulting Services industry, to which Gartner belongs, is currently ranked in the top 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked using tools like the Zacks Rank [5][6]

Core Insights - CGI has achieved Elite Partner status with Snowflake and ServiceNow, and Diamond Partner status with UiPath, highlighting its strong position in the technology consulting sector [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership Achievements - CGI's Elite Partner status with Snowflake and ServiceNow reflects its extensive certified expertise and successful delivery of industry-focused outcomes globally [2][3] - As a Diamond Partner with UiPath, CGI has demonstrated outstanding proficiency in delivering end-to-end business automation solutions [3] Group 2: Strategic Focus - CGI's Global Alliances strategy combines deep industry knowledge with leading technologies to help clients embrace emerging technologies like Generative and Agentic AI [2][3] - The company maintains relationships with over 150 technology firms, allowing it to select the best technology solutions tailored to client needs [2][3] Group 3: Company Overview - Founded in 1976, CGI is one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms, with 93,000 professionals globally [4] - CGI reported revenue of CA$14.68 billion for Fiscal 2024, indicating strong financial performance [4]

Core Viewpoint - Accenture (ACN) is highlighted as a stable performer in a volatile market, characterized by solid fundamentals and a discounted valuation, demonstrating that "boring" can still be attractive [2] Financial Performance - ACN stock is currently priced about 36% lower than its 1-year peak and trades at a price-to-sales (PS) multiple below the average of the past 3 years, indicating a potential value investment opportunity [3] - Revenue growth stands at 7.4% for the last twelve months (LTM) and an average of 4.2% over the last 3 years, suggesting modest growth with margin and value opportunities [8] - The average operating margin for Accenture is approximately 14.4% over the past 3 years, with no significant margin decline in the past 12 months [8] - The stock is currently traded at a price-to-earnings (PE) multiple of 20.3, reflecting a modest valuation despite positive fundamentals [8] Market Trends and Returns - Average returns for ACN stock are projected at 12.7% over the next 6 months and 25.8% over the next 12 months, with a win rate exceeding 70% for both durations [9] - The stock has shown resilience, with an average 12-month return of nearly 20% during non-crash periods, maintaining a 67% win rate [9] Historical Performance and Risks - Accenture has experienced significant declines in the past, including a 38% drop during the Global Financial Crisis, a 40% decline amid the 2022 inflation impact, and a 33% decrease during the Covid pandemic [10] - The company is not immune to declines even in favorable market conditions, as stock prices can drop due to earnings reports, business news, or changes in outlook [11]

Core Insights - Exponent, Inc. reported strong financial performance in Q3 2025, with double-digit net revenue growth driven by diversified service offerings across various sectors [2][4]. Financial Results - Total revenues for Q3 2025 increased by 8% to $147.1 million, while revenues before reimbursements rose by 10% to $137.1 million compared to Q3 2024 [4]. - Net income for Q3 2025 was $28.0 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, up from $26.0 million, or $0.50 per diluted share in Q3 2024 [5]. - EBITDA for Q3 2025 increased to $38.8 million, representing 28.3% of revenues before reimbursements, compared to $35.8 million, or 28.6% in Q3 2024 [6]. Year-to-Date Performance - For the first three quarters of 2025, total revenues and revenues before reimbursements both increased by 3% to $434.6 million and $407.4 million, respectively, compared to the same period in 2024 [7]. - Net income for the first three quarters of 2025 decreased to $81.2 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, down from $85.4 million, or $1.66 per diluted share in the same period of 2024 [8]. - EBITDA for the first three quarters of 2025 decreased to $113.4 million, or 27.8% of revenues before reimbursements, compared to $115.8 million, or 29.3% in the same period of 2024 [9]. Business Segments - The engineering and other scientific segment accounted for 84% of revenues before reimbursements in Q3 2025, with a 10% increase in revenues compared to the prior year [12]. - The environmental and health segment represented 16% of revenues before reimbursements, with a 9% increase in Q3 2025 driven by regulatory consulting in the chemicals industry [13]. Business Outlook - The company is maintaining its revenue guidance and raising margin guidance for the full year, indicating confidence in long-term growth despite challenges posed by a return to a 52-week fiscal year [14]. - Exponent is strategically increasing headcount to support growth and is optimistic about new engagements and talent influx [14].

Core Insights - CBIZ reported quarterly earnings of $1.01 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.94 per share, and up from $0.84 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +7.45% [1] - The company posted revenues of $693.82 million for the quarter ended September 2025, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.83%, compared to year-ago revenues of $438.88 million [2] - CBIZ has surpassed consensus EPS estimates in all four of the last quarters, but has only topped revenue estimates once in the same period [2] Earnings Outlook - The sustainability of CBIZ's stock price movement will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and future earnings expectations [3][4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.55 on revenues of $565 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.61 on revenues of $2.8 billion [7] Industry Context - The Consulting Services industry, to which CBIZ belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 42% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential underperformance compared to higher-ranked industries [8] - The performance of CBIZ's stock may also be influenced by the overall outlook for the industry [8] Estimate Revisions - Prior to the earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for CBIZ was unfavorable, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, suggesting expected underperformance in the near future [6] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which investors can track [5]

Core Insights - Huron Consulting (HURN) reported quarterly earnings of $2.1 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.86 per share, and showing an increase from $1.68 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +12.90% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $432.36 million for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.94% and up from $370.05 million year-over-year [2] - Huron Consulting's stock has increased approximately 23.6% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 16.9% [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.09, with expected revenues of $436.26 million, and for the current fiscal year, the consensus EPS estimate is $7.52 on revenues of $1.65 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Huron Consulting was mixed prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Consulting Services industry, to which Huron Consulting belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 41% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting that the industry's outlook may impact stock performance [8] - CRA International (CRAI), another company in the same industry, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.80 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of +1.7%, with revenues anticipated to be $179.06 million, up 6.7% from the previous year [9][10]