Core Insights - Accenture plc is set to release its first-quarter earnings results on December 18, with analysts expecting earnings of $3.72 per share, an increase from $3.59 per share in the previous year [1] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $18.53 million, up from $17.69 million reported last year [1] - Accenture has agreed to acquire a majority stake in DLB Associates, a US-based AI data center engineering and consulting firm [2] Analyst Ratings - Morgan Stanley upgraded Accenture from Equal-Weight to Overweight, raising the price target from $271 to $320 [3] - Citigroup initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and a price target of $266 [3] - Mizuho maintained an Outperform rating but reduced the price target from $348 to $309 [3] - BMO Capital maintained a Market Perform rating and cut the price target from $325 to $270 [3] - Baird maintained an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $350 to $330 [3]

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) will release earnings results for its first quarter before the opening bell on Thursday, Dec. 18.Analysts expect the Dublin, Ireland-based company to report quarterly earnings at $3.72 per share, up from $3.59 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Accenture's quarterly revenue is $18.53 million. Last year, it reported $17.69 million in revenue, according to Benzinga Pro.On Tuesday, Accenture agreed to acquire a majority stake in US-based AI data center enginee ...

Booz Allen's CFO is leaving, but is the sell-off an opportunity?Shares of Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH 7.23%) fell on Tuesday, declining 6.7% as of 3:47 p.m. EDT.Booz Allen didn't release any new financial news today, but it did announce last night that the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) would be leaving the company for a new opportunity.Investors never like it when an executive decides to leave a company for another, and therefore, Booz Allen is getting punished on Tuesday, even though the stock alrea ...

[music] Welcome to Market Catalyst. I'm Julie [music] Hyman. We are 30 minutes into the US trading day.So, let's get to the three market catalyst we're watching this hour. First up, we dig into the latest economic [music] data and what it means for the Federal Reserve. Plus, Tesla rallies on progress in [music] its Robo Taxi division.We'll dig into the outlook with Dan Ies of Wedbush. and we'll get a read on the state of consumer [music] spending with the chief economist at the National Retail Federation. L ...

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) erased earlier gains Tuesday as investors weighed analyst optimism against acquisition news.The consulting firm initially rose after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock and raised its price forecast.Morgan Stanley lifted Accenture to Overweight from Equal-Weight. Analyst James Faucette raised its price forecast to $320 from $271. Also Read: Palantir Technologies: Analyst Expects AI Tailwinds To Support Growth MomentumAccenture Makes AI Infrastructure MoveAccenture announced an agreeme ...

Core Insights - The healthcare and life sciences industry is facing a challenging political and economic environment, with a 9% decrease in optimism compared to the previous year [1][8] - Key legislation is expected to impact supply chain and drug costs, with significant concerns about out-of-pocket costs for patients and supply chain disruptions [4] - Artificial Intelligence (AI) is identified as a crucial area for investment, with 59% of respondents planning to increase their budget for AI in 2026 [5] Political and Regulatory Challenges - Industry leaders are divided on the impact of President Trump's administration, with 51% viewing it positively and 49% negatively [4] - 64% of respondents believe the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will raise out-of-pocket costs for patients, while 56% anticipate increased supply chain disruptions due to the Most Favored Nation policy [4] Artificial Intelligence Development & Usage - 59% of industry leaders plan to allocate more budget to AI and large-language models in 2026 [5] - AI is expected to be implemented across various functions, including internal content development (41%), internal operations (38%), and financial analysis (37%) [5] - In communications, AI is seen as offering significant opportunities in social and digital communications (63%) and media engagement (48%) [5] Cybersecurity Concerns - 47% of respondents feel their organizations are vulnerable to cyber incidents [6] - Only 60% have a crisis communications plan in place, a decrease from 68% in 2025 [6] Transactions & Capital Markets Activity - 65% of respondents expect higher M&A activity in 2026, but only 54% are optimistic about increased IPO activity, a 7% drop from 2025 [7] - The fundraising environment is anticipated to be challenging, with only 28% believing it will be easier to raise capital in 2026 [7]

Industry Leaders Point to Challenging Political and Economic Environment Key Legislation Expected to Impact Supply Chain and Drug Costs Recent M&A Momentum Offset by Challenging Fundraising Environment Artificial Intelligence (AI) Seen as Key Investment Area WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced findings from its fifth annual U.S. Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Outlook 2026, which revealed that leaders are less optimistic about the state of the i ...

Core Insights - WSP Global has signed an agreement to acquire TRC Companies for $3.3 billion, enhancing its capabilities in the power and energy sector [1][2] - The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2026, subject to regulatory approvals [2] - This strategic move aligns with WSP's 2025-2027 Strategic Plan and aims to position the company as a leader in power and energy consulting [4] Financial Impact - The all-cash deal is valued at $3.3 billion and is projected to add low- to mid-single digit percentage to WSP's adjusted net earnings per share before synergies [2][3] - Post-acquisition, WSP will have approximately 27,000 employees in the US, contributing to 34% of its US revenue [3] Strategic Rationale - The acquisition will broaden WSP's expertise across water, infrastructure, and environmental services, addressing the rising demand for power consumption driven by AI and cryptocurrency sectors [2] - WSP aims to create an integrated platform with industry-leading capabilities in advisory, engineering, and program management through this acquisition [5][6] Advisory and Legal Support - J.P. Morgan and CIBC Capital Markets are serving as financial advisors for WSP, with legal counsel from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in the US and Stikeman Elliott in Canada [6] - Harris Williams, UBS Investment Bank, AEC Advisors, and Houlihan Lokey are advising TRC, with legal counsel from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison [7]

As McKinsey & Co. partners gathered in the consulting giant’s birthplace in late October, Bob Sternfels delivered a rallying cry. “We will kick some ass as we start our second century,” the firm’s top executive told the thousands of attendees.But away from the 100-year festivities in Chicago, McKinsey bosses have been conveying a more pragmatic message: It’s time to get leaner. The firm’s leadership has discussed with managers in non-client-facing departments the need to cut about 10% of headcount across th ...

Milestone transaction: Welcoming a U.S. premier Power & Energy brand of approximately 8,000 people to create the #1 Power & Energy platform in the U.S.1 for a total cash purchase price of US$3.3 billion.Highly accretive: Expected to be low- to mid-single digit percentage accretive to WSP’s adjusted net earnings per share2 and high-single digit percentage accretive once cost synergies are fully realized2,3.Highly complementary: Expands our offering in the Power & Energy sector and provides potential cross-se ...