Core Insights - Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL) shares have declined 52.6% in the past six months, underperforming its industry which grew by 22.9% and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite which rose by 19.4% [1] - Over the past year, SKIL has also underperformed compared to competitors Parsons and Peraso, with a decline of 30.2% against Parsons' 13.8% drop and Peraso's 26.4% rise [4] AI-Driven Strategy - SKIL's future growth is heavily reliant on AI-led innovation, focusing on intelligent learning design and skills intelligence, with over 20,000 certifications earned by its global workforce in relevant fields [5][6] - The demand for scalable learning solutions is increasing as companies adapt to workforce changes and AI technology, which SKIL aims to meet through its product strategy [6] Financial Performance - In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, SKIL reported a 5.9% year-over-year decline in content and software development expenses, attributed to productivity gains from AI [9] - The company achieved $45 million in expense reductions since implementing transformation actions, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin increase to 22% from 21.4% year-over-year [10][11] - SKIL's year-to-date free cash flow (FCF) stands at $3.5 million, with management projecting adjusted EBITDA of $112-$118 million and FCF of $13-$18 million for the year [13] Capital Management and Valuation - By the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026, SKIL's return on equity (ROE) was 16.03%, surpassing the industry's 15.89%, indicating effective capital management [14] - SKIL is currently priced at 2.12 times forward 12-month price-to-earnings, significantly below the industry average of 25.19 times, and its trailing 12-month EV-to-EBITDA ratio is 3.05, well below the industry average of 15.87 [15] Investment Recommendation - The company's focus on AI-led innovation and cost-cutting initiatives is expected to improve margins and free cash flow, making it an attractive investment opportunity [19] - SKIL is currently undervalued and offers strong capital returns, making it a recommended addition for long-term investors [20]

Core Viewpoint - Hagens Berman is investigating Stride, Inc. for potential violations of U.S. securities laws due to significant operational issues and fraud allegations that have led to a sharp decline in the company's stock price [1][4]. Group 1: Operational Issues - Stride reported Q1 earnings overshadowed by a major operational issue and cautious guidance, which triggered a sell-off in the stock [2]. - The company experienced significant disruptions while implementing an upgraded platform, resulting in an estimated loss of 10,000 to 15,000 enrollments, impacting its total enrollment of 247,700 [5]. - CEO James Rhyu acknowledged the implementation issues, stating that the poor customer experience led to higher withdrawal and lower conversion rates than expected [5]. Group 2: Financial Guidance - Stride's guidance for 2026 forecasts only 5% sales growth, a significant slowdown from the annualized sales growth of 19% over the past five years, raising concerns among investors [5]. Group 3: Fraud Allegations - Prior allegations against Stride include claims of fraud, deceptive practices, and prioritizing profits over student welfare, leading to a stock price drop of $18.60, or 11% [3]. - Allegations include artificially inflating student enrollment figures with "ghost students," increasing student-to-teacher ratios to boost profit margins, and employing insufficiently licensed teachers [6]. - The company is also accused of using unlawful practices to lower overhead costs to inflate stock values [6].