ACN Stock Risk & Deep Value Analysis
Accenture PLC
Technology • Information Technology Services
DVR Score
out of 10
What You Need to Know About ACN Stock
We analyzed Accenture PLC using our deep value framework. Sign in to see our full verdict and DVR Score.
We ran ACN through our deep value framework — analyzing financial health, distress signals, competitive moat, and risk factors. Our risk assessment: Moderate. Here's what we found.
ACN Risk Analysis & Red Flags
What Could Go Wrong
A significant global economic downturn could severely reduce corporate discretionary spending on consulting services, leading to revenue contraction and margin pressure, as ACN's growth is tied to client IT budgets. This would directly impact earnings and shareholder returns.
Risk Matrix
Overall
Moderate
Financial
Low
Market
Medium
Competitive
Medium
Execution
Low
Regulatory
Low
Red Flags
- ⚠
Massive market cap and mature growth profile fundamentally limit 10x potential.
- ⚠
Recent stock price weakness despite earnings beats suggests market skepticism or higher expectations.
- ⚠
Consulting bookings (1.0 book-to-bill) show less momentum than Managed Services (1.2).
Upcoming Risk Events
- 📅
Global economic downturn impacting corporate IT spending
- 📅
Increased competitive intensity in key service areas
- 📅
Failure to attract and retain top talent in high-demand technology fields
When to Reconsider
- 🚪
Exit if local currency revenue growth turns negative for two consecutive quarters.
- 🚪
Sell if operating margins show sustained decline below 15%.
- 🚪
Exit if significant leadership changes occur without clear succession planning.
Unlock ACN Risk Analysis & Red Flags
Create a free account to see the full analysis
What Does Accenture PLC (ACN) Do?
Market Cap
$109.02B
Sector
Technology
Industry
Information Technology Services
Employees
779,000
Accenture plc provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers systems integration and application management; security; intelligent platform; infrastructure; software engineering; data, AI, cloud; and automation and global delivery services. The company also operates business processes for specific enterprise functions, including finance and accounting, sourcing and procurement, supply chain, marketing and sales, and human resources, as well as industry-specific services, such as platform trust and safety, banking, insurance, network and health services; and designs, manufactures, and assembles automation equipment, robotics, and other commercial hardware products. It serves communications, media, and technology; financial services; banking and capital markets, and insurance; health and public service; consumer goods, retail, travel services; industrial; life science; and chemicals, natural resources, energy, and utilities sectors. Accenture plc has collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver transformative digital services to public sector, defense, and national security organizations. Accenture plc was founded in 1951 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.
Visit Accenture PLC WebsiteInvestment Thesis
Accenture is a globally dominant professional services firm, exceptionally well-managed, financially robust, and poised to continue its leadership in digital transformation, cloud, and AI. While its size inherently limits '10x' stock growth potential, its consistent execution, strong cash flow, and shareholder returns make it a prime candidate for stable, long-term compounding and a defensive portfolio core, especially following its recent price retreat to more attractive valuation levels.
Is ACN Stock Undervalued?
Unlock the full AI analysis for ACN
Get the complete DVR score, risk analysis, and more
Unlock the full report
Create a free account to see the DVR score, risk flags, and AI analysis.
ACN Price Targets & Strategy
12-Month Target
$249.66
Bull Case
$277.40
Bear Case
$138.70
Valuation Basis
Based on 18x forward P/E applied to $13.87 est. FY26 EPS = $249.66
Entry Strategy
Consider dollar-cost averaging on dips to the $170-$175 range, near recent 52-week lows, for long-term accumulation.
Exit Strategy
Take profit at $240-$250 (potential 12-month target). Stop loss if share price consistently breaks below $160 (significant support zone).
Portfolio Allocation
3-5% for moderate risk tolerance (stable core holding, not high growth).
Price Targets & Strategy
Upgrade to Premium for price targets and entry/exit strategies
Is ACN Financially Healthy?
Valuation
P/E Ratio
14.25
Forward P/E
12.75
PEG Ratio
3.80
Price/Book
3.37
Price/Sales
1.50
Profitability
Gross Margin
32.03%
Operating Margin
14.42%
Net Margin
10.61%
Return on Equity
24.71%
Revenue Growth
7.27%
EPS
$12.19
Balance Sheet
Current Ratio
1.42
Quick Ratio
1.42
Debt/Equity
0.17
Total Debt
$29.10B
Cash & Equivalents
$5.99B
Cash Flow
Operating Cash Flow
$11.47B
Free Cash Flow
$3.67B
EBITDA
$10.80B
Other
Beta (Volatility)
1.07
Dividend Yield
3.61%
Does ACN Have a Competitive Moat?
Sign in to unlockMoat Rating
🏰 Wide
Moat Trend
Stable
Moat Sources
4 Identified
Accenture's moat is highly durable, stemming from its deep integration into clients' operations, proprietary methodologies, vast global talent pool, and a brand synonymous with reliability and innovation in professional services. The complexity and mission-critical nature of its projects create high switching costs and reinforce its leadership.
Moat Erosion Risks
- •Rapid technological shifts (e.g., AI) requiring constant adaptation and investment
- •Increased in-house capabilities by clients, reducing reliance on external consultants
- •Intensifying competition from niche specialists and tech giants expanding their service offerings
ACN Competitive Moat Analysis
Sign up to see competitive advantages
ACN Market Intelligence
Sentiment & Insider Activity
Social Sentiment
Neutral (focus on stability and quality rather than rapid growth for retail investors).
Institutional Sentiment
Cautiously Positive (Moderate Buy consensus, but some target cuts like Truist indicate underlying caution).
Insider Activity (Form 4)
CFO Angie Y. Park bought 155 shares, CEO Julie Sweet bought 219 shares, and CEO-The Americas John F. Walsh bought 155 shares on 2026-05-05 at $176.995/share via a Voluntary Equity Investment Program (generally considered neutral activity).
