As Wall Street heads into the first trading session of December 2025, Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) enters the new month with a steadier share price, heavy institutional activity and a broadly positive analyst backdrop – but still a lot to prove on growth and margins.
Accenture stock price today and recent performance
Last close:
On Friday, November 28, 2025, Accenture closed at about $250.00 per share on the NYSE, rising roughly 0.9% on the day and extending a modest rebound from earlier in the week. [1]
That puts ACN:
- Near the lower third of its 12‑month range, between roughly $229.40 (low) and $398.35 (high) [2]
- Down about 30–35% over the past year, depending on the data source [3]
- Valued at around $160 billion in market cap, with a P/E near 20–21x and a PEG ratio around 2.1–2.2x [4]
Trend into December:
Price data show ACN is slightly above its 50‑day moving average (~$245) but still well below its 200‑day moving average (~$268–269), a classic “recovery from a deep drawdown” profile rather than a full-fledged uptrend. [5]
Broad U.S. equity futures were indicated roughly flat as traders entered December, suggesting no major macro shock ahead of the open. [6] With no company-specific news overnight, Friday’s close around $250 remains the key reference level for Accenture before the bell on Monday, December 1, 2025.
What moved Accenture between November 28 and 30, 2025?
From November 28–30, news flow around Accenture was dominated by institutional trading disclosures and fresh analyst and research updates rather than new company guidance.
1. Institutions keep buying – in size
Multiple filings published over the November 28–30 window show large funds adding meaningfully to ACN:
- Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake by an eye‑catching 11,903.6% in Q2, acquiring an extra 29,640 shares to own 29,889 shares worth about $8.93 million. [7]
- Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd increased its position by 39.7%, now holding 7,774 shares valued around $2.32 million. [8]
- Choreo LLC raised its stake by 5.3%, to 20,508 shares (roughly $6.13 million). [9]
- The State Board of Administration of the Florida Retirement System (Florida’s public pension) lifted its holdings by 0.6% to 604,321 shares valued at about $180.6 million, roughly 0.10% of Accenture’s outstanding shares. [10]
- The New York State Common Retirement Fund bought 20,798 additional shares, bringing its stake to 793,792 shares worth about $237.3 million and representing roughly 0.13% of the company. [11]
- Bristol Gate Capital Partners Inc. initiated a new position of 248,878 shares, worth approximately $74.4 million, making Accenture about 4.2% of its portfolio and its 15th‑largest holding. [12]
Collectively, these filings underscore one key theme: big, long‑term investors are still comfortable accumulating Accenture at current levels, even after a sharp drawdown.
2. A notable seller – Groupama trims its exposure
Not all institutional news was one‑way buying. On November 30, Groupama Asset Management disclosed it had reduced its Accenture stake by 10.3%, selling 1,050 shares and ending Q2 with 9,177 shares valued around $2.71 million. [13]
The same report highlighted:
- Institutions now own around 75.1% of Accenture’s shares, and
- Over the last 90 days, company insiders sold 33,319 shares (about $8.34 million), including a 9,000‑share sale by CEO Julie Sweet, leaving insiders with roughly 0.02% of the stock. [14]
This mix – heavy institutional ownership with modest insider selling – is typical of large, mature blue‑chip tech/consulting names and is unlikely to move the stock on its own, but it does frame sentiment: institutions are leaning in, insiders are taking some profits.
3. Short‑term trading action on November 28
On Friday, November 28:
- ACN rose about 0.87%, closing near $250, and
- Trading volume fell around 37% below its 30‑day average, ranking roughly 137th in U.S. trading activity that session. [15]
In other words, the bounce was positive but not driven by a big rush of new money – more like a quiet, constructive session after a volatile month.
How Wall Street rates Accenture heading into December
Consensus rating: “Moderate Buy” with mid‑teens upside
A fresh MarketBeat survey published on November 30 shows: [16]
- 28 analysts currently cover Accenture
- Rating mix: 1 Sell, 11 Hold, 15 Buy, 1 Strong Buy
- Consensus rating:“Moderate Buy”
- Average 12‑month price target:$294.25, implying ~18% upside from the ~$250 Friday close
Different data providers are directionally similar:
- MarketWatch tracks an average target around $278.55, also from about 28 analysts. [17]
- StockStory aggregates Street estimates at about $277.08, roughly 10.8% above the current price. [18]
- Some older Benzinga data cites a higher consensus target near $308, but this likely reflects pre‑cut targets from earlier in the year. [19]
Taken together, most sell‑side models point to low‑ to mid‑teens expected price appreciation over the next year, plus a dividend yield in the mid‑2% range.
