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In the latest trading session, Accenture (ACN - Free Report) closed at $249.37, marking a -3.62% move from the previous day. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.52%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 1.24%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.21%.

The consulting company's shares have seen an increase of 45.84% over the last month, surpassing the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 7.7% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.21%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Accenture in its upcoming release. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $3.9, indicating a 1.02% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $19.35 billion, indicating a 3.22% upward movement from the same quarter last year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $14.68 per share and a revenue of $77.33 billion, representing changes of +5.08% and +4.24%, respectively, from the prior year.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Accenture. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.19% higher. Currently, Accenture is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Digging into valuation, Accenture currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 17.62. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 16.03 for its industry.

Also, we should mention that ACN has a PEG ratio of 1.99. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Computers - IT Services was holding an average PEG ratio of 1.38 at yesterday's closing price.

The Computers - IT Services industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, putting it in the top 43% of all 250+ industries.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

Carnegie Investment Counsel grew its position in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN – Free Report) by 63.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,565 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock after buying an additional 10,322 shares during the quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel’s holdings in Accenture were worth $4,871,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Accenture by 147.1% during the 2nd quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 215 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Accenture by 134.8% in the first quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. now owns 155 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC raised its position in Accenture by 110.4% during the second quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 284 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. S&G Foundation acquired a new position in Accenture during the second quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Accenture by 57.9% during the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 210 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.14% of the company’s stock.

Accenture Trading Up 0.6% Shares of Accenture stock opened at $240.61 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $192.96 and its 200 day moving average is $175.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $160.68 billion, a PE ratio of 17.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.11. Accenture PLC has a 1 year low of $118.15 and a 1 year high of $291.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 1st. The information technology services provider reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.11. Accenture had a net margin of 11.28% and a return on equity of 26.53%. The business had revenue of $18.68 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.03 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.03 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Accenture has set its FY 2027 guidance at 14.390-14.810 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Accenture PLC will post 14.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Accenture Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.71 per share. This represents a $6.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. This is a boost from Accenture’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 13th. Accenture’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.44%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have weighed in on ACN. Argus raised their target price on Accenture from $220.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group set a $220.00 price target on Accenture in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Evercore set a $250.00 price target on Accenture and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Accenture from $136.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, September 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Accenture from $175.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $219.52.

View Our Latest Research Report on ACN

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 10,498 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.98, for a total value of $1,710,964.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 17,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,890,450.30. This represents a 37.18% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Catherine Hogan sold 1,320 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total value of $264,000.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 12,556 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,511,200. This trade represents a 9.51% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 12,518 shares of company stock valued at $2,124,932 over the last quarter. 0.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Accenture Company Profile (Free Report)

Accenture plc is a global professional services company that helps organizations transform their businesses through consulting, technology and managed services. Its work spans strategy and consulting, technology implementation, operations, and interactive customer experiences.

The company provides services in areas including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data and analytics, digital engineering, enterprise software, systems integration and business process outsourcing.

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The Q3 earnings cycle continues to roll along, with several companies ??? Accenture (ACN), Hasbro (HAS), and MSCI (MSCI)?

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture, Dragos Inc. and the SANS Institute today announced a major initiative to help strengthen cyber defenses for under-resourced U.S. utilities.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired [url="]Avicado[/url], a construction technology consultancy headquartered in Miami. Avicado joins [url="]Accenture Construct[

Accenture sells AI transformation to thousands of clients while quietly telling its own employees they get a fraction of what some were already spending. The internal memo reveals a tension at the heart of every major consulting firm racing to…

An Accenture (NYSE:ACN | ACN Price Prediction) consultant building an AI solution for several clients said Claude Code usage ran between $500 and $1,000 a month. Starting October 1, the company will centrally fund $29 per person.

Accenture told many employees in an internal memo, reported on October 15, 2026, that it will pay only that fixed monthly amount toward Claude, the AI model built by privately held Anthropic. Anything above it must be charged to a project.

Accenture sells AI transformation to roughly 9,000 clients. Internally, it now limits spending on the same tools.

Shares rose 4.63% to $224.92 on October 15 during a broad software rally unrelated to the memo, yet they remain well below the 52-week high of $291.09.

What Accenture’s Claude Memo Actually Commits To The memo, titled “Claude Enterprise Users: Important Updates to Licensing and Usage Costs,” states that “all costs are consumption-based.” Usage above the allowance goes to a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Accenture’s billing code for a project or team.

Heavy use remains possible, but it now needs a budget owner. Premium plans include $250 of weekly token usage, although many employees are not on Premium.

Access is conditional. The memo says, “Providing a WBS and obtaining a license does not guarantee indefinite or ongoing access to Claude,” and one employee lost access entirely.

Accenture did not publish the memo or say how many employees are affected. A spokesperson said, “Our approach today is to provide the right tool for the right work.”

Consumption Billing Shows What Coding AI Really Costs The $29 cap targets a consumer subscription price point. Agentic coding tools, which carry out complex tasks on their own, consume far more tokens, the units AI models bill by.

One employee said usage topped $500 a month for months, and some spent as much as $1,000. Per-seat budgets are likely to fall short once work shifts to autonomous coding.

CEO Julie Sweet said on the October 1 earnings call that falling token costs will “enable companies to use AI in more places and at scale.” The memo suggests that prices likely have further to fall before agentic coding becomes cheap enough to fund on a per-seat basis.

Why a Consultant Rations Its Own AI Accenture earns its margin on labor across roughly 814,000 employees. Unlimited token spending on that base is a cost that grows without a matching revenue line.

Charging overruns to a WBS ties AI spending to client work. Fixed-price work is over 65% of bookings, so AI costs on those contracts land on Accenture unless they were priced in.

Management guided to a 15.9% to 16.1% operating margin for fiscal 2027, which leaves little room for unmanaged expense.

Limits of a Single Secondhand Memo This is one policy, reported indirectly. Total spending, affected headcount, and whether other AI tools face similar limits remain unknown.

Accenture keeps expanding in AI, with nearly 110,000 AI and data professionals. Sweet also called the Anthropic relationship non-exclusive. For AI vendors, tight limits at the largest IT services firms could slow enterprise spending, although targeted use on proven work may last longer.

What Cost Discipline Means for Accenture’s Fiscal 2027 Outlook The memo shows cost discipline that supports fiscal 2027 guidance for GAAP EPS of $14.39 to $14.81.

The gap from the 52-week high, with market value at $134.05 billion, reflects fears that AI will reduce IT services billing. A record 141 quarterly bookings of $100 million or more argue demand is holding.

The thesis fails if management says at the next earnings report that AI tool costs are pressuring margins, or if first-quarter revenue lands below the $18.95 billion low end of guidance.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

A couple of analysts raised the price target for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) after the company outlined a multi-year growth plan at its Investor Day on Wednesday.

TD Cowen analyst Bryan C. Bergin raised his price target from $193 to $201 while keeping a Hold rating. Susquehanna analyst James Friedman raised his price target from $210 to $230 while maintaining a Neutral rating. Accenture Sets Multi-Year Growth and Shareholder Return TargetsAt its Investor Day, Accenture outlined a growth strategy focused on mid-single-digit revenue growth, continued margin expansion, strong free cash flow and substantial shareholder returns through dividends and share buybacks.

Accenture expects mid-single-digit revenue growth in local currency in fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028, accelerating to mid- to high-single-digit growth in fiscal 2029.

The company targets annual operating margin expansion of 10–30 basis points throughout fiscal 2027–2029.

