Why Is AECOM (ACM) Stock Down -9.70% Today?
Key Takeaways
- AECOM shares plunged approximately 9.70% in Tuesday's trading session, building on a 3.35% decline Monday, following the release of deeply disappointing fiscal third-quarter 2026 results.
- The primary catalyst was a $337 million pre-tax charge tied to a troubled Construction Management project, which drove the company to a quarterly loss versus a year-ago profit.
- AECOM slashed its full-year fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $3.95–$4.15, far below the analyst consensus of $5.97, while also trimming free cash flow expectations.
- Multiple Wall Street analysts responded with price target cuts, including Robert W. Baird dropping its target from $87 to $73.
- Broader market sentiment toward the engineering and construction sector remains cautious, though AECOM's record backlog of $27.8 billion offers a potential floor for long-term investors.
- Traders are now watching for management's conference call commentary and any progress on recovering claims tied to the remaining design-build projects.
Opening Summary
ACM — AECOM, the Dallas-headquartered global infrastructure consulting firm — saw its stock crater roughly 9.70% on Tuesday, extending a punishing selloff that began in Monday's after-hours session. As of late morning trading, shares of ACM changed hands near $66.19, down from Monday's close of $73.30. The downdraft follows the release of AECOM's fiscal third-quarter 2026 results after Monday's closing bell, which revealed a sizable earnings miss, a swing to a net loss, and sharply reduced full-year guidance — all driven by a massive charge on a single construction management project that has spiraled well beyond its original timeline and budget.
Earnings Miss and the $337 Million Project Charge
The most immediate and devastating driver behind Tuesday's selloff is AECOM's Q3 FY2026 earnings report, which stunned investors with an adjusted loss of $0.50 per share — a $2.01 miss versus the $1.51 consensus estimate. Revenue fell 14.2% year over year to $3.59 billion. The company booked a $337 million pre-tax charge tied to a Construction Management project originally awarded in 2019. According to CEO Troy Rudd, the project has been plagued by subcontractor productivity rates that lagged the prior timeline, leading to delayed completion and materially higher projected costs.
On a GAAP basis, AECOM swung to a net loss of $86.7 million, compared with net income of $131.0 million in the year-ago quarter. Excluding the project charge, adjusted EPS would have been $1.49 — a respectable 11% year-over-year increase — but the optics of the headline miss overwhelmed any underlying business strength.
Guidance Slash and Cash Flow Concerns
Compounding the earnings disappointment, management sharply reduced its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook. Adjusted EPS guidance now stands at $3.95 to $4.15, a drastic cut from the previous implied range and well below Wall Street's consensus of $5.97. Free cash flow guidance was lowered to approximately $300 million, reflecting expected cash outflows on the Construction Management project through the first half of fiscal 2027.
The company also acknowledged that slower project starts in the Construction Management segment — exacerbated by ongoing military conflict in the Middle East — would weigh on net service revenue growth. Excluding the charge, management's guidance implies flat year-over-year NSR, a notable deceleration from previous expectations. The combination of a massive earnings miss and a guidance reset that effectively wiped out nearly a third of previously expected full-year profitability sent investors rushing for the exits.
Analyst Reactions and Price Target Cuts
Wall Street wasted no time recalibrating. Robert W. Baird cut its price target on ACM from $87 to $73 while maintaining a Neutral rating. Earlier in the quarter, Barclays had already trimmed its target from $110 to $90, and KeyCorp lowered its estimates ahead of the print. The rapid succession of downward revisions has eroded confidence in the stock, which now trades near its 52-week low of $66.28. Despite the carnage, the broader analyst community retains a Moderate Buy consensus with nine Buy ratings and four Holds, though average price targets — which recently hovered near $114 — appear increasingly stale following this quarter's developments.
Market Context and Trading Activity
Trading volume in ACM was exceptionally heavy. Monday's regular session already saw approximately 3.4 million shares change hands, roughly double the stock's average daily volume, as traders positioned ahead of the earnings release. Tuesday's session opened with even greater intensity as the full market digested the earnings shock. The stock gapped down sharply at the open, slicing through both its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages. AECOM's decline stands in stark contrast to the broader S&P 500, underscoring that this was a company-specific event rather than a sector- or macro-driven move. Peers such as J (Jacobs Solutions) and FLR (Fluor) did not experience comparable selling pressure.
What Comes Next for ACM
The near-term outlook for ACM hinges on several key factors. First, investors will scrutinize management's conference call for additional color on the timeline for completing the troubled project — expected in the second quarter of fiscal 2027 — and the potential to recover a portion of the $337 million through the dispute resolution process. Second, the company's decision to exit design-build P3 projects in its Construction Management business signals a strategic pivot toward lower-risk work, though two remaining legacy projects will continue to pressure cash flow in the near term.
On the positive side, AECOM's record backlog of $27.8 billion — up 13% year over year — and a robust 1.6x book-to-burn ratio demonstrate that underlying demand for the company's core professional services remains strong. The Americas design business continues to deliver mid-single-digit organic growth, and the International segment expanded its adjusted operating margin by 240 basis points. Whether these structural strengths can offset the near-term cash flow drag and restore investor confidence will likely determine the stock's trajectory through the remainder of fiscal 2026.
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ACM in downward trend: 10-day moving average broke below 50-day moving average on August 17, 2026
The 10-day moving average for ACM crossed bearishly below the 50-day moving average on August 17, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted lower and could be considered a sell signal. In 8 of 10 past instances when the 10-day crossed below the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 80%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on September 10, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on ACM as a result. In 62 of 101 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 61%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for ACM turned negative on September 10, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 48 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 27 of the 48 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 56%.
ACM moved below its 50-day moving average on August 31, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where ACM declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 58%.
ACM broke above its upper Bollinger Band on August 28, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Bullish Trend Analysis
The RSI Indicator points to a transition from a downward trend to an upward trend -- in cases where ACM's RSI Oscillator exited the oversold zone, 19 of 27 resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 70%.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the oversold zone for 1 day, which means it's wise to expect a price bounce in the near future.
Following a +0.91% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where ACM advanced for three days, in 190 of 350 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 54%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 135 of 275 cases where ACM Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 49%.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 28 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly undervalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (3.727) is normal, around the industry mean (16.847). P/E Ratio (22.370) is within average values for comparable stocks, (215.968). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.667) is also within normal values, averaging (3.211). Dividend Yield (0.019) settles around the average of (0.013) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (0.540) is also within normal values, averaging (2.880).
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 55 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 63 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 77 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating slightly worse than average price growth. ACM’s price grows at a lower rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 96 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. ACM’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 75, placing this stock worse than average.
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General Information
a provider of planning, consulting, architectural and engineering design, and program and construction management services
Industry EngineeringConstruction
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