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DXC Technology (DXC)
NYSE:DXC
US Market
DXC
DXC Technology
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DXC Technology (DXC) Risk Analysis

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Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

DXC Technology disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. DXC Technology reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q2, 2026

Risk Distribution
29Risks
28% Finance & Corporate
21% Legal & Regulatory
17% Tech & Innovation
14% Production
10% Ability to Sell
10% Macro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

2022
Q4
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
Risks added
Risks changed
DXC Technology Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q2, 2026

Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 8 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 8 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
29
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
29
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2026
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2026
Number of Risk Changed
0
-6
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
0
-6
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
See the risk highlights of DXC Technology in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 29

Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 8/29 (28%)Below Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights3 | 10.3%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
If the HPES Merger does not qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, CSC's former stockholders may incur significant tax liabilities.
The completion of the HPES Merger was conditioned upon the receipt by HPE and CSC of opinions of counsel to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the HPES Merger will qualify as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (the "HPES Merger Tax Opinions"). The parties did not seek a ruling from the IRS regarding such qualification. The HPES Merger Tax Opinions were based on then current law and relied upon various factual representations and assumptions, as well as certain undertakings made by HPE, HPES and CSC. If any of those representations or assumptions is untrue or incomplete in any material respect or any of those undertakings is not complied with, or if the facts upon which the HPES Merger Tax Opinions are based are materially different from the actual facts that existed at the time of the HPES Merger, the conclusions reached in the HPES Merger Tax Opinions could be adversely affected and the HPES Merger may not qualify for tax-free treatment. Opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS or the courts. No assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions set forth in the HPES Merger Tax Opinions or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. If the HPES Merger were determined to be taxable, previous holders of CSC common stock would be considered to have made a taxable disposition of their shares to HPES, and such stockholders would generally recognize taxable gain or loss on their receipt of HPES common stock in the HPES Merger.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
We could have an indemnification obligation to HPE if the stock distribution in connection with the HPES business separation (the "Distribution") were determined not to qualify for tax-free treatment, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition.
If, due to any of our representations being untrue or our covenants being breached, the Distribution was determined not to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), HPE would generally be subject to tax as if it sold the DXC common stock in a taxable transaction, which could result in a material tax liability. In addition, each HPE stockholder who received DXC common stock in the Distribution would generally be treated as receiving a taxable Distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the DXC common stock received by the stockholder in the Distribution. Under the tax matters agreement that we entered into with HPE in connection with the HPES Merger, we were required to indemnify HPE against taxes resulting from the Distribution or certain aspects of the HPES Merger arising as a result of an Everett Tainting Act (as defined in the Tax Matters Agreement). If we were required to indemnify HPE for taxes resulting from an Everett Tainting Act, that indemnification obligation would likely be substantial and could materially adversely affect our financial condition.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
The price of our securities is subject to market and other conditions and may be volatile.
Our stock price may be volatile and subject to change based on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including changes in investment community equity analysts' earnings estimates, valuation methodologies and recommendations, our credit ratings, inflationary pressures, broader macroeconomic conditions, and the resulting impact on customer demand. We periodically provide forward-looking financial guidance regarding our expected future performance, including projections for revenue, earnings, margins and cash flow. If our actual results fail to meet our publicly announced guidance or market expectations, or if we reduce future guidance even while meeting current projections, our stock price and trading volume could be negatively impacted, potentially significantly. In addition, speculation, investor perception, and market sentiment over our results of operations, financial condition and execution of our strategic priorities, as well as announcements relating to new products or technologies, major transactions, litigation developments, or management changes involving us, our competitors, or our customers, may cause fluctuations in our stock price. A significant decline in our stock price could expose us to the risk of securities class action lawsuits, stockholder derivative lawsuits or other actions by stockholders, which may result in substantial costs and divert management's attention and resources, which may adversely affect our business. Activist shareholders may from time to time acquire stakes in our common stock and advocate for changes to our corporate governance, strategic direction, capital allocation policies, management or board composition that may not align with the interests of our long-term shareholders. Responding to proxy contests, public campaigns or other activist initiatives could be costly and time-consuming, divert the attention of our board of directors and senior management from the pursuit of our business strategies, and require us to incur significant legal, public relations and advisory expenses. Such activities could also create perceived uncertainties as to our strategic direction and may adversely affect our business, operating results, stock price as well as our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, customers and business partners. We issue debt securities from time to time, with a variety of different maturities and in different currencies. The value of our debt securities fluctuates based on many factors, including the methods employed for calculating principal and interest, the maturity of the securities, the aggregate principal amount of securities outstanding, the redemption features, the level, direction and volatility of interest rates, changes in exchange rates, exchange controls, governmental and stock exchange regulations and other factors over which we have little or no control.
Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 6.9%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
We may not be able to pay dividends or repurchase shares of our common stock in accordance with our announced intent or at all.
Our Board may authorize share repurchases from time to time. However, we are not obligated to make any purchases of our shares, and our decision to repurchase our shares, as well as the timing of such repurchases, will depend on a variety of factors as determined by our management and Board. In addition, while we paid quarterly cash dividends to our stockholders starting fiscal 2018 in accordance with our announced dividend policy, we suspended the payment of quarterly dividends starting in fiscal 2021 to enhance our financial flexibility. At this time, we do not intend to reinstate our quarterly cash dividends. The declaration and payment of future dividends, the amount of any such dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates for dividends, if any, are subject to final determination by our Board after review of our current strategy and financial performance and position, among other things. The Board's determinations regarding dividends and share repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including net income, cash flow generated from operations, amount and location of our cash and investment balances, overall liquidity position and potential alternative uses of cash, such as acquisitions, as well as economic conditions and expected future financial results. There can be no guarantee that we will achieve our financial goals in the amounts or within the expected time frame, or at all.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
We could suffer additional losses due to asset impairment charges.
We acquired substantial goodwill and other intangibles as a result of the HPES Merger, increasing our exposure to this risk. We test our goodwill for impairment during the second quarter of every year and on an interim date should events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit is revised downward due to declines in business performance or other factors or if we suffer further declines in share price, an impairment could result and a non-cash charge could be required. We test intangible assets with finite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. This assessment of the recoverability of finite-lived intangible assets could result in an impairment and a non-cash charge could be required. We also test certain equipment and deferred cost balances associated with contracts when the contract is materially underperforming or is expected to materially underperform in the future, as compared to the original bid model or budget. If the projected cash flows of a particular contract are not adequate to recover the unamortized cost balance of the asset group, the balance is adjusted in the tested period based on the contract's fair value. We also assess deferred tax assets for realizability. If profitability and other factors are insufficient to support recognition of our deferred tax assets, we may be required to impair our deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance. Any of these impairments could materially affect our reported net earnings.
Debt & Financing1 | 3.4%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
Failure to maintain our credit rating, manage our indebtedness, and raise additional capital for future needs could adversely affect our liquidity, capital position, borrowing cost, and access to capital markets.
