Key Highlights

  • Accenture shares are trading at $213.50 in pre-market activity, up 16.43% from Wednesday's close of $183.37.
  • Fourth-quarter Revenue of $18.7 billion rose 7% in local currency and came in above the high end of the company's guided range.
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance calls for local-currency revenue growth of 3% to 6% and GAAP diluted EPS of $14.39 to $14.81.
  • The company returned a record $11.5 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2026 and expects to return at least $9.5 billion in fiscal 2027.

Relief Rally Follows Months of AI-Disruption Worries

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) shares are surging in pre-market trading after the consulting giant's fiscal fourth-quarter report calmed fears that artificial intelligence would erode Demand for its services. The stock closed Wednesday at $183.37, far below its 52-week high of $291.09, as investors weighed AI-driven pricing pressure, soft discretionary technology spending and a recent brokerage downgrade.

Thursday's move to $213.50 recovers a meaningful slice of that decline in a single morning.

Revenue Lands Above the Guided Range

Revenue for the quarter ended August 31 reached $18.7 billion, up 6% in U.S. dollars and 7% in local currency, topping the high end of the range management had guided to. New bookings totaled $22.2 billion, up 4% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency.

GAAP diluted EPS rose 46% to $3.29, helped by a GAAP Operating Margin of 15.3%, up 370 basis points. Free Cash Flow came to $2.8 billion for the quarter. CEO Julie Sweet said growth was broad-based across geographies, industry groups and types of work.

Fiscal 2027 Guidance Pairs Moderate Growth With Heavy Buybacks

For fiscal 2027, Accenture expects local-currency revenue growth of 3% to 6% and GAAP diluted EPS of $14.39 to $14.81, an increase of 6% to 9% over fiscal 2026.

The company plans to return at least $9.5 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2027. In fiscal 2026 it returned a record $11.5 billion, up 38%, including $7.5 billion in repurchases or redemptions.

Advanced AI Work Spreads Across the Client Base

Accenture is a global professional services company that provides strategy, consulting, technology and operations services to clients in more than 120 countries. It is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

On the earnings call, management said nearly 100 additional clients began advanced AI work in the fourth quarter, lifting the fiscal 2026 total to more than 400. Demand was driven by large-scale reinvention projects, digital core builds and AI embedded in customer experience, Supply chain and finance work.