High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on Accenture (NYSE:ACN), and it's important for retail traders to take note.\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in ACN often signals that someone has privileged information.Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 13 options trades for Accenture. This is not a typical pattern.The sentiment among these ma ...

Core Insights - Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is recognized as one of the 11 Best Value Dividend Stocks to buy currently [1] - The company is a global leader in professional services, focusing on consulting, technology, and outsourcing, with a workforce exceeding 800,000 [2] - Accenture's strategy includes integrating advanced technology, pursuing sustainability, and enhancing capabilities through strategic acquisitions [2][3] Company Performance - Accenture's success is attributed to its skilled workforce, technology partnerships, and commitment to sustainable practices, aiming to create 360-degree value [3] - The company has maintained a solid dividend policy, having never missed a dividend payment since 2005, and has consistently raised dividends for the past 14 years [4] - As of September 26, Accenture offers a quarterly dividend of $1.63 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.73% [4]

Core Insights - Accenture plc (ACN) reported strong fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with earnings and revenues exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimates [1][10] - Earnings per share were $3.03, surpassing estimates by 1.7% and reflecting an 8.6% year-over-year increase [1][10] - Total revenues reached $17.6 billion, beating estimates by 1.6% and showing a 7.3% year-over-year growth [1][10] Revenue Breakdown - Managed services revenues were $8.8 billion, up 6% year-over-year, exceeding the estimate of $8.5 billion [3] - Consulting revenues also reached $8.8 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, surpassing the estimate of $8.6 billion [3] - Health and public service revenues declined 1% year-over-year to $3.6 billion, missing the estimate of $3.7 billion [4] - Resources segment revenues increased 8% to $2.4 billion, exceeding the estimate of $2.3 billion [4] - Product segment revenues rose 9% to $5.4 billion, beating the estimate of $5.2 billion [4] - Communications, media, and technology revenues were $3 billion, a 7% increase year-over-year, meeting estimates [5] - Financial services revenues grew 15% to $3.3 billion, surpassing the estimate of $3.1 billion [5] Geographic Performance - Revenues from the Americas were $8.8 billion, a 5% increase year-over-year, beating the estimate of $8.6 billion [6] - EMEA revenues reached $6.2 billion, up 10% year-over-year, exceeding the estimate of $6 billion [6] - Asia Pacific revenues increased 11% to $2.6 billion, surpassing the estimate of $2.4 billion [6] Booking Trends - Total bookings for the fourth quarter were $21.3 billion, a 6% increase year-over-year [7] - Consulting bookings were $8.9 billion, while managed services bookings were $12.4 billion [7] Operating Results - Gross margin for the quarter was 31.9%, down 60 basis points from the previous year [8] - Adjusted operating income was $2.7 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year [8] - Adjusted operating margin was 15.1%, down 10 basis points from the previous year [8] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter were $11.5 billion, up from $9.6 billion at the end of the previous quarter [11] - Generated $3.9 billion in cash from operating activities, with capital expenditure of $107.9 million [11] - Free cash flow was $3.8 billion, with $474 million spent on share repurchases and $921.7 million paid in dividends [11] Guidance - For Q1 fiscal 2026, revenue guidance is set at $18.1-$18.75 billion, above the consensus estimate of $17.33 billion [12] - For fiscal 2026, revenue growth is expected to be between 2-5% [12] - Operating cash flow is projected at $10.8-$11.5 billion, with free cash flow expectations of $9.8-$10.5 billion [12]

Group 1 - Jacobs Solutions Inc. is recognized as a relatively cheap stock within the S&P 500, with strong growth prospects driven by its involvement in advanced projects such as data centers and pharmaceutical plants [1][2] - The company is projected to achieve 16% earnings growth next year, with its stock currently priced at 21.5 times the 2026 earnings estimates [1] - Jacobs Solutions has benefited from the AI data center boom, which has emerged as a significant growth driver following a successful merger breakup last year [2] Group 2 - The company provides a range of services including consulting, design, engineering, project management, and long-term facility operations [2] - There is a recognition that while Jacobs Solutions has potential as an investment, certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [2]

