Q3 earnings outperformers: FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN) and the rest of the business process outsourcing & consulting stocks
As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q3. Today, we are looking at business process outsourcing & consulting stocks, starting with FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN).
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 6 business process outsourcing & consulting stocks we track reported a solid Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.4% below.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 7.8% on average since the latest earnings results.
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 $1.01 billion, up 5.9% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a favorable quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.
Steven H. Gunby, CEO and Chairman of FTI Consulting, commented, “Our record results this quarter reflect the strength and breadth of our global platform. Though our results included certain favorable non-recurring items, such as record success fees and a lower effective tax rate, at their core, they were driven by the fact that in a world facing major change and disruption, our clients are increasingly turning to us for the depth and breadth of our capabilities.”
Interestingly, the stock is up 24.4% since reporting and currently trades at $197.33.
Is now the time to buy FTI Consulting? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q3: CRA (NASDAQ:CRAI)
Often retained for high-stakes matters with multibillion-dollar implications, CRA International (NASDAQ:CRAI) provides economic, financial, and management consulting services to corporations, law firms, and government agencies for litigation, regulatory proceedings, and business strategy.
CRA reported revenues of $214.9 million, up 15.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 8%. The business had a favorable quarter with full-year revenue guidance beating analysts’ expectations and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
CRA pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 2.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $199.21.
Is now the time to buy CRA? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q3: 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 $2.45 billion, down 1.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1%. It was a softer quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.
Concentrix delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates, weakest guidance update, and slowest revenue growth in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 25% since the results and currently trades at $31.09.
Read our full analysis of Concentrix’s results here.
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 $314.7 million, up 5.4% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 3.7%. It was a favorable quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter slightly topping analysts’ expectations.
TaskUs achieved the highest guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 6.5% since reporting and currently trades at $9.20.
Read our full, actionable report on TaskUs here, it’s free.
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 $491.5 million, up 11.4% year on year. This result met analysts’ expectations. Taking a step back, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but full-year revenue guidance meeting analysts’ expectations.
The stock is down 15.9% since reporting and currently trades at $166.57.
Read our full, actionable report on Huron here, it’s free.
Market update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.