Accenture rallies more than 20% after earnings beat, heads for best day ever

The logo of Accenture is displayed on a building, on the first day of the annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 15, 2024.

Denis Balibouse | Reuters

Shares of Accenture surged Thursday after the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter results beat estimates.

The consulting giant reported earnings per share of $3.29 on revenue of $18.68 billion. That exceeded LSEG consensus estimates of $3.18 earnings per share and revenue of $18.03 billion.

The stock surged more than 22%. That puts the company on pace for its biggest one‑day surge ever, according to FactSet data.

Full‑year adjusted earnings for fiscal 2026 amounted to $13.97 per share, up 8% year on year, while total revenue reached $74.2 billion, marking a 6% increase.

ACN 5‑day chart

“These results reflect the continued trust our clients place in us to help them reinvent and create value, the high level of innovation we bring every day and the extraordinary commitment of our Reinventors to our clients’ success,” Chair and CEO Julie Sweet said in a press release Thursday, noting broad‑based growth across the business and a record cash return to shareholders.

The company also set a record for big‑ticket client bookings valued at $100 million or more. Additionally, Accenture raised its quarterly dividend by 5% to $1.71 per share, payable November 13.

Looking ahead, Accenture projects 3‑6% year‑over‑year growth in both revenue and adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2027.

Despite Thursday’s massive gain, the stock remains down more than 18% year to date amid concerns that artificial intelligence may disrupt key business segments.

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