
Local leaders warn that AI won't fix everything
Celestine Pressley, executive partner at Gartner, talks in an AI panel discussion at the Fintech Generations Insurtech event on June 11 at the The Dubois Center.
Melissa Key/CBJ

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3 hours ago
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Gartner (NYSE:IT) Reports Q2 In Line With Expectations
Research and advisory firm Gartner (NYSE:IT) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q2 CY2025, with sales up 5.7% year on year to $1.69 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $3.53 per share was 6.8% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy Gartner? Find out in our full research report. Gartner (IT) Q2 CY2025 Highlights: Revenue: $1.69 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.68 billion (5.7% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $3.53 vs analyst estimates of $3.31 (6.8% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $443 million vs analyst estimates of $422.7 million (26.3% margin, 4.8% beat) Operating Margin: 19.4%, in line with the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 20.6%, similar to the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $25.92 billion Gene Hall, Gartner's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, 'Second quarter Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS, and Free Cash Flow were ahead of expectations. Contract value grew 5%. Since the end of the first quarter, we have accelerated our stock buybacks to increase shareholder value. As we continue to rollout AskGartner, our new AI-powered tool that provides faster access to trusted, proprietary Gartner business and technology insights, clients will realize even more value from their licenses.' Company Overview With over 2,500 research experts guiding organizations through complex technology landscapes, Gartner (NYSE:IT) provides research, advisory services, and conferences that help executives make better decisions about technology and other business priorities. Revenue Growth A company's long-term sales performance can indicate its overall quality. Even a bad business can shine for one or two quarters, but a top-tier one grows for years. With $6.42 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, Gartner is one of the larger companies in the business services industry and benefits from a well-known brand that influences purchasing decisions. As you can see below, Gartner grew its sales at a solid 8.9% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years. This shows it had high demand, a useful starting point for our analysis. Long-term growth is the most important, but within business services, a half-decade historical view may miss new innovations or demand cycles. Gartner's annualized revenue growth of 5.7% over the last two years is below its five-year trend, but we still think the results were respectable. This quarter, Gartner grew its revenue by 5.7% year on year, and its $1.69 billion of revenue was in line with Wall Street's estimates. Looking ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 5.6% over the next 12 months, similar to its two-year rate. This projection is above the sector average and implies its newer products and services will help support its recent top-line performance. Unless you've been living under a rock, it should be obvious by now that generative AI is going to have a huge impact on how large corporations do business. While Nvidia and AMD are trading close to all-time highs, we prefer a lesser-known (but still profitable) stock benefiting from the rise of AI. Click here to access our free report one of our favorites growth stories. Operating Margin Operating margin is a key measure of profitability. Think of it as net income - the bottom line - excluding the impact of taxes and interest on debt, which are less connected to business fundamentals. Gartner's operating margin might fluctuated slightly over the last 12 months but has generally stayed the same, averaging 19.1% over the last five years. This profitability was elite for a business services business thanks to its efficient cost structure and economies of scale. Analyzing the trend in its profitability, Gartner's operating margin might fluctuated slightly but has generally stayed the same over the last five years. This raises questions about the company's expense base because its revenue growth should have given it leverage on its fixed costs, resulting in better economies of scale and profitability. This quarter, Gartner generated an operating margin profit margin of 19.4%, in line with the same quarter last year. This indicates the company's overall cost structure has been relatively stable. Earnings Per Share Revenue trends explain a company's historical growth, but the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) points to the profitability of that growth – for example, a company could inflate its sales through excessive spending on advertising and promotions. Gartner's EPS grew at an astounding 27.6% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years, higher than its 8.9% annualized revenue growth. This tells us the company became more profitable on a per-share basis as it expanded. Like with revenue, we analyze EPS over a more recent period because it can provide insight into an emerging theme or development for the business. For Gartner, its two-year annual EPS growth of 10.5% was lower than its five-year trend. We hope its growth can accelerate in the future. In Q2, Gartner reported adjusted EPS at $3.53, up from $3.22 in the same quarter last year. This print beat analysts' estimates by 6.8%. Over the next 12 months, Wall Street expects Gartner's full-year EPS of $14.46 to shrink by 10.6%. Key Takeaways from Gartner's Q2 Results It was encouraging to see Gartner beat analysts' EPS expectations this quarter despite in line revenue. Overall, this print was decent. The stock remained flat at $334 immediately following the results. So should you invest in Gartner right now? The latest quarter does matter, but not nearly as much as longer-term fundamentals and valuation, when deciding if the stock is a buy. