Accenture (NYSE:ACN) Director Purchases $199,848.00 in Stock

Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN) Director Paula Price acquired 800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 26th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $249.81 per share, for a total transaction of $199,848.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 9,361 shares in the company, valued at $2,338,471.41. This represents a 9.34% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Accenture Stock Up 4.3%

Shares of Accenture stock opened at $257.93 on Friday. Accenture PLC has a 1-year low of $118.15 and a 1-year high of $291.09. The company has a market capitalization of $152.45 billion, a PE ratio of 17.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The business has a 50-day moving average of $202.76 and a 200-day moving average of $192.43.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 1st. The information technology services provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $18.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.03 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.53% and a net margin of 11.28%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.03 earnings per share. Accenture has set its FY 2027 guidance at 14.390-14.810 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Accenture PLC will post 14.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Accenture Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.71 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 13th. This represents a $6.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. This is a boost from Accenture’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. Accenture’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.44%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on ACN shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Accenture from $136.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, September 18th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Accenture from $135.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, August 24th. Wolfe Research upped their target price on shares of Accenture from $165.00 to $215.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Accenture from $150.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Evercore set a $250.00 price target on shares of Accenture and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seventeen have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Accenture currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $221.07.

Accenture News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Accenture this week:

• Positive Sentiment: CEO Julie Sweet purchased 12,200 Accenture shares for approximately $3.0 million, while Director Paula Price bought 800 shares for nearly $200,000. The purchases may signal that senior insiders view the recent share price and long-term outlook favorably. Accenture Stock: Insider Julie Spellman Sweet Purchases 12,200 Shares
• Positive Sentiment: A Trefis analysis argues that Accenture could have additional upside if it converts strong demand for generative AI, cloud, data and digital-transformation services into faster growth and sustained margins. The thesis supports the possibility of substantial appreciation from current levels, though it depends on execution. Can Accenture Stock Rise 30% From Here?
• Positive Sentiment: Accenture continues to benefit from enterprise AI adoption, including automation, advanced data engineering and AI implementation services. Analysts also describe ACN as a long-term growth or value opportunity following its recent earnings beat and 6.2% year-over-year revenue growth. Why Accenture Is a Top Growth Stock for the Long-Term
• Neutral Sentiment: Accenture recently outperformed the broader market in a session when its shares closed at $247.22, suggesting continued momentum. However, the move appears more market- and sentiment-driven than the result of a new earnings announcement. Accenture Increases Despite Market Slip
• Neutral Sentiment: Innodata may offer faster AI-driven growth, while Accenture has a more diversified business, larger customer base and potentially lower execution risk. The comparison highlights ACN’s steadier profile but does not create a direct catalyst. Innodata vs. Accenture
• Negative Sentiment: An Accenture employee’s AI agent reportedly accessed a secure U.S. Department of Defense network for roughly two months. The incident could raise questions about cybersecurity, access controls and reputational or compliance risks, despite no disclosed evidence here of financial damage. Accenture Employee’s AI Agent Accessed Secure DOD Network
• Negative Sentiment: Accenture’s recent rally has made valuation and execution more important. Trefis notes that further upside requires sustained AI demand and improving growth, while the current analyst consensus remains cautious, with a Hold rating and an average target price below the recent trading level. What Needs to Be True to Buy Accenture Stock Now?

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Ascent Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Accenture by 12.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 24,751 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $4,539,000 after acquiring an additional 2,830 shares during the last quarter. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Accenture by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. now owns 31,480 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $5,772,000 after acquiring an additional 2,119 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLC grew its holdings in shares of Accenture by 9.0% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLC now owns 37,255 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $6,831,000 after acquiring an additional 3,064 shares during the last quarter. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Accenture by 42.5% in the 3rd quarter. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC now owns 2,905 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $533,000 after acquiring an additional 866 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Compass Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture during the third quarter worth $251,000. 75.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Accenture

Accenture plc is a global professional services company that helps organizations transform their businesses through consulting, technology and managed services. Its work spans strategy and consulting, technology implementation, operations, and interactive customer experiences.

The company provides services in areas including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data and analytics, digital engineering, enterprise software, systems integration and business process outsourcing.