We currently maintain investment grade credit ratings with Moody's Investors Service, Fitch Rating Services, and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. Our credit ratings are based upon information furnished by us or obtained by a rating agency from its own sources and are subject to revision, suspension, or withdrawal by one or more rating agencies at any time. Rating agencies may place our ratings on outlook or credit watch with negative implications, or take downgrade actions, due to factors beyond our control such as adverse changes in the geopolitical environment, structural shifts like AI, macroeconomic conditions, trade policy actions (including tariff impositions or escalations), broader credit market trends, or potential new standards requiring the agencies to reassess rating practices and methodologies. Ratings agencies may consider changes in credit ratings based on changes in expectations about future profitability and cash flows even if short-term liquidity expectations are not negatively impacted. If changes in our credit ratings were to occur, it could result in higher interest costs under certain of our credit facilities and the 4.25% €650 million Senior Notes. It could also cause our future borrowing costs to increase and limit our access to capital markets. Any downgrade below our current rating could also negatively impact the perception of our company by lenders and other third parties. In addition, certain of our major contracts provide customers with a right of termination in certain circumstances in the event of a rating downgrade below investment grade. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our credit ratings, and any additional actual or anticipated changes or downgrades in our credit ratings, including any announcement that our ratings are under review for a downgrade, may have a negative impact on our liquidity, capital position, and access to capital markets. We have indebtedness totaling approximately $3.6 billion as of March 31, 2026. We may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future for many reasons, including to fund acquisitions. Our existing indebtedness, together with the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the restrictive covenants contained in, or expected to be contained in the documents evidencing such indebtedness, could have significant consequences on our future operations, including: - events of default if we fail to comply with the financial and other covenants contained in the agreements governing our debt instruments, which could, if material and not cured, result in all of our debt becoming immediately due and payable or require us to negotiate an amendment to financial or other covenants that could cause us to incur additional fees and expenses;- subjecting us to the risk of increased sensitivity to interest rate increases in our outstanding variable-rate indebtedness that could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly;- increasing the risk of a future credit ratings downgrade of our debt, which could increase future debt costs and limit the future availability for debt financing;- reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, and limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for these purposes;- placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to less leveraged competitors;- increasing our vulnerability to the impact of adverse economic and industry conditions; and - causing us to reduce or eliminate our return of cash to our stockholders, including via dividends and share repurchases. In addition, we could be unable to refinance our outstanding indebtedness on reasonable terms or at all. Our ability to meet our payment and other obligations under our debt instruments depends on our ability to generate significant cash flow in the future. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors that are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that current or future borrowings will be sufficient to meet our current debt obligations and to fund other liquidity needs. Our liquidity is a function of our ability to successfully generate cash flows from a combination of efficient operations and continuing operating improvements, access to capital markets and funding from third parties. In addition, like many multinational regulated enterprises, our operations are subject to a variety of tax, foreign exchange and regulatory capital requirements in different jurisdictions that have the effect of limiting, delaying or increasing the cost of moving cash between jurisdictions or using our cash for certain purposes. Our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity going forward is subject to the general liquidity of and on-going changes in the credit markets as well as general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other market factors that are beyond our control. An increase in our borrowing costs, limitations on our ability to access the global capital and credit markets or a reduction in our liquidity can adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. It is difficult to predict the impact of increased borrowing costs on us, our third-party partners or customers or economic markets more broadly, which have been and will continue to be highly dependent upon the actions of governments and businesses in response to macroeconomic events, and the effectiveness of those actions. Such actions may impact our ability, desire, or the timing of seeking funding for various investment opportunities. In addition, volatility and disruption in banking and capital markets can adversely affect our ability to refinance, and increase the cost of refinancing, some or all of our debt. Disruptions in the financial markets can also adversely affect our lenders, insurers, customers, and other counterparties. Our total liquidity depends in part on the availability of funds under the revolving credit facility and our other financing agreements. The failure of any lender's ability to fund future draws on our revolving credit facility or our other financing arrangements could reduce the amount of cash we have available for operations and additional capital for future needs. We enter into foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps with a number of counterparties. As a result, we are subject to the risk that the counterparty to one or more of these contracts defaults on its performance under the contract. During an economic downturn, the counterparty's financial condition may deteriorate rapidly and with little notice and we may be unable to take action to protect our exposure. In the event of a counterparty default, we could incur significant losses, which may harm our business and financial condition. In the event that one or more of our counterparties becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, our ability to eventually recover any losses suffered as a result of that counterparty's default may be limited by the liquidity of the counterparty. Information regarding our credit ratings is included in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption "Liquidity and Capital Resources."
Corporate Activity and Growth2 | 6.9%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
Our strategic transactions may prove unsuccessful and our profitability may be materially and adversely affected.
At any given time, we may be engaged in discussions or negotiations with respect to one or more transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures or spin-offs, strategic partnerships or other transaction involving one or more of our businesses. Any of these transactions could be material to our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We may ultimately determine not to proceed with any transaction for commercial, financial, strategic or other reasons. As a result, we may not realize benefits expected from exploring one or more strategic transactions, may realize benefits further in the future or those benefits may ultimately be significantly smaller than anticipated, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, we may fail to complete transactions. Closing transactions is subject to uncertainties and risks, including the risk that we may be unable to satisfy conditions to closing, such as regulatory and financing conditions and the absence of material adverse changes to our business. For acquisitions, our inability to successfully integrate the operations we acquire and leverage these operations to generate substantial cost savings, as well as our inability to avoid revenue erosion and earnings decline, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position. In order to achieve successful acquisitions, we will need to: - integrate the operations and business cultures, as well as the accounting, financial controls, management information, technology, human resources and other administrative systems, of acquired businesses with existing operations and systems;- maintain third-party relationships previously established by acquired companies;- attract and retain senior management and key personnel at acquired businesses; and - manage new business lines, as well as acquisition-related workload. Existing contractual restrictions may limit our ability to engage in certain integration activities for varying periods. We may not be successful in meeting these or any other challenges encountered in connection with historical and future acquisitions. Even if we successfully integrate, we cannot predict with certainty if or when these cost and revenue synergies, growth opportunities and benefits will occur, nor the extent to which they actually will be achieved. In addition, the quantification of previously announced synergies expected to result from an acquisition is based on significant estimates and assumptions that are subjective in nature and inherently uncertain. Realization of any benefits and synergies could be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, including, without limitation, general economic conditions, increased operating costs, regulatory developments and other risks. In addition, future acquisitions could require dilutive issuances of equity securities and/or the assumption of contingent liabilities. The occurrence of any of these events could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Divestiture transactions also involve significant challenges and risks, including: - the potential loss of key customers, suppliers, vendors and other key business partners;- declining employee morale and retention issues affecting employees, which may result from changes in compensation, or changes in management, reporting relationships, future prospects or perceived expectations;- difficulty in making new and strategic hires of new employees;- diversion of management time and a shift of focus from operating the businesses to transaction execution considerations;- customers delaying or deferring decisions or ending their relationships with us;- the need to provide transition services, which may result in stranded costs and the diversion of resources and focus;- the need to separate operations, systems (including accounting, management, information, human resources and other administrative systems), technologies, products and personnel, which is an inherently risky and potentially lengthy and costly process;- the inefficiencies and lack of control that may result if such separation is delayed or not implemented effectively, and unforeseen difficulties and expenditures that may arise as a result including potentially significant stranded costs;- our desire to maintain an investment grade credit rating may cause us to use cash proceeds, if any, from any divestitures or other strategic transactions that we might otherwise have used for other purposes in order to reduce our financial leverage;- the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or otherwise satisfy conditions required in order to consummate any such transactions;- our dependence on accounting, financial reporting, operating metrics and similar systems, controls and processes of divested businesses could lead to challenges in preparing our consolidated financial statements or maintaining effective financial control over financial reporting; and - contractual terms limiting our ability to compete for or perform certain contracts or services. We have also entered into and intend to identify and enter into additional strategic partnerships with other industry participants that will allow us to expand our business. However, we may be unable to identify attractive strategic partnership candidates or complete these partnerships on terms favorable to us. In addition, if we are unable to successfully implement our partnership strategies or our strategic partners do not fulfill their obligations or otherwise prove disadvantageous to our business, our investments in these partnerships and our anticipated business expansion could be adversely affected.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
We may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of our restructuring plans and our restructuring may adversely affect our business.
We have implemented several restructuring plans and may continue to implement cost-takeout measures to realign our cost structure with the changing nature of our business and to achieve operating efficiencies to reduce our costs. Our restructuring efforts may involve workforce reductions and increased reliance on automation, AI and other technology-driven solutions to enhance productivity and maintain operational efficiency, and may require additional investments in technology, infrastructure and related capabilities. We may not be able to obtain the costs savings and benefits that were initially anticipated in connection with our restructuring plans. Furthermore, even if we are successful with our cost-takeout efforts, we may not see the benefits of such efforts on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. If we pursue workforce reductions, our ability to successfully operate with a reduced workforce may depend in part on the successful deployment, performance and employee adoption of these automation and AI-driven solutions. Such technologies may not perform as expected, prove more costly or time-consuming to deploy than anticipated, create new operational vulnerabilities or cybersecurity exposures, or fail to enhance productivity as expected. Additionally, as a result of our restructuring, we may experience a loss of continuity, loss of accumulated knowledge and/or inefficiency during transitional periods, which in the past have caused issues with our service delivery. Restructuring actions could also increase the risk of operational disruptions, service delivery issues, internal control weaknesses or other operational challenges, especially during periods of organizational transition, as responsibilities are reassigned and processes are adjusted. Reorganization and restructuring can require a significant amount of management and other employees' time and focus, which may divert attention from operating and growing our business. There are also significant costs associated with restructuring which can have a significant impact on our earnings and cash flow. Furthermore, cost-takeout measures require compliance with numerous laws and regulations, including local labor laws. We may face wrongful termination, discrimination or other legal claims from affected employees that require us to incur substantial costs to defend against, and such claims may significantly increase our severance costs. If we fail to achieve some or all of the expected benefits of restructuring, it could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. For more information about our restructuring plans, see Note 12 - "Restructuring Costs."
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 6/29 (21%)Above Sector Average
Regulation2 | 6.9%
Regulation - Risk 1
Our business operations are subject to various and changing federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that could result in costs or sanctions that adversely affect our business and results of operations. Social and environmental responsibility regulations, policies and provisions, as well as customer and investor demands, may adversely affect our relationships with customers and investors.
