高盛将埃森哲的目标价从370美元下调至330美元，仍维持"买入"评级。(格隆汇) ...

Core Viewpoint - RBC Capital has lowered the price target for Accenture (ACN) to $285 from $372 while maintaining an Outperform rating, citing mixed initial FY26 estimates as a primary reason for stock price pressure [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Accenture delivered solid Q4 results, but the initial FY26 guidance was mixed compared to prior estimates, contributing to stock price pressure [1] - Bookings have returned to year-over-year growth, with Gen AI bookings exceeding $1.8 billion, indicating a shift from proof of concept to production for more projects [1] Group 2: Valuation Adjustments - RBC is adjusting its earnings model, reducing the forward earnings multiple from 26 times to 20 times, which is a discount to the share's historical average but aligns with similar growth peers [1]

Core Insights - Accenture's fourth-quarter earnings exceeded expectations and highlighted the company's strategic reorganization related to artificial intelligence (AI) [1] - The company initiated a six-month business optimization program, incurring charges of up to $865 million, which includes divestitures of previously acquired companies [1] Group 1: Business Optimization Program - The program focuses on three main strategies: investing in upskilling employees, exiting individuals where reskilling is not feasible, and identifying areas for operational efficiencies [2] - Accenture anticipates savings of over $1 billion from this program, which will be reinvested into the business and its workforce [2] - The company aims to increase overall headcount by 2026 despite the current exits [2] Group 2: Upskilling and AI Adoption - Accenture is committed to upskilling its employees, referred to as "reinventors," to better utilize AI in enterprise settings [3] - There is a recognized need for new skills among the workforce to effectively implement AI, as many companies face challenges with fragmented processes and siloed organizations [3] - Accenture reported 37 new clients with quarterly bookings exceeding $100 million in the fourth quarter, contributing to a total of 129 such bookings for the year, indicating significant demand for its services [3]

Accenture (NYSE: ACN ) is in an interesting spot. The company just finished a strong fiscal 2025 with revenue up 7 percent and earnings up 8 percent. That shows it still has the scale andWith over 15 years of experience in the markets and a degree in economics, I focus on breaking down companies with clarity and discipline. My goal is to give individual investors a straightforward, honest view—what’s working, what isn’t, and where the risks and opportunities actually are. I don’t chase narratives. I follow ...

Core Insights - Accenture has reported a strong fiscal 2025 with revenue growth of 7 percent and earnings growth of 8 percent, indicating its robust market position and operational scale [1] Financial Performance - Revenue increased by 7 percent in fiscal 2025 [1] - Earnings rose by 8 percent during the same period [1]

Core Insights - Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is currently highlighted as a significant AI stock, with analysts expressing optimism about its upcoming quarterly report, expecting steady performance and potential upside due to a stable foreign exchange environment and a de-risked setup [1]. Price Target Adjustments - Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani has adjusted the price target for Accenture to $300.00 from $330.00 while maintaining an Outperform rating [1]. - Following earnings, the price target was further lowered to $280.00 from $300.00, still with an Outperform rating [2]. Earnings Performance - Accenture reported revenue of $17.6 billion and EPS of $3.03, surpassing street expectations of $17.4 billion and $2.98 respectively, indicating modest upside [3]. - New bookings totaled $21.3 billion, reflecting a 6% increase, while generative AI bookings saw significant growth at $1.8 billion, an 80% year-over-year increase [3]. Geographic Growth - The company experienced approximately 4.5% constant currency growth, driven by around 5% growth in the Americas (8% excluding public AFS headwinds), 6% in APAC, and 3% in EMEA [3]. FY26 Guidance - For FY26, Accenture's revenue guidance indicates a growth of 4-7%, aligning with buy-side expectations but slightly below the street's expectation of 5.8% [3]. - EPS guidance is set between $13.52 and $13.90, bracketed around the street expectation of $13.78 [3]. - Growth is anticipated to be balanced across consulting and managed services in the low to mid-single-digit range [3]. - Discretionary spending is expected to decline modestly at the low end of the guidance and remain flat at the high end [3]. - EBIT margins are projected to expand, with AI project pricing expected to be accretive rather than dilutive [3]. - Headcount is expected to grow across all regions, with capital expenditures increasing year-over-year by $400 million to support hiring and a return to office initiatives [3].