Accenture expects free cash flow to net income of at least 1.1x in fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028, rising to 1.2x–1.3x in fiscal 2029. It also targets at least $9.5 billion in free cash flow in fiscal 29.

The company plans to return cash to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.

It targets a dividend payout ratio in the mid-40% range of prior-year net income in fiscal 2027, increasing to the high-40% range in fiscal 2028 and fiscal 2029.

Accenture also targets 5% dividend-per-share growth and $5.5 billion in share repurchases in fiscal 2027.

The company expects repurchases to exceed share issuances in both fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028.

TD Cowen: AI Growth Potential Faces Execution HurdlesTD Cowen analyst Bryan C. Bergin said Accenture presented a clear growth strategy as enterprise AI adoption expands, highlighting opportunities in capital projects, data and AI services, mid-market clients and operational technology cybersecurity.

However, investors remain focused on whether Accenture can accelerate growth despite AI-driven efficiencies. Execution in fiscal 2027 will be crucial to validating the company’s growth outlook.

Accenture’s multi-year growth framework draws on experience across more than 18,000 AI projects and an increase in Data and AI engagements worth more than $50 million.

Bergin added that the fiscal 2027–2029 outlook also depends on improving macroeconomic conditions and sustained mid-single-digit growth in Accenture’s core business, which accounts for 94% of revenue. Ongoing modernization in ERP, cloud, cybersecurity and data is expected to provide further growth opportunities.

Susquehanna Expects AI to Accelerate Revenue GrowthSusquehanna analyst James Friedman said Accenture’s past technology shifts, including offshoring, cloud and digital adoption, reduced costs and replaced some IT services but also stimulated demand for business services, supporting the company’s growth.

Friedman expects AI to follow a similar pattern, with revenue growth accelerating in fiscal 2029.

The analyst projects first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue growth of 2.5% to $19.2 billion and full-year fiscal 2027 revenue growth of 4% to $77.2 billion. He forecasts EPS of $3.97 for the first quarter and $14.62 for the full year.

Revenue is expected to increase 5.7% to $81.6 billion in fiscal 2028 and 7% to $87.3 billion in fiscal 2029, with EPS reaching $16.00 and $17.78, respectively.

Operating margins are projected to expand from 16% in fiscal 2027 to 16.2% in fiscal 2028 and 16.4% in fiscal 2029.

Read Next

ACN Stock Price Activity: Accenture shares were down 0.05%% at $224.90 at publication on Friday.

Photo via Shutterstock 

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First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN – Free Report) by 22.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,414 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock after buying an additional 5,125 shares during the period. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.’s holdings in Accenture were worth $5,210,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ACN. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 2.2% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,531,231 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $1,295,078,000 after buying an additional 143,483 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 120.0% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,482,150 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $690,475,000 after purchasing an additional 1,899,305 shares during the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Accenture by 84.0% in the first quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,405,683 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $477,023,000 after acquiring an additional 1,097,961 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in Accenture by 24.3% during the 1st quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 2,384,954 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $472,913,000 after purchasing an additional 466,452 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Artemis Investment Management LLP raised its stake in Accenture by 67.6% during the 3rd quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLP now owns 2,196,789 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $402,825,000 after purchasing an additional 885,687 shares during the period. 75.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Accenture Here are the key news stories impacting Accenture this week:

Positive Sentiment: Accenture outlined multi-year growth and margin targets through fiscal 2029. The plan reassured investors that the company expects sustained demand despite a cautious consulting market. Accenture growth targets Positive Sentiment: The board raised Accenture’s quarterly dividend to $1.71 per share from $1.63, supporting shareholder returns and signaling confidence in cash generation. The company also highlighted its share-repurchase activity. Accenture dividend hike and AI deals Positive Sentiment: Accenture expanded its AI and cybersecurity partnership with Anthropic, deepened its Dell alliance for private and sovereign AI infrastructure, and launched a forward-deployed engineering program with Workday. These initiatives could increase enterprise AI implementation revenue. Accenture expands AI partnerships Positive Sentiment: The acquisition of U.K. customer-intelligence company Sagacity Solutions is intended to scale AI-powered customer analytics across Accenture Song’s U.K. and Ireland operations, strengthening the company’s AI services portfolio. Accenture acquires Sagacity Solutions Neutral Sentiment: Recent quarterly results beat estimates, with revenue up 6.2% year over year, while Accenture’s valuation and free-cash-flow yield appear attractive. However, the discounted valuation may reflect investor concerns about slower future growth. Negative Sentiment: Analysts caution that cautious client spending, pricing pressure and reliance on acquisitions could limit upside. Investors also remain focused on whether AI investment will translate into higher margins and accelerated organic growth. Negative Sentiment: COO Catherine Hogan sold 700 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The relatively small, scheduled transaction is unlikely to materially alter the investment case but may weigh modestly on sentiment. Accenture insider transaction Insider Activity In related news, COO Catherine Hogan sold 700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $214.24, for a total value of $149,968.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 11,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,540,029.44. This represents a 5.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 10,498 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.98, for a total transaction of $1,710,964.04. Following the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 17,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,890,450.30. The trade was a 37.18% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 12,518 shares of company stock valued at $2,124,932. 0.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ACN has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Accenture in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Accenture from $175.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. William Blair lowered Accenture from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. Mizuho lifted their target price on Accenture from $226.00 to $241.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane lowered their target price on Accenture from $180.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, June 26th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $219.15.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ACN

Accenture Trading Up 0.4% NYSE ACN opened at $214.51 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Accenture PLC has a 1-year low of $118.15 and a 1-year high of $291.09. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $187.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is $173.93. The company has a market capitalization of $143.25 billion, a PE ratio of 15.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.11.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 1st. The information technology services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.11. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.53% and a net margin of 11.28%. The firm had revenue of $18.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.03 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.03 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Accenture has set its FY 2027 guidance at 14.390-14.810 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Accenture PLC will post 14.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Accenture declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Tuesday, June 23rd that allows the company to buy back $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the information technology services provider to buy up to 2.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Accenture Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.71 per share. This is a boost from Accenture’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 13th. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. Accenture’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.44%.

About Accenture (Free Report)

Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) is a global professional services company that helps organizations improve performance, modernize operations and respond to technological and market changes. Its services span strategy and consulting, technology, operations, and managed services, with expertise across industries including communications, financial services, health care, public service, retail, manufacturing and resources.

The company provides digital transformation, cloud migration, data and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, systems integration and technology implementation services.

