Let’s dig into the relative performance of Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q2 business process outsourcing & consulting earnings season.
The sector stands to benefit from ongoing digital transformation, increasing corporate demand for cost efficiencies, and the growing complexity of regulatory and cybersecurity landscapes. For those that invest wisely, AI and automation capabilities could emerge as competitive advantages, enhancing process efficiencies for the companies themselves as well as their clients. On the flip side, AI could be a headwind as well as the technology could lower the barrier to entry in the space and give rise to more self-service solutions. Additional challenges in the years ahead could include wage inflation for highly skilled consultants and potential regulatory scrutiny on outsourcing practices—especially in industries like finance and healthcare where who has access to certain data matters greatly.
The 7 business process outsourcing & consulting stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.2% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.
While some business process outsourcing & consulting stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 1.1% since the latest earnings results.
Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO)
With a team of over 800 consultants holding advanced degrees in 90+ technical disciplines, Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO) is a science and engineering consulting firm that investigates complex problems and provides expert analysis for clients across various industries.
Exponent reported revenues of $132.9 million, flat year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with EPS in line with analysts’ estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter slightly missing analysts’ expectations.
“Second quarter revenues were flat but exceeded expectations, reflecting our team’s disciplined execution and resilience in this dynamic environment,” stated Dr. Catherine Corrigan, President and Chief Executive Officer.
The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $69.60.
Is now the time to buy Exponent? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q2: FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN)
With a team of experts deployed across 30+ countries to tackle complex business challenges, FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN) is a global business advisory firm that helps organizations manage change, mitigate risk, and resolve disputes across financial, legal, operational, and regulatory matters.
FTI Consulting reported revenues of $943.7 million, flat year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.4%. The business had a very strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance slightly topping analysts’ expectations.
However, the results were likely priced into the stock as it’s traded sideways since reporting. Shares currently sit at $169.10.
Is now the time to buy FTI Consulting? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: Concentrix (NASDAQ:CNXC)
With a team of approximately 450,000 employees across 75 countries, Concentrix (NASDAQ:CNXC) designs and delivers customer experience solutions that help global brands manage their customer interactions across digital channels and contact centers.
Concentrix reported revenues of $2.42 billion, up 1.5% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Still, it was a mixed quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
As expected, the stock is down 12.1% since the results and currently trades at $48.50.
Read our full analysis of Concentrix’s results here.
CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ)
With over 120 offices across 33 states and a team of more than 6,700 professionals, CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ) provides accounting, tax, benefits, insurance brokerage, and advisory services to help small and mid-sized businesses manage their finances and operations.
CBIZ reported revenues of $683.5 million, up 62.7% year on year. This print missed analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. Zooming out, it was actually a satisfactory quarter as it put up a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
CBIZ pulled off the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 16.1% since reporting and currently trades at $63.92.
Read our full, actionable report on CBIZ here, it’s free.
Huron (NASDAQ:HURN)
Founded in 2002 during a time of significant regulatory change in corporate America, Huron Consulting Group (NASDAQ:HURN) is a professional services company that helps organizations develop growth strategies, optimize operations, and implement digital transformation solutions.
Huron reported revenues of $411.8 million, up 8.1% year on year. This result came in 0.6% below analysts' expectations. In spite of that, it was a strong quarter as it logged full-year revenue guidance topping analysts’ expectations and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Huron scored the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 2.5% since reporting and currently trades at $135.75.
Read our full, actionable report on Huron here, it’s free.
Market Update
In response to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump’s presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025.
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