Collaboration to help providers improve performance in critical RCM functions PITTSBURGH, Dec. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Penguin Ai, a health care artificial intelligence (AI) company, announced today a collaboration with FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN), a global business advisory firm, to help healthcare providers strengthen revenue cycle performance and reduce administrative burden. By integrating Penguin Ai's platform into FTI Consulting's revenue cycle management (RCM) transformation work, the collabora ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes that profitability alone does not guarantee a good investment, as some companies may struggle with growth, face threats, or fail to reinvest effectively, limiting future potential [1] Company Summaries Lowe's (LOW) - Lowe's has a trailing 12-month GAAP operating margin of 12.4% and is a home improvement retailer selling a variety of products [2] - The stock is currently trading at $232.01 per share, with a forward P/E ratio of 18.3x [4] Wabash (WNC) - Wabash has a trailing 12-month GAAP operating margin of 22.6% and specializes in semi-trailers and transportation equipment [5] - The stock is priced at $7.77 per share, trading at 4.7x forward EV-to-EBITDA [7] FTI Consulting (FCN) - FTI Consulting has a trailing 12-month GAAP operating margin of 9.4% and operates globally to address complex business challenges [8] - The company has experienced annual sales growth of only 2.6% over the last six years, lagging behind its peers [10] - A significant backlog drop of 36.2% over the past two years indicates a loss of orders amid increasing competition [11] - Earnings per share have contracted by 39.2% annually over the last five years, which could negatively impact stock prices [11] - The company has seen a decrease in efficiency, with a 2.7 percentage point drop in adjusted operating margin over the last five years [12]

Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, can identify opportunities with strong upside potential, especially for unprofitable or early-stage companies [1][2][3] Valuation Metrics - The P/S ratio compares a company's market capitalization to its revenues, providing a clearer picture of value when earnings are minimal or volatile [2][5] - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates a good bargain, as investors pay less than a dollar for each dollar of revenue generated [6] - The P/S ratio is often preferred over the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio due to the difficulty of manipulating sales figures compared to earnings [7] Investment Opportunities - Low P/S stocks can offer compelling opportunities, often trading below intrinsic value, making them attractive for investors seeking upside potential [3][10] - Companies such as Macy's Inc. (M), California Water Service Group (CWT), Shoe Carnival (SCVL), Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB), and FTI Consulting Inc. (FCN) have low P/S ratios and potential for higher returns [4][10] Company Profiles - **Macy's Inc. (M)**: Undergoing a transformation with its "Bold New Chapter" program, focusing on digital initiatives and strong fundamentals, currently has a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 1 [12][13] - **California Water Service Group (CWT)**: Aims to expand operations in the western U.S. through acquisitions, with a Value Score of B and Zacks Rank 2 [14][15] - **Shoe Carnival (SCVL)**: Transitioning to a higher-end market with a disciplined strategy, currently has a Zacks Rank 1 and Value Score of A [16][17] - **Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB)**: Focused on operational efficiency and capital allocation, with a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 1 [18][20] - **FTI Consulting Inc. (FCN)**: A global advisory firm with a diversified platform, currently has a Value Score of B and Zacks Rank 2 [21][22]

The number of UK firms in financial distress has surged over the past year, according to a report by business advisory and insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor https://t.co/L3fVFvD0UD ...

Core Viewpoint - CBIZ, Inc. will announce its financial results for the third quarter and year-to-date periods on October 29, 2025, after market close [1] Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The financial results will cover the periods ended September 30, 2025 [1] - A conference call to discuss these results will be hosted by the President and CEO Jerry Grisko and CFO Brad Lakhia at 5 p.m. (ET) on the same day [2] - The conference call will be available via live webcast on the investor relations page of the CBIZ website, with an archived replay accessible afterward [2] Group 2: Registration and Participation - Investors can register to receive the dial-in number and a unique personal identification number for the conference call [3] - Registration is open at any time, including up to and after the call start time [3] Group 3: Company Overview - CBIZ, Inc. is a leading professional services advisor to middle-market businesses across the United States [4] - The company has expertise in various areas including accounting, tax, advisory, benefits, insurance, and technology [4] - CBIZ employs over 10,000 team members across more than 160 locations in 22 major markets nationwide [4]

Core Insights - FTI Consulting reported Q2 2025 earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations despite a mild decline in revenue and earnings per share compared to the previous year [1][2] - The company generated GAAP revenue of $943.7 million, surpassing estimates by $21.7 million, and GAAP earnings per share of $2.13, exceeding the $2.10 estimate [1][2] - The performance varied significantly across different business segments, with some experiencing growth while others faced challenges due to macroeconomic factors [1] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 GAAP revenue was $943.7 million, a decrease of 0.6% year-over-year from $949.2 million in Q2 2024 [2] - GAAP earnings per share fell by 9.0% from $2.34 in Q2 2024 to $2.13 in Q2 2025 [2] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 3.7% to $111.6 million from $115.9 million in the prior year [2] - Net income dropped 14.5% to $71.7 million from $83.9 million in Q2 2024 [2] - Operating margin was 10.5%, down from 11.0% in the previous year [2] Business Segments Overview - Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment reported $379.2 million in GAAP revenue, up 9.0% year-over-year, driven by increased demand for restructuring services [5] - Forensic and Litigation Consulting generated $186.5 million in GAAP revenue, a 10.0% increase, benefiting from higher bill rates [6] - Economic Consulting saw a significant decline in GAAP revenue to $191.7 million, down 17.0% due to reduced deal volume [7] - Technology unit's revenue fell 27.9% to $83.6 million, impacted by lower demand for merger-related projects [8] - Strategic Communications achieved strong growth with revenue up 20.8% to $102.7 million, driven by increased demand for reputation management services [10] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Cash generated from operations decreased to $55.7 million from $135.2 million in Q2 2024, primarily due to higher forgivable loan issuances and increased compensation payments [11] - Net debt rose to $317.2 million from a net cash position of $166.4 million a year earlier [11] - Total liabilities increased to $1.59 billion, reflecting higher long-term debt and commitments to retain talent [12] Future Guidance - Management updated FY2025 revenue guidance to a range of $3.66 billion to $3.76 billion, indicating flat growth compared to FY2024 [13] - Full-year GAAP earnings per share is projected between $7.24 and $7.84, with adjusted EPS forecasted between $7.80 and $8.40 [13] - The company highlighted potential declines in adjusted EPS for the first time in a decade due to ongoing weakness in certain segments [13]