SGS (OTCMKTS:SGSOY – Get Free Report) and Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM – Get Free Report) are both business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, earnings, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Profitability This table compares SGS and Bright Horizons Family Solutions’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SGS N/A N/A N/A Bright Horizons Family Solutions 6.35% 18.01% 6.18% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for SGS and Bright Horizons Family Solutions, as provided by MarketBeat.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SGS 1 3 2 2 2.62 Bright Horizons Family Solutions 2 3 4 0 2.22 Bright Horizons Family Solutions has a consensus target price of $96.00, suggesting a potential upside of 26.91%. Given Bright Horizons Family Solutions’ higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Bright Horizons Family Solutions is more favorable than SGS.
Risk & Volatility SGS has a beta of 0.81, suggesting that its stock price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Bright Horizons Family Solutions has a beta of 1.15, suggesting that its stock price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Earnings and Valuation This table compares SGS and Bright Horizons Family Solutions”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio SGS $8.38 billion 2.71 $806.28 million N/A N/A Bright Horizons Family Solutions $2.93 billion 1.36 $193.12 million $3.32 22.79 SGS has higher revenue and earnings than Bright Horizons Family Solutions.
Summary Bright Horizons Family Solutions beats SGS on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.
About SGS (Get Free Report)
SGS SA provides inspection, testing, and verification services in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Connectivity & Products, Health & Nutrition, Industries & Environment, Natural Resources, and Business Assurance. The company provides laboratory testing, product inspection and consulting, process assessment, technical and transactional assistance; and automotive, connectivity, softlines and accessories, and hardgoods, toys, and juvenile products, as well as government and trade facilitation services. In addition, it offers a range of testing, inspection and certification solutions for the crop science, food, health science, and cosmetics and hygiene industries; field services, technical assessment, and advisory services; and services related to industrial, public health and safety, environmental testing, and public mandates. Further, it provides assessment, auditing, and certification, supply chain assurance, training, consulting, and sustainability assurance services; agricultural commodities, geochemistry, laboratory testing petroleum and chemicals, metallurgy and consulting, mineral and metal commodities, and oil, gas, and chemical commodities; and sustainability solutions. The company serves the agriculture and food, chemical, construction, consumer and retail, energy, industrial manufacturing, life sciences, mining, oil and gas, public, and transportation sectors. SGS SA was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions (Get Free Report)
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. provides early education and childcare, back-up care, educational advisory, and other workplace solutions services for employers and families in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India. The company operates in three segments: Full Service Center-Based Child Care, Back-Up Care, and Educational Advisory and Other Services. The Full Service Center-Based Child Care segment offers traditional center-based child care and early education, preschool, and elementary education services. The Back-Up Care segment provides center-based back-up child care, in-home child and adult/elder dependent care, school-age camps, virtual tutoring, and self-sourced reimbursed care services through child care centers, school-age campuses, and in-home caregivers, as well as the back-up care network. The Educational Advisory and Other Services segment offers tuition assistance and student loan repayment program administration, workforce education, and related educational consulting services, as well as college admissions and college financial advisory services. The company was formerly known as Bright Horizons Solutions Corp. and changed its name to Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. in July 2012. Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts.
Receive News & Ratings for SGS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SGS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
« PREVIOUS HEADLINEHead to Head Analysis: Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC) & Bae Systems (OTCMKTS:BAESY)
NEXT HEADLINE »Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania (NASDAQ:UVSP) & Parke Bancorp (NASDAQ:PKBK) Head-To-Head Review
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM – Get Free Report) is anticipated to issue its Q2 2026 results after the market closes on Thursday, July 30th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.21 per share and revenue of $774.8350 million for the quarter. Bright Horizons Family Solutions has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-5.100 EPS. Investors are encouraged to explore the company’s upcoming Q2 2026 earning report for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $712.22 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $713.35 million. Bright Horizons Family Solutions had a return on equity of 18.01% and a net margin of 6.35%.The firm’s revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.77 EPS. On average, analysts expect Bright Horizons Family Solutions to post $5 EPS for the current fiscal year and $5 EPS for the next fiscal year.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Stock Performance BFAM stock opened at $72.16 on Thursday. Bright Horizons Family Solutions has a 1-year low of $57.63 and a 1-year high of $130.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $3.80 billion, a PE ratio of 21.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.15. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $68.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $77.72.
