Here are updates on two of our buys: ACI Worldwide & Garmin

Article Excerpt

Long-time readers know that we aim to keep you informed of important news about the stocks we cover. That means highlighting developments and plans that promise to bolster investor gains. Here are two buys that stand out this month: ACI WORLDWIDE, $31.73, is a buy. The firm (Nasdaq symbol ACIW; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (Shares outstanding: 106.4 million; Market cap: $3.4 billion; No dividends paid) reported a 5.5% rise in revenue in the quarter ended December 31, 2023, to $476.6 million from $451.8 million a year earlier. The company made $1.13 a share in the quarter, up 39.5% from $0.81. Profits rose on higher revenue plus lower costs. ACI’s outlook is positive. Its revenue should grow steadily due to new customer gains, spurred by its hiring of more salespeople. Moreover, the average contract value is rising as customers sign up for higher service levels. Meanwhile, the COVID-accelerated shift to increasingly complex payment systems is a big plus for the company. ACI is, in fact, uniquely positioned to…