Fact based stock research
ACI (NasdaqGS:ACIW)
US0044981019
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
ACI stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 78 (better than 78% compared with investment alternatives), ACI (Application Software, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of ACI are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 57) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 78, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 78, is a strong buy recommendation based on ACI's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company ACI exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 47), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 57). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 78) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Application Software |
| Index | Employee Health US, NASDAQ, S&P MIDCAP |
| Size class | Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
14-Nov-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: ACI
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 50 |
|
77 |
|
74 |
|
47 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 24 |
|
25 |
|
11 |
|
57 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 21 |
|
55 |
|
84 |
|
78 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
85 |
|
37 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
79 |
|
57 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 78 (better than 78% compared with investment alternatives), ACI (Application Software, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of ACI are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 57) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 78, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 78, is a strong buy recommendation based on ACI's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company ACI exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 47), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 57). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 78) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 50 |
|
77 |
|
74 |
|
47 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 24 |
|
25 |
|
11 |
|
57 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 21 |
|
55 |
|
84 |
|
78 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 12 |
|
45 |
|
67 |
|
78 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% compared with alternatives), ACI shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half are above average for ACI. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 56, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 56% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning ACI's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits (or Price / Earnings, P/E), more favorable than for 50% of alternatives. It is also positive for expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 1 (dividends are expected to be higher than for 1% of other stocks). But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is higher than average, making the stock more expensive. Only 51% of all competitors have an even higher price compared with book capital which puts the Price-to-Capital Rank for ACI to 49. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 47, is a hold recommendation based on ACI's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. A low level of book capital means that the company has a business that is leaner on assets than its competitors. For instance, the company could be leasing its production facilities, or be more focussed on intellectual property, such as its brand and software, which is less visible in its book capital. If that is the case, the low Dividend Yield is also explained as such companies tend to invest their income into market development. The other good value ranks for Sales and Profits are encouraging indicators for the stock price value. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 62 |
|
75 |
|
74 |
|
56 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 64 |
|
75 |
|
70 |
|
50 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 45 |
|
68 |
|
64 |
|
49 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 50 |
|
77 |
|
74 |
|
47 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 57 (better than 57% compared with alternatives), ACI shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for ACI. Profit Growth has a rank of 57, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 57% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 99 (above 99% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 26, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 74% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 30. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 57, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for ACI. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 9 |
|
13 |
|
27 |
|
26 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 86 |
|
89 |
|
10 |
|
57 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
8 |
|
14 |
|
30 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 65 |
|
51 |
|
65 |
|
99 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 24 |
|
25 |
|
11 |
|
57 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 78 (better than 78% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company ACI has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of ACI is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above-average for ACI. Refinancing is at 60, meaning the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 60% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at 81, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 81% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. However, Leverage is rather large at 34, which means the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 66% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 78 (better than 78% compared with alternatives), ACI has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. This is not bad if things go well. The higher debt level means better returns to shareholders if things go well. Many top-performing companies operate with higher debt levels, and ACI could be in that group. But if you expect the environment to turn rougher, the higher leverage could become a problem. The same is valid if you expect interest rates to rise. That could squeeze shareholder returns, which so far have benefitted from better conditions. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with ACI and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 8 |
|
31 |
|
36 |
|
34 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 71 |
|
45 |
|
59 |
|
60 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 36 |
|
83 |
|
84 |
|
81 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 21 |
|
55 |
|
84 |
|
78 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
95 |
|
76 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
50 |
|
50 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
95 |
|
42 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
8 |
|
11 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
85 |
|
37 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for ACI from November 14, 2024.
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