Options Flow
Normal options activity (no specific unusual activity reported in research).
Earnings Intelligence
Next Earnings
2026-06-18
Surprise Probability
Medium
Historical Earnings Pattern
Stock price has shown sensitivity to earnings, sometimes dropping post-release even with beats, indicating high expectations or broader market sentiment impacting the stock.
Key Metrics to Watch
Competitive Position
Top Competitor
Deloitte (private) or Capgemini (CAP.PA)
Market Share Trend
Stable to Gaining (robust bookings and strategic acquisitions allow it to maintain/grow market share against a fragmented competitive landscape).
Valuation vs Peers
Accenture typically trades at a premium to many IT services peers due to its high-value consulting segments and consistent performance. At ~12.5x forward P/E based on recent prices, it may be more in line or slightly discounted to its historical average, making it attractive for a quality play.
Competitive Advantages
- •Unparalleled global scale and delivery network
- •Strong brand reputation and trusted client relationships
- •Broad portfolio spanning strategy, consulting, digital, technology, and operations
- •Deep industry-specific expertise and proprietary methodologies
- •Ability to attract and retain top talent globally
Market Intelligence
Get sentiment, earnings intel, and peer analysis with Premium
What Could Drive ACN Stock Higher?
Near-Term (0-6 months)
- •Q3 2026 Earnings on 2026-06-18
- •Updates on AI strategy and new client wins
Medium-Term (6-18 months)
- •Recovery in Federal business performance (expected Q4 2026 reversal)
- •Strategic bolt-on acquisitions to expand service offerings
- •Continued global digital transformation initiatives driving managed services growth
Long-Term (18+ months)
- •Broader enterprise adoption of generative AI driving new consulting mandates
- •Consolidation in the professional services industry, strengthening Accenture's market leadership
- •Expansion into new high-growth verticals and emerging markets
Catalysts & Growth Drivers
Upgrade to Premium to see catalysts
What's the Bull Case for ACN?
- ✓
Acceleration in local currency revenue growth, particularly in Consulting
- ✓
Sustained improvement in operating margins and free cash flow conversion
- ✓
Significant new large-scale client engagements, especially in emerging tech
Bull Case Analysis
See what could go right with Premium
Competing with ACN
See how Accenture PLC compares to related companies
| Company | Market Cap | DVR Score | P/E | Revenue | Profit Margin | Rev Growth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accenture PLC ACN | $109.0B | 0.4 | 14.3 | $72.1B | 10.6% | 7.3% | |
Apple Inc AAPL | $4.4T | 1.6 | 36.0 | $391.0B | 27.1% | 12.8% | Compare → |
Alphabet Inc GOOGL | $4.7T | 1.0 | 29.1 | $402.8B | 37.9% | 17.4% | Compare → |
Meta Platforms Inc META | $1.6T | 5.8 | 22.1 | $201.0B | 32.8% | 26.2% | Compare → |
Microsoft Corp MSFT | $3.1T | 0.5 | 25.0 | $241.8B | 39.3% | 17.9% | Compare → |
NVIDIA Corp NVDA | $4.4T | 5.3 | 38.5 | $215.9B | 55.6% | 65.0% | Compare → |
📊 Explore More Stock Analysis
Get comprehensive Deep Value Reports for thousands of stocks. Research risk, financial health, and investment potential with our AI-powered analysis.
How Accenture PLC Makes Money
Accenture PLC is a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments, and organizations improve their performance and achieve their strategic objectives. They do this by providing a comprehensive range of services, including strategy consulting, technology implementation (like cloud and AI solutions), and managing business processes on behalf of clients (outsourcing). Their revenue is generated through fees for these project-based services and long-term managed service contracts, solving complex challenges and driving innovation for their clients worldwide.
Read Full Business Model BreakdownFAQ
What is the DVR Score for Accenture PLC (ACN)?
As of May 11, 2026, Accenture PLC has a DVR Score of 0.4 out of 10, placing it in the "Distressed" category. This score is generated by our AI-powered deep value analysis framework that evaluates growth potential, financial health, competitive moat, and risk factors.
What is the market capitalization of Accenture PLC?
Accenture PLC's market capitalization is approximately $109.0B. The company operates in the Technology sector within the Information Technology Services industry.
What ticker symbol does Accenture PLC use?
ACN is the ticker symbol for Accenture PLC. The company trades on the NYQ.
What is the risk level for ACN stock?
Our analysis rates Accenture PLC's overall risk as Moderate. This assessment considers execution risk, market risk, financial risk, competitive risk, and regulatory risk. For a full breakdown, see the risk analysis section above.
What is the P/E ratio of ACN?
Accenture PLC currently has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.3. This is below the market average, which could indicate the stock is undervalued or facing headwinds.
Does Accenture PLC pay a dividend?
Yes, Accenture PLC pays a dividend with a current yield of approximately 3.61%.
Is Accenture PLC's revenue growing?
Accenture PLC has reported revenue growth of 7.3%. The company is growing at a moderate pace.
Is ACN stock profitable?
Accenture PLC has a profit margin of 10.6%. The company is profitable but margins are modest.
How often is the ACN DVR analysis updated?
Our AI-powered analysis of Accenture PLC is refreshed regularly to incorporate the latest financial data, market conditions, and news. The most recent update was on May 11, 2026.
Important Disclaimer – Not Financial Advice
Deep Value Reports is an independent research platform for educational and informational purposes only. We are not financial advisors, investment advisors, or licensed professionals. The analysis, scores, and information provided on this page for ACN (Accenture PLC) should not be construed as personalized investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or an offer to provide investment advisory services.
All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research, consider your financial situation, and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.