Let’s dig into the relative performance of TaskUs (NASDAQ:TASK) 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 8 business process outsourcing & consulting stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.1% 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 1.6% since the latest earnings results.
Best Q2: TaskUs (NASDAQ:TASK)
Starting as a virtual assistant service in 2008 before evolving into a global digital services provider, TaskUs (NASDAQ:TASK) provides outsourced digital services including customer experience management, content moderation, and AI data services to innovative technology companies.
TaskUs reported revenues of $294.1 million, up 23.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 8.3%. Overall, it was an incredible quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
TaskUs pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $17.50.
Is now the time to buy TaskUs? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
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.
Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 3.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $161.05.
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 $2.48 billion, up 4% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Concentrix delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. As expected, the stock is down 12.1% since the results and currently trades at $48.33.
Read our full analysis of Concentrix’s results here.
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 print missed analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Zooming out, it was actually a strong quarter as it produced 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 11.1% since reporting and currently trades at $147.13.
Read our full, actionable report on Huron here, it’s free.
Genpact (NYSE:G)
Originally spun off from General Electric in 2005 to provide business process services, Genpact (NYSE:G) is a global professional services firm that helps businesses transform their operations through digital technology, AI, and data analytics solutions.
Genpact reported revenues of $1.25 billion, up 6.6% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. It was a strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.
The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $41.84.
Read our full, actionable report on Genpact 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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