Institutional Trading of Bright Horizons Family Solutions Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions during the fourth quarter worth about $191,952,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its position in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 2,536.7% in the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 656,173 shares of the company’s stock valued at $66,535,000 after buying an additional 631,287 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 64.4% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,579,757 shares of the company’s stock valued at $160,124,000 after acquiring an additional 619,067 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its stake in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 358.5% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 494,382 shares of the company’s stock valued at $53,675,000 after acquiring an additional 386,558 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 1,638.6% during the 3rd quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 395,272 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,915,000 after acquiring an additional 372,537 shares during the last quarter.
Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $115.00 to $105.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. Weiss Ratings lowered Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $88.00 to $87.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $96.00.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Bright Horizons Family Solutions
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions (Get Free Report)
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc (NYSE: BFAM) is a leading provider of employer-sponsored child care and early education services, offering a range of solutions designed to support working families and organizations. Through a network of on-site, near-site and center-based programs, the company partners with corporate and nonprofit clients to deliver infant, toddler, preschool and school-age care. Services emphasize age-appropriate curriculum, developmental milestones and community engagement to ensure high-quality learning experiences.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Bright Horizons Family Solutions Could Truth API Become Trump Media’s First Meaningful Revenue Driver? Small Caps Are Crushing the S&P 500—3 Stocks Still Worth Buying Moog Is More Than a Missile Maker, and Wall Street Is Noticing A Boring Dividend Growth Strategy Becomes a Solid Defensive Play
Receive News & Ratings for Bright Horizons Family Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bright Horizons Family Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
« PREVIOUS HEADLINEMahindra & Mahindra (MAHMF) Projected to Release Quarterly Earnings on Thursday
NEXT HEADLINE »Fujifilm (OTCMKTS:FUJIY) Stock Price Passes Above 200-Day Moving Average – Time to Sell?
On July 22, 2026, Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc (BFAM) shares fell 3.4%, closing at $72.04. The stock's performance has been volatile, with a 52-week ran
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bright Horizons Family Solutions® Inc. (NYSE: BFAM) will release results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 on Thursday, July 30, 2026, after the stock market closes. Following the release, the Company will host a telephone conference call with investors and analysts at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the second quarter 2026, the Company’s updated business outlook, its strategy and results.
Interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call by dialing 1-844-539-3703, or for international callers, 1-412-652-1273, and asking for the Bright Horizons Family Solutions conference call, moderated by Chief Executive Officer Stephen Kramer. Replays of the entire call will be available through August 13, 2026, at 1-844-512-2921, or for international callers, 1-412-317-6671, conference ID #13758193.
The second quarter 2026 earnings release and a link to the audio webcast of the conference call will be available through the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site, www.brighthorizons.com.
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.
Bright Horizons® is a leading global provider of high-quality early education and child care, back-up care, and workforce education services. For 40 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates approximately 1,000 early education and child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and India, and serves more than 1,450 of the world’s leading employers. Bright Horizons’ early education and child care centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com.
More News From Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bright Horizons' Horizons CDA & Degree Program provides full-time employees in Bright Horizons centers the opportunity to earn a CDA or degree.
Founded in 1986, Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM | BFAM Price Prediction) is a leading provider of early education and childcare, and just beat fourth-quarter earnings estimates, but the market’s reaction told a different story. The stock dropped roughly 19% in a single day after management revealed plans to close 45 to 50 centers in 2026, nearly double the original estimate of 25 to 30. Shares have since recovered slightly but remain down 24.6% year-to-date and 39.67% over the past year.
The Beat That Didn’t Matter Looking deeper into the numbers, the company announced its adjusted EPS came in at $1.15, above the $1.12 estimate, while revenue of $733.7 million beat expectations of $728.77 million. But GAAP net income collapsed 25% year-over-year to $21.74 million, weighed down by $45.1 million in impairment and lease termination costs tied to the full-service center segment. Adjusted EBITDA rose 12% to $123.45 million, but investors focused on what the closures signal about the underlying business.
Why So Many Centers Are Closing As for why so many centers are closing, CFO Elizabeth Boland described the closures as a mix of lease expirations, chronic underperformance, and unworkable economics. “The decision to close centers has been influenced by several factors, including some centers being within one to three years of the end of their lease, underperformance, falling enrollment, and the overall economics of operations that do not justify the fixed costs,” In some cases, conditions were severe enough to exit even with years remaining on a lease: “There are also situations where the underperformance is so significant that we chose to cease operations, even if the lease has several more years to run.”