Independent research view: “Investable Timely Buy”
In a detailed November 29 update, research platform StockStory characterizes Accenture as: [20]
- “Investable – Timely Buy”,
- Trading at about 18× forward earnings at a $250 share price, and
- Supported by high returns on capital and strong free‑cash‑flow generation, even as growth slows.
StockStory notes:
- 5‑year revenue growth: ~9.5% annualised
- 2‑year revenue growth: ~4.2%, signalling a slowdown
- Forward 12‑month revenue growth expected by analysts: ~4.7%, not spectacular, but stable
- 5‑year average operating margin: ~14.7%, still best‑in‑class for business services
- 5‑year average ROIC: ~39.6%, a very strong profitability signal [21]
Their conclusion: quality is high, growth has cooled, valuation is fair rather than dirt‑cheap.
Fundamentals in focus: What the latest earnings say
Fiscal 2025 results: solid growth, pressure on margins
Accenture reported fourth‑quarter and full‑year fiscal 2025 results (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025) in late September. Key numbers: [22]
- Q4 revenue:$17.6 billion, up 7% year‑on‑year
- Full‑year revenue:$69.7 billion, also up 7%
- Total new bookings:$21.3 billion in Q4 and $80.6 billion for the full year
- Generative AI bookings: about $1.8 billion in Q4, $5.9 billion for the year
Profitability was more mixed:
- Adjusted EPS: about $3.03, beating the average analyst estimate of $2.98 [23]
- GAAP EPS:$2.25, missing consensus given restructuring charges and investments [24]
- Operating margin: roughly 11.6%, down from 14.3% a year earlier [25]
So the story here is:
Top‑line growth remains healthy; margins are compressed by restructuring and investment, even as management leans hard into AI and cloud.
Balance sheet and cash flow: a safety net
Accenture’s financial position remains a key supporting pillar for the stock:
- Cash and short‑term investments:$11.49 billion as of August 31, 2025 – up 129% year‑on‑year [26]
- Net cash position: about $4.0 billion, with cash above debt, giving meaningful flexibility for M&A, buybacks and dividends [27]
- Free cash flow in the latest quarter:$3.81 billion, a robust 21.6% FCF margin, above its 5‑year average [28]
These numbers help explain why long‑only institutional investors are comfortable buying weakness – even if growth is slower, Accenture throws off a lot of cash and has a clean balance sheet.
Strategy update: AI, cloud and restructuring
Generative AI and cloud partnerships
Accenture has positioned itself as a top‑tier “AI and cloud transformation” partner:
- The company reported $5.9 billion in generative AI bookings for fiscal 2025, a significant chunk of its overall new business. [29]
- It has deepened partnerships with Google Cloud, co‑developing solutions around Gemini Enterprise and agentic AI, aimed at helping clients build “AI‑first” digital cores. [30]
- Accenture also continues to expand its work with AWS and Microsoft, and recently acquired RANGR Data to bolster its Palantir‑related data analytics and AI talent. [31]
In short, AI and cloud are now central to Accenture’s growth story, not side projects.
Restructuring and guidance caution
At the same time, brokerages have flagged a note of caution:
- NDTV Profit and other outlets highlighted that Accenture’s more muted forward guidance could weigh on global IT services sentiment, especially Indian IT stocks that often trade in tandem with Accenture’s outlook. [32]
- Commentary around recent results suggests generative AI work is significant but not yet fully offsetting broader pressure on discretionary IT budgets. [33]
Accenture has also booked substantial severance and restructuring charges over the past year as it reshapes its workforce for AI‑driven demand, a key reason margins are temporarily below historical levels. [34]
Dividend, yield and shareholder returns
Accenture remains an active capital‑return story:
- The quarterly dividend was raised to $1.63 per share, or $6.52 annualised, implying a dividend yield of around 2.4–2.6% at a ~$250 share price. [35]
- The payout ratio sits in the low‑ to mid‑50% range of earnings, leaving room for continued buybacks and M&A. [36]
For income‑oriented investors, this reliable, gradually rising dividend is an important piece of the return profile, especially now that the share price is well below its early‑2025 peaks.
Short‑term ACN stock forecast: what models say around December 1
Options market: modest expected move into early December
Options data for Accenture indicate a relatively contained near‑term volatility outlook. One options‑analytics source estimates that, into the December 5, 2025 expiration, the market is pricing an expected move of roughly ±$8.25 (±3.3%) around current levels – implying a short‑term range of about $240–$257. [37]
That’s not the profile of a stock the market expects to explode in either direction this week, barring a surprise macro or company‑specific headline.