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Accenture plc (ACN) Analyst/Investor Day October 14, 2026 8:30 AM EDT

Company Participants

Julie T. Sweet - CEO & Chairman
Manish Sharma - Chief Strategy & Services Officer
Lan Guan - Chief AI and Data Officer & AI and Data Reinvention Engine Lead
Rob Lee
Tracey Countryman
Marc Warner - Chief Technology Officer
John Walsh - CEO of the Americas & Market Unit Lead of US
Mauro Macchi - Chief Executive Officer of EMEA
Kate Clifford - Global Chief Leadership & Human Resources Officer
Angie Park - Chief Financial Officer
Alexia Quadrani - Executive Director of Investor Relations

Conference Call Participants

Matthew Garman - Amazon Web Services, Inc.
Thomas Kurian - Google LLC
Judson Althoff - Microsoft Corporation
Dario Amodei - Anthropic, PBC
Sarah Friar
Arvind Krishna - International Business Machines Corporation
Stephane de la Faverie - The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Kim Andersen - Telstra Group Limited
Christian Klein - SAP SE
Michael Sicilia - Oracle Corporation
Aneel Bhusri - Workday, Inc.
William McDermott - ServiceNow, Inc.
Marc Benioff - Salesforce, Inc.
Anil Chakravarthy - Adobe Inc.
Simon Roberts - J Sainsbury plc
Tien-Tsin Huang - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
James Friedman - Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP, Research Division
Stefan Slowinski - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Bryan Keane - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Jason Kupferberg - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Kevin McVeigh - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
James Faucette - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Rod Bourgeois - DeepDive Equity Research
Phani Kumar Kanumuri - HSBC Global Investment Research
Darrin Peller - Wolfe Research, LLC
David Paige Papadogonas - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Margaret Nolan - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division

Presentation

Unknown Attendee

Let me remind you that some of the matters we will discuss in today's conference, including our business outlook, are forward-looking and as such, are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those factors set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents

Key Takeaways Accenture's fiscal 2026 revenues rose 5% to $74.18 billion, with fourth-quarter growth accelerating to 7%.ACN saw over 400 clients start advanced AI projects in FY26, while Managed Services bookings hit a record.ACN trades at 14.4X forward earnings, but acquisition reliance & financing costs temper its growth outlook.
Accenture plc (ACN - Free Report) has moved higher recently, shifting attention to whether improving business momentum can sustain the advance. Fiscal 2026 revenue growth, stronger fourth-quarter activity and rising enterprise AI adoption support the case for continued demand.

The counterweight is that acquisitions will supply a meaningful share of fiscal 2027 growth while discretionary spending, pricing and financing costs remain pressure points. That mix argues for a measured view of the rally.

Accenture’s Rally Meets a Stronger Growth NarrativeFiscal 2026 revenues reached $74.18 billion, increasing 5% in local currency. Growth strengthened in the fourth quarter, when revenues rose 7% in local currency and exceeded the company’s guidance range.

For fiscal 2027, management expects 3%-6% local-currency revenue growth. Acquisitions are expected to contribute 2%-2.5%, leaving organic growth dependent on client spending and execution across consulting and managed services.

ACN’s AI Momentum Adds Fuel to the Growth CaseMore than 400 clients initiated advanced AI projects with Accenture in fiscal 2026, including nearly 100 in the fourth quarter. Bookings from eight emerging AI and data partners more than tripled from fiscal 2025, while related revenues more than doubled.

International Business Machines (IBM - Free Report) is also expanding enterprise AI through its consulting business, including new services and partnerships aimed at deploying AI across business workflows. Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH - Free Report) likewise continues to build enterprise AI capabilities, underscoring the competitive intensity around AI-led transformation services.

Managed Services Give Accenture Revenue VisibilityManaged Services generated $37.30 billion in fiscal 2026 revenues, up from $34.57 billion a year earlier and increasing 6% in local currency. The business grew faster than Consulting, which posted 3% local-currency growth for the year.

Fourth-quarter Managed Services bookings reached a record $12.77 billion, producing a 1.4 book-to-bill ratio. Full-year bookings were $43.67 billion, supporting visibility from multiyear and recurring client engagements.

ACN’s Valuation Leaves Room but Risks RemainACN trades at 14.4X forward 12-month earnings, below the Zacks sub-industry’s 18.6X and its own five-year median of 24.3X. That discount leaves room for a rerating if growth and execution improve.

                                                                          Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Risks remain. Discretionary demand has not meaningfully changed, pricing remains weak in several areas and fiscal 2027 acquisition spending is expected to total about $8 billion. The July 2026 debt offering is also expected to add roughly $250 million in annual interest expense, while lower average cash balances are expected to reduce interest income by about $100 million.

Accenture’s Signals Support a Measured ViewAccenture’s operating trends, AI demand and recurring-services base provide support for the recent advance, but the growth outlook still depends partly on acquisitions and a stable client-spending environment. The stock’s discounted valuation provides another positive offset, though execution and financing risks limit the case for a more aggressive stance.

ACN currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

ACN’s VGM Score of A and Momentum Score of A point to favorable combined style characteristics and price momentum, while its Value Score of B and Growth Score of B are also constructive. Still, Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank, and a Hold rank suggests a more balanced near-term earnings-revision picture.

Key Takeaways ACN shares surged 60% in three months as enterprise AI adoption and digital transformation fueled optimism.Fiscal 2027 revenues are projected to rise 4.2% to $77.33 billion, with earnings growth forecast at 5.1%.ACN generated $11.6 billion in free cash flow, but restrained spending and pricing pressure cloud its outlook.
Accenture (ACN - Free Report) shares have surged 60% over the past three months, significantly outperforming the industry's 6% growth. The impressive rally reflects optimism surrounding the company's expanding artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, strong enterprise relationships and digital transformation opportunities. However, following such substantial appreciation, investors must evaluate whether its earnings outlook and business fundamentals justify further upside.

                                                          Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Accenture's diversified service portfolio, strategic acquisitions and consistent cash generation support its long-term prospects. Nevertheless, restrained discretionary spending, pricing competition and modest organic revenue growth expectations suggest that investors should approach the stock cautiously.

ACN's Earnings Outlook Signals Gradual ImprovementThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Accenture's first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings stands at $3.89 per share, indicating a 1.3% year-over-year decline. Revenues are projected at $19.35 billion, indicating 3.2% growth.

For fiscal 2027, the consensus earnings estimate of $14.68 per share suggests 5.1% year-over-year growth. Revenues are expected to increase 4.2% to $77.33 billion.

                                                                  Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The outlook strengthens for fiscal 2028, with earnings projected to rise 8.2% to $15.88 per share and revenues anticipated to grow 4.7% to $80.95 billion. These estimates indicate steady business expansion, although the earnings trajectory may not fully support expectations of rapid growth following the stock's sharp rally.

Enterprise AI Adoption Expands ACN's OpportunitiesGrowing enterprise investment in AI, cloud modernization and data infrastructure continues to create opportunities for Accenture. Businesses increasingly require technology integration, process redesign and specialized expertise to deploy AI applications across operations.

In fiscal 2026, more than 400 clients initiated advanced AI engagements with Accenture. Revenues from its eight emerging AI and data partners more than doubled, while bookings more than tripled year over year.

The company's workforce of nearly 110,000 AI and data professionals strengthens its ability to execute complex transformation programs. Its extensive technology partnerships also support broader adoption of AI-driven solutions.

As organizations move toward enterprise-wide AI implementation, demand for consulting, integration and managed services could sustain long-term revenue opportunities.

Acquisitions and Strong Bookings Reinforce Growth ProspectsAccenture continues to expand its capabilities through acquisitions targeting attractive technology markets. During fiscal 2026, the company invested $4.9 billion across 17 acquisitions.

The acquisitions of Ookla and Whalar strengthened its network intelligence and digital marketing offerings, respectively. Additional cybersecurity investments broadened its presence in industrial and operational technology security.

Meanwhile, fiscal 2026 bookings reached $84.5 billion, including 141 quarterly client bookings exceeding $100 million. These contracts provide opportunities for future revenue generation as large transformation engagements progress.

Management expects fiscal 2027 revenue growth of 3-6% in local currency, including a 2-2.5% contribution from acquisitions. However, this guidance also highlights the importance of improving organic demand to sustain growth beyond acquisition-driven expansion.

Cash Flow Supports Shareholder ReturnsAccenture's strong financial position provides flexibility to pursue investments while rewarding shareholders. Fiscal 2026 free cash flow totaled $11.6 billion, increasing 7% year over year.

Adjusted operating margin expanded 20 basis points to 15.8%, reflecting operational discipline despite substantial technology and workforce investments.

