Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy52 ratings
Bullish3465.4%
Neutral1732.7%
Bearish11.9%
Accenture plc · ACN · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q1 2026
Accenture: Record bookings and raised guidance reinforce AI-led growth
The supplied analysis supports a constructive view of Accenture's growth trajectory: resilient demand, record bookings, AI-enabled services, and acquisitions underpin the opportunity. The evidence is strongest on current execution and raised guidance; the main uncertainty is whether AI investment and inorganic expansion produce durable, profitable growth.
Reported Before market openNYSETechnology
$112.30B market cap
90quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$2.93
Consensus $2.86
EPS surprise
+2.4%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$18.04B
Consensus $17.84B
Revenue surprise
+1.1%
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
+4.3%
Event window
SPY move
-0.2%
Same window
Abnormal move
+4.6%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
1.4×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
-2.9%
Up to 20 sessions
ACNSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about ACN FY2026 Q2
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
Why did ACN rise 4.3% after beating EPS estimates in FY2026 Q2?What changed in ACN's guidance and outlook in FY2026 Q2?Give me the bull and bear case for ACN after FY2026 Q2 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
The current-quarter analysis highlights record bookings and revenue, a larger FY26 acquisition plan, stronger free cash flow, and raised guidance. It also places greater emphasis on AI as a cross-business growth driver while leaving acquisition timing, staffing needs, and pricing and margin effects as key questions.
Guidance delta
Management guidance sentiment was raised, with FY26 local-currency revenue growth guided to 3–5% and higher free cash flow.
Key takeaways
- The analysis describes record revenue and bookings, pointing to resilient client demand.
- AI is presented as a core growth driver across transformation, data, and managed services.
- Management plans approximately $5 billion of FY26 acquisitions across AI, data, and mid-market assets.
- Operating margin expanded and free cash flow strengthened, supporting shareholder returns.
- The key test is whether AI demand and acquisitions convert into durable growth without pressuring pricing or margins.
Management priorities
- Scale AI services, including Agentic AI and dedicated AI hubs.
- Deploy approximately $5 billion in acquisitions across AI, data, and mid-market assets.
- Continue hiring AI and data professionals toward more than 80,000 by FY26 end.
- Expand LearnVantage through additional acquisitions.
- Pursue growth in cybersecurity, data-center services, capital projects, defense, and education.
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Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$179.26Current
$136Low
$288.43Average
$456High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Sep 24, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guggenheim | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Equal Weight | Overweight | Downgrade | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Maintain | Sep 14, 2026 |
| TD Cowen | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Aug 26, 2026 |
| Wolfe Research | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Citigroup | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Aug 24, 2026 |
| Mizuho | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 23, 2026 |
| Truist Securities | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Susquehanna | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Jun 22, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI Group | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 18, 2026 |
| JP Morgan | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jun 8, 2026 |
| Stifel | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 3, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 3, 2026 |
| BMO Capital | Market Perform | Market Perform | Maintain | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Baird | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Mar 20, 2026 |
| UBS | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Dec 19, 2025 |
| Rothschild & Co | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Sep 3, 2025 |
| Barclays | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jun 23, 2025 |
| Piper Sandler | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Apr 16, 2025 |
| Jefferies | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Jan 21, 2025 |
| B of A Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Wedbush | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 12, 2024 |
| Redburn Atlantic | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Mar 19, 2024 |
| Societe Generale | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jul 7, 2023 |
| Edward Jones | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Apr 5, 2023 |
| Argus Research | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Mar 8, 2023 |
| Exane BNP Paribas | Neutral | Outperform | Downgrade | Jun 29, 2022 |