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it's free. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
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Top Remote Roles Companies Are Hiring For Now—and Where To Recruit Them
Remote work has made it possible for companies to hire top talent regardless of location. According to the World Economic Forum, there will be 92 million global remote roles by 2030. The tech sector, where talent shortages are especially acute, has benefited from hiring internationally, with Gartner reporting that 58% of organizations employ tech talent working remotely from other countries. Beyond overcoming talent shortages, hiring globally allows companies to build diverse teams, optimize labor costs, and gain insight into local markets. But when the talent pool is as wide as the world, how do you decide where to focus your global talent strategy? As remote hiring has ramped up, certain countries and regions have emerged as talent hot spots for specific roles. So, if you're a People leader or C-suite executive wondering where to hire key team members to power your next phase of growth, below are the most popular countries for sourcing the most frequently hired remote roles. Software engineering: North America, India, and Brazil In the recent Global Hiring Trends and Impact Report, Oyster analyzed its internal platform data and found that Software Engineer was the most frequently hired role, representing 18% of new hires in 2024. Software engineers are in high demand around the world since they're the ones who build the digital products and infrastructure that underpin the modern economy. If you're looking for engineers, developers, QA testers, DevOps, or anything in between, below are the top locations for hiring software talent: North America: Home to Silicon Valley and the world's leading software companies, the United States boasts 4.4 million software developers, making it a prime destination for hiring highly skilled tech professionals. But high demand has also driven up salaries, so Canada offers an attractive alternative with a thriving tech ecosystem with hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as well as welcoming immigration policies, competitive exchange rates, and U.S.-aligned time zones. India: With its emphasis on technical education, India has established itself as a global hotspot for tech talent and is home to 5.2 million software engineers. The Indian tech sector is gearing up for significant growth in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and robotics. Brazil: Producing more software engineers annually than the U.S., Brazil has a booming startup scene bolstered by strong government support as well as over $2 billion in venture capital funding in 2024. Its time zone proximity and cultural alignment with the U.S. make it a top hiring destination for developer talent. Marketing and sales: U.S., U.K., and the Philippines Global talent is a strategic choice for marketing and sales roles since these team members help you gain valuable insights into local markets, cultural norms, and consumer behavior. If you're expanding into new markets or serve clients around the world, having employees based in those regions will ensure that your campaigns and messaging resonate with your intended audience. Looking for a marketing coordinator, brand manager, sales rep, or BDR? Below are some of the leading talent markets for hiring marketing and sales roles: United States: The U.S. is the epicenter of global marketing and sales innovation, with a vast and diverse talent pool across all marketing disciplines and sales methodologies. U.S. professionals have strong communication skills, experience in highly competitive and mature markets, and deep insight into Western business practices and consumer behavior. United Kingdom: The U.K. is known for creativity and innovation and is particularly strong in digital marketing, advertising, and branding. London is a global hub of creative agencies and multinational corporations, leading to a rich talent pool, while the U.K.'s geographical position makes it a good base for exploring European markets. The Philippines: With an outsourcing sector worth $38.7 billion, the Philippines offers a large pool of experienced candidates in telemarketing, B2B sales, and digital marketing. Filipino professionals have excellent English skills, a deep understanding of both Western and Asian cultures, and a strong grasp of U.S. business practices. Data analytics: India, U.S., and Eastern Europe Businesses depend on data and insights to make informed