ePlus (NasdaqGS:PLUS) Q3 2026 Earnings call February 04, 2026 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsElaine Marion - CFOKley Parkhurst - Senior VPMark Marron - CEO and PresidentConference Call ParticipantsGreg Burns - AnalystMaggie Nolan - Research AnalystOperatorEarnings results conference call. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise, and after the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ...

Core Insights - Amdocs reported revenue of $1.16 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.1% and an EPS of $1.81 compared to $1.66 a year ago, exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimates [1] - The revenue surprise was +0.32% over the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion, while the EPS surprise was +3.28% against the consensus estimate of $1.75 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Amdocs' shares have remained unchanged over the past month, contrasting with a +1.8% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite, and the stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) indicating potential underperformance [3] - Geographic revenue breakdown shows North America at $764.7 million, slightly below the average estimate of $768.4 million, with a year-over-year change of +3.7% [4] - Revenue from the Rest of the World was $209.5 million, aligning closely with the average estimate of $209.52 million, but reflecting a -3.6% year-over-year change [4] - European revenue reached $181.7 million, surpassing the average estimate of $175.12 million, with a significant year-over-year increase of +17.1% [4] - Managed Services Revenue was reported at $745.9 million, below the estimated $759.34 million, but still showing a +2.3% change compared to the previous year [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 fiscal 2026, the company reported revenue of CAD 4.1 billion, an increase of 7.7% year-over-year, or 3.4% when excluding foreign exchange impacts [5] - Adjusted EBIT was CAD 655 million, up 7.1% year-over-year, with a margin of 16.1%, down 10 basis points [9] - Adjusted net earnings were CAD 461 million, with a margin of 11.3%, and diluted EPS was CAD 2.12, an increase of 8% compared to Q1 last year [10] - Cash generated from operations was CAD 872 million, representing 21.4% of total revenue, with DSO improving to 37 days [10][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The APAC delivery center reported growth of 5.8%, driven by managed services [5] - The UK and Australia segment grew by 31% due to the acquisition of BJSS, enhancing the company's service offerings [5] - Western and Southern Europe segment saw a growth of 9%, led by the acquisition of Apside [7] - Managed services had a book-to-bill ratio of 117%, indicating strong demand [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Bookings in the quarter reached CAD 4.5 billion, with a book-to-bill ratio of 110% [7] - The U.S. federal segment was impacted by a government shutdown, but bookings excluding this segment showed a combined book-to-bill of 118% [8] - The government sector pipeline of opportunities increased by 30% compared to the previous year, indicating strong demand for modernization and cybersecurity [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a build and buy strategy, emphasizing investments in AI and strategic acquisitions [12][21] - The capital allocation priorities include investing back into the business, pursuing accretive acquisitions, and share buybacks [12][22] - The company aims to leverage its local presence and global scale to enhance client relationships and service delivery [12][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term potential of the U.S. federal market despite short-term challenges [34] - The company anticipates gradual improvement in various industries and geographies, driven by strong client demand for AI and digital transformation [28] - The management highlighted the importance of trust and industry knowledge in navigating the current geopolitical and economic landscape [27] Other Important Information - The company approved a quarterly cash dividend of CAD 0.17 per share, payable on March 20, 2026 [11] - The board of directors renewed the NCIB program until February 2027, allowing for the repurchase of up to 19 million shares [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of AI volatility on acquisitions - Management stated that AI remains an enabler for future growth and does not change their M&A strategy [32][33] Question: U.S. federal government business outlook - Management believes the federal government remains a strong client despite recent shutdowns, with long-term opportunities still present [34] Question: Margins in U.S. federal segment - Margins were impacted by the shutdown, but management expects improvement as operations normalize [39][40] Question: Vendor consolidation trends - Management noted an increase in vendor consolidation among clients, providing opportunities for the company to win new business [44][46] Question: Enterprise AI adoption cycle - Management indicated that while many companies have deployed AI tools, realizing outcomes requires addressing data quality and infrastructure challenges [48][55] Question: Internal use of AI and margin improvements - Management confirmed that AI is already generating savings, with expectations for margin improvements in the future [58][60]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 fiscal 2026, the company reported revenue of CAD 4.1 billion, an increase of 7.7% year-over-year, or 3.4% when excluding foreign exchange impacts [5] - Adjusted EBIT was CAD 655 million, up 7.1% year-over-year, with a margin of 16.1%, down 10 basis points [9] - Adjusted net earnings were CAD 461 million, with a margin of 11.3%, and diluted EPS was CAD 2.12, an increase of 8% compared to Q1 last year [10] - Cash generated from operations was CAD 872 million, representing 21.4% of total revenue, with DSO improving to 37 days [10][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The APAC delivery center reported growth of 5.8%, driven by managed services [5] - The UK and Australia segment grew by 31% due to the acquisition of BJSS, enhancing the company's service offerings [5] - The Western and Southern Europe segment saw a growth of 9%, led by the acquisition of Apside [7] - Managed services had a book-to-bill ratio of 122%, indicating strong demand [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Bookings in the quarter reached CAD 4.5 billion, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 110% [7] - The U.S. commercial and state government segment had a book-to-bill ratio of 169% [7] - The government sector pipeline of opportunities increased by 30% compared to the previous year [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a build and buy strategy, emphasizing investments in AI and strategic acquisitions [12][22] - The capital allocation priorities include investing back into the business, pursuing accretive acquisitions, and share buybacks [12][22] - The company aims to leverage its local presence and global scale to enhance client relationships and service delivery [12][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the U.S. federal market despite recent shutdowns, viewing it as a long-term opportunity [34] - The company anticipates gradual improvement in various industries and geographies, driven by strong client demand for AI and digital transformation [28] - Management highlighted the importance of trust and industry knowledge in navigating the current geopolitical and economic landscape [27] Other Important Information - The board approved a quarterly cash dividend of CAD 0.17 per share, payable on March 20, 2026 [12] - The company has CAD 2.4 billion in capital resources available and a net debt leverage ratio of 1, indicating strong balance sheet capacity [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of AI volatility on acquisitions - Management stated that AI remains an enabler for future growth and does not change their M&A strategy [32][33] Question: U.S. federal government business outlook - Management believes the federal government remains a strong client despite recent shutdowns, viewing it as a long-term market [34] Question: Margins in U.S. federal business - Margins were impacted by the shutdown, but management expects improvement as operations normalize [40][41] Question: Vendor consolidation trends - Management noted an increase in vendor consolidation among clients, providing opportunities for the company [45][46] Question: Enterprise AI adoption cycle - Management indicated that while many companies have deployed AI tools, realizing outcomes requires addressing data quality and infrastructure challenges [49][56] Question: Internal AI use and margin improvement - Management confirmed that AI is already contributing to efficiency and margin improvements, with expectations for continued gains [60][61]

