Generative AI Drives Major Productivity Gains, Hackett Study Reveals

A new study from business consultancy Hackett demonstrates that strategic investments in artificial intelligence are enabling leading corporations to fundamentally overhaul their operations, achieving productivity improvements exceeding 40% in some cases. As the industry grapples with rising costs, this technological shift is proving critical. The research arrives as Hackett itself prepares to report its fourth-quarter financial performance.

• Research indicates AI implementation can yield productivity increases of more than 40%.
• Hackett completes a $40.6 million share repurchase via a Dutch auction tender.
• The firm expands its software suite with new generative AI platforms.
• Q4 2025 earnings are scheduled for release on February 17, 2026.

The corporate application of AI is evolving from isolated pilot projects to a core component of strategic overhauls. Hackett's "2026 Enterprise Key Issues Study," published recently, confirms this transformation is delivering measurable enhancements in customer experience, risk management, and overall operational efficiency. This trend addresses a pressing industry challenge: escalating administrative expenses.

Separate Hackett research from December highlighted that selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs for U.S. companies have reached a five-year peak. With revenue growth stagnating across many sectors, the push for AI-powered automation has intensified. In response, Hackett has broadened its own service portfolio. Early January saw the launch of the "AI XPLR 5.0" platform. This release, coupled with the "XT" and "AIXelerator" tools introduced in December, is designed to assist clients in deploying and scaling their AI initiatives.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Hackett?

Share Repurchase Program Executed

On the capital allocation front, Hackett has recently returned excess cash to its shareholders. The company finalized a Dutch auction tender offer in December. Through this mechanism, Hackett repurchased approximately two million of its own shares at a fixed price of $20.00 per share. The total transaction value was about $40.6 million, excluding associated fees.

Market Awaits Year-End Financial Results

Investor attention is now turning to the company's operational results for the last quarter of its fiscal year. Hackett will announce its fourth-quarter financial figures on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The earnings report will be disseminated after the close of regular U.S. market trading. Subsequently, the management team will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (23:00 CET) to discuss the details of the quarter, which ended on December 26, and is expected to provide commentary on the outlook for the coming period.