decisions and gain a competitive edge, so data analyst, data scientist, and data engineer roles are in high demand. Requiring strong technical skills, job openings for these roles are projected to grow 36% from 2023 to 2033. For companies recruiting globally, here are the top regions to consider when hiring data professionals. India: Known for its emphasis on technical education, India offers a rapidly growing talent pool of data professionals proficient in tools like Python, BI, and SQL, as well as AI and machine learning. Data science is the fastest-growing field in India and is projected to be worth $3.38 billion by 2030. United States: The U.S. is the global leader in data science with market revenue projected to reach $43.5 billion by 2030. It has the largest and most mature market for data professionals, thanks to its high concentration of tech giants, startups, and research institutions pushing the boundaries of data-driven insights. Eastern Europe: With a rapidly maturing tech sector, Eastern Europe is an attractive talent market to hire data professionals. Countries like Poland and Romania, for instance, offer candidates with deep technical expertise and a strong mathematical and engineering backgrounds. Customer support: The Philippines, India, and Latin America People in customer service and support roles are frontline workers who respond to and resolve customer issues as soon as they arise. This crucial function helps you keep your customers satisfied and loyal to your company in the long term. Global companies frequently hire globally for customer support roles to ensure time zone coverage, service in multiple languages, and an understanding of regional and cultural nuances. If you're looking for customer service or support professionals, the following talent markets have emerged as frontrunners. The Philippines: Widely known as a customer service powerhouse for global clients, the Philippines offers a deep talent pool with strong English proficiency, strong familiarity with Western markets, and a natural inclination towards hospitality and service. It's a well-established hiring destination with excellent infrastructure and government support. India: Another leading destination for customer service, India offers a highly educated and tech-savvy talent pool that's well-suited to provide tech support for complex inquiries. For companies based in North America, India's time zone helps ensure round-the-clock coverage for their customer support needs. Latin America: Thanks to their time zone alignment and cultural affinity with the U.S., Latin American countries like Colombia and Argentina are gaining in popularity for customer service and support roles, especially for companies targeting the North American market. Their language skills in English and Spanish are a major advantage for companies serving diverse customers in the U.S. Additional considerations for choosing where to hire While this article focuses on the countries and regions that have become known as top talent markets for specific types of roles, hiring managers and talent acquisition teams should also consider the following when deciding where to source talent for open roles. Time zone overlap: Does the role require real-time collaboration, or can it be performed autonomously and asynchronously? Language proficiency: Does the role require strong communication skills in English and/or other languages? Labor costs: What's your budget for the role, and where can you hire based on your budget? Cultural fit: For roles that are client-facing or highly collaborative, what kind of cultural fit do you need to ensure success? Thinking through these questions will help you narrow down the best talent markets to source candidates for specific roles. This story was produced by Oyster and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gartner cuts annual revenue forecast on slower research demand
(Reuters) -Gartner cut its annual revenue forecast on Tuesday, anticipating slower demand for its biggest research unit as businesses dialed back on spending in an uncertain economy. Shares of the company fell 11% in premarket trading. Gartner now expects $100 million less from its insights unit in 2025, which led to the company to now forecast total revenue of at least $6.46 billion this year. The company, however, expects annual profit of at least $11.75 per share, up 5 cents from its prior forecast, due to favorable foreign exchange rates. Businesses have been streamlining costs to counter ongoing inflation and subdued customer spending, leading to softer demand for Gartner's services. Analysts have said that advancement in automation and AI, which enables clients to improve performance with tools developed in-house, has created uncertainty for consulting services firms like Gartner. However, the insights segment, which accounts for more than half of total sales, reported a 4.3% rise in revenue in the second quarter. This boosted the company's total revenue to $1.69 billion for the quarter ended June 30, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.67 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Gartner's consulting segment recorded a nearly 9% rise in quarterly revenue to $155.6 million. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $3.53 per share, beating estimates of $3.30. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data