Algorithmic / technical models: flat to slightly lower
A purely technical, algorithm‑driven forecast from CoinCodex (updated December 1, 2025) suggests: [38]
- Tomorrow (Dec 1) forecast: about $250.03 – essentially flat vs. the current price
- Next week: a mild drift lower toward roughly $248.36 (around ‑0.7%)
- Technical sentiment:slightly bearish, with about 54% of indicators negative and 46% positive
- One‑year algorithmic projection: around $201.64, implying notable downside from current levels
These machine‑learning forecasts should be treated with caution – they’re not the same as fundamental analyst estimates – but they do reflect current technical momentum and volatility: a stock that has bounced off its lows but has not convincingly broken its downtrend.
Medium‑term outlook: scenarios for Accenture stock
Putting the late‑November news and existing fundamentals together, here’s how the outlook broadly sets up:
Bullish scenario: AI monetization accelerates
In a bullish case:
- AI and cloud transformation demand continues to grow, and
- Accenture’s $5.9 billion in generative AI bookings becomes a springboard for faster revenue growth in 2026 and beyond. [39]
If revenue growth were to re‑accelerate toward high single digits while margins normalise closer to the 14–15% historical operating margin, ACN’s current ~20x earnings multiple could look undemanding – especially with an entrenched blue‑chip brand and strong ROIC.
In that world, Street targets in the mid‑$270s to high‑$290s could prove conservative over a multi‑year horizon. [40]
Base case: slow but steady, with income
In a more neutral base case, consistent with the current consensus: [41]
- Revenue grows around 4–5% annually
- EPS grows in the low‑teens, helped by buybacks and operational efficiencies
- Operating margins stabilise just below long‑term averages
- The dividend continues to inch up, maintaining a 2–3% yield
Under those assumptions, the mid‑teens upside embedded in analyst targets plus dividend income could translate to high‑teens total return potential over 12–18 months, albeit with meaningful execution risk.
Bearish scenario: budgets tighten further
On the downside, brokerages warn that cautious spending on traditional IT and consulting work may persist, with AI‑related projects reshuffling budgets rather than growing them outright. [42]
If:
- Growth slows below 4%,
- Margin pressure remains elevated due to ongoing restructuring, and
- Clients stay hesitant about large transformation programs,
then multiples could compress further, in line with the more pessimistic algorithmic one‑year targets near $200, which imply another leg lower from today’s levels. [43]
What to watch before today’s market open (December 1, 2025)
For traders and investors looking at Accenture before the bell, the key checklist looks something like this:
- Price level vs. $250:
- Friday’s close around $250 is the immediate battleground. A firm open above that level keeps the mini‑rebound intact; a gap lower would signal renewed selling pressure. [44]
- Macro tone and futures:
- With U.S. futures roughly flat early in the day, any surprise macro headline (rates, inflation, geopolitics) could quickly change the tone for risk assets, including ACN. [45]
- Flow of new research or rating changes:
- Markets will watch for post‑month‑end analyst notes that might adjust targets or ratings as December begins, especially after MarketBeat’s fresh “Moderate Buy” consensus update on November 30. [46]
- Options and volume:
- A sharp expansion in options volume or implied volatility beyond the current ±3.3% expected move into December 5 would indicate that traders are positioning for something bigger than the Street currently anticipates. [47]
- Countdown to earnings (December 18, 2025):
- The next major scheduled catalyst is Accenture’s upcoming earnings report, expected around December 18, with consensus looking for about $3.7–$3.8 in EPS. [48]
- Any early guidance rumors or pre‑announcements would be highly market‑moving.
Quick FAQ for readers of Google News & Discover
Is Accenture stock a buy right now?
Accenture currently carries a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating from major brokerages, with most analysts expecting mid‑teens percentage upside over 12 months from around $250, plus a ~2.5% dividend yield. [49] However, independent algorithmic models are more cautious, and actual returns will depend on how quickly AI and cloud investments translate into faster growth and higher margins. This article is informational only and not investment advice.
What is the average analyst price target for ACN?
Depending on the source, the average 12‑month target ranges from about $277–$295 per share, with some older datasets still showing levels above $300. [50]
When is Accenture’s next earnings report?
Financial calendars expect Accenture to report its next set of quarterly results around December 18, 2025, covering the quarter ended November 30. [51]
Does Accenture pay a dividend?
Yes. Accenture recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.63 per share, or $6.52 annualised, equating to a yield of roughly 2.4–2.6% at current prices. [52]
How risky is Accenture’s balance sheet?
The company holds over $11 billion in cash and short‑term investments and runs with net cash rather than net debt, giving it flexibility to keep investing, paying dividends and buying back stock even in a tougher macro environment. [53]
References
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