RGP Survey Shows CFOs Remain Cautiously Optimistic Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
MWN-AI** Summary
RGP's June 2025 CFO Survey reveals that despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties, CFOs maintain a cautiously optimistic stance regarding their organizations' financial health and prospects. According to the survey, nearly 70% of CFOs express confidence in their current financial status, with 60% optimistic about their financial outlook over the next year. This optimism is, however, tempered by rising concerns about tariff implications, potential economic disruptions, and supply chain issues, with 94% of respondents highlighting significant worries over trade policies.
The survey data, collected from 202 senior financial leaders, including 63 CFOs from companies generating over $500 million annually, illustrates how these executives navigate strategic capital allocation in the face of volatility. The findings show that CFOs are prioritizing investments in technology (57%), operational efficiency (57%), and product innovation (51%). Notably, half of the CFOs plan to allocate over 10% of their capital budgets to artificial intelligence initiatives, underscoring a growing enthusiasm for AI's transformative potential in business.
On the mergers and acquisitions front, half of the CFOs anticipate engaging in M&A activities within the next six months, particularly in technology and geographic expansion. However, they acknowledge that success will hinge on effective integration and cultural alignment, with CFOs playing a pivotal role as change leaders.
Overall, the RGP survey highlights CFOs at the forefront of guiding their organizations through a landscape marked by rapid innovation and evolving risks, advocating for resilience and collaboration as keys to future success.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent RGP June 2025 CFO Survey reveals a complex landscape for CFOs amid persistent macroeconomic uncertainty. Nearly 70% of CFOs expressed confidence in their organization's financial health currently, with 60% optimistic about the next year’s prospects. However, this cautious optimism is tempered by significant concerns surrounding tariff uncertainties and potential supply chain disruptions, emphasizing the need for businesses to maintain agility.
As companies navigate the unpredictable economy, strategic capital allocation becomes crucial. With 57% of CFOs focusing their investments on technology and digital transformation, operational efficiency, and product innovation, there is a clear trend towards prioritizing initiatives that enhance resilience and adaptability. Concurrently, as 40% plan to allocate more than 10% of their budgets to AI, businesses that embrace this technology may soon find themselves at a competitive advantage.
Moreover, the noted interest in M&A activities suggests that CFOs are actively seeking growth opportunities. Half of the surveyed CFOs anticipate engaging in M&A within the next six months, primarily targeting technology and capability acquisitions as well as geographic expansions. However, successful integration will be key, requiring an alignment of company cultures—a factor that should not be overlooked in pursuit of growth.
For investors, the message is clear: look for organizations whose CFOs are byte-sized in managing risks and are boldly leading their firms into the future. Companies that are agile, focused on technological advancement, and strategically positioning themselves for M&A are likely to yield lucrative opportunities. As such, consider investments in diversified sectors prioritizing digital transformation and operational efficiency while remaining mindful of economic fluctuations. Preparing for potential market shifts will be critical for sustaining growth in this uncertain climate.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
RGP’s June 2025 CFO Survey illustrates how businesses are navigating market volatility
RGP® (Nasdaq: RGP), a professional services firm, today released new research that shows CFOs maintain cautious optimism about their organizations’ current financial health and future outlook despite continued macroeconomic uncertainty.
Nearly 70% of CFOs surveyed are positive about the current financial health of their organizations, and 60% are optimistic about their financial potential over the next 12 months. Yet, CFO optimism is tempered by growing concerns about tariff uncertainty and potential economic, supply chain, and geopolitical disruptions.
The CFO findings are from a wider survey of 202 senior financial decision-makers — including 63 CFOs — from companies with more than $500 million in annual revenue. Respondents were asked how they are approaching strategic capital allocation in the next 12 months, which initiatives they are prioritizing, and the role they are playing in enterprise-wide decision-making.
“Today’s CFOs are shaping the way businesses are adapting, growing, and thriving amid rapid innovation, evolving risks, and unrelenting change,” said Kate Duchene, Chief Executive Officer of RGP. “Not only are CFOs tasked with taking proactive steps to mitigate risks and maintain growth during this period of market volatility, but we are also seeing CFOs take more ownership of decisions related to workforce strategy, digital investment, and enterprise transformation. They are ideally positioned to provide a gauge of current business sentiment and outlook, and what we see is that CFOs remain focused on growth despite a lack of clarity around trade policy.”
