Accenture (ACN) Stock Today: AI Deals, Big-Name Buyers and 2026 Price Targets

Published: December 7, 2025

Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) is back in the spotlight. The consulting and technology giant’s share price has been battered in 2025, but a wave of institutional buying, aggressive generative AI investments and fresh analyst forecasts are reshaping the narrative around ACN stock heading into 2026.

As of the latest close on December 5, Accenture shares trade around $266.59, roughly 25% below their 52‑week high of $398.35, with a market capitalization of about $165 billion and a trailing P/E near 22. ^[1]

Key takeaways for Accenture (ACN) stock

Price & performance: ACN closed at about $266.6, down ~1% on the day but up high single digits over the past month; shares remain more than 25% below their 52‑week high. ^[2]
Fundamentals: Trailing twelve‑month revenue sits near $69.7 billion with net income of roughly $7.7 billion and EPS of $12.15. ^[3]
Dividend: Accenture now pays an annual dividend of $6.52 per share (about a 2.4–2.5% yield) after a 10% increase in the quarterly payout to $1.63. ^[4]
Institutional flows: CalPERS, Norges Bank and multiple wealth managers have significantly boosted their stakes, with institutions controlling about 75% of the float. ^[5]
AI story: Advanced AI revenue has tripled to roughly $2.7 billion, with related bookings nearly doubling to about $5.9 billion, driven by OpenAI, Snowflake and Palantir‑related deals. ^[6]
Wall Street view: Consensus rating is “Moderate Buy” with 12‑month price targets clustered around $294–$308, implying roughly 10–15% upside from current levels. ^[7]
Next catalyst: The next earnings report is scheduled for December 18, 2025, with analysts looking for continued AI‑driven bookings and stable margins. ^[8]

Accenture stock today: price, valuation and recent performance

Accenture’s share price closed at $266.59 on December 5, down 1.02% on the day, within a session range of $266.07–$271.00. ^[9]

Key trading and valuation metrics:

Current price: ~$266.6
52‑week range:$229.40 – $398.35
Market cap: ~$165.3 billion
Trailing P/E: ~21.9–22.0
Forward P/E: ~19.3
Dividend yield: about 2.4–2.5% on an annual dividend of $6.52
1‑year performance: roughly ‑25% over the past 12 months, despite a strong bounce over the last few weeks. ^[10]

The stock has staged a short‑term rebound: Trading data show ACN up around 7–10% over the past week and month, respectively, as investors respond to improving AI metrics and a pickup in risk appetite for quality large‑cap tech services names. ^[11]

At today’s price, ACN trades at a discount to its own 52‑week average price (around $298–$310) and far below its all‑time high, reinforcing the “quality at a discount” narrative favored by some long‑term shareholders. ^[12]

Institutional investors are quietly loading up on ACN

One of the most striking developments in early December is who is buying Accenture stock.

CalPERS and Norges Bank increase exposure

A fresh 13F update from MarketBeat shows the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) increased its Accenture stake by 36.7% in the second quarter, purchasing 595,970 additional shares. CalPERS now owns around 2.22 million shares, or about 0.35% of the company, valued at roughly $663 million at the time of filing. ^[13]

In the same report, Norges Bank, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, is cited as having initiated a new position worth more than $2.2 billion, underscoring Accenture’s status as a core global blue‑chip in institutional portfolios. ^[14]

Cerity Partners and wealth managers add to positions

A second filing released today shows Cerity Partners LLC boosting its ACN stake by 14.7% to roughly 380,500 shares, valued at about $113.7 million, with a range of regional banks and wealth managers also modestly increasing holdings. ^[15]

Together, these moves leave about 75% of Accenture’s shares in institutional hands, a high figure even by large‑cap tech standards, and one that typically signals strong confidence from long‑term investors in the company’s business model and cash‑flow durability. ^[16]

Insider selling: a counter‑signal?

While institutional interest has been rising, insider activity has skewed to selling. GuruFocus reports that Chair and CEO Julie Sweet sold 9,000 shares on October 29, 2025, at about $253.40 per share, leaving her with 14,516 shares. Over the past year she has sold 33,825 shares and bought none, and the broader insider base has logged 29 sells and zero buys. ^[17]

GuruFocus’s valuation framework, however, still tags Accenture as “modestly undervalued”, with the stock trading at about 0.74× its estimated intrinsic “GF Value” (roughly $343), reflecting lower‑than‑historic multiples despite solid profitability. ^[18]

For investors, this creates a nuanced picture: big institutions are adding, while insiders have primarily been using the volatility to trim positions – a pattern that may reflect diversification and compensation dynamics more than an outright negative view.

AI‑driven strategy: partnerships, acquisitions and rebranding

If 2023–24 were about Accenture announcing a $3 billion AI investment program, then 2025 has been about executing on that promise.

