ASGN Q2 Deep Dive: Consulting Gains and AI Investments Offset Cyclical Weakness

IT services provider ASGN (NYSE:ASGN) beat Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q2 CY2025, but sales fell by 1.4% year on year to $1.02 billion. The company expects next quarter’s revenue to be around $1.00 billion, close to analysts’ estimates. Its GAAP profit of $0.67 per share was 5.4% below analysts’ consensus estimates.

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StockStory’s Take

ASGN’s second quarter results were well received by the market, with revenue surpassing Wall Street expectations despite a modest year-over-year decline. Management attributed this performance to continued momentum in IT consulting, particularly in data, cloud, and AI-driven projects, which now account for a larger share of overall business. CEO Ted Hanson highlighted that commercial consulting bookings, especially in verticals like consumer and industrial, remain robust due to clients prioritizing technology modernization. Hanson noted, “Our IT consulting revenues continue to grow, reaching approximately 63% of revenues for the second quarter.”

Looking ahead, ASGN’s outlook is shaped by ongoing demand for AI and digital transformation initiatives within both commercial and federal markets. Management emphasized that investments in proprietary AI tools, strategic partnerships, and the newly launched AI Innovation Center are central to the company’s growth strategy. CFO Marie Perry noted that federal contract pipeline visibility is improving, supported by new government funding targeting AI and cybersecurity. Still, management remains cautious about cyclical areas such as traditional staffing, with President Shiv Iyer stating, “We’re still watching some of our larger industries like banking and looking for the turn in those industries, which is still sort of a wait and watch for us.”

Key Insights from Management’s Remarks

ASGN’s management credited the quarter’s performance to a stronger mix of IT consulting, continued investment in AI capabilities, and sector-specific strength in commercial and federal markets.

• Consulting and AI demand: Commercial consulting, including AI and digital engineering, drove growth as clients prioritized modernization and efficiency. Management reported increasing demand for complex, multi-capability projects, especially in data and cloud solutions.
• TopBloc contribution and partnerships: The acquisition of TopBloc exceeded management’s expectations, enhancing ASGN’s Workday consulting capabilities. Partnerships with AWS and Elastic further enabled the company to deliver advanced solutions across client verticals.
• Sector performance divergence: Consumer and industrial verticals saw the strongest results, with materials, utilities, and energy clients leveraging nearshore delivery centers and industry-specific assets. Healthcare remained stable, while financial services and TMT (technology, media, telecommunications) were more subdued.
• Federal segment outlook: Federal contract awards were slower due to procurement delays (DOGE impact), but management highlighted a large, growing backlog and positive developments from increased defense spending. AI and cybersecurity remain primary focus areas.
• Internal AI investment: The launch of the AI Innovation Center and ongoing development of proprietary tools are supporting both client-facing and internal efficiency gains. Management emphasized that these investments are not pressuring margins, but instead are contributing to improved profitability.

Drivers of Future Performance

ASGN expects continued growth in consulting and AI-driven services, but remains cautious about macroeconomic uncertainty and cyclical demand in staffing.

• AI and digital transformation momentum: Management pointed to sustained corporate and government investment in AI, cloud migration, and cybersecurity as primary drivers for consulting demand. The AI Innovation Center aims to accelerate client adoption and internal productivity.
• Federal business recovery: Expansion of U.S. defense spending and a strong backlog in the federal segment are expected to support growth, particularly in digital modernization, secure communications, and automation. However, government procurement timing remains a risk.
• Cyclical staffing pressure: Traditional assignment and staffing services continue to face headwinds from macroeconomic uncertainty and lower discretionary spending in some verticals. While management sees consulting as offsetting this weakness, a sustained recovery in staffing is not yet visible.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be closely tracking (1) the pace of federal contract awards and whether defense spending translates to realized revenue growth; (2) commercial consulting momentum, especially in high-growth verticals like AI and cloud transformation; and (3) stabilization or recovery in the cyclical staffing business. Progress on proprietary AI tool adoption and the outcomes of the upcoming Investor Day will also be key signposts.

ASGN currently trades at $56.50, up from $50.02 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

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