Why Alight Stock Plummeted by More Than 42% This Week

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • The cloud-based enterprise software specialist saw both revenue and profitability erode in its fourth quarter.

  • Both metrics missed the consensus analyst estimates.

  • 10 stocks we like better than Alight ›

The lights weren't shining for Alight (NYSE: ALIT) shareholders over the past few trading days. The workplace software solutions provider was hardly a lucrative investment, with a more than 42% share price drop -- according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence -- on the back of a poorly received earnings report.

A fourth quarter to forget

Alight's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 figures were made public Thursday morning, and the investing public clearly disliked what it saw.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »

Person looking at laptop screen with head in hands.

Image source: Getty Images.

Revenue at the specialized tech company fell year over year during the quarter, declining 4% to $653 million. Net income not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) saw a more pronounced drop, plummeting by 24% to $96 million, or $0.18 per share.

Neither headline figure beat the corresponding average analyst estimate. The pundit consensus for revenue was $654.6 million, while that for non-GAAP (adjusted) profitability was $0.24.

Alight said the top-line slide was due to reduced project revenue and a decline in commercial activity. Meanwhile, increased compensation expenses were a drag on the bottom line.

Dim prospects, for now

Management sounded a hopeful note in the earnings release. Alight quoted CEO Rohit Verma as saying that "Our plan to return to sustainable growth is rooted in our enviable market position and is grounded in three operating principles: deliver service and operational excellence; innovate products that create value and actionable insights; and build relationships that result in enduring, trusted partnerships."

In the conference call discussing the results, however, Verma admitted that "the weakness experienced in 2025 will spill into 2026," which belies the bullish pronouncements in the press release. Alight's shareholders are likely in for more pain in the coming months, making its stock one to avoid for now, in my opinion.

Should you buy stock in Alight right now?

Before you buy stock in Alight, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Alight wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $415,256!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,151,865!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 892% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of February 20, 2026.

Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Ethereum (ETH) Price Closes Above $3,900 — Is a New All-Time High Possible Before 2024 Ends?Once again, the price of Ethereum (ETH) has risen above $3,900. This bounce has hinted at a further price increase for the altcoin before the end of the year.
Author  Beincrypto
Dec 17, 2024
Once again, the price of Ethereum (ETH) has risen above $3,900. This bounce has hinted at a further price increase for the altcoin before the end of the year.
placeholder
Markets in 2026: Will gold, Bitcoin, and the U.S. dollar make history again? — These are how leading institutions thinkAfter a turbulent 2025, what lies ahead for commodities, forex, and cryptocurrency markets in 2026?
Author  Insights
Dec 25, 2025
After a turbulent 2025, what lies ahead for commodities, forex, and cryptocurrency markets in 2026?
placeholder
Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD rises to near $78.00 on safe-haven demandSilver price (XAG/USD) extends its gains for the second successive session, trading around $78.00 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Thursday. The precious metal Silver receives support from rising safe-haven demand amid persistent tensions between the United States (US) and Iran.
Author  FXStreet
Feb 19, Thu
Silver price (XAG/USD) extends its gains for the second successive session, trading around $78.00 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Thursday. The precious metal Silver receives support from rising safe-haven demand amid persistent tensions between the United States (US) and Iran.
placeholder
Gold drifts higher to $5,000 on heightened US-Iran tensions Gold price (XAU/USD) holds positive ground near $5,000 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal edges higher as escalating tensions between the United States (US) and Iran boost safe-haven demand.
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 01: 27
Gold price (XAU/USD) holds positive ground near $5,000 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal edges higher as escalating tensions between the United States (US) and Iran boost safe-haven demand.
placeholder
WTI Price Forecast: Sits above mid-$66.00, over six-month top amid rising US-Iran tensionsWest Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Crude Oil prices reverse a modest Asian session dip to sub-$66.00 levels and climb back closer to the highest level since August 4, touched earlier this Friday.
Author  FXStreet
19 hours ago
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Crude Oil prices reverse a modest Asian session dip to sub-$66.00 levels and climb back closer to the highest level since August 4, touched earlier this Friday.
goTop
quote