Core Insights - Fiverr International (FVRR) shares have decreased by 34.1% over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector's 5.3% return and the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry's 2.4% appreciation [1] - The company's underperformance is attributed to a challenging macroeconomic environment affecting small and medium-sized business spending and a transitional phase focusing on higher-value projects and AI capabilities [1] Financial Outlook - For 2025, FVRR anticipates revenues between $428 million and $436 million, indicating a year-over-year growth of 9% to 11%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 21% [2][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is projected at $2.9 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 21.85% [7][9] AI and Market Positioning - FVRR is strategically positioned at the intersection of AI adoption and specialized talent demand, investing in AI-native teams and enhancing its marketplace capabilities [5] - The Programming and Tech vertical reported a year-over-year growth of 14% in Q3 2025, with AI development services experiencing a remarkable growth of 199% year over year [6] Competitive Advantages - FVRR's Dynamic Matching and Managed Services leverage AI to support complex, higher-value projects, creating a recruiting-like experience and enabling competition for enterprise-level work [10] - The company is trading at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 1.31x, which is below the industry average of 2.23x and the sector average of 1.76x, indicating a compelling valuation compared to peers [11] Market Dynamics - FVRR is experiencing a shift towards more complex, higher-value engagements, with transactions over $200 now representing over 50% of marketplace GMV [13] - Active buyer counts have declined from 3.7 million to 3.3 million year over year, as customers seeking basic services find alternatives, while those pursuing complex work deepen engagement [14] Conclusion - FVRR is well-positioned in the expanding AI services market, with proprietary capabilities creating competitive differentiation and favorable valuation metrics [15] - The transition towards upmarket clients presents near-term challenges, as declining active buyers reflect structural headwinds from AI-driven displacement of lower-value transactions [15]

