Upside case
Bull case
$269+54.4%
ACN would need investors to value it at roughly 19x earnings — about 7x more generous than today's 13x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
Analysis OverviewBuyUpdated May 1, 2026
Accenture plc (ACN) Stock Analysis
Wall Street verdict, consensus price target, and analyst rating breakdown — everything needed to frame the risk/reward at today's price.
Analyst consensus
Buy
Covering
53
analysts
39 bullish · 1 bearish · 53 covering ACN
Strong Buy
0
Buy
39
Hold
13
Sell
1
Strong Sell
0
Consensus Target
$300
+71.8% vs today
Scenario Range
$160 – $269
Model bear to bull value window
Coverage
53
Published analyst ratings
Valuation Context
12.6x
Forward P/E · Market cap $108.7B
ACN price targets
Three scenarios for where ACN stock could go
Current
~$175
Confidence
76 / 100
Updated
May 1, 2026
Where we are now
Current · $175
Bear
$160
Base
$209
Bull
$269
Market caseClosest to today
Base case
$209+19.9%
At 15x on FY1 earnings, the base case reflects a reasonable but not stretched valuation. It prices in continued growth without assuming an exceptional setup.
Stress case
Bear case
$160-8.3%
If investor confidence fades or macro conditions deteriorate, a 1x multiple contraction could push ACN down roughly 8% from where it trades now.
Not financial advice. Model confidence reflects internal scenario assumptions, not a guarantee of returns. Past performance does not predict future results.
Accenture plc
ACN · NYSETechnologyInformation Technology ServicesAugust year-end
Accenture is a global professional services firm that provides strategy, consulting, digital, technology, and operations services to clients worldwide. It generates revenue primarily through consulting fees and managed services contracts — with its largest segments being Communications, Media & Technology (~20% of revenue) and Financial Services (~19%) — while operating on a project-based and long-term outsourcing model. The company's key advantage is its massive scale and deep client relationships built over decades, creating a trusted advisor status that's difficult for smaller competitors to replicate.
Market Cap
$108.7B
Revenue TTM
$72.1B
Net Income TTM
$7.7B
Net Margin
10.7%
ACN Revenue and Earnings Performance
Quarterly beat-or-miss track record against analyst estimates, plus forward revenue and EPS outlook for the next two fiscal years.
EPS Beat Rate
92%Exceptional
12 quarters tracked
Revenue Beat Rate
75%Exceptional
vs consensus estimates
Avg EPS Surprise
+2.9%
above Street consensus
Beat / Miss Record
BeatMissLeft = EPS · Right = Revenue
Q2 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
Last 4 Quarters
EPS beats: 4 of 4Q2 2025
EPS
$3.49/$3.35
Revenue
$17.7B/$17.3B
Q3 2025
EPS
$3.03/$2.98
Revenue
$17.6B/$17.4B
Q4 2025
EPS
$3.94/$3.74
Revenue
$18.7B/$18.5B
Q1 2026
EPS
$2.93/$2.84
Revenue
$18.0B/$17.8B
| Quarter | EPS (Actual / Est) | EPS Surprise | Revenue (Actual / Est) | Rev Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | $3.49/$3.35 | +4.2% | $17.7B/$17.3B | +2.4% |
| Q3 2025 | $3.03/$2.98 | +1.7% | $17.6B/$17.4B | +1.3% |
| Q4 2025 | $3.94/$3.74 | +5.3% | $18.7B/$18.5B | +1.2% |
| Q1 2026 | $2.93/$2.84 | +3.2% | $18.0B/$17.8B | +1.1% |
FY1–FY2 Estimates
Revenue Outlook
FY1
$75.5B
+4.7% YoY
FY2
$80.5B
+6.6% YoY
EPS Outlook
FY1
$13.56
+9.9% YoY
FY2
$14.57
+7.4% YoY
Trailing FCF (TTM)$12.5B
FCF Margin: 17.3%
Next Earnings
—
Expected EPS
—
Expected Revenue
—
ACN beat EPS estimates in 4 of 4 tracked quarters. A perfect track record raises the bar for the upcoming report.
ACN Revenue Breakdown by Segment
Product and geographic revenue mix from the latest annual disclosure, with year-over-year growth by segment.
Latest disclosure
FY 2025
Total disclosed revenue $69.7B
Product Mix
Latest annual revenue by segment or product family
Consulting Revenue
50.4%
YoY unavailable
Tap, hover, or focus a slice to inspect segment detail.
Geographic Mix
Latest annual revenue by reported region
Segment breakdown not available for this company.
