New York, Jan 14, 2026, 18:41 EST — After-hours
- Accenture shares gained roughly 4% in after-hours trading, defying the broader decline in major U.S. indexes
- Infosys boosted its full-year revenue growth forecast, sparking optimism about a rebound in tech consulting demand
- Investors are turning their attention to Accenture’s update in March and its shareholder meeting scheduled for later this month
Accenture plc shares jumped 4.3% in after-hours trading Wednesday, closing at $288.54.
This shift carries weight as IT services stocks have been jolted by doubts over whether key clients are putting off “discretionary” projects — the kind that get shelved when budgets shrink. A clear signal from a leading outsourcer can send ripples through the sector, even when individual company updates are sparse.
India’s Infosys raised its full-year revenue growth forecast for the year ending March 2026 to 3% to 3.5%, up from its previous 2% to 3%. The upgrade reflects continued strength in discretionary tech spending and robust activity in financial services. “There is an industry-wide recovery as certain tech spends can’t be postponed beyond a point,” said Piyush Pandey, an analyst at Centrum Broking. Reuters
U.S.-listed names gained ground late Wednesday. Cognizant Technology Solutions climbed 2.7%, while DXC Technology advanced 2.9%.
Accenture bucked the trend as the broader market weakened. The S&P 500 dropped 0.5% Wednesday, with the Nasdaq down 1%, per an Associated Press market summary.
Accenture’s latest earnings came out on Dec. 18, topping first-quarter revenue estimates. Yet, its second-quarter revenue forecast, at the midpoint, fell short of LSEG’s consensus.
Volume surged past 6 million shares, beating the recent average, as the stock swung sharply between $274.90 and $291.03 during the day.
Dividend mechanics came into focus this week. Accenture’s shares went ex-dividend on Jan. 13, and the upcoming quarterly payment is scheduled for Feb. 13.
The takeaway from Infosys, however, has its boundaries. More chatter about deals doesn’t guarantee a quick revenue boost. Accenture has already warned that growth may be patchy as clients tighten their belts and move projects toward AI-driven initiatives.
Investors are now waiting to see if other consultancies repeat the “can’t postpone” stance in their updates, and if U.S. clients restart project pipelines following early-year budget adjustments.
Accenture’s upcoming key events include its annual general meeting on Jan. 28 and the fiscal second-quarter earnings call scheduled for March 19.