The biggest concern focuses on centers operating below 40% occupancy, which declined from 16% to 12% of the portfolio between Q4 2024 and Q4 2025, and, after early 2026 closures, has since fallen to approximately 70 centers. Overall occupancy remains in the mid-60s, and management does not expect it to exceed that level by year-end 2026. The closures carry a roughly 200-basis-point headwind to full-service revenue growth in 2026.
Back-Up Care Carries the Weight While center-based care is being trimmed, back-up care continues to outperform. Full-year 2025 back-up care revenue exceeded $725 million, and the segment posted a 37% operating margin in Q3 2025. CEO Stephen Kramer framed the strategy around this strength: “We will continue to operate in locations that are important to our client partners, are strategic in delivering back-up care, and in areas with strong supply-demand dynamics.”
Legal Pressure and the Buyback Signal The closure announcement triggered securities fraud investigations from multiple law firms, including Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman and Pomerantz LLP, citing the near-doubling of closure estimates and the resulting stock decline.
A New York Times report from February 4, 2026 alleging issues at certain facilities added further scrutiny. Against that backdrop, Bright Horizons authorized a new $600 million share repurchase program on March 9, 2026, replacing a prior $500 million program. The analyst consensus target is $97.11, against a current price of $76.46, with a forward P/E of roughly 15x.
For 2026, management has indicated it expects guided revenue between $3.075 billion and $3.125 billion and adjusted EPS of $4.90 to $5.10. Whether the leaner portfolio delivers the promised margin improvement, or whether the closures reflect a structural retreat from center-based care, is the question investors will be watching over the rest of the year.
Data Sources
Bright Horizons Q4 2025 earnings data and segment results from Fuse API stock data and earnings endpoints Earnings call transcript quotes from CFO Elizabeth Boland and CEO Stephen Kramer via Alpha Vantage earnings call transcript data Securities fraud investigation details and buyback announcement from Alpha Vantage news sentiment data (February-March 2026) Stock price performance metrics from Fuse API price performance data as of March 16, 2026
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2026) - Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duty by certain officers and directors of Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. ("Bright Horizons") (NYSE: BFAM).
The investigation focuses on whether certain officers or directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with a February 4, 2026 report by The New York Times which stated, among other things, that "[i]n New York City, health officials have moved to shut down one center where workers were charged with child abuse. Records show that problems extend across the network."
According to The New York Times, "New York City health officials have moved to permanently shut down a Manhattan branch of the child care giant Bright Horizons where prosecutors say employees committed disturbing acts of child abuse, documents show."
Additional information available at https://kehoelawfirm.com/bright-horizons-stock/.
ABOUT KEHOE LAW FIRM, P.C.
Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is a nationally recognized, plaintiff-side class action firm dedicated to protecting investors and consumers from fraud and misconduct. Our attorneys have served as Lead or Co-Lead Counsel in major securities cases, recovering over $10 billion for institutional and individual investors.
Our firm litigates securities fraud, fiduciary breaches, unfair mergers and acquisitions, and antitrust violations, while also representing whistleblowers and advocating for victims of data breaches, consumer fraud, vehicle and product defects, employment law violations, retirement plan mismanagement, and other corporate and business misconduct. With a results-driven approach, we pursue justice and substantial recoveries for those we represent.
This press release may constitute attorney advertising.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/290219
Source: Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM – Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of “Hold” from the ten ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have assigned a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $107.1111.
Several equities research analysts have commented on BFAM shares. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $124.00 to $100.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Bright Horizons Family Solutions from $130.00 to $112.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Wall Street Zen cut Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, November 30th. Robert W. Baird set a $100.00 price objective on Bright Horizons Family Solutions in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Bright Horizons Family Solutions from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 30th.
