ACI Worldwide Inc logo

ACI Worldwide Inc(ACIW)

Today's top pick Today’s top pick
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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
4-STAR RATING
STRONG BUY
BUY for 6 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+2.49% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$55.2
10/28/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for ACIW

10/28/2026: ACIW (4-star) is a STRONG-BUY. BUY for 6 days. Simulated Profits (2.49%). Updated daily EoD!

ACI Worldwide is a well-established provider of mission-critical payment software for banks and merchants, known for its deep integration into global financial infrastructure. The company is currently executing a multi-year shift toward cloud-native SaaS models, which serves as its primary growth opportunity as institutions modernize their payment rails. While ACI holds a leading position in high-volume processing, it faces intense competition from fintech innovators and established incumbents. Investors should monitor the progress of its cloud transition, as execution risks remain high. The stock may suit value-oriented investors seeking exposure to fintech, though it offers little in terms of dividend income.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers exposure to secular growth in digital payments but exhibits more moderate growth characteristics than younger fintech peers.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum potential is conditional on the successful execution of the cloud-first transition and consistent earnings beats.
Value investorStrong fitACI is often viewed as a mature, reasonably valued player in the software infrastructure space.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not prioritize regular cash dividends, preferring share buybacks for return of capital.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile the business model is recurring and stable, it faces significant technological and competitive disruption risks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThe stock can experience swings based on broader tech sector sentiment and fintech growth narratives.
Valuation riskMediumMarket expectations for SaaS transition speed could lead to multiple contraction if growth targets are missed.
Competition riskHighIntense pressure from cloud-native platforms and core banking providers threatens market share.
Business qualityMedium / highACI holds a strong market position with sticky, long-term enterprise contracts.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors should not expect income generation from this equity.
Execution riskMedium / highSuccessfully transitioning legacy clients to modern cloud architectures is complex and capital-intensive.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 89.96%
Avg. Invested days 53
Today’s Advisory Strong Buy
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 4.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/28/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
ACIW receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
ACIW has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+11.6%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 17.6%) are partially offset by modest insider ownership of 1.24%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
ACIW's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (17.6% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is ACIW's strongest growth driver at +11.6% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+10.4%, solid) is also solid, while free-cash-flow growth (-9.7%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 105.1% and approximately 98.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 1.24% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 16.23%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 8.04%
Franklin Templeton Inc 6.63%
FMR Inc 6.48%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.54%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
ACIW generates approximately $490 of gross profit, $187 of operating income, and $176 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains moderate.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 26.09%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
ACIW has a high-quality, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltSmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 5.52B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 24.96
1Y Target Price 64.5
Price to earnings Ratio 24.96
1Y Target Price 64.5
Volume (30-day avg) 763.5K shares
Beta 0.99
52 Weeks Range 38.05 - 61.08
Updated Date 10/28/2026
52 Weeks Range 38.05 - 61.08
Updated Date 10/28/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 2.19

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Software Licensing & MaintenanceUpfront license fees and recurring annual support contracts for on-premise software.This is the stable, high-margin foundation of the company, though it is transitioning toward recurring subscription models.
SaaS and Payment ServicesTransaction-based fees and subscription revenue from cloud-based platforms and gateways.This represents the primary future growth engine and the focus of the company's cloud-native strategy.
Geography: Americas/EMEA/APACDiverse regional revenue streams with significant exposure to major global financial hubs.Regional diversification provides a hedge, but requires navigating complex, localized regulatory environments.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-05
When Before Market
Estimate 0.5
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 12.4%
Operating Margin (TTM) 10.47%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 6.98%
Return on Equity (TTM) 15.62%

Valuation

Trailing PE 24.96
Forward PE 14.01
Enterprise Value 6.31B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.03
Enterprise Value 6.31B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.03
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.47
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 13.51
Shares Outstanding 100.96M
Shares Floating 99.62M
Shares Outstanding 100.96M
Shares Floating 99.62M
Percent Insiders 1.24
Percent Institutions 105.12

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.