Consultants Facing Challenges: Management consultants, like Accenture, are experiencing a crisis similar to Kodak's, as AI advancements and economic pressures lead clients to seek lower costs and question the value of consulting fees.
Impact of AI on Costs: The rise of machine learning allows clients to perform tasks at significantly lower costs, giving them leverage over consultants who may struggle to justify their traditional pricing models.
Job Cuts and Hiring Halts: Major consulting firms are reducing their workforce, with Accenture cutting 11,000 jobs and Microsoft halting hiring in its consulting division, reflecting the industry's adaptation to AI.
Future Strategies for Consultants: To survive, consultants may need to enhance their AI capabilities through acquisitions or mergers, but these strategies could risk talent loss and may not prevent clients from demanding lower prices.
Wall Street analysts forecast EXLS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for EXLS is 52.25 USD with a low forecast of 49.00 USD and a high forecast of 55.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast EXLS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for EXLS is 52.25 USD with a low forecast of 49.00 USD and a high forecast of 55.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
5 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 42.770
Low
49.00
Averages
52.25
High
55.00
Current: 42.770
Low
49.00
Averages
52.25
High
55.00
TD Cowen
Buy
downgrade
$52 -> $51
Al Analysis
2026-01-09
Reason
TD Cowen
Price Target
$52 -> $51
Al Analysis
2026-01-09
downgrade
Buy
Reason
TD Cowen lowered the firm's price target on ExlService to $51 from $52 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm is "constructive" on services sector setup for 2026, anticipating gradual improvement in enterprise IT spend at a time when average valuations remain discounted.
JPMorgan
Puneet Jain
Overweight
downgrade
$56 -> $52
2025-08-20
Reason
JPMorgan
Puneet Jain
Price Target
$56 -> $52
2025-08-20
downgrade
Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan analyst Puneet Jain lowered the firm's price target on ExlService to $52 from $56 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm updated targets in IT services post the Q2 reports, saying the sector is in the third straight year of below-average revenue growth. An improvement in growth is needed to drive higher valuation multiples, the analyst tells investors in a research note. JPMorgan is optimistic that sector growth will improve.
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Stifel
David Grossman
Strong Buy
Maintains
$48 → $54
2025-02-27
Reason
Stifel
David Grossman
Price Target
$48 → $54
2025-02-27
Maintains
Strong Buy
Reason
Needham
Mayank Tandon
Strong Buy
Maintains
$50 → $60
2025-02-27
Reason
Needham
Mayank Tandon
Price Target
$50 → $60
2025-02-27
Maintains
Strong Buy
Reason
About EXLS
ExlService Holdings, Inc. is a global data and artificial intelligence (AI) company. The Company provides data and AI-led and digital operations services to its clients. Its segments include Insurance; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Banking, Capital Markets and Diversified Industries; and International Growth Markets (IGM). The Company provides services to insurers in the areas of property and casualty, life, disability, annuity, and retirement services. It offers pre-and post-pay auditing services, payment analytics, payment integrity, a care management platform and services and patient navigation for healthcare payers. Its Banking and Capital Markets and Diversified Industries deliver solutions across retail and commercial banking, credit card services, payment services, fintech, banking infrastructure services, capital markets, mortgage services, utilities, and other business services industries. Its IGM is focused on global reach in growth markets outside North America.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