We operate in 60 countries in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Among other things, we provide complex industry-specific insurance processing in the United Kingdom ("U.K."), which is regulated by authorities in the U.K. and elsewhere, such as the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority and His Majesty's Treasury and the U.S. Department of Treasury, which increases our exposure to compliance risk. In addition, businesses in the countries in which we operate are subject to local, legal and political environments and regulations including with respect to employment, tax, statutory supervision and reporting and trade restriction, along with industry regulations such as regulation by bank regulators in the U.S. and Europe. These regulations and environments are also subject to change. With respect to employment, we are subject to complex and evolving employment and labor laws across the jurisdictions in which we operate, including laws governing wages, hours, overtime, leave entitlements, benefits, payroll practices, and employee classifications. Compliance with these requirements is complicated by the number and variety of legal frameworks and instruments applicable to our workforce, as well as by the use of multiple payroll and timekeeping systems across our operations, particularly following acquisitions or organizational changes. Changes in law, regulation, or judicial interpretation, including with respect to calculation methodologies for employee entitlements, may increase our compliance obligations or retroactively expand our exposure for prior periods. Any failure, or perceived failure, to comply with applicable employment laws could result in claims for back-pay or other remediation, regulatory investigations or enforcement actions, civil penalties, increased compliance costs, and reputational harm, which may individually or in the aggregate have a material impact on our financial performance. Adjusting business operations to changing environments and regulations may be costly and could potentially render the particular business operations uneconomical, which may adversely affect our profitability or lead to a change in the business operations. Notwithstanding our best efforts, we may not be in compliance with all regulations in the countries in which we operate at all times and may be subject to sanctions, penalties or fines as a result. These sanctions, penalties or fines may materially and adversely impact our profitability. We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended ("FCPA") and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions. We pursue opportunities in certain parts of the world that experience government corruption and in certain circumstances, compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with local customs and practices. Our internal policies mandate compliance with all applicable anti-bribery laws. We require our employees, partners, subcontractors, agents, and others to comply with the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws. There is no assurance that our policies or procedures will protect us against liability under the FCPA or other laws for actions taken by our employees and intermediaries. If we are found to be liable for FCPA violations (either due to our own acts or our omissions, or due to the acts or omissions of others), we could suffer from severe criminal or civil penalties or other sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, detecting, investigating and resolving actual or alleged violations of the FCPA or other anti-bribery violations is expensive and could consume significant time and attention of our senior management. We are subject to economic sanctions, export controls, and other trade restrictions imposed by the United States, the European Union, and other jurisdictions in which we operate. These requirements may limit our ability to provide services, deploy technology, or conduct business in certain markets or with certain customers, and may require us to modify our operations or forego business opportunities. These laws and regulations are complex, change frequently, and may be applied or interpreted differently across jurisdictions. Any failure, or perceived failure, to comply with applicable sanctions or export control requirements could result in significant fines, penalties, reputational harm, increased compliance costs, or other adverse impacts on our business and results of operations. Our operations are also subject to a broad array of domestic and international environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, including laws addressing the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, and the clean-up of contaminated sites. Certain laws may also impose liability without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct. Environmental costs and accruals are presently not material to our operations, cash flows or financial position; and, we do not currently anticipate material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities. However, our failure to comply with these laws or regulations can result in civil, criminal or regulatory penalties, fines, and legal liabilities; suspension, delay or alterations of our operations; damage to our reputation; and restrictions on our operations or sales. Our business could also be affected if new environmental legislation is passed which impacts our current operations and business. For example, if we are unable to comply with fast-moving regulatory requirements, we could be disqualified from requests for proposal processes, leading to a loss of sales as well as unfavorable operating cost impacts. In addition, changing expectations from stakeholders and the evolving landscape of regulatory and disclosure requirements regarding ESG could affect our business. We are subject to, and anticipate becoming increasingly subject to, laws, regulations, and international agreements concerning ESG, such as the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California's climate change disclosure requirements. As these new laws, regulations, treaties and national and global initiatives are adopted and implemented regionally or throughout the world, we expect to incur significant additional costs to comply and impose increased oversight obligations on our management and board of directors. Other laws, regulations, treaties or initiatives in response to climate change, including, but not limited to, the introduction of a carbon tax, could result in increased operational costs associated with air pollution requirements and increased compliance and energy costs, which could harm our business and results of operations by increasing our expenses or requiring us to alter our business operations. Moreover, we may experience loss of market share if we are unable to provide competitive products and services that incorporate climate-change mitigations, and if we are unable to achieve and sustain a carbon-neutral business model in a meaningful time frame, we could lose stockholder or customer confidence, resulting in loss of business and loss of access to the financial markets. As a result of the complexity and rapid development of AI, it is also the subject of evolving review by various governmental and regulatory agencies around the world. Various jurisdictions where we operate are considering applying or have applied, their intellectual property, cybersecurity, data protection, and other laws to AI and/or are considering or have proposed or enacted general legal frameworks and policies on AI, such as the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (the "EU AI Act") and the U.S.'s Executive Orders and U.S. state laws, some of which may be conflicting. We may not always be able to determine the impact relevant laws, regulations, standards, or market perception of their requirements may have on our business and otherwise respond to these frameworks. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the legal and regulatory environment surrounding AI, our AI features and our use, training, and implementation of AI could subject us to new or enhanced governmental or regulatory scrutiny, product restrictions, social and ethical issues, negative consumer perceptions and reputational harm, intellectual property disputes, compliance costs, and other issues, including issues related to cybersecurity and data privacy. Certain AI-related regulations, such as the EU AI Act, could impose obligations on our business that may require us to change our products or business practices to comply. AI-related regulations may develop at different rates and inconsistently across jurisdictions, and require us to expend significant resources or cause delays or disruptions to our offerings.
Regulation - Risk 2
Failure to comply with obligations arising under new or existing laws, regulations, and customer contracts relating to the privacy, security and handling of personal data could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We receive, store or otherwise process personal data related to our customers, employees and other individuals (including end-customers and employees of our customers) in order to run our business and are subject to a variety of laws, regulations, and contractual obligations relating to the privacy, security and handling of personal data. Compliance with privacy and security laws, requirements and regulations may result in cost increases due to expanded compliance obligations, potential systems changes, the development of additional administrative processes and increased enforcement actions, litigation, fines and penalties. Some of our customers have sought, and may continue to seek, to contractually impose certain strict data privacy and information security obligations on us. Some of our customer contracts may not limit our liability for the loss of confidential information (including personal data), data breaches or other cybersecurity incidents or other business impact. In addition, we rely on third-party service providers, subcontractors, cloud providers and other vendors to support our operations, and failures by such third parties to comply with applicable privacy or security obligations may expose us to regulatory enforcement, contractual claims or reputational harm. If we are unable to adequately address these concerns, our business and results of operations could suffer. The regulatory landscape in these areas continues to evolve rapidly, varying in requirements, restrictions and potential legal risk, requiring additional investment in compliance programs. This includes evolving requirements relating to the use of AI, automated decision-making and advanced analytics involving personal data, which may impose additional obligations relating to transparency, governance, data minimization and lawful use of data, and could limit or delay our ability to deploy certain solutions or require additional compliance investment. This could impact our strategies regarding the use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and availability of previously collected data. In addition, restrictions on cross-border transfers of personal data, data localization requirements, or changes to international data transfer mechanisms may increase operational complexity, require modifications to our global delivery model, or limit our ability to process data in certain jurisdictions. For example, we are subject to the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), among other regulations, imposing comprehensive data privacy compliance obligations in relation to our collection and use of "personal data" and can include significant financial penalties for non-compliance. Penalties for a material breach of GDPR and the rights and freedom of individuals are up to 4% of our global annual turnover. In addition to fines, a breach of the GDPR may result in regulatory investigations, reputational damage, orders to cease/ change our data processing activities, enforcement notices, assessment notices for a compulsory audit and/or civil claims (including class actions). While we strive to comply with all applicable data protection laws and regulations, as well as internal privacy policies, any failure or perceived failure to comply or any misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential or sensitive information may result in legal proceedings or actions against us or the loss of customers, which could potentially have an adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations.
Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 3.4%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
We are defendants in pending litigation that may have a material and adverse impact on our profitability and liquidity.
As noted in Note 21 - "Commitments and Contingencies," we are currently party to a number of disputes that involve or may involve litigation or arbitration, including securities litigation in which we and certain of our current or former officers and directors have been named as defendants. The result of these and any other future legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Regardless of their subject matter or merits, such legal proceedings may result in significant cost to us, including in the form of legal fees and/or damages, which may not be covered by insurance, may divert the attention of management or may otherwise have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Negative publicity from litigation, whether or not resulting in a substantial cost, could materially damage our reputation and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and the price of our common stock. In addition, such legal proceedings may make it more difficult to finance our operations. We are also subject to continuous examinations of our income tax returns by tax authorities and have several matters pending in U.S. Tax Court. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the final results of any tax examination or related litigation could be materially different from our related historical income tax provisions and accruals. Adverse developments in an audit, examination or litigation related to previously filed tax returns, or in the relevant jurisdiction's tax laws, regulations, administrative practices, principles and interpretations could have a material effect on our results of operations and cash flows in the period or periods for which that development occurs, as well as for prior and subsequent periods. For more details, including on current tax examinations of our income tax returns by tax authorities and on matters pending in U.S. Tax Court, see Note 14 – "Income Taxes."
