Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy52 ratings
Bullish3567.3%
Neutral1630.8%
Bearish11.9%
Accenture plc · ACN · FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q2 2026
Accenture Q3 FY2026: EPS Beat Overshadowed by Maintained Guidance and Managed-Services Delay
Accenture reported Q3 FY2026 revenue of $18.7B (+3% local currency), EPS of $3.80 (beating the $3.70 consensus by 2.7%), and $3.6B in free cash flow. Revenue narrowly missed the $18.78B estimate. Despite the EPS beat, shares fell approximately 18% on the session as management maintained rather than raised FY2026 guidance and flagged managed-services deal delays pushing into FY2027. The company raised its acquisition budget to $9B from $5B and announced two strategic platforms: a unified OT security offering combining Dragos, runZero, and NetRise, and Accenture Edge targeting the $240B mid-market. The stock has since recovered 13% from its post-earnings low near $128 to $164.66, with analyst consensus targets at $198.56. Bullish score of 85, matching the prior quarter. Management tone remains confident despite the maintained guidance, reflecting conviction in AI adoption, OT security…
Reported Before market openNYSETechnology
$100.76B market cap
100quality score
Company 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.…
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$3.80
Consensus $4
EPS surprise
+2.7%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$18.72B
Consensus $18.78B
Revenue surprise
-0.3%
Reported versus consensus
Earnings History
Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$164.66Current
$130Low
$292.04Average
$456High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Jul 29, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jul 20, 2026 |
| TD Cowen | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Jun 26, 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 |
| Morgan Stanley | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Maintain | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Guggenheim | Buy | Buy | 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 |
| Citigroup | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Jun 1, 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 |
| Deutsche Bank | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Sep 11, 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 |
| Wolfe Research | Peer Perform | Peer Perform | Maintain | Dec 17, 2021 |
| 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 $164.66. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $194 | $143.57 | +17.8% | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Nate Svensson | $136 | $139.06 | -17.4% | Jul 10, 2026 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $275 | $139.72 | +67.0% | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $226 | $124.83 | +37.3% | Jun 23, 2026 |
| Susquehanna | Analyst unavailable | $140 | $125.6 | -15.0% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $130 | $127.98 | -21.0% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $150 | $127.98 | -8.9% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $175 | $127.98 | +6.3% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Guggenheim | Analyst unavailable | $185 | $127.98 | +12.4% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Kupferberg | $200 | $127.98 | +21.5% | Jun 22, 2026 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $150 | $127.98 | -8.9% | Jun 19, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $190 | $127.67 | +15.4% | Jun 18, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $180 | $127.05 | +9.3% | Jun 18, 2026 |
| Berenberg Bank | Analyst unavailable | $220 | $165.52 | +33.6% | Jun 17, 2026 |
| Wolfe Research | Darrin Peller | $200 | $165.36 | +21.5% | Jun 16, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $177 | $170.28 | +7.5% | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $201 | $178.25 | +22.1% | Jun 8, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $270 | $186.22 | +64.0% | Jun 3, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | James Schneider | $270 | $186.22 | +64.0% | Jun 3, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Arvind Ramnani | $210 | $187.07 | +27.5% | Jun 1, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $282 | $210 | +71.3% | Mar 5, 2026 |
| Berenberg Bank | Analyst unavailable | $313 | $280.72 | +90.1% | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Kupferberg | $275 | $276.8 | +67.0% | Jan 14, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $317 | $263.98 | +92.5% | Jan 6, 2026 |
