ACI Worldwide is a hold

Article Excerpt

ACI WORLDWIDE $62.74 (Nasdaq symbol ACIW; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (402- 334-5101; www.tsainc.com; Shares outstanding: 39.5 million; Market cap: $2.4 billion; No dividends paid) makes software that processes transactions involving credit cards, debit cards, ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and interbank payments. Its products also help cut fraud. In the quarter ended September 30, 2013, acquisitions increased ACI’s revenue by 38.0%, to $213.9 million from $155.1 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 79.3%, to $0.52 from $0.29. Cost cuts and the higher revenue were behind the rise. The company’s outlook is positive, but the stock trades at a high 22.4 times ACI’s forecast 2014 earnings of $2.80 a share. Moreover, any problems with integrating its recent acquisitions could significantly cut into 2014 earnings. ACI Worldwide is a hold. hold…