Taxation & Government Incentives2 | 6.9%
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1
The USPS Separation and Mergers and NPS Separation could result in substantial tax liability to DXC and our stockholders.
Among the closing conditions to completing the USPS Separation and Mergers, we received a legal opinion of tax counsel substantially to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) the USPS Separation qualifies as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code; (ii) each of DXC and Perspecta is a "party to a reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code with respect to the USPS Separation; (iii) the USPS distribution qualifies as (1) a tax-free spin-off, resulting in nonrecognition under Sections 355(a), 361 and 368(a) of the Code, and (2) a transaction in which the stock distributed thereby should constitute "qualified property" for purposes of Sections 355(d), 355(e) and 361(c) of the Code; and (iv) none of the related mergers causes Section 355(e) of the Code to apply to the USPS distribution. If, notwithstanding the conclusions expressed in these opinions, the USPS Separation and Mergers were determined to be taxable, DXC and its stockholders could incur significant tax liabilities. In addition, prior to the HPES Merger, CSC spun off its North American Public Sector business ("NPS") on November 27, 2015 (the "NPS Separation"). In connection with the NPS Separation, CSC received an opinion of counsel substantially to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the NPS Separation qualified as a tax-free transaction to CSC and holders of CSC common stock under Section 355 and related provisions of the Code. The completion of the HPES Merger was conditioned upon the receipt of CSC of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the HPES Merger should not cause Section 355(e) of the Code to apply to the NPS Separation or otherwise affect the qualification of the NPS Separation as a tax-free distribution under Section 355 of the Code. If, notwithstanding the conclusions expressed in these opinions, the NPS Separation were determined to be taxable, CSC and CSC stockholders that received CSRA Inc. ("CSRA") stock in the NPS Separation could incur significant tax liabilities. The opinions of counsel we received were based on, among other things, various factual representations and assumptions, as well as certain undertakings made by DXC, Perspecta and CSRA. If any of those representations or assumptions is untrue or incomplete in any material respect or any of those undertakings is not complied with, the conclusions reached in the opinion could be adversely affected and the USPS Separation or the NPS Separation may not qualify for tax-free treatment. Furthermore, an opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions set forth in the opinions or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. If, notwithstanding our receipt of the opinions, the USPS Separation or NPS Separation is determined to be taxable, we would recognize taxable gain as if we had sold the shares of Perspecta or CSRA in a taxable sale for its fair market value, which could result in a substantial tax liability. In addition, if the USPS Separation or NPS Separation is determined to be taxable, each holder of our common stock who received shares of Perspecta or CSRA would generally be treated as receiving a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares received, which could materially increase such holder's tax liability. Additionally, even if the USPS Separation otherwise qualifies as a tax-free transaction, the USPS distribution could be taxable to us (but not to our shareholders) in certain circumstances if future significant acquisitions of our stock or the stock of Perspecta are deemed to be part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the USPS distribution. In this event, the resulting tax liability could be substantial. In connection with the USPS Separation, we entered into a tax matters agreement with Perspecta, under which it agreed not to undertake any transaction without our consent that could reasonably be expected to cause the USPS Separation to be taxable to us and to indemnify us for any tax liabilities resulting from such transactions. These obligations and potential tax liabilities could be substantial.
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 2
Changes in tax rates, tax laws and the timing and outcome of tax examinations could affect our future results.
Our future effective tax rates, which are largely driven by the mix of our global earnings and the differing statutory tax rates in the jurisdictions where we operate, are subject to change as a result of changes in statutory tax rates enacted in those jurisdictions, or by changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, or by changes in tax laws or their interpretation or tax policy initiatives and reforms under consideration, such as those reflected in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD")/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing or other projects. The OECD has issued model rules for a new global minimum tax. Local country adoption of these rules may increase tax uncertainty and may adversely impact the company's income taxes. Additionally, starting in fiscal year 2027, certain foreign earnings and earnings that may be subject to the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax may be subject to higher U.S. tax rates. We are subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the IRS and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these examinations will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.
Environmental / Social1 | 3.4%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Increased scrutiny of, and evolving expectations for, sustainability and ESG initiatives could increase our costs, harm our reputation, or otherwise adversely impact our business.
We, as with other companies, are facing increasing scrutiny related to our ESG practices and disclosures from certain investors, capital providers, shareholder advocacy groups, other market participants, customers, and other stakeholder groups. With this increased focus, public reporting regarding ESG practices is becoming more broadly expected. Such increased scrutiny may result in increased costs, enhanced compliance or disclosure obligations, or other adverse impacts on our business, financial condition or results of operations. While we have in the past and may at times continue to engage in voluntary initiatives (such as voluntary disclosures, certifications, or goals, among others), such initiatives may be costly and may not have the desired effect. For example, expectations around company's management of ESG matters continue to evolve rapidly, in many instances due to factors that are out of our control. In addition, we may commit to certain initiatives or goals and we may not ultimately achieve such commitments or goals due to cost, technological constraints, or other factors that are within or outside of our control. Certain of our commitments, goals and other ESG-related disclosures are based on estimates, including, for example, our risk cost estimates disclosed in our voluntary climate change disclosures, and, even though we currently do not expect such costs to be material, they may attract regulatory or stakeholder attention or result in additional disclosure requirements in the future. Moreover, actions or statements that we may take based on expectations, assumptions, or third-party information that we currently believe to be reasonable may subsequently be determined to be erroneous, or not in keeping with particular standards or best practices or be subject to misinterpretation. Even if this is not the case, our current actions may subsequently be determined to be insufficient by various stakeholders. If our ESG practices and reporting do not meet investor, consumer, employee, or other stakeholder expectations, which continue to evolve, our brand, reputation and customer retention may be negatively impacted, and we may be subject to investor or regulator engagement regarding such matters, even if they are currently voluntary. Certain market participants, including major institutional investors, use third-party benchmarks or scores to measure our ESG practices in making investment and voting decisions. As ESG best practices, reporting standards and disclosure requirements continue to develop, we may incur increasing costs related to ESG monitoring and reporting. Simultaneously, there are efforts by some stakeholders to reduce companies' efforts on certain ESG-related matters. Both advocates and opponents to certain ESG matters are increasingly resorting to a range of activism forms, including media campaigns and litigation, to advance their perspectives. In addition, new sustainability rules and regulations have been adopted and may continue to be introduced in various jurisdictions. Sustainability and ESG-related regulations are evolving rapidly and operating in more than one jurisdiction is likely to make our compliance with ESG and sustainability-related rules more complex and expensive, and potentially expose us to greater levels of legal risks associated with our compliance. Our failure or inability to comply with any applicable rules or regulations could lead to penalties and adversely impact our reputation, customer attraction and retention, access to capital and employee retention. Such ESG matters may also impact our suppliers and customers, which may augment or cause additional impacts on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 5/29 (17%)Below Sector Average
Innovation / R&D1 | 3.4%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
We may fail to develop and expand our service offerings to address emerging business demands and technological trends and remain competitive.
Our ability to develop and implement innovative technology solutions that meet evolving customer needs and industry standards in analytics, software engineering, applications, business process services, digital cloud, IT outsourcing and consulting, and in areas such as artificial intelligence ("AI"), automation, Internet of Things and software as-a-service solutions, among others, in a timely or cost-effective manner, will impact our ability to retain and attract customers and our future revenue growth and earnings. The markets we serve are highly competitive and characterized by rapid technological change. If we are unable to continue to execute our strategy or if we are unable to commercialize our services and solutions, expand and scale them with sufficient speed and versatility, our growth, productivity objectives and profit margins could be negatively affected. Technological developments may materially affect the cost and use of technology by our customers. Some of these technologies have reduced and replaced some of our traditional services and solutions and may continue to do so in the future. Technological developments have caused, and may in the future cause, customers to delay spending under existing contracts and engagements and to delay entering into new contracts while they evaluate new technologies. In addition, markets for new technologies, such as AI, may not develop as we have anticipated. If we do not make the right strategic investments to respond to these developments, our ability to develop and maintain a competitive advantage and to execute our growth strategy could be negatively affected. Our products and services are highly technical and complex and may contain errors, defects or security vulnerabilities that cannot be discovered before a product or service is released, installed and used by customers. If errors, malfunctions, defects or disruptions in service are experienced by customers or in our operations, they could impact customers' business operations and harm our operating results and reputation, which harm may not be fully cured by our subsequent remediation efforts. In addition, our liability insurance may not adequately cover liabilities incurred, and uncovered losses could be large and harm our financial condition.
