Topic: Wealth Management

Stock portfolio: Acquisition helps boost ACI’s latest results

ACI Worldwide, symbol ACIW on Nasdaq, makes software used to process transactions involving credit cards, debit cards, automated teller machines, point-of-sale terminals and interbank payments.

We analyze ACI in Stock Pickers Digest, our newsletter that recommends investments for the aggressive part of your stock portfolio.

In March 2011, ACI bought ICD Corp. for an undisclosed amount. ICD has over 140 customers who use its software to authorize credit- and debit-card transactions through over 70 different payment processors, including banks and credit-card companies.

ACI’s revenue rose 22.7% in the three months ended June 30, 2011, to $113.4 million from $92.4 million a year earlier. The company earned $9.8 million, or $0.29 a share, compared to a loss of $150,000, or nil per share, a year earlier. The company holds cash of $170.8 million, or $4.98 a share.

As well, ACI recently announced that it will make a $540-million, cash-and-stock offer for S1 Corp. (symbol SONE on Nasdaq). S1 sells transaction software for banks, credit unions, retailers and other processors. The company has over 3,000 clients worldwide.

S1 already agreed to a merger with the Israeli company Fundtech Ltd. in late June, but that deal has not closed. S1 hasn’t said whether it will consider ACI’s bid.

We updated our advice on ACI and four other stocks that may be appropriate for the aggressive portion of your stock portfolio in our July 29, 2011, Stock Pickers Digest hotline, which you can immediately view when you take a 1-month free trial to Stock Pickers Digest. Click here to learn how you can start profiting from Stock Pickers Digest’s aggressive stock portfolio recommendations right away.

(Note: If you are a current Stock Pickers Digest subscriber, please click here to view Pat’s recommendation. Be sure to log in first.)

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