How did ACIW's Q4 earnings surprise impact its annual performance?

ACI Worldwide's (ACIW) Q4 earnings surprise had a positive impact on its annual performance, as evidenced by the company's financial results and market reactions.

1. **Q4 Earnings Surprise**: ACI Worldwide reported quarterly earnings of $0.97 per share for Q4 2024, which was a significant upside from the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.60 per share. This represented a substantial year-over-year increase from the $0.52 per share earned in the same quarter of the previous year.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income YoY|Net Income|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|ACIW|ACIW.O|ACI Worldwide|2024 Q1|76.00903800916183|-7751000|185|
|ACIW|ACIW.O|ACI Worldwide|2024 Q2|560.3129657228018|3.0887E7|185|
|ACIW|ACIW.O|ACI Worldwide|2024 Q3|114.78462715306902|8.1427E7|185|
|ACIW|ACIW.O|ACI Worldwide|2024 Q4|-19.6230508253409|9.8555E7|185|

2. **Revenue Performance**: The company's revenue for Q4 2024 was $451.75 million, marking a 24.4% increase year-over-year. This growth in revenue, coupled with the earnings beat, indicates a strong performance for the quarter.
3. **Annual Performance Implications**: While the specific annual net income and revenue figures for ACIW in 2024 are not available, the Q4 performance is a critical component of the annual results. The earnings surprise in Q4 suggests that ACIW's annual net income and revenue figures may also exceed expectations.
4. **Market Reactions**: The market responded positively to the earnings beat, which could lead to increased investor confidence and potentially higher stock prices. Institutional holdings in ACIW, as reported in filings, suggest that major investors are also optimistic about the company's future prospects.
5. **Future Prospects**: ACIW's guidance for Q4 2024 revenue of $1.57 billion to $1.60 billion further supports the notion that the company is on track for a strong annual performance.

In conclusion, ACIW's Q4 earnings surprise has likely had a positive impact on its annual performance, with the potential for the company to exceed market expectations in terms of both net income and revenue. This positive trend is supported by the company's historical performance, market reactions, and future guidance.