Trade Secrets1 | 3.4%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
We may inadvertently infringe on the intellectual property rights of others and be exposed to claims for damages, and our intellectual property rights may be infringed by third parties.
The solutions we provide to our customers may inadvertently infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties, resulting in claims for damages against us or our customers. Our contracts generally indemnify our customers from claims for intellectual property infringement for the services and equipment we provide under the applicable contracts. We also indemnify certain vendors and customers against claims of intellectual property infringement made by third parties arising from the use by such vendors and customers of our software products and services and certain other matters. Some of the applicable indemnification arrangements may not be subject to maximum loss clauses. The expense and time of defending against these claims may have a material and adverse impact on our profitability. In addition, there is also uncertainty around the validity and enforceability of intellectual property rights related to our use, development, and deployment of AI. Our use of AI technologies, whether created by us or incorporated from external sources into our offerings, could lead to violation of third-party intellectual property rights, and could require us to incur significant expenses to modify our solutions or otherwise engage in efforts to remain in compliance with the law. If we lose our ability to continue using any such services and solutions because they are found to infringe the rights of others, we will need to obtain substitute solutions or seek alternative means of obtaining the technology necessary to continue to provide such services and solutions. Our inability to replace such solutions, or to replace such solutions in a timely or cost-effective manner, could materially adversely affect our results of operations. Additionally, the publicity resulting from infringing intellectual property rights may damage our reputation and adversely impact our ability to develop new business. We rely on a combination of trade secrets, patents, copyright, trademarks, and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property rights. The existing laws in the various countries in which we provide services or solutions may offer only limited protection of our intellectual property and are subject to change. From time to time, we may discover that third parties are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating our intellectual property rights. However, policing unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and expensive, and we may therefore not always be aware of such unauthorized use or misappropriation, or have adequate resources to enforce our intellectual property rights. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, unauthorized third parties may attempt to use, copy, market or distribute our intellectual property rights or technology, and our competitive position and results of operations could be harmed and our legal costs could increase.
Cyber Security1 | 3.4%
Cyber Security - Risk 1
We could be held liable for damages, our reputation could suffer, and our business may be materially impacted due to service interruptions from security breaches, cyber-attacks, other cybersecurity events or incidents or disclosure of confidential information or personal data.
As a provider of IT services to private and public sector customers operating in a number of industries and countries, we store and process increasingly large amounts of data for our customers, including sensitive and personally identifiable information. We possess valuable proprietary information, including copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property and we collect and store certain personal and financial information from customers and employees. We also rely on and manage IT infrastructure and systems (collectively, "IT Systems") of our own and of customers, and we rely on third parties who provide various critical hardware, software and services to support our IT Systems and business operations. We face numerous and evolving cybersecurity risks that threaten the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our IT Systems and data. Cybersecurity incidents can result from unintentional events or deliberate attacks by insiders such as employees, contractors or service providers or third parties, including criminals, competitors, nation-states, and hacktivists. These incidents can result in disruption to our business (for example, due to ransomware or denial-of-service) through an impact on our IT Systems and/or the compromise, corruption or loss of data belonging to us or our clients, employees, vendors or other partners. Because our products and services in some instances are integrated with our customers' systems and processes, a successful attack on us could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our customers' IT Systems and sensitive data, despite our monitoring efforts and tools in place designed to prevent such attacks. A successful cyberattack may cause us to incur costs and liability (whether contractual or otherwise), such as monetary damages resulting from litigation, remediation costs, and regulatory actions, fines or penalties. Any of the foregoing, or a combination of the foregoing, could have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. We regularly experience cyber events and sometimes have security incidents, including unauthorized access to our IT Systems, and we expect such attacks and incidents to continue in varying degrees. While incidents experienced thus far have not resulted in material disruption to our business, it is possible that we or a critical service provider could suffer a severe attack or incident, with potentially material adverse effects on our business, reputation, customer relations, results of operations or financial condition. There can be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management strategy and processes will be fully complied with or effective in protecting any IT Systems, data or business operations. Threat actors are increasingly sophisticated and using tools and techniques, including AI, designed to circumvent security controls, to evade detection and to remove or obfuscate forensic evidence, which makes it more difficult for us to detect, identify, investigate, contain or recover from, future cyberattacks and security incidents. Advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography or other events or developments will diminish the strength of our encryption and other algorithms that we use to protect our data and that of customers, including sensitive customer transaction data. We cannot guarantee that, in all instances, we can comprehensively apply patches or confirm that measures are in place to mitigate or otherwise manage vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by a threat actor. If threat actors are able to exploit critical vulnerabilities before patches are installed or mitigating measures are implemented, compromises could impact our and our customers' IT Systems and data. A party, whether an insider or a third party operating outside the Company, who is able to circumvent our security measures or those of our contractors, partners or vendors could access our IT Systems, or those of a critical third party, and misappropriate proprietary information, the confidential data of our customers, employees or business partners or cause interruption in our or their operations. The costs to eliminate or alleviate cyber or other security problems, including ransomware, malware, bugs, malicious software programs and other security vulnerabilities, could be significant, and our efforts to address these problems may not be successful and could result in interruptions, delays, cessation of service and loss of existing or potential customers, which may impede our sales, distribution or other critical functions. In the event of a cyberattack or security incident, we could be exposed to regulatory actions, customer attrition due to reputational concerns or otherwise, containment and remediation expenses, and claims brought by our customers or others for breaching contractual confidentiality and security provisions or data protection or privacy laws. We must expend capital and other resources to protect against security incidents, including attempted security breaches and cyber-attacks, and to alleviate problems caused by successful breaches or attacks. The cost, potential monetary damages, and operational consequences of responding to security incidents and implementing remediation measures could be significant and may be in excess of insurance policy limits or not be covered by our insurance at all. Moreover, failure to maintain effective internal accounting controls related to data security breaches and cybersecurity in general could impact our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements and could subject us to regulatory scrutiny. Finally, portions of our infrastructure and IT Systems also may experience interruptions, delays or cessations of service or produce errors in connection with systems integration or migration work that takes place from time to time. We may not be successful in implementing new systems and transitioning data, which could cause business disruptions and be expensive, time-consuming, disruptive and resource intensive. Such disruptions could adversely impact our ability to fulfill orders and respond to customer requests and interrupt other processes. Delayed sales, lower margins or loss of customers resulting from these disruptions could reduce our revenues, increase our expenses, damage our reputation, and adversely affect our stock price.
Technology2 | 6.9%
Technology - Risk 1
Systems failures, catastrophic events, and resulting interruptions in the availability of our products or services could harm our business, damage our reputation, and subject us to substantial liability.
Our systems, operations, and the third-party infrastructure on which we rely, including data center facilities and cloud storage services, are vulnerable to damage or interruption from a variety of sources, including hardware and software defects or malfunctions, cyberattacks, human error, natural disasters, power losses, disruptions in telecommunications services, fraud, military or political conflicts, terrorist attacks, computer viruses or other malware, criminal acts, sabotage, geopolitical events, public health emergencies, and other catastrophic occurrences. Some of our systems are not fully redundant, and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities, and there can be no assurance that our efforts to improve our business continuity and disaster recovery programs will be sufficient to address all potential disruptions. We also rely on third-party service providers, including data center operators and cloud service providers, that could terminate or decline to renew their agreements with us, materially change their terms, experience financial difficulties, or be acquired by our competitors, any of which could result in service interruptions to our customers and difficulty transitioning to alternative providers on short notice. A prolonged interruption in the availability or functionality of our products and services could materially harm our business and reputation. If any system failure or similar event results in damages to our customers or their business partners, these customers or partners could seek compensation from us for their losses, and those claims, even if unsuccessful, would likely be time-consuming and costly for us to address. We may not carry business interruption insurance sufficient to compensate us for all losses that may result from such interruptions.