Core Insights - Fiverr International (FVRR) operates a digital marketplace connecting businesses with freelancers across over 750 service categories, traditionally serving small businesses seeking affordable digital services [1] Marketplace Performance - The core marketplace business is experiencing pressure as annual active buyers declined 11.7% year over year to 3.3 million as of September 30, with marketplace revenues falling 2% to $73.6 million in Q3 2025, indicating weakness in the traditional customer base [2] - Despite the decline in active buyers, annual spend per buyer increased 11.7% to $330, suggesting that Fiverr retains higher-value customers even as lower-intent buyers exit [3] Demand Shifts and Service Trends - The demand for commoditized tasks is decreasing as AI tools lower execution barriers, while complex projects in AI development and enterprise services are gaining traction [3] - Fiverr's Dynamic Matching and Managed Services are aligned with this shift, achieving GMV growth of 22% and 65% respectively, with average project sizes of $2,200 and $17,000 [3] Strategic Transition - Fiverr is transitioning from a high-volume marketplace to a more premium services platform, with near-term risks associated with buyer attrition potentially outpacing the adoption of upmarket offerings [4] - Long-term sustainability will depend on the ability to scale higher-value engagements quickly enough to stabilize revenues [4] Competitive Landscape - Fiverr's marketplace pressure reflects broader shifts in workforce platforms, with competitors like Upwork focusing on enterprise clients and longer-term engagements, providing them with greater protection from commoditization [5] - Adecco is transitioning towards digital talent solutions, overlapping with Fiverr's upmarket push, while Upwork continues to compete for higher-value digital work [5] Financial Performance and Valuation - Fiverr shares have declined 39.9% over the past six months, contrasting with the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry's return of 0.2% [6] - Fiverr is shifting towards complex, higher-value services, with rising average spend per buyer despite a smaller active buyer base [8] - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 1.24X, compared to the broader Zacks industry's 2.15X, indicating it may be undervalued [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fiverr's 2025 EPS is 76 cents, reflecting an 18.75% increase from the previous year [11]

Core Insights - Demand for technology services in Europe reached a new high in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking the region's best performance of the year according to the ISG Index [1] Industry Summary - The technology services sector in Europe has shown significant growth, indicating a robust market environment and increasing reliance on technology solutions by businesses [1]

Summary of ISG Global Index Call - Q4 2025 Company and Industry Overview - The call was hosted by Information Services Group (ISG), focusing on the IT and business services industry, which influences $200 billion of technology spending annually [5][11] - The ISG Index measures the health and growth of the technology industry, including managed services and cloud-based software and infrastructure services [11] Key Insights and Arguments Market Performance - The Americas led market growth in 2025, crossing $23 billion in managed services ACV for the first time, driven by strong ITO activity and a rebound in BFSI [12] - EMEA saw a 20% increase in ACV for engineering services, with cloud demand accelerating and deal sizes expanding [13] - The global combined market reached $34.3 billion in ACV in Q4 2025, marking a 16% year-over-year increase and the fourth consecutive quarter above $30 billion [14] - The as-a-service market grew 29% globally in 2025, while managed services grew only 1.3% [14][15] Segment Performance - SaaS accounted for 66% of the total combined market, with significant growth in cloud, software, and consumption-based services [15] - Managed services faced constraints due to fewer mega-deals and pricing pressure, with a slight decline in Q4 2025 [15][16] - Engineering services were the fastest-growing segment, with a 35% increase in ACV year-over-year, driven by large integrated multinational providers [21] - BPO generated over $2 billion in ACV in Q4 2025, up 13% year-over-year, but faced annual declines [24][25] Regional Insights - The Americas generated $23.5 billion in managed services ACV in 2025, up 9% from 2024, while EMEA's managed services ACV totaled $16.7 billion, down 1.4% [28][30] - Asia Pacific struggled, with managed services ACV down 27% year-over-year, primarily due to a decline in the smallest deal category [31] Future Outlook - For 2026, managed services growth is forecasted at 2.1%, while as-a-service is expected to grow by 20% [54] - Enterprises are navigating macroeconomic uncertainties, but investments in AI and cloud infrastructure are expected to continue [54] - The demand for AI-driven outcomes and flexible commercial models will shape the future of the outsourcing market [55] Additional Important Insights - The engineering segment showed strong growth across various sectors, with EMEA leading in ER&D spend, up 86% for the year [22] - AI is now a dominant driver of growth, with hyperscaler investments significantly impacting the market [13][41] - The BPO market is in a reset mode, with uneven growth concentrated in specific functions and industries, particularly industry-specific BPO [26][84] - The call highlighted the importance of AI in transforming traditional outsourcing models, with a focus on hyper-personalization and domain-led transformation [84] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the ISG Global Index call, providing insights into market performance, segment growth, regional dynamics, and future outlooks in the IT and business services industry.

