Wrapping up Q1 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the professional services stocks, including Concentrix (NASDAQ: CNXC) and its peers.

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 talent and potential regulatory scrutiny on outsourcing practices—especially in industries like finance and healthcare where who has access to certain data matters greatly.

The 4 professional services stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

While some professional services stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4.9% since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q1: 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 $2.5 billion, up 5.4% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and a miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

“We continue to help clients capture measurable value from AI by being a trusted partner for these solutions,” said Chris Caldwell, President and CEO of Concentrix.

Concentrix achieved the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Still, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 1.4% since reporting and currently trades at $29.37.

Is now the time to buy Concentrix? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Marsh (NYSE: MRSH)

With roots dating back to 1871 and a presence in over 130 countries, Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, strategy, and workforce challenges through its four specialized businesses.

Marsh reported revenues of $7.60 billion, up 7.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. The business had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

Marsh pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 1.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $172.47.

Is now the time to buy Marsh? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN)

Founded during the post-World War II economic boom when businesses needed temporary workers, ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) connects millions of people to employment opportunities through its global network of staffing, recruitment, and workforce management services.

ManpowerGroup reported revenues of $4.51 billion, up 10.3% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. Still, it was a mixed quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 2.5% since the results and currently trades at $31.50.

Read our full analysis of ManpowerGroup’s results here.

Equifax (NYSE: EFX)

Holding detailed financial records on over 800 million consumers worldwide and dating back to 1899, Equifax (NYSE: EFX) is a global data analytics company that collects, analyzes, and sells consumer and business credit information to lenders, employers, and other businesses.

Equifax reported revenues of $1.65 billion, up 14.3% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 2%. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Equifax pulled off the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 9.7% since reporting and currently trades at $179.25.

Read our full, actionable report on Equifax here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

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