Technology - Risk 2
Risks associated with artificial intelligence, including our adoption, deployment, and governance of AI technologies, could adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are integrating AI, including generative AI and other advanced or autonomous AI systems, into our internal operations, service offerings, and client solutions. We have made, and expect to continue to make, significant investments in developing, deploying, and supporting AI capabilities, including our Fast Track portfolio of AI-enabled solutions. Our ability to realize the expected benefits of these investments depends on a number of factors, including our ability to develop commercially viable AI-enabled offerings, attract and retain personnel with relevant expertise, and deploy AI technologies responsibly across the enterprise. If we are unable to develop, adopt, scale, or effectively integrate AI technologies, or if the AI-enabled solutions we bring to market do not achieve sufficient customer acceptance, our competitive position, growth, and financial performance could be adversely affected. Our AI-enabled offerings and internal AI tools may produce inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or otherwise flawed outputs, including as a result of limitations or deficiencies in training data, algorithmic design, system architecture, or implementation. Such outputs could result in operational errors, flawed decision-making, customer dissatisfaction, reputational harm, or claims of discrimination, bias, or violation of applicable law. We may also face allegations that our use of AI infringes, misappropriates, or otherwise violates third-party intellectual property rights, or that AI-generated outputs incorporate protected or proprietary content. The legal framework governing the ownership, use, and protectability of AI-generated works remains uncertain and continues to evolve across jurisdictions, which could limit the value or usability of our AI-enabled deliverables and expose us to infringement, misappropriation, or other legal claims. Many of our AI-enabled offerings and internal tools rely on third-party AI platforms, foundation models, cloud-hosted AI services, or other vendor-provided technologies. Defects, service interruptions, security vulnerabilities, changes in licensing terms, pricing, or usage restrictions, or the discontinuation or modification of support by these third-party providers could disrupt our service delivery, degrade the quality or reliability of our offerings, or require us to identify, integrate, or transition to alternative solutions on short notice. In addition, we may have limited visibility into the design, training data, or operational parameters of third-party AI systems, which may constrain our ability to identify, explain, mitigate, or remediate errors, biases, or other deficiencies in their outputs. Our clients may expect us to assume responsibility for the performance, reliability, and compliance of solutions that incorporate third-party AI components and may be unwilling to accept contractual limitations or exclusions of liability offered by AI platform providers, which could expose us to risks or liabilities that we cannot fully control or mitigate. AI technologies are increasingly presenting substantially heightened cybersecurity, information security, and data privacy risks. AI systems may be vulnerable to adversarial manipulation, data poisoning, prompt injection, model extraction, or other evolving or novel attack vectors. The use of AI in connection with personal data, confidential information, or automated decision-making processes may trigger additional obligations under data protection, consumer protection, employment, or sector-specific laws relating to transparency, consent, human oversight, data minimization, explainability, and lawful processing. Any failure, or perceived failure, to comply with applicable requirements could result in regulatory scrutiny or enforcement actions, fines or penalties, contractual disputes, litigation, or reputational harm. The legal and regulatory environment governing AI is rapidly evolving and differs significantly across jurisdictions. Various jurisdictions in which we operate have adopted, proposed, or are considering AI-specific legislation, regulations, and regulatory guidance, including the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, U.S. executive orders and federal agency initiatives, and various U.S. state laws. These frameworks may impose obligations relating to risk classification, transparency, documentation, human oversight, conformity assessments, record-keeping, or registration, and may require us to modify our products, services, internal processes, or business practices. Regulatory requirements may develop unevenly, change frequently, or be interpreted inconsistently across jurisdictions, increasing compliance complexity, operational burden, and cost. While we have implemented governance and risk assessment processes intended to monitor and address AI-related regulatory developments, there can be no assurance that these efforts will be sufficient to address all applicable requirements, anticipate regulatory changes, or mitigate all associated risks. In addition, the rapid adoption of AI technologies by our clients and competitors may reduce demand for certain of our traditional services. Clients may increasingly use AI-driven tools to develop, customize, operate, or maintain technology solutions internally, reducing their reliance on third-party service providers. If a significant number of our existing or prospective clients adopt AI as a substitute for services we currently provide, or if competitors deploy AI-enabled offerings more effectively or efficiently than we do, our revenues, growth prospects, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Production
Total Risks: 4/29 (14%)Above Sector Average
Employment / Personnel1 | 3.4%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
Our ability to provide customers with competitive services is dependent on our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.
Our ability to grow and provide our customers with competitive services is partially dependent on our ability to attract and retain highly motivated people with the skills necessary to serve our customers. As competition for highly skilled employees in our industry has grown increasingly intense, we have experienced, and may experience in the future, higher than anticipated levels of employee attrition. These risks to attracting and retaining the necessary talent may be exacerbated by labor constraints and inflationary pressures on employee wages and benefits. Additionally, we may be unable to hire or retain talent who are trained in artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced algorithms, to keep pace with the rapid and continuous technological changes in our industry. Immigration laws in the countries in which we operate are subject to legislative changes, as well as to variations in the standards of application and enforcement due to political forces and economic conditions. Changes in immigration laws or varying applications of immigration laws to limit the availability of certain work visas in the U.S. may impact our ability to hire talent that we need to enhance our products and services and for our operations. It is also difficult to predict the political and economic events that could affect immigration laws, or the restrictive impact they could have on obtaining or renewing work visas for our international personnel. The loss of personnel could impair our ability to perform under certain contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, the inability to adequately develop and train personnel and assimilate key new hires or promoted employees could have a material adverse effect on relationships with third parties, our financial condition and results of operations and cash flows. We also must manage leadership development and succession planning throughout our business. Any significant leadership change and accompanying senior management transition involves inherent risk and any failure to ensure a smooth transition could hinder our strategic planning, execution and future performance. While we strive to mitigate the negative impact associated with changes to our senior management team, such changes may cause uncertainty among investors, employees, customers, creditors and others concerning our future direction and performance. If we fail to effectively manage our leadership changes, including ongoing organizational and strategic changes, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and reputation, as well as our ability to successfully attract, motivate and retain key employees, could be harmed. In addition, uncertainty around future employment opportunities, facility locations, organizational and reporting structures, and other related concerns may impair our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. If employee attrition is high, it may adversely impact our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of our strategic priorities. If we do not hire, train, motivate, and effectively utilize employees with the right mix of skills and experience in the right geographic regions and for the right offerings to meet the needs of our customers, our financial performance and cash flows could suffer. For example, if our employee utilization rate is too low, our profitability, and the level of engagement of our employees could decrease. If that utilization rate is too high, it could have an adverse effect on employee engagement and attrition and the quality of the work performed, as well as our ability to staff projects. If we are unable to hire and retain enough employees with the skills or backgrounds needed to meet current demand, we may need to redeploy existing personnel, increase our reliance on subcontractors or increase employee compensation levels, all of which could also negatively affect our profitability. In addition, if we have more employees than necessary with certain skill sets or in certain geographies, we may incur increased costs as we work to rebalance our supply of skills and resources with customer demand in those geographies. Our business is primarily non-unionized, but we have unions and works councils in Europe, Australia, South Korea, South America and Canada, which from time to time may constrain our operational flexibility and efficiency in implementing business decisions and introducing new technologies, tools or processes within our desired timeframe. Activism of employee populations could result in higher costs and operational changes to establish new relationships with worker representatives.
Supply Chain2 | 6.9%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
Disruption of our supply chain or increases in procurement costs could adversely impact our business.
Delays and shortages of certain necessary components to the services and solutions we offer our clients, whether caused by natural disasters, pandemics, geopolitical events, armed hostilities, labor strikes, or transportation delays, may increase component delivery lead times and costs to source available components and delay the delivery of our hardware products and services, which may adversely affect our ability to comply with our contracts and our ability to support our existing customers and our growth through sales to new customers. In addition, suppliers may fail or refuse to honor their contractual commitments to us, whether due to their own supply constraints, receipt of more favorable offers, or other reasons, which could impair our ability to meet our obligations to our customers, and our ability to compel supplier performance or recover damages in such circumstances may be limited. In the event of a component shortage or interruptions at a supplier, we may not be able to develop alternate sources quickly, cost effectively, or at all. Furthermore, the ongoing global uncertainty, including trade tensions and tariff changes as well as armed hostilities, may also impact the cost and availability of materials or products from certain regions, particularly those reliant on international suppliers. We may not be able to quickly replace or secure alternative suppliers, and we may be forced to absorb higher costs, reduce margins, or adjust our pricing. Supply chain interruptions could harm our relationships with our customers, prevent us from acquiring new customers, harm our operational efficiency, financial performance, and reputation, and materially and adversely affect our business.
Supply Chain - Risk 2
Our inability to procure third-party licenses required for the operation of our products and service offerings may result in decreased revenue or increased costs.
Many of our products and service offerings depend on the continued performance and availability of software licensed from third-party vendors under our contractual arrangements. Because of the nature of these licenses and arrangements, there can be no assurance that we would be able to retain all of these intellectual property rights upon renewal, expiration or termination of such licenses or that we will be able to procure, renew or extend such licenses on commercially reasonable terms which may result in increased costs. Certain of our licenses are concentrated in one or more third-party licensors where multiple licenses are up for renewal at the same time, which could decrease our ability to negotiate reasonable license fees and could result in our loss of rights under such licenses.
Costs1 | 3.4%
Costs - Risk 1
If we are unable to accurately estimate the cost of services and the timeline for completion of contracts, or if we or third parties fail to deliver on commitments to our customers, the profitability of our contracts may be materially and adversely affected.