For fiscal 2027, management expects free cash flow of $11-$11.8 billion and operating margin of 15.9-16.1%. Continued dividends and share repurchases should support shareholder returns.

However, elevated acquisition spending and integration requirements could moderate near-term cash flow growth.

Spending Caution and Pricing Pressures Cloud the OutlookDespite its favorable positioning, Accenture faces persistent challenges. Discretionary technology spending remains subdued as enterprises prioritize essential modernization projects over optional initiatives.

Intense competition is also creating pricing pressure across several service categories. Meanwhile, AI-driven productivity improvements could reduce traditional labor requirements and influence contract economics.

These factors may constrain organic revenue acceleration and limit margin expansion. Following the stock's substantial appreciation, slower-than-expected earnings growth could increase vulnerability to a valuation correction.

How Do ACN's Industry Peers Compare?International Business Machines (IBM - Free Report) competes in enterprise consulting, hybrid cloud and AI implementation. IBM integrated technology portfolio helps organizations modernize infrastructure, automate workflows and improve operational efficiency.

IBM benefits from combining consulting services with proprietary software capabilities, supporting enterprise transformation opportunities. However, cautious technology budgets and competitive pressures could affect consulting growth.

Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH - Free Report) offers digital engineering, cloud transformation, consulting and AI-enabled business services. CTSH’s enterprise technology capabilities position it to capture demand for application modernization and intelligent automation.

CTSH continues to expand its AI-focused offerings to improve service delivery and client productivity. Nevertheless, discretionary spending constraints and pricing competition remain important risks to its growth outlook.

Verdict: Hold ACN Stock After the RallyAccenture remains well positioned to benefit from enterprise AI adoption, technology modernization and growing demand for integrated digital services. Its diversified client base, expanding capabilities and consistent cash generation strengthen its long-term investment appeal. However, the recent share-price rally has raised expectations at a time when organic growth remains moderate and discretionary spending continues to face uncertainty. Competitive pricing and acquisition-related execution risks could further restrict near-term returns. While existing investors have reasons to maintain exposure to the company's growth opportunities, fresh investments appear less compelling following the sharp appreciation. Therefore, holding Accenture stock is the more prudent strategy.

Accenture carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

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Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

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To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Accenture (ACN - Free Report) Accenture plc is a leading global professional services company focused on helping enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and applying AI across the organization. Years of investment in digital, cloud and security have supported its position as a trusted adviser to large companies and governments. Fiscal 2025 revenues were $69.7 billion, up 7.4% year over year.

ACN is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. ACN has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 5.1% for the current fiscal year.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $14.68 per share. ACN boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, ACN should be on investors' short list.

Wedmont Private Capital acquired a new position in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN – Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 2,470 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $453,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ACN. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Accenture by 10.4% during the 2nd quarter. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 74,187 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $9,232,000 after purchasing an additional 7,018 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 72.4% in the 2nd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 19,455 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $2,421,000 after purchasing an additional 8,169 shares during the period. Dearborn Partners LLC purchased a new position in Accenture in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,108,000. Bright Rock Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Accenture in the second quarter valued at approximately $7,466,000. Finally, Foster & Motley Inc. bought a new position in Accenture during the second quarter valued at $2,628,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.14% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes ACN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reissued a “reduce” rating on shares of Accenture in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. BMO Capital Markets set a $235.00 price target on Accenture in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Accenture from $175.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, DA Davidson decreased their price objective on Accenture from $275.00 to $175.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 23rd. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $219.15.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ACN Accenture Price Performance Shares of NYSE ACN opened at $214.86 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $143.48 billion, a PE ratio of 15.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.11. Accenture PLC has a fifty-two week low of $118.15 and a fifty-two week high of $291.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.43. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $185.50 and a 200-day moving average of $173.65.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 1st. The information technology services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $18.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.03 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.53% and a net margin of 11.28%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.03 EPS. Accenture has set its FY 2027 guidance at 14.390-14.810 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Accenture PLC will post 14.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Accenture Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 13th will be issued a $1.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 13th. This is a positive change from Accenture’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. Accenture’s payout ratio is currently 48.08%.

Accenture declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, June 23rd that allows the company to buy back $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the information technology services provider to repurchase up to 2.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

More Accenture News Here are the key news stories impacting Accenture this week:

Positive Sentiment: Strong results and optimistic valuation: Accenture reportedly exceeded fourth-quarter revenue and EPS expectations, helping reset investor sentiment. Fiscal 2027 guidance calls for 3%–6% revenue growth, including contributions from acquisitions, while free cash flow is expected to reach at least $11 billion. The company is targeting more than $9.5 billion in dividends and share repurchases. At roughly 14.3 times forward earnings and an estimated free-cash-flow yield above 8%, ACN remains substantially below historical valuation levels, which could support further upside. Accenture: Market Sentiment Resets, But The Valuation Remains Deeply Discounted Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option activity: Investors purchased 58,099 Accenture call options, approximately 248% above the average volume. While options activity can reflect speculation or hedging, the concentration in calls suggests increased bullish interest in the shares. Positive Sentiment: Value-stock recognition: Zacks highlighted Accenture as a highly ranked value stock and included it among standout performers in its research portfolios, potentially attracting additional value-oriented investor interest. Accenture Is a Top-Ranked Value Stock Positive Sentiment: Dividend support: Accenture was listed among companies that raised their dividends, reinforcing the investment case based on income and capital returns. 3 Stocks Raise Dividends Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and investors are assessing Accenture’s outlook following its latest results, with future performance likely tied to organic growth, acquisitions and continued demand for technology services. What’s Next for Accenture After Q4 Results? Negative Sentiment: Accenture’s chief operating officer sold approximately $264,000 of company stock. The relatively small transaction may create limited pressure, but insider selling can weigh modestly on sentiment. Accenture COO Sells Stock Insider Transactions at Accenture In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 10,498 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.98, for a total transaction of $1,710,964.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 17,735 shares in the company, valued at $2,890,450.30. The trade was a 37.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Catherine Hogan sold 1,320 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.00, for a total transaction of $264,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 12,556 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,511,200. The trade was a 9.51% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the company’s stock.

Accenture Profile (Free Report)

Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) is a global professional services company that helps organizations improve performance, modernize operations and respond to technological and market changes. Its services span strategy and consulting, technology, operations, and managed services, with expertise across industries including communications, financial services, health care, public service, retail, manufacturing and resources.

The company provides digital transformation, cloud migration, data and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, systems integration and technology implementation services.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Accenture Salesforce Just Got a Rare Double Upgrade—What Changed? OpenAI’s Revenue Scare Could Be a Big Opportunity for Investors China Still Dominates Rare Earths—These 3 U.S. Companies Could Benefit 3 REITs That May Win in a Higher Interest Rate Environment Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN – Free Report).

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ACN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Key Takeaways HF Sinclair shares surged 49% after its Zacks Rank upgrade, while LifeStance Health gained 14.6%.Accenture jumped 54.6% over 12 weeks, while Mettler-Toledo International delivered a 19.6% return.FirstCash surged 36.3% since the 2026 Zacks Top 10 list launched, versus the S&P 500's 14% gain. Last week's performance of the major indexes reflected a shift in investor sentiment, as strong employment data competed with growing inflation fears and higher interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.75%, led by strong gains in blue-chip, cyclical, and value stocks, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.48%, reflecting broad market strength despite lingering headwinds. In contrast, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.40%, weighed down by profit-taking and mild pullbacks in mega-cap growth stocks. Overall, the market performance suggests that investors are shifting toward defensive and value-oriented stocks over high-growth technology shares.