Macroeconomic Outlook
Most CFOs surveyed (94%) are concerned about tariff and trade policies, and most (63%) believe that supply chain disruptions are likely to occur in the next 12 months. The top actions CFOs are planning to take in response to tariff concerns include proactively cutting costs elsewhere (68%), supply chain diversification (44%), and engagement with policymakers and trade associations (41%).
“In the last few years, businesses have had to navigate inflation, high interest rates, supply chain challenges, skills shortages, and ongoing market variability,” said Jenn Ryu, Chief Financial Officer at RGP. “CFOs have led the charge in building agility and resilience into their business models to face these challenges, and we are now seeing them take proactive steps in response to tariff uncertainty. They are focused on advancing technological innovation, achieving operational excellence, and upskilling their workforce.”
Strategic Capital Allocation
Most CFOs are directing the highest capital allocations to technology and digital transformation (57%), operational efficiency initiatives (57%), and product and service innovation (51%). Four in 10 CFOs plan to commit more than 10% of their capital budgets to AI initiatives in the next year.
While many organizations remain in the early stages of AI adoption, RGP’s findings show that both investment and optimism are growing as businesses begin to implement AI and see its benefits take shape. Eighty-four percent of CFOs are optimistic about the impact that AI will have on their business in the next 12 months and the same proportion is more optimistic in their outlook than they were 12 months ago.
M&A Outlook
CFOs are signaling strong interest in M&A, positioning 2025 as a potential banner year for strategic acquisitions. Half of CFOs anticipate engaging in M&A activity in the next six months with key focus areas including technology and capability acquisitions, horizontal acquisitions, and geographic expansions. But CFOs recognize that the difference between success and failure won’t lie solely in financial modeling—it will hinge on integration excellence, cultural alignment, and the ability to bring people along on the journey. The CFO’s role as both financial steward and change leader has never been more essential.
“We entered this calendar year with expectations for increased M&A activity and many CFOs are gearing up for a more active second half,” said Bhadresh Patel, Chief Operating Officer at RGP. “While regulatory scrutiny and lingering uncertainty add to the complexity of potential M&A activity, CFOs recognize that the success of any acquisition will hinge on integration excellence and cultural alignment.”
Conclusion
The findings of RGP’s research illuminate a compelling narrative: CFOs are at the forefront of shaping how their organizations adapt, grow, and thrive in an environment defined by rapid technological innovation, evolving risks, and unrelenting change.
The message for 2025 is clear: lead boldly, collaborate cross-functionally, and build organizations that are as resilient as they are visionary.
The RGP June 2025 CFO Survey polled senior financial decision-makers within the technology, financial services, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries and was conducted between May 27 and June 16, 2025. Read more about the findings here: https://rgp.com/research/cfo-perspectives-on-risk-growth-and-the-future-of-finance .
ABOUT RGP
RGP is a global professional services firm with nearly three decades of experience helping the world’s top organizations—from Fortune 50 to fast-moving startups—solve today's complex business problems. A trusted partner to CFOs and finance leaders, we deliver the talent, consulting, and outsourced services solutions you need to grow faster, work smarter, and keep up with change—all through a flexible model and global network of experts.
Based in Dallas, TX with offices worldwide, we annually engage with over 1,600 clients around the world from 41 physical practice offices and multiple virtual offices. RGP is proud to have served 88% of the Fortune 100 as of May 2025 and has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025 Best Companies to Work for) and Forbes (America’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2025, America’s Best Midsize Employers 2025, and World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2024).
The Company is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the exchange’s highest tier by listing standards. To learn more about RGP, visit: http://www.rgp.com . (RGP-F)
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250728476830/en/
Investor Contact :
Jennifer Ryu, Chief Financial Officer
(US+) 1-714-430-6500
jennifer.ryu@rgp.com
Media Contact:
Pat Burek
Financial Profiles
(US+) 1-310-622-8244
pburek@finprofiles.com
FAQ**
How does RGP plan to address the concerns of CFOs regarding tariff and trade policies, as highlighted in the June 2025 survey of Resources Connection Inc. RGP?
Given the focus on technology and AI investments, how is Resources Connection Inc. RGP ensuring that these initiatives translate into tangible growth for clients?
What measures is Resources Connection Inc. RGP taking to support CFOs in successfully navigating M&A activities amidst regulatory scrutiny in 2025?
How is Resources Connection Inc. RGP adapting its services to better equip CFOs to manage evolving risks and capitalize on growth opportunities?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Resources Connection Inc. (NASDAQ: RGP).
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