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Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) — Earnings Call X-Ray

Our AI read all 37 of AYI'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
🔒
Q3 2025 · sign up to see
Previous Call Grade
C+
Q2 2025
Expected Move
🔒
next 45 days · members
Calls Analyzed
37
2016–2025
Avg Candor
6.8/9
evasion 3/9
High CandorSkeptic ReassuredCritic AmmunitionEarly Product, Fast GrowthRaising PricesMargins ExpandingDemand Slowing

Call-by-call analysis

🔒 Q3 2025 earnings call 2025-06-26 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 Q3 2025 call grade is ready
The full 37-point AI read of AYI's newest earnings call — grade, expected move, and every question answered — is free with an account.
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C+ Q2 2025 earnings call 2025-04-03 move ±15.7%

Management held guidance steady against slowing demand and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: slowingMargins: expandingPricing: raising 7 analysts · 16 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Resolves doubts✓ Early product, fast growth
Candor 7/9
Specificity 6/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 6/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 6/9
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?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
YES 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?

B Q1 2025 earnings call 2025-01-08 move ±9.3%

Management raised guidance against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid.

Guidance: raisedDemand: stableMargins: expandingPricing: stable 6 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts✓ Early product, fast growth
Candor 7/9
Specificity 6/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 3/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 4/9
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?
YES 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?
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?

B Q3 2024 earnings call 2024-06-27 move ±8%

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

Guidance: maintainedDemand: mixedMargins: expandingBacklog: growingPricing: stableCapex: flat 5 analysts · 9 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts✓ Early product, fast growthHidden segment
Candor 8/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 3/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 4/9
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?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
YES Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
YES 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?
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?
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?

B Q2 2024 earnings call 2024-04-03 move ±6%

Management raised guidance against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was rich in specifics.

Guidance: raisedDemand: stableMargins: expandingBacklog: shrinkingPricing: stableCapex: flat 7 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts✓ Early product, fast growthHidden segment
Candor 6/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 3/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 4/9
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?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
YES Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
YES 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?
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?
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?

B Q1 2024 earnings call 2024-01-09 move ±9.4%

Management held guidance steady against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: stableMargins: expandingBacklog: shrinkingPricing: raisingCapex: flat 8 analysts · 15 questions
✓ Clean call✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsHidden segmentDirection beats results
Candor 6/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 4/9
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?
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?
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?
From the research question bank
1 more research questions answered NO

C+ Q4 2023 earnings call 2023-10-04 move ±7.4%

Management held guidance steady against slowing demand and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: slowingMargins: expandingBacklog: shrinkingPricing: raisingHeadcount: cuttingCapex: flat 6 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts✓ Early product, fast growthHidden segment
Candor 7/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 4/9
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?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
YES 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?
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?
YES 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?

D Q3 2023 earnings call 2023-06-29 move ±8%

Management lowered guidance against slowing demand and expanding margins. The delivery was rich in specifics.

Guidance: loweredDemand: slowingMargins: expandingBacklog: shrinkingPricing: stableCapex: flat 6 analysts · 11 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts✓ Early product, fast growth
Candor 6/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 4/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 3/9
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?
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?
YES 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?
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?
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?

Earlier calls

CallDateGradeGuidanceDemandMarginsCandorEvasion
Q2 2023 2023-04-04 C+ maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q1 2023 2023-01-09 C+ maintainedstablestable 7/9 3/9
Q4 2022 2022-10-04 D maintainedstablecontracting 6/9 4/9
Q3 2022 2022-06-30 C+ maintainedstablestable 7/9 3/9
Q2 2022 2022-04-05 B+ maintainedstablecontracting 7/9 2/9
Q1 2022 2022-01-07 D maintainedacceleratingexpanding 6/9 5/9
Q4 2021 2021-10-06 B+ raisedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q3 2021 2021-07-02 C+ maintainedacceleratingexpanding 6/9 2/9
Q2 2021 2021-03-31 C+ maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q1 2021 2021-01-07 B nonemixedstable 7/9 2/9
Q4 2020 2020-10-08 C+ nonemixedstable 7/9 2/9
Q3 2020 2020-07-01 C+ nonemixedexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q2 2020 2020-04-02 D nonemixedexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q1 2020 2020-01-09 C noneslowingexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q4 2019 2019-10-02 D loweredslowingexpanding 7/9 4/9
Q3 2019 2019-07-02 D loweredmixedexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q2 2019 2019-04-03 C maintainedmixedexpanding 6/9 3/9
Q1 2019 2019-01-09 D nonemixedcontracting 7/9 5/9
Q4 2018 2018-10-03 C maintainedmixedcontracting 7/9 2/9
Q2 2018 2018-04-04 D nonemixedcontracting 7/9 3/9
Q1 2018 2018-01-09 C+ maintainedslowingcontracting 7/9 2/9
Q4 2017 2017-10-04 C maintainedstableexpanding 7/9 4/9
Q3 2017 2017-06-29 D maintainedmixedcontracting 7/9 3/9
Q2 2017 2017-04-04 D maintainedmixedcontracting 7/9 4/9
Q1 2017 2017-01-09 C noneslowingcontracting 7/9 4/9
Q4 2016 2016-10-05 B+ noneacceleratingexpanding 8/9 1/9
Q3 2016 2016-06-29 B noneacceleratingexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q2 2016 2016-04-06 C+ maintainedacceleratingexpanding 6/9 3/9
Q1 2016 2016-01-08 C+ maintainedacceleratingexpanding 6/9 3/9

Research question bank — earlier calls

During our 1,600-question research program, batches of experimental hypotheses were tested directly against some of AYI'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.

C+ Q2 2023 earnings call 2023-04-04

338 more research questions answered NO

D Q4 2022 earnings call 2022-10-04

1 more research questions answered NO

C+ Q3 2021 earnings call 2021-07-02

1 more research questions answered NO

C+ Q1 2018 earnings call 2018-01-09

1 more research questions answered NO

B+ Q4 2016 earnings call 2016-10-05

1 more research questions answered NO

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.