View Our Latest Analysis on BFAM
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bright Horizons Family Solutions Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 34.4% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 426 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 18,128 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,968,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 6,504 shares of the company’s stock worth $706,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Xponance LLC grew its position in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Xponance LLC now owns 3,686 shares of the company’s stock valued at $374,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions by 2.3% in the third quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 6,582 shares of the company’s stock valued at $715,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Stock Performance BFAM opened at $78.02 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The company has a market cap of $4.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.22, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.42. Bright Horizons Family Solutions has a 52-week low of $63.68 and a 52-week high of $132.99. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $80.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $94.73.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE:BFAM – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $733.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $727.44 million. Bright Horizons Family Solutions had a net margin of 6.58% and a return on equity of 17.41%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.98 earnings per share. Bright Horizons Family Solutions has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-5.100 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Bright Horizons Family Solutions will post 3.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions (Get Free Report)
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc (NYSE: BFAM) is a leading provider of employer-sponsored child care and early education services, offering a range of solutions designed to support working families and organizations. Through a network of on-site, near-site and center-based programs, the company partners with corporate and nonprofit clients to deliver infant, toddler, preschool and school-age care. Services emphasize age-appropriate curriculum, developmental milestones and community engagement to ensure high-quality learning experiences.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Receive News & Ratings for Bright Horizons Family Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bright Horizons Family Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
« PREVIOUS HEADLINEOrion (NYSE:OEC) and Westaim (OTCMKTS:WEDXF) Head to Head Review
NEXT HEADLINE »ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” from Analysts
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Business - Services industry.
This child care and early education services provider has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 10.35%.
For the last reported quarter, Bright Horizons came out with earnings of $1.15 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.13 per share, representing a surprise of 1.77%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.32 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.57 per share, delivering a surprise of 18.94%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Bright Horizons. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Bright Horizons currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.84%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Investors interested in stocks from the Business - Services sector have probably already heard of Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM - Free Report) and APi (APG - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.
Right now, Bright Horizons Family Solutions is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while APi has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Investors should feel comfortable knowing that BFAM likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than APG has recently. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
BFAM currently has a forward P/E ratio of 16.51, while APG has a forward P/E of 27.12. We also note that BFAM has a PEG ratio of 1.30. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. APG currently has a PEG ratio of 2.71.
Another notable valuation metric for BFAM is its P/B ratio of 3.54. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, APG has a P/B of 5.55.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to BFAM's Value grade of B and APG's Value grade of C.
BFAM has seen stronger estimate revision activity and sports more attractive valuation metrics than APG, so it seems like value investors will conclude that BFAM is the superior option right now.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
The power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements makes the Zacks rating system highly useful for individual investors, since it can be difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts. These are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Bright Horizons is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Bright Horizons, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Bright HorizonsThis child care and early education services provider is expected to earn $5.08 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Bright Horizons. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 0.1%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Bright Horizons to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.
By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.
However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this child care and early education services provider a great growth pick right now.
Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Bright Horizons is 31.9%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 11.6% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 10.1%.
Cash Flow GrowthWhile cash is the lifeblood of any business, higher-than-average cash flow growth is more important and beneficial for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, growth in cash flow enables these companies to expand their businesses without depending on expensive outside funds.
Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Bright Horizons is 20.2%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 9.5%.
While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 11.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 9.5%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Bright Horizons. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 1.2% over the past month.
Bottom LineBright Horizons has not only earned a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Bright Horizons well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
Bright Horizons (BFAM) is positioned for a re-rating if it delivers on full-year guidance after closing 5% of loss-making centers. BFAM's high-margin back-up care segment drives growth, while full-service closures enhance the overall operating profile and margin mix. The stock trades at a beaten-down forward P/E of 15.5x, with a price target of $121 (43% upside) based on 22x $5.50 EPS.
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As employers reset priorities for spring planning and performance reviews, data from EdAssist by Bright Horizons (NYSE:BFAM) shows that skills gaps, particularly around artificial intelligence, are emerging as one of the biggest constraints on productivity and workforce confidence. According to the 2025 EdAssist by Bright Horizons Education Index, conducted by The Harris Poll among more than 2,000 U.S. employees, AI is reshaping roles faster than workers feel pre.
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bright Horizons Family Solutions® Inc. (NYSE: BFAM) will release results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, after the stock market closes. Following the release, the Company will host a telephone conference call with investors and analysts at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the first quarter 2026, the Company's updated business outlook, its strategy and results. Interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call by dialing 1-844-53.
On April 23, 2026, Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc (BFAM) shares fell 3.9% today, closing at $81.70. The stock has fluctuated within a 52-week range of $63
Bright Horizons Family Solutions has delivered strong top- and bottom-line growth despite reducing its number of childcare locations. Management's strategy centers on closing underperforming centers, raising tuition rates, and boosting occupancy, driving improved profitability and cash flow. BFAM is currently rated "Hold" due to its valuation, which straddles the line between fairly valued and undervalued compared to peers.