Initial jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 197,000, staying below 200,000 for the fourth straight week, signaling that layoffs remain limited. But September payrolls rose by only 29,000, highlighting a sluggish labor market. The services sector remained in growth territory, although manufacturing activity fell short of expectations. Meanwhile, the U.S. trade deficit widened to $105.6 billion in August, its deepest level in 18 months, as imports and exports increased. Rising oil prices, partly linked to the Iran conflict, added to the economic uncertainty.

Financial markets also faced pressure from elevated bond yields and inflation concerns. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 5.3%, while the 30-year yield reached levels not seen since 2002, increasing borrowing costs for households and businesses. Rising Treasury yields increased borrowing costs, and weak consumer sentiment raised concerns about growth. Consumer sentiment also remained weak, with the University of Michigan index expected to stay below 50. Despite these challenges, optimism about third-quarter earnings supported investors. Markets will closely watch upcoming inflation data, Federal Reserve signals and corporate results.

Regardless of market conditions, we, here at Zacks, provide investors with unbiased guidance on how to beat the market. 

As usual, Zacks Research guided investors over the past three months with its time-tested methodologies. Given the prevailing market uncertainty, you may want to look at our forecasts to better prepare for your next action.

Here are some of our key achievements:

HF Sinclair and LifeStance Health Following Zacks Rank UpgradeShares of HF Sinclair Corporation (DINO - Free Report) have gained 49% (versus the S&P 500’s 0.7% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)  on August 10.

Another stock, LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (LFST - Free Report) , which was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on August 10, has returned 14.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 0.7% increase) since then.

Zacks Rank, our short-term rating system, has earnings estimate revisions at its core. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. 

A portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 3.9 percentage points this year. Through October 5 this year, the Zacks # 1 Rank portfolio returned +16.9%, which compares to a +13% gain for the S&P 500 index and an +8.1% gain for the equal-weight version of the index in the same time period.

Since its inception in 1988, this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks has outperformed the market by 12.2 percentage points. The average annual return for this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks since inception in 1988 was +23.8% through October 5, which compares to a +11.6% gain for the S&P 500 index and a +11.2% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.

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Check LifeStance Health’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>

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Zacks Recommendation Upgrades TAL Education & AvnetShares of TAL Education Group (TAL - Free Report) and Avnet (AVT - Free Report) have advanced 6.4% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.1% increase) and 2.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.3% increase), respectively, since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on August 6 and August 7, respectively.

While the Zacks Rank is our short-term rating system that is most effective over the one- to three-month holding horizon, the Zacks Recommendation aims to predict performance over the next 6 to 12 months. Through October 5, 2026, the Zacks Outperform-rated stocks produced a +14.2% return, which compares to a +13% return for the S&P 500 index.

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Zacks Focus List HCA Healthcare, AMD Shoot UpShares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 11% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on January 7, 2019. Another Focus-List holding, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) , which was added to the portfolio on May 19, 2025, has returned 9% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced by 3.2% over this period.

The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +13.78% in the year-to-date period (through September 30th, 2026) vs. +12.75% for the S&P 500 index and +10.03% for the equal-weight version of the index.

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The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +18.41% in 2024 vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. The portfolio had returned +29.54% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +13.61% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. In 2022, the portfolio returned -15.2% vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.

Through September 30, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since 2004 have been +17.49% (vs. +15.74% for the S&P 500 index), +24.4% (vs. +22.9%), +13.5% (vs. +13.8%), +16.4% (vs. +15.3%) and +12.4% vs. (+10.9%), respectively.

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Zacks ECAP Stocks Accenture & Mettler-Toledo International Make Significant GainsAccenture plc (ACN - Free Report) , a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 54.6% over the past 12 weeks. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (MTD - Free Report) has followed Accenture with 19.6% returns.

The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -4.7% in 2026 (through September 30, 2026) vs. +12.75% for the S&P 500 index.

For 2025, the portfolio returned -1.67% vs. a +17.9% gain for the S&P 500 index. For the year 2024, the portfolio returned +16.26% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index (SPY ETF). In 2023, the portfolio returned +12.17% vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index. The portfolio returned -4.7% in 2022 vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.

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Zacks ECDP Stocks Tractor Supply and American Tower Outperform PeersTractor Supply Company (TSCO - Free Report) , which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 10.8% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, American Tower Corporation (AMT - Free Report) , has increased 8.1% over the same time frame. Of course, the inclination of investors toward quality dividend stocks to secure an income stream amid heightened market volatility contributed to this performance.

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With an extremely low beta and a history of minimum earnings variability over the last 20+ years, this 25-stock portfolio helps to significantly mitigate risk.

The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned +2.01% in the year-to-date period (through September 30t) vs. +12.75% for the S&P 500 index.

The portfolio returned -0.6% in 2025 vs. a +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrats ETF. For the full year 2024, the portfolio returned +6.95% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index and +6.72% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -0.9% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +8.11% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -2.3% in 2022 vs. -17.96% for the S&P 500 index and -8.34% for NOBL.

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Zacks Top 10 Stock FirstCash Delivers Solid ReturnsFirstCash Holdings, Inc. (FCFS - Free Report) , from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026, has jumped 36.3% since the list was released on January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 index’s 14% increase during this period.

The Top 10 portfolio returned +8.34% in the year-to-date 2026 period (through September 30) vs. +12.75% for the S&P 500 index and +10.03% for the equal-weight version of the index.

The Top 10 portfolio returned +22.6% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.

The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio had returned +25.15% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index.

Through the end of September 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,706.5% since 2012 vs. +645.9% for the S&P 500 index and +453.8% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +25.1% in the period 2012 through September 30, 2026, vs. +13.5% for the S&P 500 index and +10.8% for the equal-weight version of the index.

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The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.86% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Accenture (ACN - Free Report) Accenture plc is a leading global professional services company focused on helping enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and applying AI across the organization. Years of investment in digital, cloud and security have supported its position as a trusted adviser to large companies and governments. Fiscal 2025 revenues were $69.7 billion, up 7.4% year over year.

ACN is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. ACN has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 17.1% over the past four weeks.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $14.68 per share. ACN boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, ACN should be on investors' short list.

SummaryAccenture delivered strong Q4 results, dispelling fears that AI adoption would hurt demand; instead, AI is driving transformational projects and operational efficiency.Q4 revenue grew 7% in constant currency, exceeding guidance, with robust bookings momentum and broad-based demand across consulting and managed services.AI is both a growth and margin driver for ACN, with productivity gains supporting operating leverage and a shift toward fixed-price, outcome-based contracts.Shares remain attractively valued at ~13.3x FY27 EPS, with buybacks, dividends, and federal spend normalization supporting a buy rating. HJBC/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Investment Thesis Accenture’s (ACN) recent results have significantly strengthened the bull case. The company’s Q4 results indicate that investor concerns about AI being a headwind for the business are not justified. Instead, AI adoption is resulting