Consulting Revenue is the largest disclosed segment at 50.4% of FY 2025 revenue, with no year-over-year comparison yet.
ACN Valuation Snapshot
Current multiples compared to the S&P 500, the company's sector, and its own five-year average.
Relative Value Signal
Undervalued
Fair value est. $224 — implies +24.6% from today's price.
Upside to Fair Value
24.6%
potential upside
Deep DiscountFair ValueVery Expensive
vs S&P 500 Trailing P/E
ACN
14.4x
vs
S&P 500
25.2x
43% discount
vs Technology Trailing P/E
ACN
14.4x
vs
Technology
27.5x
48% discount
vs ACN 5Y Avg P/E
Today
14.4x
vs
5Y Average
29.0x
50% discount
Forward PE
12.6x
S&P 500
19.1x
-34%
Technology
21.7x
-42%
5Y Avg
—
—
Trailing PE
14.4x
S&P 500
25.2x
-43%
Technology
27.5x
-48%
5Y Avg
29.0x
-50%
PEG Ratio
1.59x
S&P 500
1.75x
-9%
Technology
1.47x
+9%
5Y Avg
—
—
EV/EBITDA
8.3x
S&P 500
15.3x
-45%
Technology
17.4x
-52%
5Y Avg
18.6x
-55%
Price/FCF
10.0x
S&P 500
21.3x
-53%
Technology
19.8x
-50%
5Y Avg
22.1x
-55%
Price/Sales
1.6x
S&P 500
3.1x
-50%
Technology
2.4x
-35%
5Y Avg
3.2x
-52%
Dividend Yield
3.35%
S&P 500
1.88%
+78%
Technology
1.18%
+185%
5Y Avg
1.49%
+125%
| Metric | ACN | S&P 500 | Technology | 5Y Avg ACN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward PE | 12.6x | 19.1x-34% | 21.7x-42% | — |
| Trailing PE | 14.4x | 25.2x-43% | 27.5x-48% | 29.0x-50% |
| PEG Ratio | 1.59x | 1.75x | 1.47x | — |
| EV/EBITDA | 8.3x | 15.3x-45% | 17.4x-52% | 18.6x-55% |
| Price/FCF | 10.0x | 21.3x-53% | 19.8x-50% | 22.1x-55% |
| Price/Sales | 1.6x | 3.1x-50% | 2.4x-35% | 3.2x-52% |
| Dividend Yield | 3.35% | 1.88% | 1.18% | 1.49% |
ACN trades above S&P 500 benchmarks on 0 of 6 measured multiples — appears modestly priced relative to the S&P 500 on most measures.
Forward P/E and PEG reflect analyst consensus estimates. Historical averages use trailing ratios where forward data is unavailable.S&P 500 and sector benchmarks both use trailing median P/E — similar readings indicate the broader index and sector are priced alike.
Open valuation toolACN Financial Health
Verdict
Exceptional
ACN generates $12.5B in free cash flow at a 17.3% margin — 26.8% ROIC signals a durable competitive advantage · returns 7.6% of market cap to shareholders annually.
Cash Engine
Revenue, margins, and cash generation
Revenue (TTM)
Trailing-twelve-month sales base
$72.1B
Revenue Growth
TTM vs prior year
+7.3%
Gross Margin
Gross profit as a share of revenue
32.0%
Operating Margin
Operating income divided by revenue
14.8%
Net Margin
Net income divided by revenue
10.7%
EPS (TTM)
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months
$12.34
Free Cash Flow (TTM)
Cash generation after capex
$12.5B
FCF Margin
FCF as share of revenue — the primary cash quality signal
17.3%
Capital Quality
ROIC, leverage, and debt serviceability
ROIC
Return on invested capital — primary competitive quality signal
26.8%
ROA
Return on assets, trailing twelve months
11.8%
Cash & Equivalents
Liquid assets on the balance sheet
$11.5B
Net Cash
Cash exceeds total debt — no net leverage
$3.3B
Debt Serviceability
Net debt as a multiple of annual free cash flow
Net cash ✓
ROE
Return on equity, trailing twelve months
23.9%
Shareholder Returns
How capital is returned to owners
Total shareholder yield
7.6%
Dividend
3.4%
Buyback
4.3%
Share Repurchases
Trailing buyback outflow — dollar magnitude of capital returned
$4.6B
Dividend / Share
Annualized trailing dividend per share
$5.85
Payout Ratio
Share of earnings distributed as dividends
48.2%
Shares Outstanding
Declining as buybacks retire shares
632M
All figures from the trailing twelve months. ROIC uses invested capital (equity + net debt).
