Saudi Arabia has announced a significant commitment of $600 billion towards investments in the United States, as shared by the White House. This initiative is expected to strengthen long-term economic connections between the two nations. In the initial wave of deals, the focus is on enhancing energy security, advancing the defense sector, leading in technology, and securing vital infrastructure and mineral resources.
AECOM (ACM, Financial) is among the key American companies involved in various infrastructure projects within Saudi Arabia. These projects include the development of King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, The Vault, and Qiddiya City, among others, accounting for $2 billion in U.S. service exports. The overall initiative also covers significant exports like GE Vernova’s gas turbines and energy solutions, totaling $14.2 billion, alongside Boeing's 737-8 aircraft for AviLease, valued at $4.8 billion.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast
Based on the one-year price targets offered by 10 analysts, the average target price for AECOM (ACM, Financial) is $121.75 with a high estimate of $140.00 and a low estimate of $112.00. The average target implies an upside of 13.60% from the current price of $107.18. More detailed estimate data can be found on the AECOM (ACM) Forecast page.
Based on the consensus recommendation from 13 brokerage firms, AECOM's (ACM, Financial) average brokerage recommendation is currently 1.8, indicating "Outperform" status. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 5, where 1 signifies Strong Buy, and 5 denotes Sell.
Based on GuruFocus estimates, the estimated GF Value for AECOM (ACM, Financial) in one year is $111.18, suggesting a upside of 3.74% from the current price of $107.175. GF Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. It is calculated based on the historical multiples the stock has traded at previously, as well as past business growth and the future estimates of the business' performance. More detailed data can be found on the AECOM (ACM) Summary page.
ACM Key Business Developments
Release Date: May 06, 2025
- Net Service Revenue (NSR): Record second quarter NSR with growth highest in the Americas.
- Segment Adjusted Operating Margin: Increased by 90 basis points to 16.1%, a second quarter record.
- Adjusted EBITDA: Increased by 8% to $290 million, setting a new second quarter high.
- Adjusted EPS: Increased by 20% to $1.25, also a new second quarter high.
- Free Cash Flow: Increased by 141% to $178 million in the quarter.
- Shareholder Returns: $110 million returned through share repurchases and dividends in the quarter, $165 million in the first half.
- Backlog: Increased to a new record with a 1.1x book-to-burn ratio.
- Americas Segment Margin: Adjusted operating margin increased by 130 basis points to 19.4%.
- International Segment Margin: Increased by 10 basis points to 11.1%.
- Net Leverage: Maintained at 0.7x.
- Guidance: Increased midpoints of adjusted EBITDA and EPS for the full year, expected to increase 9% and 14% from the prior year.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- AECOM (ACM, Financial) achieved record second quarter net service revenue (NSR), margins, and earnings per share (EPS), with significant growth in the Americas region.
- The company was ranked as the number one overall design firm by ENR, affirming its leadership position in key markets such as Transportation, Water, and Facilities.
- AECOM (ACM) was appointed as the sole venue infrastructure partner for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, showcasing its expertise in managing large, complex projects.
- The company's backlog reached a new record high, driven by a 1.1x book-to-burn ratio, indicating strong future growth potential.
- AECOM (ACM) reported a 141% increase in free cash flow for the quarter, allowing for significant shareholder returns through share repurchases and dividends.
Negative Points
- AECOM (ACM) experienced isolated delays and deferred decisions on certain projects, impacting top-line growth.
- The company faced fewer workdays in the quarter due to holiday timing, reducing NSR growth by approximately 100 basis points.
- There were changes in a small number of government contracts following US Federal agency reviews, resulting in the removal of approximately $100 million from the backlog.
- Near-term trends in the International segment remain mixed, with larger transportation projects in the UK facing delays due to budgetary challenges.
- The transportation market in Australia experienced a pause following a decade of robust investment, impacting growth in that region.