| Cowen & Co. | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 24, 2022 |
| Cowen& Co. | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jun 23, 2022 |
| MoffettNathanson | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | Sep 22, 2021 |
| Redburn Partners | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | Jul 26, 2021 |
| Berenberg | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Feb 2, 2021 |
| Atlantic Equities | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Feb 19, 2020 |
| Bank of America | Underperform | Neutral | Downgrade | Jan 7, 2020 |
| Keybanc | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Dec 20, 2019 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Dec 13, 2019 |
| Redburn | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Sep 23, 2019 |
| Cantor Fitzgerald | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Mar 29, 2019 |
| Credit Suisse | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Sep 28, 2018 |
| Argus | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | May 5, 2018 |
| Pivotal Research | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Nov 8, 2017 |
| SunTrust Robinson Humphrey | Hold | Buy | Downgrade | May 24, 2017 |
| Pacific Crest | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Oct 3, 2016 |
| CLSA | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Sep 30, 2016 |
| Sterne Agee CRT | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Dec 17, 2015 |
| Monness Crespi Hardt | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Nov 3, 2014 |
| Bernstein | Perform | Market Perform | Maintain | Sep 16, 2014 |
| Raymond James | Market Perform | Outperform | Downgrade | Jun 28, 2013 |
| Evercore Partners | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jan 24, 2013 |
| PiperJaffray | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jun 29, 2012 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $179.26. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $200 | $183.72 | +11.6% | Sep 23, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $175 | $183.53 | -2.4% | Sep 18, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $195 | $195 | +8.8% | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $175 | $189.15 | -2.4% | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Wolfe Research | Analyst unavailable | $215 | $186.53 | +19.9% | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $194 | $143.57 | +8.2% | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Nate Svensson | $136 | $139.06 | -24.1% | Jul 10, 2026 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $275 | $139.72 | +53.4% | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $226 | $124.83 | +26.1% | Jun 23, 2026 |
| Susquehanna | Analyst unavailable | $140 | $125.6 | -21.9% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $130 | $127.98 | -27.5% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $150 | $127.98 | -16.3% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $175 | $127.98 | -2.4% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Guggenheim | Analyst unavailable | $185 | $127.98 | +3.2% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Kupferberg | $200 | $127.98 | +11.6% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $150 | $127.98 | -16.3% | Jun 19, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $190 | $127.67 | +6.0% | Jun 18, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $180 | $127.05 | +0.4% | Jun 18, 2026 |
| Berenberg Bank | Analyst unavailable | $220 | $165.52 | +22.7% | Jun 17, 2026 |
| Wolfe Research | Darrin Peller | $200 | $165.36 | +11.6% | Jun 16, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $177 | $170.28 | -1.3% | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $201 | $178.25 | +12.1% | Jun 8, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $270 | $186.22 | +50.6% | Jun 3, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | James Schneider | $270 | $186.22 | +50.6% | Jun 3, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Arvind Ramnani | $210 | $187.07 | +17.1% | Jun 1, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $282 | $210 | +57.3% | Mar 5, 2026 |
| Berenberg Bank | Analyst unavailable | $313 | $280.72 | +74.6% | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Kupferberg | $275 | $276.8 | +53.4% | Jan 14, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $317 | $263.98 | +76.8% | Jan 6, 2026 |
| Susquehanna | Analyst unavailable | $277 | $276.06 | +54.5% | Dec 19, 2025 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $320 | $272.66 | +78.5% | Dec 19, 2025 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $269.96 | +67.4% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $269.96 | +67.4% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $300 | $270.13 | +67.4% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $295 | $269.96 | +64.6% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| Goldman Sachs | James Schneider | $330 | $269.96 | +84.1% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $320 | $275 | +78.5% | Dec 16, 2025 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $265 | $268.83 | +47.8% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Kupferberg | $251 | $250.51 | +40.0% | Oct 21, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $309 | $238.97 | +72.4% | Sep 29, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $330 | $232.6 | +84.1% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $285 | $232.6 | +59.0% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | Analyst unavailable | $270 | $232.56 | +50.6% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| Guggenheim | Analyst unavailable | $285 | $232.63 | +59.0% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $280 | $232.56 | +56.2% | Sep 25, 2025 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $315 | $237.87 | +75.7% | Sep 24, 2025 |