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Park National Corp OH reduced its holdings in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN – Free Report) by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 206,295 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock after selling 13,753 shares during the period. Accenture accounts for about 1.0% of Park National Corp OH’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Park National Corp OH’s holdings in Accenture were worth $37,828,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Accenture by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 28,264,675 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $7,583,462,000 after purchasing an additional 129,610 shares during the period. Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 17,471,554 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $4,687,867,000 after acquiring an additional 343,420 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of Accenture by 15.9% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 8,173,338 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $2,192,907,000 after purchasing an additional 1,122,855 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in Accenture by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 5,393,818 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $1,447,161,000 after buying an additional 63,760 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Accenture by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,531,231 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $1,295,078,000 after buying an additional 143,483 shares during the period. 75.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Accenture In other Accenture news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 10,498 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.98, for a total value of $1,710,964.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 17,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,890,450.30. This trade represents a 37.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.02% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Accenture News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Accenture this week: Positive Sentiment: Accenture’s forecast for stronger-than-expected annual revenue growth helped lift India’s Nifty IT Index and eased concerns that artificial intelligence could sharply reduce technology-services spending. The outlook suggests resilient demand for consulting, digital transformation and AI-related services. Accenture forecast boosts Indian IT stocks, lifts Nifty IT index Positive Sentiment: Accenture completed its acquisition of Denmark-based Mjølner Informatics, adding software-engineering expertise serving energy, utilities and manufacturing clients. The deal should strengthen its regional capabilities and industry-specific offerings, although it is unlikely to materially change near-term financial results. Accenture completes acquisition of Mjølner Informatics Positive Sentiment: A valuation-focused analysis highlights Accenture’s approximately $11.6 billion in annual free cash flow, strong return on equity, share repurchases and dividends. These factors may support downside protection and shareholder returns while the stock trades below its prior peak. Is Accenture Really Priced Like Its Best Days Are Over? Analysts Set New Price Targets ACN has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Accenture in a research report on Wednesday. Wolfe Research raised their target price on shares of Accenture from $165.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $220.00 price target on Accenture in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Accenture from $175.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Dbs Bank downgraded shares of Accenture from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $218.59.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Accenture

Accenture Price Performance NYSE ACN traded down $4.65 during trading on Monday, hitting $194.25. 3,002,352 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,981,185. The company has a market cap of $129.72 billion, a PE ratio of 14.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Accenture PLC has a fifty-two week low of $118.15 and a fifty-two week high of $291.09. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $180.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $173.46.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 1st. The information technology services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $18.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.03 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.28% and a return on equity of 26.53%. The firm’s revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.03 EPS. Accenture has set its FY 2027 guidance at 14.390-14.810 EPS. Research analysts expect that Accenture PLC will post 14.68 EPS for the current year.

Accenture announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, June 23rd that permits the company to buyback $2.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the information technology services provider to repurchase up to 2.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Accenture Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 13th will be given a dividend of $1.71 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 13th. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. This is an increase from Accenture’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. Accenture’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.08%.

Accenture Company Profile (Free Report)

Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) is a global professional services company that helps organizations improve performance, modernize operations and respond to technological and market changes. Its services span strategy and consulting, technology, operations, and managed services, with expertise across industries including communications, financial services, health care, public service, retail, manufacturing and resources.

The company provides digital transformation, cloud migration, data and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, systems integration and technology implementation services.

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Have you looked into how Accenture (ACN - Free Report) performed internationally during the quarter ending August 2026? Considering the widespread global presence of this consulting company, examining the trends in international revenues is essential for assessing its financial resilience and prospects for growth.

In today's increasingly interconnected global economy, a company's ability to tap into international markets can be a pivotal factor in shaping its overall financial health and growth trajectory. For investors, understanding a company's reliance on overseas markets has become increasingly crucial, as it offers insights into the company's sustainability of earnings, ability to tap into diverse economic cycles and overall growth potential.

Being present in international markets serves as a counterbalance to domestic economic challenges while offering chances to engage with more rapidly evolving economies. However, this kind of diversification introduces challenges like currency fluctuations, geopolitical uncertainties and varying market trends.

In our recent assessment of ACN's quarterly performance, we discovered notable trends in its overseas revenue sections, which are typically modeled and scrutinized by Wall Street analysts.

The company's total revenue for the quarter stood at $18.68 billion, increasing 6.2% year over year. Now, let's delve into ACN's international revenue breakdown to gain insights into the significance of its operations beyond home turf.

A Closer Look at ACN's Revenue Streams AbroadDuring the quarter, Europe, Middle East and Africa contributed $6.58 billion in revenue, making up 35.2% of the total revenue. When compared to the consensus estimate of $6.66 billion, this meant a surprise of -1.2%. Looking back, Europe, Middle East and Africa contributed $6.87 billion, or 36.7%, in the previous quarter, and $6.2 billion, or 35.2%, in the same quarter of the previous year.

Asia Pacific accounted for 14.3% of the company's total revenue during the quarter, translating to $2.67 billion. Revenues from this region represented a surprise of +39.54%, with Wall Street analysts collectively expecting $1.91 billion. When compared to the preceding quarter and the same quarter in the previous year, Asia Pacific contributed $2.71 billion (14.5%) and $2.6 billion (14.8%) to the total revenue, respectively.

International Revenue PredictionsIt is projected by analysts on Wall Street that Accenture will post revenues of $19.32 billion for the ongoing fiscal quarter, an increase of 3.1% from the year-ago quarter. The expected contributions from Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific to this revenue are 38.8%, and 10.9%, translating into $7.49 billion, and $2.1 billion, respectively.

For the full year, the company is expected to generate $77.17 billion in total revenue, up 4% from the previous year. Revenues from Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific are expected to constitute 37.8% ($29.2 billion), and 9.6% ($7.41 billion) of the total, respectively.

Wrapping UpAccenture's leaning on foreign markets for its revenue stream presents a mix of chances and challenges. Therefore, a vigilant watch on its international revenue movements can greatly aid in projecting the company's future direction.

In an era of growing international interdependencies and escalating geopolitical disputes, Wall Street analysts are vigilant in tracking these trends for businesses with a global reach, in order to refine their predictions of earnings. It should be noted, however, that a multitude of other elements, such as a company's domestic position, also play a significant role in shaping the earnings forecasts.

At Zacks, we place significant importance on a company's evolving earnings outlook. This is based on empirical evidence demonstrating its strong influence on a stock's short-term price movements. Invariably, there exists a positive relationship -- an upward revision in earnings estimates is typically mirrored by a rise in the stock price.

The Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating mechanism, demonstrates a notable performance history confirmed through external audits. It effectively utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions to act as a predictor of a stock's price performance in the near term.

Accenture currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Assessing Accenture's Stock Price Movement in Recent TimesOver the past month, the stock has gained 6.5% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 0.6% increase. The Zacks Computer and Technology sector, of which Accenture is a part, has risen 6.4% over the same period. The company's shares have increased 47.1% over the past three months compared to the S&P 500's 2.7% increase. Over the same period, the sector has risen 5.3%

A search giant, a workflow platform, a payment network, and a consultancy are now among the most aggressive acquirers in cybersecurity, and their motivations have little to do with selling security products.

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The biggest buyers in cybersecurity are a search and cloud company, a workflow software vendor, a payment network, and a consultancy. None sells security as its main business. The four acquirers below are ranked by size and strategic weight of announced security deals.

1. Alphabet: Wiz Turns Security Into a Cloud Sales Tool On March 11, 2026, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL | GOOGL Price Prediction) completed its $32 billion acquisition of Wiz, a cloud security company. Wiz joins the Mandiant and Chronicle/SecOps assets Google already owned.

Security is often the first question enterprises ask before moving workloads to the cloud. Google Cloud grew 82% year over year to $24.77 billion in Q2 FY26, and the CEO pointed to “strong demand for our security solutions.” Security helps sell cloud capacity. Next to a market cap of about $4.2 trillion, Wiz is small.

The stock trades at $343.50, up 9.0% year to date. The main risk is that customers on rival cloud platforms may hesitate now that Google owns Wiz.