Core Insights - Accenture plc (ACN) reported strong first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with earnings and revenues exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimates [1][10] - Earnings per share were $3.94, surpassing estimates by 5.6% and increasing 9.8% year-over-year [1][10] - Total revenues reached $18.7 billion, beating consensus estimates by 1% and rising 6% year-over-year [1][10] Revenue Breakdown - Managed services revenues were $9.3 billion, up 8% year-over-year, exceeding the estimate of $8.8 billion [3] - Consulting revenues totaled $9.4 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year, but fell short of the $9.6 billion projection [3] - Health and public service revenues were flat at $3.8 billion, missing the estimate of $3.9 billion [4] - Resources segment revenues were $2.5 billion, up 3% year-over-year, meeting estimates [4] - Product segment revenues reached $5.7 billion, increasing 6% year-over-year, surpassing the estimate of $5.6 billion [4] - Communications, media, and technology revenues were $3.1 billion, up 9% year-over-year, exceeding the $3 billion projection [5] - Financial services revenues grew 14% year-over-year to $3.6 billion, surpassing the estimate of $3.4 billion [5] Geographic Performance - Revenues from the Americas were $9.1 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year, meeting projections [6] - EMEA revenues reached $6.9 billion, up 8% year-over-year, beating the estimate of $6.7 billion [6] - Asia Pacific revenues were $2.7 billion, increasing 7% year-over-year, surpassing the estimate of $2.6 billion [6] Booking Trends - Total bookings for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 were $20.9 billion, a 12% increase year-over-year [7] - Consulting bookings were $9.9 billion, while managed services bookings were $11.1 billion [7] Operating Results - Gross margin for the first quarter was 33.1%, up 20 basis points from the previous year [8] - Adjusted operating margin increased to 17%, up 30 basis points year-over-year [8] Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter were $9.6 billion, down from $11.5 billion at the end of the previous quarter [11] - Generated $1.7 billion in cash from operating activities, with capital expenditure of $156.6 million [11] - Free cash flow was $1.5 billion, with $2.3 billion spent on share repurchases and $1 billion paid in dividends [11] Guidance - For Q2 fiscal 2026, revenues are expected to be between $17.35 billion and $18 billion, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $18.56 billion [12] - For fiscal 2026, the company anticipates revenue growth of 2-5% year-over-year [12] - Operating cash flow is projected at $10.8 billion to $11.5 billion, with free cash flow expected to be between $9.8 billion and $10.5 billion [12]

Core Viewpoint - Analysts expect Accenture (ACN) to report quarterly earnings of $3.74 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 4.2%, with revenues projected at $18.56 billion, up 4.9% from the previous year [1] Earnings Estimates - Revisions to earnings estimates are crucial indicators for predicting investor actions regarding the stock, with empirical research showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price performance [2] Revenue Projections - Analysts project 'Revenues- Type of Work- Consulting' to reach $9.42 billion, indicating a year-over-year change of +4.1% [4] - 'Revenues- Type of Work- Managed Services' is estimated at $9.08 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +5% [4] - 'Revenues- Industry Groups- Product' is expected to be $5.68 billion, suggesting a change of +4.7% year over year [5] - 'Revenues- Industry Groups- Health & Public Service' is projected at $3.98 billion, indicating a +4.3% change from the prior year [5] - 'Revenues- Industry Groups- Financial services' is forecasted to reach $3.37 billion, with a year-over-year change of +6.4% [6] - 'Revenues- Industry Groups- Communications, Media & Technology' is expected to be $3.03 billion, reflecting a +6.1% change [6] - 'Revenues- Industry Groups- Resources' is projected at $2.54 billion, indicating a +4.8% year-over-year change [6] Geographic and Booking Metrics - 'Geographic Revenue- EMEA' is estimated at $6.85 billion, reflecting a year-over-year change of +6.8% [7] - The consensus estimate for 'New Bookings - Total' stands at $19.66 billion, compared to $18.70 billion from the previous year [7] - 'New Bookings - Managed Services' is projected to reach $10.25 billion, up from $9.48 billion year-over-year [7] - 'New Bookings - Consulting' is expected to arrive at $9.41 billion, compared to $9.22 billion in the same quarter last year [8] Stock Performance - Accenture shares have increased by +10.8% in the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.2% movement [8]