Snowflake, OpenAI and the AI data ecosystem

On December 3, Accenture and Snowflake announced the Accenture Snowflake Business Group, a dedicated unit aimed at helping enterprises like Caterpillar build “AI‑ready data estates” and next‑generation AI applications on Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud. The group is backed by more than 5,000 Snowflake‑certified Accenture professionals, the largest talent pool of its kind. ^[19]

The initiative leans heavily on Accenture’s AI Refinery platform and Snowflake’s new Snowflake Cortex AI capabilities, reflecting a strategy to sit in the middle of the AI stack as enterprises reinvent their data architecture. ^[20]

This builds on earlier announcements around Accenture’s OpenAI collaboration, integrating tools like ChatGPT Enterprise into consulting workflows – a relationship referenced in recent stock commentary as a key driver of AI bookings. ^[21]

Strategic investment in WEVO: AI‑powered customer research

On December 4, Accenture Ventures disclosed a strategic investment in WEVO, an AI‑powered customer research platform that simulates and validates customer behavior before new products and experiences launch. ^[22]

WEVO’s technology will be embedded into Accenture Song’s GrowthOS platform, enabling clients to test value propositions using both synthetic AI personas and real users, turning what used to be weeks of research into hours. The goal: reduce guesswork in product development and give clients data‑driven confidence about which ideas to scale. ^[23]

Aidemy and the AI reskilling flywheel

Accenture also confirmed it completed the tender offer for Aidemy, a Japanese AI learning and system‑development company, with the deal closing on November 10, 2025. Aidemy will bolster LearnVantage, Accenture’s $1 billion reskilling platform aimed at helping enterprises build AI‑ready workforces. Roughly 130 AI and DX specialists from Aidemy and its group companies will join Accenture. ^[24]

The company links this move to a World Economic Forum finding that approximately 39% of workers’ skills will be transformed or obsolete between 2025 and 2030, reinforcing the commercial logic of selling AI technology hand‑in‑hand with massive upskilling and change‑management programs. ^[25]

A 23‑deal acquisition spree in 2025

According to CRN, Accenture has completed 23 acquisitions in 2025 alone, heavily tilted toward generative AI, cybersecurity, cloud modernization and workforce transformation. Deals include: ^[26]

Halfspace (Denmark) – a generative‑AI and data‑science consultancy
NeuraFlash (US) – Salesforce and conversational AI specialist focused on agentic AI customer experiences
CyberCX (Australia/New Zealand) – one of the region’s largest cybersecurity providers with ~1,400 experts
IAMConcepts (Canada) – identity and access management (IAM) consultancy
TalentSprint, Ascendient Learning & Aidemy – deep‑tech and AI reskilling providers folded into LearnVantage

Collectively, these deals deepen Accenture’s bench in enterprise‑grade AI, security and training, and signal that management expects AI‑driven transformation and cyber resilience to underpin IT services demand for the rest of the decade. ^[27]

Rebranding 800,000 employees as “reinventors”

Not all of Accenture’s AI narrative is purely financial. A widely discussed Guardian report describes how the company has rebranded nearly 800,000 employees as “reinventors”, consolidating its strategy, consulting, technology and operations units into a single “Reinvention Services” organization. ^[28]

The move is meant to present Accenture as the “reinvention partner of choice” for clients adopting AI – but has also attracted skepticism and internal confusion, especially alongside layoffs of 11,000 employees and pressure on staff to rapidly adopt generative AI tools. ^[29]

Financial performance: growth, margins and AI revenue

Accenture’s latest reported quarter (ended August 2025) and full‑year numbers show a company that is still growing, but at a slower pace than in the post‑pandemic boom.

Revenue and earnings

Full‑year FY2025 revenue: about $69.7 billion, up 7% year over year. ^[30]
Latest quarter: Revenue around $17.6 billion, beating consensus estimates (~$17.3 billion) with 7.3% year‑over‑year growth. ^[31]
EPS: Quarterly EPS of $3.03, ahead of the ~$2.98 consensus and up from $2.66 a year earlier. ^[32]

Management has issued FY2026 EPS guidance of roughly $13.19–$13.57, implying around 8% growth versus the current year expectation of about $12.73 per share. ^[33]

AI revenue and bookings

CoinCentral’s December 6 analysis highlights that Accenture’s “advanced AI” revenue has tripled to about $2.7 billion, while AI‑related bookings have nearly doubled to roughly $5.9 billion. Management is pairing this with guidance for: ^[34]

2–5% overall revenue growth
Around 8% adjusted EPS growth into FY2026

The implication: AI is growing much faster than the rest of the business and increasingly offsetting macro‑driven slowdowns in traditional consulting and outsourcing.

Balance sheet and dividend

Accenture maintains a conservative balance sheet:

Debt‑to‑equity ratio: ~0.16
Current and quick ratio: ~1.42
Dividend: quarterly dividend raised from $1.48 to $1.63, or $6.52 annually (about a 2.4% yield at current prices). ^[35]

For income‑oriented investors, the combination of a mid‑2% yield, consistent dividend growth and strong free cash flow remains a core part of the bull case.