Company Overview - F5, Inc. is a significant player in multi-cloud application security and delivery, offering a range of products including NGINX and BIG-IP, along with consulting, training, and technical support [1] - The company's offerings are essential infrastructure for enterprises, governments, and service providers that require secure and uninterrupted application delivery [1] Market Position - F5 has a market capitalization of approximately $18.7 billion, categorizing it as a large-cap company, reflecting its operational stability and influence [2] - The stock has shown resilience, slipping only 3.8% from its 52-week high of $337.39, while rising 9.7% over the past three months, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 9% gain [3] Performance Metrics - Over the past 52 weeks, F5's stock surged by 45.1%, and it has already climbed 29% in 2025 alone, compared to the S&P 500's 15.8% increase over the same period [4] - Technical indicators show that F5's stock has consistently traded above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages since mid-May, reinforcing a bullish market stance [5] Recent Developments - On September 12, F5's stock experienced a nearly 3.9% drop after reaching an all-time high of $337.39, attributed to the announcement of a $180 million cash acquisition of CalypsoAI, a startup focused on AI security [6] - The acquisition aims to enhance F5's AI threat protection capabilities, although it has raised concerns among investors regarding near-term cash outflow and integration risks, leading to a short-term selloff [7]

Group 1 - Accenture plc is a global professional services company based in Dublin, specializing in consulting, technology, and outsourcing services, with a price target of $315 set by UBS, indicating a potential increase of 32.43% from its current price of $237.87 [1][6] - The company is expected to release its fourth-quarter earnings on September 25, with analysts forecasting earnings of $2.96 per share and revenue of $17.35 billion, reflecting strong performance and strategic initiatives [2][6] - Accenture's planned acquisition of the French advisory firm Orlade Group aims to enhance its management capabilities for large capital projects, strengthening its position in sectors like nuclear energy, transportation, defense, and space [3][6] Group 2 - Recently, Accenture's stock price saw a slight increase, closing at $239.99, with a market capitalization of approximately $148.24 billion [4] - The trading volume for Accenture on the NYSE is 1,128,211 shares, indicating investor interest possibly driven by the upcoming earnings report and strategic acquisitions [5]

Core Viewpoint - Accenture plc is maintaining a strong position in the consulting industry, with positive earnings expectations and a strategic acquisition aimed at enhancing its capabilities in large capital projects [1][2][3][5]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Accenture is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $2.96 per share, an increase from $2.66 per share in the same period last year [2]. - The anticipated quarterly revenue is $17.35 billion, up from $16.41 billion a year ago, indicating strong performance and strategic initiatives [2]. Group 2: Stock Performance - On September 24, 2025, UBS maintained a "Buy" rating for Accenture, adjusting the price target from $363 to $315, with the stock price at $235.50 [1][5]. - Accenture's shares experienced a slight increase of 0.1%, closing at $239.99, but reflected a decrease of 1.87% or $4.49 from the previous day [4]. Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - Accenture plans to acquire the French advisory firm Orlade Group to enhance its management capabilities for large capital projects, particularly in sectors like nuclear energy, transportation, defense, and space [3][5].

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer offered insights on. When a caller asked about the stock during the lightning round, Cramer stated: “Alright, now I gotta tell you, Accenture’s come down enough. It hit a 52-week low. I mean, how bad could it really be? It hit a 52-week low today. I don’t think it’s that bad. The only thing I would change is that when you do, when you put it in spell check, it always goes to CAN instead of ACN. But that’s not really their fault. I think that at 18 t ...

Group 1 - Jacobs Solutions Inc. is recognized as a beneficiary of the AI data center boom, with its data center exposure becoming a significant growth driver for the company [1] - The company has evolved from a one-man chemical engineering consulting business founded in 1947 to one of the largest engineering design firms globally, employing over 45,000 people [2] - Jacobs Solutions underwent a complicated merger breakup deal last year, which was successful and has positioned the company for further growth [1][2] Group 2 - While Jacobs Solutions is acknowledged as a potential investment, there are opinions suggesting that other AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk [3]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [2][3] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales to find attractive investment opportunities [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score evaluates a company's future prospects by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to identify stocks with sustainable growth potential [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings outlooks, helping investors time their entry into positions based on recent price changes and earnings estimate revisions [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to provide a comprehensive rating, identifying stocks with the best value, growth forecasts, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.64% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] Stock to Watch: Tetra Tech (TTEK) - Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting and technical services, focusing on water, environmental, and alternative energy solutions for a diverse client base [11] - TTEK holds a 3 (Hold) rating on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A and a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating potential for upward movement [12] - Recent earnings estimates for TTEK have been revised upwards, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.04 to $1.51 per share, and an average earnings surprise of +7.1% [12][13]