| Susquehanna | Analyst unavailable | $270 | $239.24 | +50.6% | Sep 18, 2025 |
| Guggenheim | Analyst unavailable | $305 | $241.24 | +70.1% | Sep 17, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $271 | $251.99 | +51.2% | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $370 | $300.72 | +106.4% | Jun 24, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $348 | $300.72 | +94.1% | Jun 24, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | Analyst unavailable | $355 | $305.32 | +98.0% | Mar 21, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $390 | $325.71 | +117.6% | Mar 17, 2025 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind | $385 | $366.37 | +114.8% | Dec 20, 2024 |
| Goldman Sachs | James Schneider | $430 | $372.16 | +139.9% | Dec 19, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $390 | $372.16 | +117.6% | Dec 19, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $370 | $346.28 | +106.4% | Nov 5, 2024 |
| BNP Paribas | Stefan Slowinski | $375 | $354.16 | +109.2% | Oct 30, 2024 |
| TD Securities | Bryan Bergin | $400 | $349.7 | +123.1% | Sep 30, 2024 |
| Susquehanna | James Friedman | $360 | $355.81 | +100.8% | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Guggenheim | Jonathan Lee | $395 | $355.81 | +120.4% | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $335 | $355.81 | +86.9% | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $375 | $354.63 | +109.2% | Sep 26, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $395 | $354.63 | +120.4% | Sep 26, 2024 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $380 | $336.96 | +112.0% | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $329 | $333.14 | +83.5% | Sep 20, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Dan Dolev | $365 | $337.04 | +103.6% | Sep 18, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $350 | $337.04 | +95.2% | Sep 18, 2024 |
| Bank of America Securities | Jason Kupferberg | $365 | $337.04 | +103.6% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| Citigroup | Ashwin Shirvaikar | $405 | $338.23 | +125.9% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $400 | $328.1 | +123.1% | Jul 18, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $300 | $307.17 | +67.4% | Jun 26, 2024 |
| Susquehanna | James Friedman | $293 | $308.98 | +63.4% | Jun 21, 2024 |
| Evercore ISI | David Togut | $375 | $304.78 | +109.2% | Jun 20, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Dan Dolev | $350 | $285.53 | +95.2% | Jun 18, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $320 | $284.27 | +78.5% | Jun 17, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $340 | $294.22 | +89.7% | Jun 12, 2024 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind | $275 | $288.06 | +53.4% | Jun 5, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $345 | $308.52 | +92.5% | May 16, 2024 |
| Deutsche Bank | Bryan Keane | $295 | $306.95 | +64.6% | May 15, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $372 | $325.19 | +107.5% | Apr 12, 2024 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $375 | $337.5 | +109.2% | Mar 22, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Dan Dolev | $398 | $337.5 | +122.0% | Mar 22, 2024 |
| Citigroup | Ashwin Shirvaikar | $430 | $380.44 | +139.9% | Mar 21, 2024 |
| Guggenheim | Jonathan Lee | $425 | $372.67 | +137.1% | Mar 18, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $394 | $372.67 | +119.8% | Mar 18, 2024 |
| BNP Paribas | Stefan Slowinski | $440 | $353.65 | +145.5% | Jan 17, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $369 | $340.27 | +105.8% | Dec 20, 2023 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $322 | $341.33 | +79.6% | Dec 18, 2023 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Keith Bachman | $350 | $307.22 | +95.2% | Sep 29, 2023 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $322 | $307.23 | +79.6% | Sep 29, 2023 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Keith Bachman | $360 | $314.58 | +100.8% | Sep 27, 2023 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $175 | $307.25 | -2.4% | Jun 23, 2023 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $327 | $270.87 | +82.4% | Mar 24, 2023 |
| Cowen & Co. | Cowen Cowen | $300 | $259.82 | +67.4% | Dec 20, 2022 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $245 | $264.48 | +36.7% | Dec 16, 2022 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind Thind | $310 | $259.98 | +72.9% | Sep 24, 2022 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $335 | $257.13 | +86.9% | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Deutsche Bank | Bryan Keane | $320 | $262.32 | +78.5% | Sep 23, 2022 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $357 | $292.62 | +99.2% | Jun 28, 2022 |