Open full ratios pageACN Stock Risk Factors
Key factors that could pressure the stock price, compress the multiple, or weigh on future results.
AI analysis · updated April 11, 2026
High Risk
Macroeconomic & Political
Global economic uncertainties, fluctuating tariffs, and weakening consumer confidence can reduce client spending, prolong sales cycles, and historically cause significant drawdowns during sovereign events. Reduced government spending on contracts could hit revenue streams and force resource reallocation.
High Risk
Legal & Regulatory
Government contracts face heightened scrutiny and stricter terms, increasing reputational and contractual risk. Accenture must navigate diverse regulatory environments across its global operations, and any non‑compliance could lead to penalties or loss of contracts.
Medium
Technology & Innovation
AI adoption can drive cost deflation, compress contract values, and alter revenue models for cloud, data, and AI solutions. Rapid technological changes may shift client usage patterns, requiring Accenture to adapt quickly or risk losing market share.
Medium
Financial & Corporate
Changes in accounting standards or assumptions can materially affect financial results. Negative or inaccurate information, even if rumor‑based, can damage reputation and client relationships, potentially impacting earnings. The probability of financial distress in the next 24 months is estimated at 5.21%.
Medium
Ability to Sell & Competition
In a competitive landscape, client caution on spending for large IT transformation projects, especially amid economic uncertainty, can reduce new contract acquisition and revenue growth.
Lower
Operational & Production
Expansion into new service areas exposes Accenture to operational, legal, regulatory, ethical, and technological risks that could harm reputation and demand for services.
These are risk mechanisms, not predictions. The key question is which would force a cut to earnings estimates or a lower multiple than the market currently prices in.
Why ACN Stock Could Outperform
Structural drivers behind the upside case and why the stock could outperform over the next 12 months.
AI analysis · updated April 11, 2026
AI Adoption Leadership & Growth
Accenture is positioning itself as a primary enabler of AI adoption within enterprises, training a large portion of its workforce in AI and data professionals and partnering with major cloud providers such as Google Cloud, Microsoft, and AWS. Recent AI bookings were strong, with $2.2 billion in new AI sector bookings and a 120% year-over-year increase in AI revenues, indicating significant upside as only a fraction of clients currently use advanced AI services.
Managed Services Segment Growth
Accenture’s managed services segment is expanding, providing a stable revenue stream that supports overall business resilience. The segment’s growth contributes to diversified revenue across sectors and geographies, mitigating economic shocks.
Revenue & Profitability Momentum
Accenture reported a 6% year-over-year increase in revenue, alongside a year-over-year rise in revenue per full-time employee and a slight expansion in operating margins, signaling operational efficiency and scalability.
Shareholder Returns & Stability
Accenture maintains a healthy return on equity and a consistent dividend payout, with substantial shareholder returns through buybacks and dividends, providing a steady income stream for investors.
A real bull case compounds — each driver matters most when it strengthens margins, supports capital returns, and keeps the company above the market's minimum growth bar simultaneously.
ACN Stock Price Performance
52-week range context and price returns across multiple time horizons. Dividend contribution is shown separately in the Capital Return section.
Current Price
$174.57
52W Range Position
1%
52-Week Range
Current price plotted between the 52-week low and high.
52-Week Low
$173.52
+0.6% from the low
52-Week High
$325.71
-46.4% from the high
1 Month
-12.25%
3 Month
-27.45%
YTD
-32.8%
1 Year
-42.5%
3Y CAGR
-13.0%
5Y CAGR
-9.7%
10Y CAGR
+4.2%
Range context matters because valuation compression and earnings misses rarely hit from the same starting point. A stock already far below its high can still fall, but it is no longer carrying the same embedded optimism as one pressing a fresh peak.
ACN vs Peers
Valuation, growth, and margin comparison against the closest publicly traded peers for this company.
Peer Set
Accurate peer set
Forward PE
12.6x
vs 9.0x median
+39% above peer median
Revenue Growth
+4.7%
vs +4.8% median
-3% below peer median
Net Margin
10.7%
vs 15.1% median
-29% below peer median
| Company | Mkt Cap | Fwd PE | Rev Grw | Margin | Rating | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACN ACN Accenture plc | $108.7B | 12.6x | +4.7% | 10.7% | Buy | +71.8% |
IBM IBM International Business Machines Corporation | $211.8B | 18.2x | +4.9% | 15.6% | Hold | +37.2% |
CTS CTSH Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation | $24.3B | 9.0x | +4.8% | 10.4% | Hold | +62.3% |
WIT WIT Wipro Limited | $20.9B | 0.2x | +2.6% | 15.1% | Hold | +268.8% |
INF INFY Infosys Limited | $51.3B | 16.6x | +1.4% | 16.2% | Hold | +33.7% |
EPA EPAM EPAM Systems, Inc. | $5.9B | 8.4x | +7.4% | 7.0% | Buy | +84.1% |
This peer comparison reflects companies with similar business models, product lines, or market positioning, supplemented by industry grouping when direct matches are limited.