Our commercial contracts are typically awarded on a competitive basis. Our bids are based upon, among other items, the expected cost to provide the services. We generally provide services under time and materials contracts, unit-price contracts, fixed-price contracts, and consumption-based or resource-unit pricing arrangements, under which customers are billed based on their usage of defined service units. We are dependent on our internal forecasts and predictions about our projects and the marketplace and, to generate an acceptable return on our investment in these contracts, we must be able to accurately estimate our costs to provide the services required by the contract and to complete the contracts in a timely manner. We face a number of risks when pricing and executing our contracts, as many of our projects entail the coordination of operations and workforces in multiple locations and utilizing workforces with different skill sets and competencies across geographically diverse service locations. In addition, revenues from some of our contracts are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method, which requires estimates of total costs at completion, fees earned on the contract, or both. This estimation process, particularly due to the technical nature of the services being performed and the long-term nature of certain contracts, is complex and involves significant judgment. Adjustments to original estimates are often required as work progresses, experience is gained, and additional information becomes known, even though the scope of the work required under the contract may not change. If we fail to accurately estimate our costs or the time required to complete a contract, the profitability of our contracts may be materially and adversely affected. Some IT service agreements require significant investment in the early stages that is expected to be recovered through billings over the life of the agreement. These agreements often involve the construction of new IT systems and the development and deployment of new technologies. Substantial performance risk exists in each agreement with these characteristics, and some or all elements of service delivery under these agreements are dependent upon successful completion of the development, construction, and deployment phases. Failure to perform satisfactorily under these agreements may expose us to legal liability, result in the loss of customers or harm our reputation, which could harm the financial performance of our IT services business. Our contracts are complex and, in some instances, may require that we partner with other parties, including software and hardware vendors, to provide the complex solutions required by our customers. Our ability to deliver the solutions and provide the services required by our customers is dependent on our and our partners' ability to meet our customers' delivery schedules, which is affected by a multitude of factors, including climate change. If we or our partners fail to deliver services or products on time, our ability to complete the contract may be adversely affected. If any third-party providers unexpectedly terminate our agreement, we would be forced to incur additional expenses to locate alternative providers and may experience outages or disruptions to our service. In addition, many public cloud infrastructure providers have also entered into strategic partnerships with our competitors. These alliances may result in more compelling product and service offerings than those we offer. Additionally, our customers may perform audits or require us to perform audits and provide audit reports with respect to the controls and procedures that we use in the performance of services for such customers. Our ability to acquire new customers and retain existing customers may be adversely affected and our reputation could be harmed if we receive a qualified opinion, or if we cannot obtain an unqualified opinion in a timely manner, with respect to our controls and procedures in connection with any such audit. We could also incur liability if our controls and procedures, or the controls and procedures we manage for a customer, were to result in an internal control failure or impair our customer's ability to comply with its own internal control requirements. If we or our partners fail to meet our contractual obligations or otherwise breach obligations to our customers, we could be subject to legal liability, which may have a material and adverse impact on our revenues and profitability.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 3/29 (10%)Below Sector Average
Competition1 | 3.4%
Competition - Risk 1
We face aggressive competition and may fail to compete effectively in certain markets.
We encounter aggressive competition from numerous and varied competitors. Our competitiveness is based on factors including technology, innovation, performance, price, quality, reliability, brand, reputation, range of products and services, account relationships, customer training, service and support and security. If we are unable to compete based on such factors, we could lose customers or we may experience reduced profitability from our customers and our results of operations and business prospects could be harmed. We have a large portfolio of services and we need to allocate financial, personnel and other resources across all services while competing with companies that have smaller portfolios or specialize in one or more of our service lines. As a result, we may invest less in certain business areas than our competitors do, and competitors may have greater financial, technical and marketing resources available to them compared to the resources allocated to our services. Industry consolidation may also affect competition by creating larger, more homogeneous and potentially stronger competitors in the markets in which we operate. Additionally, competitors may affect our business by entering into exclusive arrangements with existing or potential customers or suppliers. Companies with whom we have alliances in certain areas may be or become competitors in other areas. In addition, companies with whom we have alliances also may acquire or form alliances with competitors, which could reduce their business with us. If we are unable to effectively manage these complicated relationships with alliance partners, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected. We face aggressive price competition and may have to lower prices to stay competitive, while simultaneously seeking to maintain or improve revenue and gross margin. If we experience pressure from competitors to lower our prices, we may have lower than expected profit margins and lost business opportunities if we are unable to match the price declines. We devote significant resources to establish relationships with our customers and implement our offerings and related services, particularly in the case of large enterprises that often request or require specific features or functions specific to their particular business profile. Accordingly, our results of operations depend in substantial part on our ability to deliver a successful customer experience and persuade customers to maintain and grow their relationship with us over time. If we are not successful in implementing an offering or delivering a successful customer experience, including achieving cost and staffing levels that meet our customers' expectations, customers could terminate or elect not to renew their agreements with us and our operating results may suffer. Contracts with customers may include unique and specialized performance requirements. In particular, our contracts with federal, state, provincial, and local governmental customers are generally subject to various procurement regulations, contract provisions, and other requirements relating to their formation, administration, and performance, including the maintenance of necessary security clearances. Our customers' contracts with U.S. government agencies are also subject to audits and investigations, which may include a review of performance on contracts, pricing practices, cost structure, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Any failure on our part to comply with the specific provisions in customer contracts or any violation of government contracting regulations or other requirements could result in the imposition of various civil and criminal penalties, which may include termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, and, in the case of government contracts, fines and suspension from future government contracting. Such failures could also cause reputational damage to our business. In addition, we may be subject to qui tam litigation brought by private individuals on behalf of the government relating to government contracts, which could include claims for treble damages. Further, any negative publicity with respect to customer contracts or any related proceedings, regardless of accuracy, may damage our business by harming our ability to compete for new contracts. Our customers' contracts with the U.S. federal government and related agencies are also subject to issues with respect to federal budgetary and spending limits or matters and may be affected by staffing and resource reductions and funding authorizations. Any changes to the fiscal policies of the U.S. federal government may decrease overall government funding, result in delays in the procurement of products and services due to lack of funding, cause the U.S. federal government and government agencies to reduce their purchases under existing contracts, or cause them to exercise their rights to terminate contracts at-will or to abstain from exercising options to renew contracts, any of which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows. Additionally, impasses impacting the U.S. federal government's ability to reach an agreement on the federal budget, debt ceiling or extended U.S. federal government shut downs could result in material payment delays, payment reductions or contract terminations by the U.S. federal government, which in turn may adversely impact the results of operations and financial condition of our government contractor customers and cause those customers to become unable to meet their obligations under contracts with us, or reduce their demand for our products and services, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows. We derive significant revenues and profit from government contracts that are awarded through competitive bidding processes. We expect that most of the non-U.S. government business we seek in the foreseeable future will be awarded through competitive bidding. Competitive bidding is expensive and presents a number of risks, including: - the substantial cost and managerial time and effort that we spend to prepare bids and proposals for contracts that may or may not be awarded to us;- the need to estimate accurately the resources and costs that will be required to service any contracts we are awarded, sometimes in advance of the final determination of their full scope and design;- the expense and delay that may arise if our competitors protest or challenge awards made to us pursuant to competitive bidding;- the requirement to resubmit bids protested by our competitors and in the termination, reduction, or modification of the awarded contracts; and - the opportunity cost of not bidding on and winning other contracts we might otherwise pursue. Over the course of a contract term, a customer's financial condition may decline and limit its ability to pay its obligations. This could cause our cash collections to decrease and bad debt expense to increase. While we may resort to alternative methods to pursue claims or collect receivables, these methods are expensive and time consuming and successful collection is not guaranteed. Failure to collect our receivables or prevail on claims would have an adverse effect on our profitability and cash flows. If our customer contracts are terminated, if we are suspended or disbarred from government work, or our ability to compete for new contracts is adversely affected, our financial performance could suffer.
Sales & Marketing1 | 3.4%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
If we do not effectively manage and improve our sales organization, we may have difficulty acquiring new customers or increasing sales to existing customers, and our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.
