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Acacia Research Corporation (ACTG) — Earnings Call X-Ray

Our AI read all 38 of ACTG's earnings calls (2016–2025) and answered the same battery of questions about each one. Every past call is free; the newest quarter unlocks with a free account.

Latest Call Grade
🔒
Q1 2025 · sign up to see
Previous Call Grade
B
Q4 2024
Expected Move
🔒
next 45 days · members
Calls Analyzed
38
2016–2025
Avg Candor
6.2/9
evasion 3.9/9
High CandorSkeptic ReassuredCritic AmmunitionUnderused Fixed CostsMargins ContractingCapex IncreasingHidden SegmentQuestion Left Hanging

Call-by-call analysis

🔒 Q1 2025 earnings call 2025-05-11 NEWEST

Guidance: ■■■■■Demand: ■■■■■■ Margins: ■■■■Backlog: ■■■■ ■ analysts, ■■ questionsexpected move ±■■%
Candor /9
Specificity /9
Evasion /9
Stress /9

Management ■■■■■■ guidance against ■■■■■■■■ demand and ■■■■■■■ margins. The delivery was ■■■■■■■■ and ■■■■ in specifics, with ■■■ questions left hanging.

🔒 The Q1 2025 call grade is ready
The full 37-point AI read of ACTG's newest earnings call — grade, expected move, and every question answered — is free with an account.
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B Q4 2024 earnings call 2025-03-13 move ±10.8%

Management held guidance steady against mixed demand signals and contracting margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics, relaxed under questioning.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: mixedMargins: contractingPricing: stableCapex: increasing 2 analysts · 9 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsHidden segment
Candor 7/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 1/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
YES Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
YES Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

A Q3 2024 earnings call 2024-11-12 move ±9.1%

Management gave no formal guidance against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics, relaxed under questioning.

Demand: stableMargins: expandingPricing: stableCapex: flat 3 analysts · 7 questions
✓ Clean call✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsDirection beats results
Candor 8/9
Specificity 9/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 3/9
Promotion 3/9
Stress 1/9
Complexity 5/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
NO Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
YES Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

D Q2 2024 earnings call 2024-08-08 move ±14.4%

Management gave no formal guidance against mixed demand signals. The delivery was rich in specifics.

Demand: mixedMargins: stable 4 analysts · 8 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable
Candor 6/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 4/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
NO Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C+ Q1 2024 earnings call 2024-05-11 move ±7.9%

Management gave no formal guidance against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Demand: stableMargins: expandingPricing: stableCapex: increasing 4 analysts · 11 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts✓ Volume step-up aheadDirection beats results
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 3/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
YES Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

B Q4 2023 earnings call 2024-03-14 move ±21.7%

Management gave no formal guidance against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics, relaxed under questioning.

Demand: stableMargins: expandingPricing: stableHeadcount: cuttingCapex: increasing 3 analysts · 12 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured⚑ Question left hanging✓ Resolves doubts✓ Volume step-up ahead
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 2/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 1/9
Complexity 7/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
NO Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
YES Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

D Q3 2023 earnings call 2023-11-13 move ±7.8%

Management gave no formal guidance against mixed demand signals and contracting margins. The delivery was rich in specifics.

Demand: mixedMargins: contractingHeadcount: cuttingCapex: increasing 3 analysts · 10 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedDirection beats results
Candor 6/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 5/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 6/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 7/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
NO Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
NO Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
YES Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

F Q2 2023 earnings call 2023-08-04 move ±7.9%

Management gave no formal guidance against contracting margins. The delivery was rich in specifics.

Margins: contractingHeadcount: cutting 2 analysts · 4 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging⚑ Reads rehearsedDirection beats results
Candor 6/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 5/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 6/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 7/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
NO Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
NO Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
NO Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
YES Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
YES Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

Earlier calls

CallDateGradeGuidanceDemandMarginsCandorEvasion
Q1 2023 2023-05-11 D nonestablecontracting 6/9 5/9
Q4 2022 2023-03-16 D noneunclearcontracting 6/9 3/9
Q3 2022 2022-11-10 D noneunclearunclear 6/9 4/9
Q2 2022 2022-08-11 D nonemixedcontracting 6/9 5/9
Q1 2022 2022-05-12 C nonestablecontracting 7/9 4/9
Q4 2021 2022-03-31 D nonestableexpanding 7/9 6/9
Q3 2021 2021-11-15 C noneunclearcontracting 7/9 4/9
Q2 2021 2021-08-16 F noneunclearexpanding 4/9 6/9
Q1 2021 2021-05-17 F nonestableunclear 6/9 6/9
Q4 2020 2021-03-29 F nonestableunclear 5/9 6/9
Q3 2020 2020-11-09 D nonestableunclear 6/9 4/9
Q2 2020 2020-08-10 C nonestableunclear 6/9 3/9
Q1 2020 2020-05-11 F noneunclearunclear 5/9 7/9
Q4 2019 2020-03-12 F noneunclearexpanding 6/9 3/9
Q3 2019 2019-11-12 F loweredslowingunclear 5/9 6/9
Q2 2019 2019-08-06 D maintainedunclearunclear 6/9 3/9
Q1 2019 2019-05-10 D maintainedslowingunclear 7/9 2/9
Q4 2018 2019-03-14 D noneslowingunclear 7/9 4/9
Q3 2018 2018-10-25 C noneunclearexpanding 7/9 4/9
Q2 2018 2018-08-08 F noneslowingexpanding 6/9 5/9
Q1 2018 2018-05-01 F maintainedunclearcontracting 6/9 2/9
Q4 2017 2018-02-13 F noneslowingexpanding 6/9 5/9
Q3 2017 2017-10-29 D maintainedunclearexpanding 5/9 2/9
Q2 2017 2017-07-28 D maintainedslowingcontracting 7/9 2/9
Q1 2017 2017-05-04 D maintainedslowingexpanding 6/9 2/9
Q4 2016 2017-03-09 D maintainedmixedcontracting 6/9 3/9
Q3 2016 2016-10-27 F noneunclearcontracting 5/9 6/9
Q2 2016 2016-07-28 D maintainedunclearcontracting 7/9 4/9
Q1 2016 2016-04-21 F maintainedslowingexpanding 6/9 5/9
Q4 2015 2016-02-25 F noneslowingunclear 8/9 5/9

Research question bank — earlier calls

During our 1,600-question research program, batches of experimental hypotheses were tested directly against some of ACTG's earlier calls. The YES answers — the rare hits — are shown; click any question to see every company that matched it. Full list: the question bank.

D Q4 2022 earnings call 2023-03-16

How to read this page

The grade is a transparent composite of call quality — candor, specificity, low evasion, low stress, whether the call resolves more doubts than it creates, and the guidance action — not a buy or sell signal. The expected move is a volatility estimate from the one signal that survived our out-of-sample tests: how a stock's own reaction and pre-call volatility predict the size (not direction) of its next move. Full detail, including everything that failed: methodology.

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Not investment advice. Artul.ai publishes AI-generated earnings-call quality grades and expected-volatility estimates — never buy or sell recommendations. We tested over 1,600 predictive hypotheses against 165,000 transcripts; the honest result, including what failed, is documented in our methodology.