ACN Dividend and Capital Return
ACN returns 7.6% annually — 3.35% through dividends and 4.3% through buybacks.
Dividend SustainableFCF Well Covered
Total Shareholder Yield
7.6%
Dividend + buyback return per year
Buyback Yield
4.3%
Dividend Yield
3.35%
Payout Ratio
48.2%
How ACN Splits Its Return
Div 3.35%
Buyback 4.3%
Dividend 3.35%Buybacks 4.3%
Dividend Profile
Yield, cadence, and growth quality
Dividend / Share
Trailing annualized cash dividend
$5.85
Growth Streak
Consecutive years of dividend increases
14Y
3Y Div CAGR
14.6%
5Y Div CAGR
13.1%
Ex-Dividend Date
—
Payment Cadence
Quarterly
4 payments over the last 12 months
Buyback Engine
How much per-share support comes from repurchases
Repurchases (TTM)
Cash used for buybacks in the latest trailing period
$4.6B
Estimated Shares Retired
26M
Approx. Share Reduction
4.2%
Shares Outstanding
Current diluted share count from the screening snapshot
632M
At 4.2%/year, buybacks mechanically lift EPS even with flat earnings — each remaining share represents a slightly larger piece of the company.
| Year | Div / Share | YoY Grw | BB Yield | Total Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $3.26 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | $6.07 | +13.5% | 2.8% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | $5.35 | +15.1% | 2.1% | 3.6% |
| 2023 | $4.65 | +15.4% | 2.1% | 3.5% |
| 2022 | $4.03 | +11.6% | 2.2% | 3.5% |
FAQ
7 questionsACN Investor Questions
Common questions answered from live analyst data and company financials.
01Is Accenture plc (ACN) stock a buy or sell in 2026?
Accenture plc (ACN) is rated Buy by Wall Street analysts as of 2026. Of 53 analysts covering the stock, 39 rate it Buy or Strong Buy, 13 rate it Hold, and 1 rate it Sell or Strong Sell. The consensus 12-month price target is $300, implying +71.8% from the current price of $175. The bear case scenario is $160 and the bull case is $269.
02What is the ACN stock price target for 2026?
The Wall Street consensus price target for ACN is $300 based on 53 analyst estimates. The high-end target is $330 (+89.0% from today), and the low-end target is $265 (+51.8%). The base case model target is $209.
03Is Accenture plc (ACN) stock overvalued in 2026?
ACN trades at 12.6x times forward earnings. The stock currently trades at a discount to the broader market. Based on current multiples versus the peer group, the relative model signals undervalued. Whether the stock is over or undervalued ultimately depends on whether consensus earnings estimates are achievable.
04What are the main risks for Accenture plc (ACN) stock in 2026?
The primary risks for ACN in 2026 are: (1) Macroeconomic & Political — Global economic uncertainties, fluctuating tariffs, and weakening consumer confidence can reduce client spending, prolong sales cycles, and historically cause significant drawdowns during sovereign events. (2) Legal & Regulatory — Government contracts face heightened scrutiny and stricter terms, increasing reputational and contractual risk. (3) Technology & Innovation — AI adoption can drive cost deflation, compress contract values, and alter revenue models for cloud, data, and AI solutions. Each factor has the potential to pressure earnings or compress the stock's valuation multiple.
05What is Accenture plc's revenue and earnings forecast?
Analyst consensus estimates ACN will report consensus revenue of $75.5B (+4.7% year-over-year) and EPS of $13.56 (+9.9% year-over-year) for the upcoming fiscal year. The following year, analysts project $80.5B in revenue.
06When does Accenture plc (ACN) report its next earnings?
A confirmed upcoming earnings date for ACN is not yet available. Check the Earnings section above for the most recent quarterly report dates and forward estimates.
07How much free cash flow does Accenture plc generate?
Accenture plc (ACN) generated $12.5B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months — a free cash flow margin of 17.3%. ACN returns capital to shareholders through dividends (3.4% yield) and share repurchases ($4.6B TTM).