Investors interested in Business - Services stocks are likely familiar with Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM) and APi (APG). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors?
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bright Horizons Family Solutions® Inc. (NYSE: BFAM) today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2026 and reaffirmed financial guidance for 2026 initially provided on February 12, 2026. Bright Horizons is a leading provider of high-quality early education and child care, comprehensive back-up care solutions, and educational advisory services. Our offerings support both working families and employers' workforce strategies by supporting their employee.
For the quarter ended March 2026, Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM - Free Report) reported revenue of $712.22 million, up 7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.82, compared to $0.77 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $711.5 million, representing a surprise of +0.1%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +3.37%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.79.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Bright Horizons performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Number of Centers EOP (education and child care): 988 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of 992.5 million.Revenue- Full service center-based child care: $540.63 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $539.22 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5.9%.Revenue- Educational advisory and other services: $26.92 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $27.16 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +2.1%.Revenue- Back-up care: $144.67 million compared to the $144.05 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +12.5% year over year.Adjusted income from operations- Full service center-based child care: $36.91 million compared to the $34.4 million average estimate based on two analysts.Adjusted income from operations- Educational advisory and other services: $2.47 million versus $1.63 million estimated by two analysts on average.Adjusted income from operations- Back-up care: $25.57 million compared to the $25.21 million average estimate based on two analysts.View all Key Company Metrics for Bright Horizons here>>>
Shares of Bright Horizons have returned -4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.82 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.79 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.77 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +3.37%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this child care and early education services provider would post earnings of $1.13 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.15, delivering a surprise of +1.77%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bright Horizons, which belongs to the Zacks Business - Services industry, posted revenues of $712.22 million for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.10%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $665.53 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Bright Horizons shares have lost about 20.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 5.2%.
What's Next for Bright Horizons?While Bright Horizons has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Bright Horizons was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.20 on $772.03 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.08 on $3.11 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Business - Services is currently in the top 35% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, AMN Healthcare Services (AMN - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on May 7.
This health care staffing company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.60 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +255.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
AMN Healthcare Services' revenues are expected to be $1.23 billion, up 78.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Recognized as a Top Massachusetts Employer Fostering Exceptional Workplace Culture
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Boston Business Journal has named Bright Horizons to its 2026 Best Places to Work list — the BBJ’s exclusive ranking of the Massachusetts companies that have built outstanding work environments for their people. The 90 companies honored in 2026 range in size and industry, with winners from the technology sector, retail industry, health care space, commercial real estate and more.
“This recognition reflects the strength of our culture and the dedication of our people,” said Bright Horizons Chief Human Resources Officer Sara Lester.
Share Headquartered in Newton, MA, Bright Horizons is a leading provider of high-quality early education and child care, back-up care solutions, and educational advisory services. The company employs more than 32,000 people globally, including more than 2,000 employees across more than 65 locations in Massachusetts, and has partnered with employers for 40 years to support working families.
Bright Horizons is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace for its employees. This commitment spans the entire employee experience—from onboarding and culture and inclusion initiatives to continued investment in learning and professional development programs, including 100 Days of HEART, the company’s award-winning teacher orientation program designed to support educators throughout their first 100 days, and the first-of-its-kind Horizons CDA and Degree Program, which enables educators to earn associate and bachelor’s degrees in early education at no cost to them. That support also extends beyond the workplace through the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, which empowers employees to give back to the communities where they live and work through volunteer projects, grants, and its signature Bright Spaces program.
“This recognition reflects the strength of our culture and the dedication of our people,” said Bright Horizons Chief Human Resources Officer Sara Lester. “We are committed to creating a workplace where every employee feels valued and supported in their growth, and where their work makes a meaningful impact on the families and communities we serve.”
"This year’s companies once again have set the bar for employees looking to retain their top talent,” said Carolyn Jones, Market President and Publisher of the Boston Business Journal. “In such a competitive hiring environment, the Best Places to Work employers continue to outshine their peers and competitors.”
The businesses that met criteria for office location and size participated in employee-engagement surveys distributed by Business Journal partner Quantum Workplace. Employees were asked to rate their work environment, work-life balance, job satisfaction, advancement opportunities, management, compensation, and benefits.
Based on the results of those surveys, businesses were assigned a score out of 100 percent and ranked by Quantum. The top-rated companies are listed in five size categories — extra small (20 to 49 employees), small (50 to 99 employees), medium (100 to 249 employees), large (250 to 499 employees) and extra-large (500 or more).
