EXPO vs ACN

For growth investors, Accenture plc (ACN) is the stronger pick with 7.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 2% for Exponent, Inc. (EXPO). Accenture plc (ACN) offers the better valuation at 14. 8x trailing P/E (13. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Exponent, Inc. (EXPO) a "Buy" — based on 8 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Accenture plc (ACN) is the cheapest at 14.

8x versus Exponent, Inc. at 30. 6x. On forward P/E, Accenture plc is actually cheaper at 13. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Accenture plc wins at 1. 44x versus Exponent, Inc. 's 5. 18x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Exponent, Inc.

(EXPO) delivered a total return of -28. 5%, compared to -29. 5% for Accenture plc (ACN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXPO returned +186. 1% versus ACN's +89. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Accenture plc (ACN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

85β versus Exponent, Inc. 's 0. 89β — meaning EXPO is approximately 4% more volatile than ACN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Exponent, Inc. (EXPO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 25% for Accenture plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Accenture plc (ACN) is pulling ahead at 7.

4% versus 4. 2% for Exponent, Inc. (EXPO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Accenture plc grew EPS 6. 2% year-over-year, compared to -1. 9% for Exponent, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXPO leads at 4. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Exponent, Inc.

(EXPO) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 2% net margin versus 11. 0% for Accenture plc — meaning it keeps 18. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXPO leads at 20. 6% versus 14. 7% for ACN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACN leads at 31. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Accenture plc (ACN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 44x versus Exponent, Inc. 's 5. 18x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Accenture plc (ACN) trades at 13. 0x forward P/E versus 30. 9x for Exponent, Inc. — 17. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACN: 66. 4% to $299. 92.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Accenture plc (ACN) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 1. 9% for Exponent, Inc. (EXPO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Exponent, Inc.

(EXPO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 89), 1. 9% yield, +186. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXPO: +186. 1%, ACN: +89. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (EXPO (Industrials) and ACN (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: EXPO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACN is a mid-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.