| Susquehanna | Analyst unavailable | $277 | $276.06 | +68.2% | Dec 19, 2025 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $320 | $272.66 | +94.3% | Dec 19, 2025 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $269.96 | +82.2% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $269.96 | +82.2% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $300 | $270.13 | +82.2% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $295 | $269.96 | +79.2% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| Goldman Sachs | James Schneider | $330 | $269.96 | +100.4% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $320 | $275 | +94.3% | Dec 16, 2025 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $265 | $268.83 | +60.9% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Kupferberg | $251 | $250.51 | +52.4% | Oct 21, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $309 | $238.97 | +87.7% | Sep 29, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $330 | $232.6 | +100.4% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $285 | $232.6 | +73.1% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | Analyst unavailable | $270 | $232.56 | +64.0% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| Guggenheim | Analyst unavailable | $285 | $232.63 | +73.1% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $280 | $232.56 | +70.0% | Sep 25, 2025 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $315 | $237.87 | +91.3% | Sep 24, 2025 |
| Susquehanna | Analyst unavailable | $270 | $239.24 | +64.0% | Sep 18, 2025 |
| Guggenheim | Analyst unavailable | $305 | $241.24 | +85.2% | Sep 17, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $271 | $251.99 | +64.6% | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $370 | $300.72 | +124.7% | Jun 24, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $348 | $300.72 | +111.3% | Jun 24, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | Analyst unavailable | $355 | $305.32 | +115.6% | Mar 21, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $390 | $325.71 | +136.9% | Mar 17, 2025 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind | $385 | $366.37 | +133.8% | Dec 20, 2024 |
| Goldman Sachs | James Schneider | $430 | $372.16 | +161.1% | Dec 19, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $390 | $372.16 | +136.9% | Dec 19, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $370 | $346.28 | +124.7% | Nov 5, 2024 |
| BNP Paribas | Stefan Slowinski | $375 | $354.16 | +127.7% | Oct 30, 2024 |
| TD Securities | Bryan Bergin | $400 | $349.7 | +142.9% | Sep 30, 2024 |
| Susquehanna | James Friedman | $360 | $355.81 | +118.6% | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Guggenheim | Jonathan Lee | $395 | $355.81 | +139.9% | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $335 | $355.81 | +103.4% | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $375 | $354.63 | +127.7% | Sep 26, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $395 | $354.63 | +139.9% | Sep 26, 2024 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $380 | $336.96 | +130.8% | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $329 | $333.14 | +99.8% | Sep 20, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Dan Dolev | $365 | $337.04 | +121.7% | Sep 18, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $350 | $337.04 | +112.6% | Sep 18, 2024 |
| Bank of America Securities | Jason Kupferberg | $365 | $337.04 | +121.7% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| Citigroup | Ashwin Shirvaikar | $405 | $338.23 | +146.0% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| UBS | Kevin McVeigh | $400 | $328.1 | +142.9% | Jul 18, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $300 | $307.17 | +82.2% | Jun 26, 2024 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $350 | $308.98 | +112.6% | Jun 21, 2024 |
| Evercore ISI | David Togut | $375 | $304.78 | +127.7% | Jun 20, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Dan Dolev | $350 | $285.53 | +112.6% | Jun 18, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $320 | $284.27 | +94.3% | Jun 17, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Grossman | $340 | $294.22 | +106.5% | Jun 12, 2024 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind | $275 | $288.06 | +67.0% | Jun 5, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $345 | $308.52 | +109.5% | May 16, 2024 |
| Deutsche Bank | Bryan Keane | $295 | $306.95 | +79.2% | May 15, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $372 | $325.19 | +125.9% | Apr 12, 2024 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $375 | $337.5 | +127.7% | Mar 22, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Dan Dolev | $398 | $337.5 | +141.7% | Mar 22, 2024 |
| Citigroup | Ashwin Shirvaikar | $430 | $380.44 | +161.1% | Mar 21, 2024 |
| Guggenheim | Jonathan Lee | $425 | $372.67 | +158.1% | Mar 18, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $394 | $372.67 | +139.3% | Mar 18, 2024 |
| BNP Paribas | Stefan Slowinski | $440 | $353.65 | +167.2% | Jan 17, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $369 | $340.27 | +124.1% | Dec 20, 2023 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $322 | $341.33 | +95.6% | Dec 18, 2023 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Keith Bachman | $350 | $307.22 | +112.6% | Sep 29, 2023 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $322 | $307.23 | +95.6% | Sep 29, 2023 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Keith Bachman | $360 | $314.58 | +118.6% | Sep 27, 2023 |