We depend on our sales organization to obtain new customers, expand relationships with existing customers, and drive revenue growth. There is significant competition for sales personnel with the skills, industry knowledge, and technical expertise that we require, and our ability to achieve revenue growth will depend, in large part, on our success in recruiting, training, and retaining sufficient numbers of qualified sales personnel. We may face structural challenges within our sales organization that could adversely impact our performance, including fragmentation in our sales operating model, inconsistent sales enablement, limited visibility into client relationships and pipeline, and challenges in managing and developing sales talent. If we are unable to address such structural issues effectively, we may experience underperformance across key sales metrics, including win rates, pipeline development, and overall sales productivity, and we may be unable to attract and retain high-performing sales personnel. If we are unable to structure our sales organization effectively, hire and train sufficient numbers of qualified sales personnel, address existing structural deficiencies, or align our compensation programs with our strategic priorities, or if our sales personnel are not successful in obtaining new customers or increasing sales to our existing customer base, our business, operating results, and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
Brand / Reputation1 | 3.4%
Brand / Reputation - Risk 1
We may be exposed to negative publicity and other potential risks if we are unable to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related regulations require we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and require our management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. However, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. There can be no assurance that all control issues or fraud will be detected. Any failure to maintain effective controls could prevent us from timely and reliably reporting financial results and may harm our operating results. In addition, if we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting or, if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide an unqualified report as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as of each fiscal year end, we may be exposed to negative publicity, which could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information. Any failure to maintain effective internal controls and any such resulting negative publicity may negatively affect our business and stock price. Additionally, the existence of any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies would require management to devote significant time and incur significant expense to remediate any such material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and management may not be able to remediate any such material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in a timely manner. The existence of any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting could also result in errors in our financial statements that could require us to restate our financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, subject us to litigation or regulatory scrutiny and cause stockholders to lose confidence in our reported financial information, all of which could materially and adversely affect us and the market price of our common stock.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 3/29 (10%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 3.4%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Prolonged periods of inflation and related economic conditions could adversely affect our profitability, results of operations, and cash flow.
Prolonged periods of inflation, wage increases, or other cost escalation may adversely affect general economic conditions, customer budgeting, and our profitability, particularly in customer contracts where our ability to pass through increased costs is limited. We generally provide services under time and materials contracts, unit-price contracts, fixed-price contracts, and consumption-based or resource-unit pricing arrangements. In many of our contracts, we bear the risk of cost overruns, completion delays, resource requirements, wage inflation and adverse movements in exchange rates. Many of our contracts include cost-of-living adjustment provisions or pricing assumptions designed to address inflationary pressures, often based on broad-based indices, or incorporate anticipated cost increases into the contract pricing. However, these mechanisms may not fully offset all cost increases, particularly where inflationary pressures, wage increases, or other cost escalations differ materially from underlying assumptions or occur more rapidly than anticipated. In addition, certain contracts may not provide for price adjustments for inflation or abnormal escalation, or such adjustments may be subject to caps, delays, or other limitations. If inflation, cost escalation, or other pricing pressures exceed our expectations or the protections available under our contracts, our costs of service delivery may increase without a corresponding increase in revenue, which could materially and adversely affect our profitability, results of operations, and cash flow. Inflation and government actions intended to combat inflation may also increase market volatility and have an adverse effect on the financial market and general economic conditions. In periods of economic uncertainty, our customers may reduce spending, experience difficulty budgeting for external IT services, delay procurement decisions, or delay payment for services already provided. We may also experience longer sales cycles or increased difficulty closing new deals in the event of an economic slowdown. Any of these factors could adversely affect our revenues, profitability, results of operations, and cash flow.
International Operations1 | 3.4%
International Operations - Risk 1
We are exposed to risks inherent to our international operations, including fluctuations in exchange rates, and geopolitical conflicts and disruptions can adversely affect our sales and operations.
A significant portion of our application outsourcing and software development activities has been shifted to India and other lower-cost locations. As a result, we are exposed to the risks inherent in operating in India or other locations, including (1) a highly competitive labor market for skilled workers, which may result in significant increases in labor costs, as well as shortages of qualified workers in the future, (2) currency exchange risks, and (3) the possibility that the U.S. Federal Government or the European Union (the "EU") may enact legislation that creates significant disincentives for customers to locate certain of their operations offshore, which would reduce the demand for the services we provide in such locations and may adversely impact our cost structure and profitability. India has experienced, and other countries may experience, political instability, civil unrest and hostilities with neighboring countries. Rising tensions in the geopolitical climate, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the current hostilities in the Middle East, and other negative or uncertain political climates in countries or locations where we or our customers operate, including but not limited to, military activities or civil hostilities, criminal activities and other acts of violence, infrastructure disruption, natural disasters or other conditions could adversely affect our sales and operations, and otherwise materially impair our ability to deliver services or fulfill contractual obligations or cause us to exit certain markets. Our exposure to currencies other than the U.S. dollar may impact our results, as they are expressed in U.S. dollars. Currency variations also contribute to variations in sales of products and services in affected jurisdictions. While historically we have partially mitigated currency risk, including exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates by matching costs with revenues in a given currency, our exposure to fluctuations in other currencies against the U.S. dollar increases, as revenue in currencies other than the U.S. dollar increases. Approximately 75% of revenues earned during fiscal 2026 were derived from sales denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and are expected to continue to represent a significant portion of our revenues. Also, we believe that our ability to match revenues and expenses in a given currency will decrease as more work is performed at offshore locations that use a different currency from where we generate our revenue. We may use forward and option contracts to protect against currency exchange rate risks. The effectiveness of these hedges will depend on our ability to accurately forecast future cash flows, which may be particularly difficult during periods of uncertain demand and highly volatile exchange rates. We may incur significant losses from our hedging activities due to factors such as demand volatility and currency variations. In addition, certain or all of our hedging activities may be ineffective, may expire and not be renewed or may not offset the adverse financial impact resulting from currency variations. Losses associated with hedging activities may also impact our revenues and to a lesser extent our cost of sales and financial condition. Our future business and financial performance could suffer due to a variety of international factors, including: - ongoing instability or changes in a country's or region's economic or geopolitical and security conditions,including inflation, recession, interest rate fluctuations, and actual or anticipated military or political conflict, civil unrest, crime, political instability, human rights concerns, and terrorist activity;- natural or man-made disasters, industrial accidents, public health issues, cybersecurity incidents, interruptions of service from utilities, transportation or telecommunications providers, or other catastrophic events;- longer collection cycles and financial instability among customers;- trade regulations and procedures and actions affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, including policies adopted by countries that may champion or otherwise favor domestic companies and technologies over foreign competitors;- local labor conditions and regulations;- managing our geographically dispersed workforce;- changes in the international, national or local regulatory and legal environments;- differing technology standards or customer requirements;- difficulties associated with repatriating earnings generated or held abroad in a tax-efficient manner; and - changes in tax laws.
Natural and Human Disruptions1 | 3.4%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
We are subject to a series of risks relating to climate change and natural disasters, which may affect our worldwide business operations and financial results.
There are inherent climate-related risks wherever business is conducted. Climate change increases both the frequency and severity of meteorological phenomena, extreme weather events and natural disasters (including, but not limited to, storms, flooding, drought, wildfire, and extreme temperatures) that may affect our worldwide business operations or those of our suppliers, require us to incur additional operating or capital expenditures or otherwise adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations. Climate change may impact the frequency and/or intensity of such events, as well as contribute to chronic physical changes, such as shifting precipitation or temperature patterns or rising sea-levels, which may also impact our operations or infrastructure on which we rely. We have facilities around the world and our facilities, our employees' ability to work or our supply chain may be impacted by climate change-related weather events or effects, including natural disasters. Increasing temperatures resulting from global warming could lead to increasing energy costs and unfavorable operating cost impacts, as well as extreme weather events that could cause loss of power or water access to data centers and service disruptions, resulting in contractual fines or loss of business. Many of our data centers require water for cooling purposes, and severe droughts or other extreme weather events or atmospheric changes that result in water scarcity, particularly in high-stress water areas, could adversely impact our ability to continue to operate or utilize data centers that we own or lease. Additionally, our customers' facilities may be impacted by climate change-related weather events or effects, which may impact our ability to serve our customers. While we may take various actions to mitigate our business risks associated with climate change, this may require us to incur costs and may not be successful, due to, among other things, the uncertainty associated with the longer-term projections associated with managing climate risks. Additionally, we expect to be subject to increased regulations, reporting requirements, standards or expectations regarding the environmental impacts of our business. For more information, see our risk factor "Our business operations are subject to various and changing federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that could result in costs or sanctions that adversely affect our business and results of operations. Social and environmental responsibility regulations, policies and provisions, as well as customer and investor demands, may adversely affect our relationships with customers and investors."
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
      They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
        It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
          How do companies disclose their risk factors?
          Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
            Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
              Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
                According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
                  How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
                  Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
                    You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
                      Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
                        A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
                          What are all the risk factor categories?
                          TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
                          1. Financial & Corporate
                          • Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
                          • Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
                          • Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
                          • Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
                          2. Legal & Regulatory
                          • Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
                          • Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
                          • Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
                          • Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
                          3. Production
                          • Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
                          • Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
                          • Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
                          • Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
                          4. Technology & Innovation
                          • Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
                          • Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
                          • Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
                          • Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
                          5. Ability to Sell
                          • Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
                          • Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
                          • Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
                          • Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
                          6. Macro & Political
                          • Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
                          • Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
                          • International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
                          • Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.