The special publication will appear in the June 12th weekly edition of the Boston Business Journal.
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.
Bright Horizons® is a leading provider of high-quality early education and child care, comprehensive back-up care solutions, and educational advisory services. For 40 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates more than 1,000 early education and child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and India, and serves more than 1,450 of the world’s leading employers. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com.
About the Boston Business Journal
The Boston Business Journal is the region's premier business media organization, one of 44 markets owned by American City Business Journals.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices will make the following changes to the S&P SmallCap 600 effective prior to the opening of trading on Thursday, May 14:
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE: BFAM) will replace Tri Pointe Homes Inc. (NYSE: TPH). Sumitomo Forestry Group (TSE: 1911) is acquiring Tri Pointe Homes in a deal expected to close soon, pending final closing conditions. Remitly Global Inc. (NASD: RELY) will replace Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASD: APLS). S&P 500 constituent Biogen Inc. (NASD: BIIB) is acquiring Apellis Pharmaceuticals in a deal expected to close soon, pending final closing conditions. Following is a summary of the changes that will take place prior to the open of trading on the effective date:
Effective Date
Index Name
Action
Company Name
Ticker
GICS Sector
May 14, 2026
S&P SmallCap 600
Addition
Bright Horizons Family Solutions
BFAM
Consumer Discretionary
May 14, 2026
S&P SmallCap 600
Deletion
Tri Pointe Homes
TPH
Consumer Discretionary
May 14, 2026
S&P SmallCap 600
Addition
Remitly Global
RELY
Financials
May 14, 2026
S&P SmallCap 600
Deletion
Apellis Pharmaceuticals
APLS
Health Care
ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES
S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.
S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Homethrive, the leading family caregiving support platform, today announced a partnership with Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE: BFAM) to power its new Care Advising solution, enabling employers to support the entire caregiving journey through a single platform and unified employee experience.
As caregiving becomes the #2 reason employees leave the workforce, organizations are under immense pressure to provide more than just traditional perks and offer trusted solutions to their employees. However, HR leaders often lack the capacity to manage a myriad of fragmented, standalone vendors. Bright Horizons Care Advising supports families across a range of complex needs, including helping aging adults remain safely at home, navigating healthcare systems like Medicare, supporting neurodiverse individuals, and guiding families through end-of-life planning and loss.
"Many working families today are navigating deeply personal and often complex caregiving challenges, and employers are looking for a more streamlined way to connect their employees to meaningful support," said Phil Barr, Chief Development Officer at Bright Horizons. "In partnership with Homethrive and their deep expertise in senior care and neurodiversity, Care Advising gives organizations a meaningful way to support their people with both guidance and direct care during critical moments, while strengthening overall workforce well-being."
"This partnership reflects a broader shift we're seeing from large employers who are moving away from fragmented point solutions and toward a few trusted platforms that make it easier for employees to find and get the support they need," said Dave Jacobs, CEO of Homethrive. "Bright Horizons has built one of the most trusted family care platforms in the market, and by embedding Homethrive into that experience, we're bringing high-impact caregiving support to millions of employees in a way that's easier to access, easier to use, and ultimately more valuable for both employers and their people."
Together, Bright Horizons and Homethrive are redefining how employers support working families bringing care into a more connected, accessible experience that better reflects how families actually navigate caregiving today.
About Homethrive
Homethrive is the only all-in-one caregiving platform combining predictive technology with 1:1 support from credentialed Care Guides to help families navigate the full spectrum of care. Our comprehensive solution addresses every caregiving need, including backup and ongoing childcare, eldercare, neurodivergence, chronic conditions, and aging, while also providing integrated estate planning services along with hands-on support through loss and bereavement. Homethrive saves members an average of 16.4 hours of care coordination each month and delivers industry-leading utilization. Distributed through leading employers, insurers, health plans, financial institutions and partner platforms, Homethrive helps organizations support the 73% of adults navigating caregiving responsibilities -improving engagement, outcomes, and measurable business impact. Learn more at www.homethrive.com.
About Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Bright Horizons® is a leading provider of high-quality early education and child care, back-up care, and workforce education services. For 40 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates approximately 1,000 early education and child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and India, and serves more than 1,450 of the world's leading employers. Bright Horizons' early education and child care centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com.