Core Insights - Accenture plc reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2025 results with earnings of $3.03 per share, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $2.96 [1] - The company achieved sales of $17.60 billion, slightly exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $17.36 billion [1] Fiscal 2026 Projections - Accenture projected fiscal 2026 sales between $71.07 billion and $73.16 billion, compared to a consensus estimate of $69.43 billion [2] - The expected GAAP EPS for fiscal 2026 is between $13.19 and $13.57, exceeding the analyst consensus of $12.88 [2] - The company anticipates adjusted EPS for fiscal 2026 to be between $13.52 and $13.90 [2] - For the first quarter, Accenture expects sales of $18.10 billion to $18.75 billion, against an analyst estimate of $18.451 billion [2] - The company plans to return at least $9.3 billion in cash to shareholders in fiscal year 2026 [2] Analyst Reactions - Following the earnings announcement, several analysts adjusted their price targets for Accenture [3] - JP Morgan maintained an Overweight rating but lowered the price target from $302 to $290 [5] - Guggenheim maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $305 to $285 [5] - Baird maintained an Outperform rating and reduced the price target from $350 to $330 [5] - RBC Capital maintained an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $372 to $285 [5] - TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $313 to $295 [5] Stock Performance - Following the earnings report, Accenture shares gained 3% to $239.54 [2]

Core Viewpoint - Accenture's stock has experienced a significant decline in 2025, with a total return of approximately -33% as of September 25, leading to a historically low valuation multiple, presenting a potential recovery opportunity, particularly in its GenAI business [1][2]. Financial Performance - In Q4, Accenture reported revenues of $17.60 billion, reflecting a 7.3% increase year-over-year, surpassing analyst expectations of $17.34 billion [2][3]. - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reached $3.03, an 8.6% growth, exceeding the anticipated $2.98, but the stock fell nearly 3% due to weak fiscal 2026 guidance [3][4]. Guidance and Market Sentiment - For fiscal 2026, Accenture projects revenue growth of 2% to 5% in local currency and adjusted EPS of $13.71 at the midpoint, slightly below analyst expectations of $13.78 [3][4]. - Despite a slight EPS beat, the market reacted negatively to the guidance, reflecting ongoing low sentiment towards the stock [4][11]. Booking Metrics - New bookings totaled $21.3 billion in Q4, a 6% increase in U.S. dollars, indicating stabilization after previous declines in bookings [6][7]. - GenAI bookings grew impressively to $1.8 billion from $1.5 billion in Q3, totaling $5.9 billion for fiscal 2025, outperforming IBM's $5.5 billion in the same period [8]. Operating Margins - Accenture's adjusted operating margin increased by 10 basis points in Q4 and for the full year, which, while modest, is better than expected given the stock's decline [9]. Analyst Outlook - Analysts project a 12-month stock price forecast of $321.33, indicating a potential upside of 38.39%, although recent updates suggest a more conservative average target of $291, implying around 25% upside [10][11]. - The current market consensus suggests Accenture is undervalued, but sentiment remains low due to ongoing restructuring and concerns about the impact of GenAI on future business [11][12]. Restructuring and Challenges - Accenture is undergoing significant restructuring, expecting combined charges of $865 million in Q4 and fiscal Q1 2026, as it shifts its workforce towards GenAI capabilities [12]. - There are concerns that advancements in GenAI could lead clients to rely more on these tools rather than consulting Accenture, posing a long-term risk [13][14].

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) reported fourth-quarter revenue of $17.6 billion, topping expectations, with bookings rising 3% to $21.3 billion.The company issued fiscal 2026 guidance in line with forecasts but announced another restructuring to fund AI-related investments.Guggenheim analyst Jonathan Lee maintained an Accenture Buy rating and lowered the price forecast from $305 to $285.Also Read: Accenture’s AI Push Sparks Growth And Boosts Dividend PayoutsFor Q4, Accenture reported:Revenue of $17.6 billion, above ...

Core Insights - Accenture is implementing a restructuring strategy that includes layoffs for employees unable to reskill in artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of AI in its operations [1][2] - The company has already reskilled 550,000 workers in generative AI fundamentals and is investing $865 million in a business optimization program, which includes severance costs and headcount reductions [2] - Accenture anticipates savings exceeding $1 billion from the optimization program, which will be reinvested in the business and workforce to support future growth [3] Workforce Strategy - The company is focusing on upskilling its workforce, with a strategy to exit employees who cannot be reskilled within a compressed timeline [5] - Accenture is also increasing its hiring efforts, planning to grow its AI and data professional workforce from 40,000 in 2023 to 77,000 by 2025, and expects to increase headcount in the next financial year across various markets [4] Financial Performance - Accenture reported revenues of $69.7 billion for the year, reflecting a 7% growth from the previous year, driven by strong client demand for AI deployment [6]