ACI Worldwide reported full‑year revenue of $1.76 billion, a 10% increase from $1.594 billion in 2024, and fourth‑quarter revenue of $481.6 million, beating analyst estimates of roughly $474 million. The company posted earnings per share of $0.90 for the quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.09, or about 11%. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 42% in the quarter, reflecting disciplined cost management and a favorable product mix.
The earnings beat was driven by a combination of strong pricing power and efficient cost control. ACI’s focus on high‑margin cloud‑native payment solutions helped offset any pressure from legacy product lines, while the company’s disciplined operating expense program maintained profitability even as revenue grew. The 9% rise in the Payment Software segment and the 13% increase in the Biller segment further illustrate the company’s ability to capture demand across its core offerings.
The company highlighted a new Connetic customer win during the quarter, underscoring continued demand for its cloud‑native payments platform. Thomas Warsop, President and CEO, noted that “ACI delivered another year of double‑digit organic revenue growth, reflecting focused execution against our multi‑year growth initiatives and value creation strategy.” He added that “our results continue to be driven by mission‑critical payment and billing software that is deeply embedded in our customers’ complex and highly regulated workflows, creating durable, long‑term relationships.”
ACI’s 2026 guidance calls for revenue of $1.88 billion to $1.91 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $530 million to $550 million, indicating a 7%–9% growth trajectory for revenue and a stable margin outlook. Chief Financial Officer Robert Leibrock emphasized that “our 2026 guidance is consistent with our long‑term framework and reflects the durability of our recurring revenue base, continued margin discipline, and increased flexibility to return 50% to 60% of operating cash flow to shareholders, while continuing to invest in high‑return organic initiatives and preserving capacity for disciplined, strategic M&A within our targeted leverage range.”
The company also reported $323 million in operating cash flow and returned $203 million to shareholders, reducing net leverage to 1.2x. These figures demonstrate strong cash generation and a conservative balance‑sheet stance, positioning ACI to fund growth initiatives while maintaining a robust capital‑allocation policy.
Overall, ACI’s double‑digit revenue growth, margin expansion, and solid earnings beat reinforce its competitive position in the payments industry. The company’s focus on cloud‑native platforms and recurring revenue streams, coupled with disciplined cost management, suggests continued resilience and value creation for shareholders.
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