| Barclays | Ramsey El-Assal | $370 | $299.37 | +106.4% | Jun 25, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $385 | $299.37 | +114.8% | Jun 25, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $390 | $275.38 | +117.6% | Jun 20, 2022 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $340 | $276.5 | +89.7% | Jun 14, 2022 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $378 | $327.27 | +110.9% | Apr 11, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $475 | $327.71 | +165.0% | Mar 26, 2022 |
| Evercore ISI | David Togut | $473 | $324.5 | +163.9% | Mar 21, 2022 |
| Evercore ISI | David Togut | $462 | $323.95 | +157.7% | Mar 18, 2022 |
| Wedbush | Moshe Katri | $350 | $319.5 | +95.2% | Mar 17, 2022 |
| Cowen & Co. | Bryan Bergin | $375 | $319.5 | +109.2% | Mar 17, 2022 |
| Bank of America Securities | Jason Kupferberg | $443 | $311.58 | +147.1% | Mar 11, 2022 |
| Goldman Sachs | Brian Essex | $386 | $305.02 | +115.3% | Mar 7, 2022 |
| Barclays | Ramsey El Assal | $455 | $384.78 | +153.8% | Dec 20, 2021 |
| Susquehanna | James Friedman | $460 | $395.22 | +156.6% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Wolfe Research | Darrin Peller | $420 | $395.22 | +134.3% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Argus Research | Jim Kelleher | $450 | $395.22 | +151.0% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Citigroup | Ashwin Shirvaikar | $460 | $395.22 | +156.6% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Societe Generale | Richard Nguyen | $456 | $399.56 | +154.4% | Dec 16, 2021 |
| MoffettNathanson | Lisa Elis | $405 | $332.81 | +125.9% | Sep 22, 2021 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind | $319 | $292.2 | +78.0% | Jun 25, 2021 |
| BNP Paribas | Stefan Slowinski | $335 | $283.32 | +86.9% | Jun 23, 2021 |
Track every rating change on ACN the moment it posts. Free to start.
Start freeCompany context
Snapshot as of publicationAccenture plc is a global professional services firm that delivers a wide array of strategy, consulting, interactive, technology, and operations services worldwide. Its comprehensive offerings include application services such as agile transformation, DevOps implementation, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, and data management. It also specializes in intelligent automation, incorporating robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, alongside liquid application management and various program, project, and service management solutions. The company provides strategic consulting, focusing on critical data elements, data governance, platform architecture, and enabling product-centric organizations to ensure business adoption and value realization. Accenture supports the digitization of engineering and research & development, designs and develops smart connected products, modernizes product platforms, and facilitates product-as-a-service models.…
Historical context
All ACN earningsTechnology peers this season
Latest reports in the same sector| Company | Quarter | EPS surprise | Market move | Headline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADBE Adobe Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +0.8% | +1.4% | Adobe raises FY26 outlook as AI strategy broadens |
| ORCL Oracle Corporation | FY2027 Q1 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +10.3% | -1.7% | Oracle raises FY27 outlook as AI demand accelerates cloud growth |
| SAIL SailPoint, Inc. | FY2027 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +13.8% | -1.2% | SailPoint pairs 25% ARR growth with accelerating AI-driven adoption |
| CIEN Ciena Corporation | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +22.0% | -10.4% | Ciena raises outlook as AI networking demand lifts backlog |
| DOCU DocuSign, Inc. | FY2027 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +6.4% | +3.7% | DocuSign Q2 FY27: IAM momentum supports a raised outlook |
| IOT Samsara Inc. | FY2027 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +25.0% | +3.7% | Samsara: AI adoption expands as FY27 guidance holds |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- CTASFY2027 Q1 · September 23, 2026+3.0% EPS-3.4% move
- PAYXFY2027 Q1 · September 23, 2026+1.5% EPS-8.8% move
- GISFY2027 Q1 · September 23, 2026+4.6% EPS+1.0% move
- AZOFY2026 Q4 · September 22, 2026+3.6% EPS+3.3% move
- FPSFY2026 Q4 · September 15, 2026+4.3% EPS+9.5% move
- TCOMFY2026 Q2 · September 15, 2026+22.3% EPS+3.0% move
Get the ACN recap when the next report posts
One email per quarter with the scorecard, the market reaction and what changed on the call. No account needed.
Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-05-11T10:29:34.698584+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-07-26T00:37:12.209961+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-09-24T16:40:56.107079+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-09-24T16:40:56.104319+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-09-24. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.