Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - ASGN reported revenues of $1,010,000,000 for Q3 2025, a decrease of 1.9% year over year, but at the high end of guidance expectations [23] - Adjusted EBITDA was $112,600,000 with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.1% [25] - Net income for the quarter was $38,100,000 [25] - Free cash flow was $72,000,000, representing a conversion rate of approximately 64% of adjusted EBITDA [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The IT consulting business accounted for approximately 63% of total revenues, up from 58% in the same period last year [5] - Commercial consulting revenues totaled $334,900,000, an increase of 17.5% year over year [23] - Federal segment revenues were $300,100,000, a decrease of 3.9% year over year [24] - Assignment revenues decreased by 13.2% year over year, reflecting softness in parts of the commercial segment sensitive to macroeconomic changes [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer and industrial accounts saw mid-teens growth year over year, driven by materials, utilities, and consumer discretionary clients [10] - Healthcare industry revenues increased by high single digits year over year, supported by healthcare provider and pharmaceutical clients [11] - Financial services, TMT, and business services experienced year-over-year declines [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI and digital advancement, with ongoing investments in AI reflecting a commitment to enterprise technology re-platforming [7] - ASGN is actively tracking changes to the H1B application process, believing it will positively impact the company [8] - The company plans to host an Investor Day on November 20 to discuss its strategy and unveil new three-year financial targets [31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the demand for IT services despite macroeconomic conditions, noting strong quarterly bookings [6] - The government shutdown has had an immaterial impact on operations, but it may slow down new awards and ramp-up activities [40] - The company anticipates that increased defense budgets will benefit its federal segment in the future [62] Other Important Information - The gross margin for Q3 2025 was 29.4%, an increase of 30 basis points year over year [24] - SG&A expenses for the quarter were $212,200,000, including $4,200,000 in acquisition and integration expenses [25] - The company repurchased 900,000 shares at an average price of $51.46, with approximately $423 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: H1B situation and its impact - Management believes that tighter H1B regulations will increase the importance of onshore and nearshore technical capabilities, benefiting ASGN [35][36] Question: Federal government segment and shutdown impact - The government shutdown is causing caution in the fourth quarter guidance, primarily affecting new awards and ramp-up activities [41][42] Question: Demand for software implementations - Continued demand is noted in data and AI, particularly with platforms like Snowflake and Databricks, as well as Workday and ServiceNow [46][47] Question: Pricing dynamics and competition - ASGN competes with major firms like Accenture and sees stable pricing due to the quality of its services and unique accelerators [77][78] Question: Federal contracts and margins - The increase in cost-reimbursable contracts is not impacting margins significantly; it reflects the natural ebb and flow of contracts [71][73]