ACIW
TechnologyACI Worldwide, Inc. · Software - Infrastructure · $4B
What is ACI Worldwide, Inc.?
ACI Worldwide is a global payments software company serving banks, merchants, and billers across dozens of countries. Its platforms power real-time payments, fraud management, and digital billing at enterprise scale.
ACI Worldwide develops and supports software that moves money — from card issuing and merchant acquiring to real-time interbank transfers and electronic bill payment. Banks use its platforms to process high-value transactions around the clock. Merchants rely on its omni-channel commerce tools. Billers in healthcare, utilities, insurance, and government use ACI Speedpay to collect payments and send disbursements. The company earns revenue through software licenses, SaaS subscriptions, and professional services.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Elkhorn, US, ACI Worldwide has spent decades building infrastructure-grade payment software.
- ACI Acquiring — merchant management and fraud prevention for card acceptance
- ACI Issuing — digital payments issuing solution for financial institutions
- ACI Enterprise Payments Platform — orchestration layer for complex payment flows
- ACI Low and High Value Real-Time Payments — 24x7 multi-currency processing engines
- ACI Speedpay — integrated billing, payment, and disbursement services
Is ACIW a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates ACIW as Below Average overall.
The most constructive element of ACIW's profile is its Valuation pillar, which is rated Attractive — suggesting the market may not be pricing in a full recovery scenario. Quality and Risk both sit at Neutral, meaning the business is not in distress but has not demonstrated the consistency that earns top marks.
Growth is the standout weakness, rated Weak — the company has not demonstrated the revenue acceleration that investors typically seek in a technology name. Moat is also Neutral, indicating limited pricing power relative to stronger platform peers.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does ACIW pay dividends?
No — ACI Worldwide, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
ACI Worldwide does not currently pay a dividend. For a software company at this stage, retained capital is typically directed toward product development, platform modernization, and potential acquisitions rather than shareholder distributions. Income-focused investors should factor this into their assessment.
When does ACIW report earnings?
ACI Worldwide reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed equities.
Revenue trends have been mixed, with the company navigating a shift toward recurring software and SaaS revenue while managing legacy contract structures. Growth has lagged sector peers, which is reflected in the Weak Growth pillar rating.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit ACI Worldwide's investor relations page directly.
ACIW Price History
+15.6% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in ACI Worldwide, Inc.?
Based on ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
ACIW Long-term Outlook
The fundamental outlook for ACIW is cautious. The Weak Growth pillar signals that near-term revenue expansion is not a core strength, while the Neutral Risk rating suggests the business is stable enough to avoid acute downside scenarios. The Attractive Valuation pillar leaves room for re-rating if growth improves. The path forward depends heavily on whether real-time payments adoption accelerates and whether the company can convert its installed base to higher-margin recurring contracts.
Growth drivers
- Global expansion of real-time payment infrastructure creating new software demand
- Migration of legacy bank and biller clients to cloud-based SaaS platforms
- Cross-sell opportunities across fraud management and digital banking modules
Key risks
- Sustained weak revenue growth could limit re-rating despite Attractive valuation
- Competitive pressure from larger, better-capitalized payment platform vendors
- Execution risk in transitioning legacy license customers to recurring revenue models
ACIW vs Peers
ACI Worldwide operates in a competitive payments software landscape alongside companies with distinct business models and market focuses.
SentinelOne focuses on cybersecurity rather than payments, but competes for enterprise software budgets and highlights how specialized platforms can command premium valuations.
Remitly targets consumer cross-border remittances, a high-growth niche that contrasts with ACI's enterprise and institutional payments focus.
Shift4 concentrates on integrated payment processing for hospitality and entertainment merchants, competing with ACI's acquiring and commerce solutions at the point of sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ACI Worldwide do?
ACI Worldwide develops payment software for banks, merchants, and billers. Its platforms handle real-time payments, card issuing, merchant acquiring, fraud detection, and electronic bill payment. Clients include financial institutions, retailers, healthcare providers, utilities, and government agencies around the world.
Does ACIW pay dividends?
No, ACI Worldwide does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains capital for reinvestment in its software platforms and business development. Investors seeking regular income should note this before adding ACIW to an income-oriented portfolio.
When does ACIW report earnings?
ACI Worldwide follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence. The company does not pre-announce specific dates far in advance. Check ACI Worldwide's investor relations page or your brokerage platform for the most current schedule.
Is ACIW a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates ACIW as Below Average based on its five-pillar composite. The Valuation pillar is Attractive, but Growth is Weak and Moat is Neutral. Whether that trade-off suits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment horizon. View the full pillar breakdown on UQS Pro.
Is ACIW overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, ACIW is rated Attractive — meaning the current price appears reasonable or potentially below fair value relative to fundamentals. However, an attractive price alone does not offset weak growth dynamics, so context matters.
How does ACIW compare to its competitors?
ACI Worldwide focuses on enterprise payment infrastructure for banks and billers, which differentiates it from consumer-facing fintechs like Remitly and merchant-focused processors like Shift4. Its broad platform breadth is a strength, but growth has lagged more specialized or faster-scaling peers in the payments space.
What is ACIW's market cap bracket?
ACI Worldwide is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a tier where institutional coverage exists but liquidity and analyst attention are generally lower than large-cap or mega-cap technology peers.
Who founded ACI Worldwide?
ACI Worldwide traces its roots to the mid-1990s, with the company incorporated in 1995. Detailed founding history, including key individuals involved, is publicly available through the company's official corporate history and SEC filings.
Is ACIW a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, ACIW's UQS profile is mixed. Quality and Risk are Neutral, which suggests operational stability, but the Weak Growth and Neutral Moat ratings raise questions about durable competitive advantage. Long-term investors should weigh whether the Attractive Valuation compensates for those gaps.
What is the main competitive advantage of ACI Worldwide?
ACI Worldwide's primary advantage is its deep integration within financial institution infrastructure. Banks and billers that run ACI's payment engines face significant switching costs, which provides some revenue stickiness. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Neutral, suggesting it is not dominant relative to the broader sector.
What sector does ACIW belong to?
ACI Worldwide is classified in the Technology sector, specifically within payments software. Its products sit at the intersection of financial services infrastructure and enterprise software, making it relevant to investors tracking both fintech and broader software themes.
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Pro Analysis
ACIW — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 46.7 | 44.5 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 42.3 | 88.1 | 0.0 |
| May 22, 2026 | 46.7 | 44.8 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 88.2 | +0.1 |
| May 21, 2026 | 46.6 | 44.7 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 87.8 | -0.1 |
| May 20, 2026 | 46.7 | 44.7 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 88.2 | -0.1 |
| May 19, 2026 | 46.8 | 45.0 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 88.1 | -0.1 |
| May 16, 2026 | 46.9 | 45.0 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 88.8 | -0.1 |
| May 15, 2026 | 47.0 | 45.2 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 89.3 | 0.0 |
| May 14, 2026 | 47.0 | 45.2 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 89.4 | +0.2 |
| May 13, 2026 | 46.8 | 44.8 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 88.5 | +0.1 |
| May 12, 2026 | 46.7 | 44.8 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 41.9 | 88.3 | +0.4 |
ACIW — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 44.5/100 (25%)ACI Worldwide, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 27.5/100 (20%)ACI Worldwide, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 42.3/100 (15%)ACI Worldwide, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 86.2/100 (15%)ACI Worldwide, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 42/100 (25%)ACI Worldwide, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for ACIW.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the ACIW UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for ACI Worldwide, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether ACI Worldwide, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.