| Piper Sandler | Arvind Ramnani | $175 | $307.25 | +6.3% | Jun 23, 2023 |
| BMO Capital | Keith Bachman | $327 | $270.87 | +98.6% | Mar 24, 2023 |
| Cowen & Co. | Cowen Cowen | $300 | $259.82 | +82.2% | Dec 20, 2022 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $245 | $264.48 | +48.8% | Dec 16, 2022 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind Thind | $310 | $259.98 | +88.3% | Sep 24, 2022 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $335 | $257.13 | +103.4% | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Deutsche Bank | Bryan Keane | $320 | $262.32 | +94.3% | Sep 23, 2022 |
| RBC Capital | Daniel Perlin | $357 | $292.62 | +116.8% | Jun 28, 2022 |
| Barclays | Ramsey El-Assal | $370 | $299.37 | +124.7% | Jun 25, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $385 | $299.37 | +133.8% | Jun 25, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $390 | $275.38 | +136.9% | Jun 20, 2022 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $340 | $276.5 | +106.5% | Jun 14, 2022 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Koning | $378 | $327.27 | +129.6% | Apr 11, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | James Faucette | $475 | $327.71 | +188.5% | Mar 26, 2022 |
| Evercore ISI | David Togut | $473 | $324.5 | +187.3% | Mar 21, 2022 |
| Evercore ISI | David Togut | $462 | $323.95 | +180.6% | Mar 18, 2022 |
| Wedbush | Moshe Katri | $350 | $319.5 | +112.6% | Mar 17, 2022 |
| Cowen & Co. | Bryan Bergin | $375 | $319.5 | +127.7% | Mar 17, 2022 |
| Bank of America Securities | Jason Kupferberg | $443 | $311.58 | +169.0% | Mar 11, 2022 |
| Goldman Sachs | Brian Essex | $386 | $305.02 | +134.4% | Mar 7, 2022 |
| Barclays | Ramsey El Assal | $455 | $384.78 | +176.3% | Dec 20, 2021 |
| Susquehanna | James Friedman | $460 | $395.22 | +179.4% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Wolfe Research | Darrin Peller | $420 | $395.22 | +155.1% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Argus Research | Jim Kelleher | $450 | $395.22 | +173.3% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Citigroup | Ashwin Shirvaikar | $460 | $395.22 | +179.4% | Dec 17, 2021 |
| Societe Generale | Richard Nguyen | $456 | $399.56 | +176.9% | Dec 16, 2021 |
| MoffettNathanson | Lisa Elis | $405 | $332.81 | +146.0% | Sep 22, 2021 |
| Jefferies | Surinder Thind | $319 | $292.2 | +93.7% | Jun 25, 2021 |
| BNP Paribas | Stefan Slowinski | $335 | $283.32 | +103.4% | Jun 23, 2021 |
Track every rating change on ACN the moment it posts. Free to start.
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Stock move
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Event window
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+0.8%
Same window
Abnormal move
-18.7%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
8.4×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
+13.1%
Up to 20 sessions
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What changed
Guidance sentiment shifted from raised (Q2) to maintained (Q3), narrowing the FY2026 growth range from 3-5% to 3-4% local currency. The acquisition budget increased from $5B to $9B. Operating margin expanded from 13.8% in Q2 to 17% in Q3. New strategic initiatives include the OT security platform combining Dragos, runZero, and NetRise, and the launch of Accenture Edge targeting a $240B mid-market TAM. The partnership ecosystem broadened to include Anthropic, Databricks, Nvidia, OpenAI, Snowflake, and others.
Guidance delta
FY2026 outlook maintained at 3-4% local-currency revenue growth with a 15.8% adjusted operating margin, narrowed from the 3-5% range raised in Q2. The maintained stance reflects managed-services booking delays pushing to FY2027, Middle-East geopolitical headwinds, and FX pressure, partially offset by AI and cybersecurity strength.
Key takeaways
- Q3 revenue reached $18.7B with 3% local-currency growth; operating margin expanded to 17%.
- EPS of $3.80 beat the $3.70 consensus estimate by 2.7%.
- Free cash flow of $3.6B supported continued shareholder returns.
- Acquisition budget raised to $9B for FY2026, up from $5B disclosed in Q2.
- New OT security platform combining Dragos, runZero, and NetRise created as a strategic growth pillar.
- Accenture Edge launched to target the $240B mid-market addressable opportunity.
Management priorities
- Integrate Dragos, runZero, and NetRise into a unified OT security platform.
- Roll out Accenture Edge to serve mid-market clients.
- Expand AI ecosystem partnerships and double bookings from AI partners.
- Deploy approximately $9B in acquisitions during FY2026.
- Access long-term debt markets to fund M&A and optimize capital structure.
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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 . For educational purposes only; not investment advice.