2. ServiceNow Wants to Own the Incident From Alert to Fix ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) completed its purchase of Veza on March 2, 2026, and Armis on April 20, 2026. Fortune described an $8 billion cybersecurity acquisition as the center of this strategy in an August 19, 2026, feature.

ServiceNow already runs the ticket queue where security incidents get routed. Armis “already tracks 7 billion of those devices in real time,” said ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott, and Veza maps human, machine, and AI identities. Together, they let ServiceNow own the workflow from detection to remediation. Security and risk solutions featured in 16 of ServiceNow’s top 20 deals in Q2. Even so, the security business runs on top of the core ITSM platform, and the purchase price is a fraction of a market cap of about $138.9 billion.

Shares trade at $134.38, down 8.9% year to date, at a trailing P/E of 84. Note that management expects Armis integration to pressure margins before they normalize by FY 2027.

3. Visa Buys Fraud Defense for Its Own Network Visa (NYSE:V) agreed to buy BioCatch for $2.4 billion on August 3, 2026. The deal has been announced but not yet completed.

BioCatch’s behavioral biometrics spot fraud by studying how users type, tap, and swipe. For Visa, that means lower fraud losses in its core payments business. Risk and security services are “collectively growing north of 20%,” according to Visa CEO Ryan McInerney. Agentic commerce adds another reason, as it requires “trust that the agent is authorized.” The purchase price is small next to $11.63 billion of net revenue in fiscal Q3 alone.

Shares trade at $360.66, down 2.2% over the past month. Visa has no record of running a standalone security vendor, making integration harder.

4. Accenture Builds an OT Security Platform Deal by Deal In fiscal Q3 2026, Accenture (NYSE:ACN) agreed to buy a majority stake in Dragos plus all of runZero and NetRise. All three secure operational technology (OT), meaning industrial control systems in places like factories and utilities. According to the company’s October 1, 2026, earnings call, the deals closed in September. Accenture has disclosed a combined transaction enterprise value near $4.18 billion. The three deals were part of a platform expansion spread across 17 acquisitions in fiscal 2026 and 2027.

Accenture already integrates the factory and utility systems these tools protect. OT security brings product revenue with “non-FTE commercial models,” meaning revenue not charged by headcount. Security remains a piece of a business with $74.2 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue.

Shares rose 11.1% in the month ending October 5, 2026, closing at $198.90, but are down 23.5% year to date. The main risk is that a consultancy now has to run software platforms. The CEO acknowledged such deals “may not make as big a contribution … in the first couple of years.”

Buyer Pool Is Wider Than Investors Model SecurityWeek counted 37 cybersecurity deals announced in June 2026, 21 in July, and 33 in August, mostly involving private targets. These four acquirers are buying security to protect and enhance their core businesses. Any large company with a data problem is now a serious buyer of security assets, making the acquirer pool much larger than the security vendors investors track.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN) enters fiscal 2027 with stronger bookings and revenue momentum. Still, analysts remain divided over whether the improvement can translate into sustained organic growth as pricing pressure, acquisition dependence and elevated investment remain in focus.

The stock slid almost 6% to $200 as investors took profits following the stock’s record-setting rally of over 20% on October 1, marking their strongest single-day performance after it reported blowout fiscal fourth-quarter results.

Strong Q4 Improves Near-Term PictureAccenture reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $18.679 billion, up 7% year over year in constant currency. Adjusted EPS reached $3.29, while adjusted operating margin expanded 20 basis points to 15.3%.

The company also returned to bookings growth, with new bookings rising 5% in constant currency after declining 3% in the third quarter.

Guggenheim Questions Durability Of Organic GrowthGuggenheim analyst Jonathan Lee reiterated a Neutral rating, saying the quarter exceeded expectations but did not settle the debate around Accenture’s ability to reaccelerate organic growth.

Lee said stronger small-deal activity, faster project mobilization, acquisition outperformance, federal-business strength and additional delivery capacity contributed to the quarter.

However, he views several of those drivers as specific to the period rather than clear signs of lasting demand improvement.

Accenture expects fiscal 2027 constant-currency revenue growth of 3%-6%, including roughly 2%-2.5% from acquisitions.

Lee estimates that implies organic growth of about 0.5%-4%, with the midpoint near 2%.

Guggenheim raised its fiscal 2027 revenue estimate to $76.799 billion from $75.953 billion and adjusted EPS forecast to $14.56 from $14.42.

For fiscal 2028, the firm lifted its revenue estimate to $79.893 billion from $79.018 billion and adjusted EPS forecast to $16.27 from $15.15.

Lee expects operating-margin expansion toward the low end of Accenture’s 10-30 basis-point guidance range as investment and pricing pressure weigh on profitability.

BNP Paribas Sees Clearer Growth ImprovementBNP Paribas analyst Stefan Slowinski also maintained a Neutral rating but took a more constructive view of the fourth-quarter acceleration.

Slowinski estimates Accenture’s 7% constant-currency revenue growth represented about 5.5% organic growth, up from roughly 1.5% in the third quarter.

He attributed the improvement to stronger smaller discretionary deals, better performance from acquired businesses and the federal unit, faster project starts and more working days.

Still, he noted that Accenture’s fiscal 2027 guidance does not assume continued strength in discretionary projects and already incorporates additional pricing pressure.

Fiscal 2027 Growth Could Be Back-End WeightedAccenture guided to 2%-6% constant-currency revenue growth for the first quarter, leading Slowinski to expect fiscal 2027 growth to lean more heavily toward the second half.

He also expects first-half margins could fall below the company’s roughly 16% full-year target as Accenture absorbs recent acquisitions and continues investing.

The company plans about $5 billion of incremental M&A in fiscal 2027, while acquisitions are expected to contribute 2%-2.5% of annual revenue, up from 1.5% in fiscal 2026.

Analysts Keep Neutral Ratings Despite Higher EstimatesBNP Paribas raised its Accenture price forecast by 58% to $205 while maintaining a Neutral rating.

Slowinski values the stock using an approximately 10% free-cash-flow yield on his fiscal 2028 estimate, compared with 15% previously, reflecting an improved growth outlook and potential support from higher headcount and acquisitions.

Lee, meanwhile, sees the shares as relatively full at about 13 times Guggenheim’s revised fiscal 2028 EPS estimate.

Both analysts see Accenture’s October 14 Investor Day as an important opportunity for management to outline how it can sustain organic growth while managing pricing pressure, investment needs and a greater contribution from acquisitions.

ACN Price Action: Accenture shares were down 5.63% at $200.34 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Accenture plc's new quarterly results brought game-changing news, which drove a valuation hike. ACN's recovery has just started with over 20% total return since my last strong buy rating. I expect further double-digit upside. Management guides for 3–6% revenue growth, 15.9–16.1% operating margin, and $5B in acquisitions for fiscal 2027, signaling confidence in long-term growth.

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) on Thursday reported upbeat fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results and also issued a fiscal 2027 revenue outlook above Wall Street expectations.

Accenture reported fourth-quarter earnings of $3.29 per share, beating the analyst estimate of $3.18. Revenue rose 6% year over year in U.S. dollars, or 7% in local currency, to $18.70 billion. That beat the consensus estimate of $18.03 billion.

Accenture expects fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings of $14.39 to $14.81 per share, compared with the analyst estimate of $14.63. The company projects revenue of $76.43 billion to $78.65 billion, compared with the $76.41 billion analyst estimate.

For the first quarter, the company expects revenue of $18.95 billion to $19.60 billion. Wall Street expects $19.36 billion.

