Accounting Stocks Repriced After The Grant Thornton CBIZ Deal

The accounting and consulting sector is in the spotlight after Grant Thornton agreed to acquire CBIZ in a US$5b all cash deal, the biggest accounting takeover in decades. CBIZ shareholders are set to receive US$55 per share in cash, an 18% premium to the last close and a 54% premium to the 30 day average. This kind of consolidation, backed by private equity, can reshape how mid market firms compete and where capital flows next. Below, you will see 3 stocks from our Accounting and Consulting Firms screener that appear most exposed to this news and why that may matter for your portfolio.

Franklin Covey (FC)

Overview: Franklin Covey is a US based training and consulting company that helps organisations and schools improve leadership, productivity, sales performance and culture through well known programs such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Speed of Trust and The Four Disciplines of Execution. These are delivered via in person services and digital platforms like its All Access Pass and Leader in Me subscriptions.

Operations: Franklin Covey generates most of its revenue from the Enterprise Division in North America at about US$142.7m. There are additional contributions from the Education Division at about US$77.0m and a segment adjustment of US$43.0m, while the Americas region accounts for about US$223.1m of revenue, far ahead of Asia Pacific and EMEA.

Market Cap: US$245.1m

Franklin Covey stands out in the consulting sector because it sells recurring training platforms as well as traditional advisory work. This can position it well as consolidation such as the Grant Thornton and CBIZ deal pushes more clients to seek scalable programs. The company is targeting higher revenue and adjusted EBITDA in the next few years and analysts expect very strong earnings growth, yet the stock is priced at a deep discount to Simply Wall St’s fair value estimate. At the same time, profitability has been uneven, with recent losses over nine months to May 2026 and a low 0.8% net margin, and index removals may keep some institutional money away. That mix of growth ambitions, execution risk and valuation gap is what makes Franklin Covey worth a closer look.

Franklin Covey’s mix of recurring platforms and traditional consulting, along with what analysts see in its valuation gap, suggests there is more under the surface. Get the full picture in the analyst forecasts for Franklin Covey

Robert Walters (LSE:RWA)

Overview: Robert Walters is a London based recruitment consultancy that places professionals into permanent, contract and interim roles across fields such as finance, technology, legal, HR and healthcare, and also provides executive search, outsourcing and talent advisory services to clients worldwide.

Operations: Robert Walters generates about £609.8m of revenue from Specialist Professional Recruitment and £171.3m from recruitment outsourcing, with geographic exposure spread across Asia Pacific at about £375.0m, Europe at £194.5m, the United Kingdom at £180.6m and the Rest of World at £31.0m.

Market Cap: £82.2m

Robert Walters sits at the junction of recruitment, consulting and outsourcing just as deal activity in accounting and professional services is drawing fresh attention to valuations across the sector. The company is currently loss making and heavily exposed to permanent placements, which can make earnings more volatile, yet the stock trades at a steep discount to some fair value estimates and to its own sales. Management is pushing into higher fee flexible staffing, AI enabled efficiency and a leaner cost base, with profitability expected to improve over the next few years. For investors watching the Grant Thornton and CBIZ deal and wondering which recruiters could benefit from a rerating, Robert Walters is a candidate that warrants a closer look.

Robert Walters looks like a valuation story that the market has not fully priced in, particularly given its loss making operations and sector deal buzz drawing fresh attention. Get the fuller context in the analysis report for Robert Walters

ALS (ASX:ALQ)

Overview: ALS is a Brisbane based provider of technical testing, measurement and inspection services, helping mining companies, environmental and food groups, pharmaceutical firms and regulators assess the quality and safety of materials and products around the world.

Operations: ALS generates about A$1.3b of revenue from Commodities testing and about A$2.0b from Life Sciences, with geographic exposure spread across Africa at about A$74.8m, the Americas at A$1.1b, Asia/Pacific at A$949.9m and EMENA at A$1.2b.

Market Cap: A$10.8b

ALS gives you broad exposure to mining and regulatory driven testing through two large engines, Commodities and Life Sciences, at a time when consolidation in professional services and deals like Grant Thornton’s move on CBIZ are shining a light on specialist technical consultancies. Reported earnings growth has recently outpaced the wider Australian market, margins have improved and the company sits in key regulatory themes such as PFAS testing and environmental compliance, which can support demand even when commodity cycles are choppy. At the same time, a premium P/E, higher debt and acquisition related integration work mean execution and funding risks are real. That balance of growth, pricing and leverage is where the ALS story becomes especially notable for investors following this sector.

ALS sits at the crossroads of commodities, regulation and higher P/E expectations, yet many investors may not see the full risk reward mix around its testing engines. Get the crucial context in the analysis report for ALS

The three stocks in this article are only a starting point, as the full Accounting and Consulting Firms screener surfaces 16 more accounting and consulting companies with equally compelling narratives around consolidation, private equity involvement and M&A exposure. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, risk profiles and business models that fit your own highest conviction ideas across this group.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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