Accenture’s stock rallied Thursday following the release of fiscal fourth-quarter financial results that surpassed consensus expectations. The consulting firm posted earnings per share of $3.29 on revenue of $18.68 billion, exceeding LSEG estimates of $3.18 per share and $18.03 billion in revenue. Trading activity reflected the positive reaction, with shares initially rising more than 22% before settling to close up approximately 16% for the session.
For the full fiscal year 2026, Accenture reported adjusted earnings of $13.97 per share, representing an 8% increase year-over-year, while revenue totaled $74.2 billion, marking a 6% gain. CEO Julie Sweet attributed the strong performance to artificial intelligence serving as a significant growth driver for the business. She noted the company finished the year with $85 billion in new business bookings entering the following year, driven by a growth strategy focused on major transformational deals and strengthening the firm’s position in the AI sector.
The company achieved several notable milestones in the period. Accenture posted record figures in large client bookings valued at $100 million or more and set a record for cash returned to shareholders. Additionally, the company increased its quarterly dividend by 5% to $1.71 per share, with payment scheduled for November 13.
Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, Accenture provided guidance projecting 3%-6% year-over-year growth in both revenue and adjusted earnings per share. Following the earnings announcement, Stifel reiterated a buy rating on the company and raised its price target to $242 per share from $225, citing broad-based outperformance driven by activity in discretionary deals, federal government sector expansion, and accelerating demand from AI-related partners.
Despite Thursday’s significant gains, the stock remains down more than 18% year to date amid broader market concerns regarding artificial intelligence’s potential disruption to key business segments. Sweet addressed these concerns in remarks to CNBC, emphasizing the company’s approach of serving as a bridge between AI capabilities and tangible business outcomes.
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