Accenture Chair and CEO Julie Sweet said, “We exceeded our fourth-quarter revenue guidance range and capped off another year of broad-based growth across our business, grew adjusted EPS 8%, returned a record $11.5 billion to shareholders and reached a new high of 141 quarterly client bookings of $100 million or more. These results reflect the continued trust our clients place in us to help them reinvent and create value, the high level of innovation we bring every day and the extraordinary commitment of our Reinventors to our clients’ success.”

Accenture shares fell 0.5% to $211.22 in pre-market trading.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on Accenture following earnings announcement.

Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette maintained the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $175 to $195. Susquehanna analyst James Friedman maintained the stock with a Neutral and raised the price target from $153 to $210. Argus Research analyst Jim Kelleher maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $220 to $260. Considering buying ACN stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Accenture shed nearly 60% from its peak on fears that AI would gut its consulting revenue, then surged in a single session after earnings. One analyst still sees 30% upside from here, but the broader Wall Street consensus tells a…

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Accenture (NYSE:ACN | ACN Price Prediction) currently trades at $212.69. The Street-high price target of $275.00 suggests about 29.3% upside.

Accenture is one of the largest consulting and IT managed services firms globally, posting fiscal 2026 revenue of $74.2 billion. Wall Street viewed it as a test case: does generative AI shrink billable work that IT services firms depend on?

The latest earnings report gave investors a partial answer, and the stock rose 15.99% in a single session. Even after that jump, the gap to the most optimistic target is still large.

AI Cannibalization Fears Cut Accenture in Half Before the Rebound The selloff came from fear that AI would cannibalize Accenture’s core revenue. Shares fell from a 52-week high of $285.21 to $116.75, a 59% drawdown for a stock with a beta of 1.092.

In the third quarter, new bookings fell 2% in U.S. dollars and 3% in local currency, and revenue came in below estimates for the only time in six quarters ($18.72 billion versus $18.74 billion expected). Federal work wind-down cost about one percentage point of fiscal 2026 growth.

UBS Holds Its $275 Target as Fourth-Quarter Results Back Its Thesis UBS Group (NYSE:UBS) analyst Kevin McVeigh reiterated a Buy rating with a $275.00 target. His thesis: Accenture is turning AI into revenue at scale, has a large backlog of digital transformation work, and its size allows it win market share as IT spending recovers.

Fourth-quarter results support that view. Revenue of $18.68 billion beat the $18.04 billion consensus. Bookings reached $22.2 billion with a 1.2 book-to-bill ratio, and quarterly client bookings of $100 million or more hit a record 141 for the year. The CEO said, “We continue to believe the opportunities related to AI are greater than the impact of AI-related efficiencies on our business.”

Treat the UBS target with skepticism. Ratings split: 3 Strong Buy, 11 Buy, 13 Hold and zero Sell. The average target of $193.03 is about 9.2% below where the stock trades now, suggesting many analysts have not updated targets since the rally. Fiscal 2027 EPS estimates barely moved at $14.6642 versus $14.6730 90 days ago.

IT Services Sold Off Together, but Accenture Carries the Biggest Bull Case International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) is down 22.28% year to date at $225.72. Its average target of $240.59 means 6.6% upside. Ratings stand at 3 Strong Buy, 10 Buy, 10 Hold, 1 Sell and 1 Strong Sell. Barron’s said IBM got a boost from Accenture’s earnings.

Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:CTSH) is down 25.39% year to date at $60.88. Its average target of $65.1 means 6.9% upside, with 3 Strong Buy, 10 Buy and 16 Hold ratings.

Wall Street sees single-digit upside for both peers. Only Accenture has a top analyst target pointing toward 30%.

Accenture Still Trails the S&P 500 by Nearly 31 Points This Year Shares currently sit at $212.69. That is about 29.3% below the UBS target of $275.00 but above the $193.03 consensus. Twenty-eight analysts release fiscal 2027 EPS estimates, and the stock trades at about 15x those estimates.

Year to date, Accenture is down 18.62%, while the S&P 500 is up 12.04%. Over one year, the stock is down 9.8%, compared with a 14.3% gain for the index. Over the past week, the stock rose 19.89%.

I Lean Toward Accenture, but Organic Growth Has to Show Up The upside argument strengthens if managed services deals close in fiscal 2027 and federal work becomes the “significant contributor” management expects. With an operating margin of 15.9% to 16.1% and $5.5 billion in planned buybacks, EPS can grow even with modest revenue growth.

Pricing declines would strengthen the downside argument if pricing continues slipping. Management reported lower pricing in many areas in the fourth quarter. Acquisitions are expected to add 2 to 2.5% of the 3 to 6% growth guidance, leaving little organic growth. Quarterly free cash flow fell 25.3% year over year.

I lean modestly bullish. The AI cannibalization case looks weaker after this quarter, but most analysts have not raised targets. The $275 target is possible but far from a base case.

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Accenture (ACN - Free Report) ) stock surged over 15% on Thursday after the consulting and IT services giant delivered better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results and issued an encouraging outlook for fiscal 2027.

The rally was particularly significant considering ACN shares have experienced heightened volatility this year as investors worried that artificial intelligence could disrupt traditional consulting and technology-services demand.

Following the post-earnings surge, ACN is still down 20% year to date, raising the question of whether the rebound can continue.

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Accenture's Strong Q4 Results Accenture reported Q4 adjusted earnings of $3.29 per share, topping expectations of $3.19 by 3% and increasing more than 8% from Q4 EPS of $3.03 a year ago. Revenue increased 6% year over year to $18.68 billion, also exceeding estimates of $18.01 billion.

For the full year fiscal 2026, Accenture’s revenue rose to $74.2 billion, up 6%, with adjusted EPS increasing 8% YoY to $13.97.

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More encouragingly, Q4 new bookings increased 4% to $22.17 billion, with consulting bookings totaling $9.4 billion and managed services bookings reaching $12.77 billion. Accenture also recorded a quarterly record of 141 client bookings worth at least $100 million.

The results help ease concerns that AI will simply replace Accenture's consulting services. Instead, rising enterprise adoption of AI could create substantial opportunities as companies turn to Accenture for help integrating the technology across their businesses.

Accenture's Growth Outlook Remains SolidFor FY27, management expects revenue growth of 3%-6% in local currency and GAAP EPS of $14.39-$14.81, representing 6%-9% growth YoY and 3%-6% growth compared with FY26 adjusted EPS. Accenture also expects $11-$11.8 billion in free cash flow and plans to return at least $9.5 billion to shareholders.

The guidance suggests Accenture can maintain moderate growth while continuing to expand profitability and generate substantial cash flow.

Is ACN Stock Worth Chasing?Even after Thursday's massive rally to over $200 a share, ACN trades at roughly 15X the midpoint of management's FY27 EPS guidance.

That valuation remains very reasonable for a highly profitable technology-services leader with strong cash generation, although a 15% one-day surge naturally makes aggressively chasing the stock less appealing.

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That said, ACN remains appealing to income investors, with it noteworthy that Accenture raised its quarterly dividend by 5% to $1.71 per share. ACN yields over 3%, which is relatively uncommon in the tech sector and highlights the company's shareholder-friendly capital allocation strategy.

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Bottom LineAccenture's Q4 results were impressive, with better-than-expected revenue, strong bookings, and reassuring FY27 guidance helping push back against fears that AI could significantly disrupt its business.

Still, after such a dramatic post-earnings surge, investors may want to avoid aggressively chasing ACN shares and allow the rally to settle. Accenture stock currently lands a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), supporting a more patient stance despite the company's improved fundamental outlook.