Analyst ratings and ACN stock forecasts for 2026

Street consensus: “Moderate Buy” with ~10–15% upside

MarketBeat’s consolidated analyst tracker shows 28 Wall Street analysts covering Accenture, assigning a “Moderate Buy” rating. The breakdown: ^[36]

1 Strong Buy
15 Buy
11 Hold
1 Sell

Their average 12‑month price target is $294.25, with a high of $370 and a low of $215, implying around 10.5% upside from the current ~$266 share price. ^[37]

Other forecast aggregators

Public.com: Compiles 21 analyst ratings, also landing at a Buy consensus with an average target around $294.38 and a mix of strong buy, buy and hold recommendations. ^[38]
Benzinga: Cites a consensus target of $307.96 based on 26 analysts, with a bullish high of $405 (Citigroup) and a low of $240 (HSBC). The three most recent targets from Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Mizuho average $275.33, indicating low‑double‑digit upside from current levels. ^[39]
TradingView/StockAnalysis: Show an aggregated target around $298–299, or roughly 12% upside, reinforcing the mid‑$200s as a perceived “discount zone” relative to fair value. ^[40]

In August, Stifel reiterated a Buy rating, calling Accenture one of the “best‑managed” companies in its sector even as the stock flirted with 52‑week lows, and arguing that FY2026 consensus estimates were reasonable – and potentially beatable – after a quarter of 4% organic revenue growth and 13% EPS growth. ^[41]

While methodologies differ, the overall message from the Street is consistent: ACN is seen as a quality compounder whose AI and cloud bets should support mid‑single‑digit revenue growth and mid‑ to high‑single‑digit EPS growth, with today’s price offering moderate but not explosive upside.

Risks weighing on Accenture shares

Despite the improving tone around AI, several real risks continue to hang over ACN stock and help explain its sharp drawdown in 2025.

Slowing consulting demand and US federal spending cuts

Accenture has warned that US federal consulting budget cuts will likely slow growth despite its 7% revenue increase to $69.7 billion in the latest fiscal year. Combined with broader macro uncertainty and delayed enterprise IT projects, this has pressured the stock, which has lost more than a quarter of its market value this year. ^[42]

Workforce upheaval and cultural questions

The company’s decision to lay off 11,000 employees while rebranding remaining staff as “reinventors” and heavily emphasizing AI reskilling has drawn criticism and may create execution risk if morale or talent retention weaken. ^[43]

Competitive and margin pressure

Bearish analysts point to:

Intensifying competition from other global IT services players
Pricing pressure in commoditized outsourcing work
Rising AI‑related capex and reskilling costs that could weigh on margins in the near term

Public.com’s bear case, for example, notes margin compression and a forecast 7% decline in free cash flow at the midpoint for FY2026, partly due to higher capex and shifting revenue mix. ^[44]

Regulatory, AI and cyber risks

Accenture’s own forward‑looking statements highlight classic large‑cap tech risks: data‑privacy and cybersecurity incidents, AI‑related legal or reputational issues, and the challenge of matching talent supply with evolving client demand across 120+ countries. ^[45]

For investors, the key question is whether AI‑driven growth and acquisitions can more than offset these headwinds over the next three to five years.

What to watch next for ACN stock

Heading into 2026, several near‑term catalysts and metrics are likely to drive Accenture’s share price:

Earnings on December 18, 2025
- Revenue growth relative to the guided 2–5% band
- Progression in AI and cloud bookings
- Margin trends as AI investments and restructuring costs flow through ^[46]
AI bookings and revenue mix
- The pace at which AI revenue grows as a share of total revenue (currently a small but rapidly expanding slice). ^[47]
Integration of 2025 acquisitions
- Whether Accenture can effectively fold 20+ AI, security and learning acquisitions into its existing global machine and extract cross‑selling synergies. ^[48]
Institutional and insider flow trends
- Continued accumulation by pensions and sovereign wealth funds versus any escalation of insider selling. ^[49]
Macro and policy backdrop
- US government consulting budgets, trade policy, and corporate IT spending plans, all of which could shift sentiment quickly in either direction. ^[50]

Bottom line: how Accenture looks as of December 7, 2025

As of December 7, 2025, Accenture plc stock sits in a classic “quality under pressure” zone:

The business remains profitable and growing, with strong cash generation, a rising dividend and a deepening moat around AI, cloud and cybersecurity services.
The share price still reflects macro and political headwinds, including softer consulting demand and US budget cuts, leading to a 25%+ drawdown from last year’s levels.
Institutional investors are buying the dip, while Wall Street’s consensus suggests mid‑teens upside over 12 months if Accenture executes on its AI reinvention strategy. ^[51]

For investors following ACN, the next few quarters will be about proving that AI‑led growth and acquisition synergies can overcome cyclical softness and restructuring noise. The upcoming December 18 earnings release – and any updated guidance for AI revenue, margins and free cash flow – will be critical in confirming whether today’s valuation truly represents an opportunity or simply a pause in a longer re‑rating lower.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or a solicitation of any kind. Always conduct your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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