NEW YORK — Accenture shares rose 22 percent on Thursday, the company's largest one-day gain on record, after reporting fourth-quarter revenues of $18.7 billion and full-year adjusted earnings per share of $13.97—both exceeding guidance and Wall Street expectations.
Q4 revenue topped the company's internal target range of $17.7 billion to $18.4 billion and analyst estimates around $18 billion. Full-year adjusted EPS of $13.97 represents an 8 percent increase from $12.93 in fiscal 2025.
Consulting revenue hit $9.3 billion in the quarter, up 6 percent year-over-year. CEO Julie Sweet said the company "capped off another year of broad-based growth across our business."
The rally reverses a brutal 12 months. Accenture stock had plunged roughly 25 percent through the selloff, driven by analyst downgrades citing AI disruption risks. Morningstar downgraded the firm and peers like Capgemini, with chief equity strategist Michael Field warning that professional services firms faced "an AI disruption cloud hanging over their heads." A June miss on guidance accelerated the decline.
The stock has now climbed 26 percent over the past 30 days—from roughly $147 to $185—suggesting the market is repricing AI risk lower. Investors should watch whether Accenture can sustain margin expansion and convert AI-driven uncertainty into competitive advantage in client deals. The next catalyst: fiscal 2027 guidance and evidence that consulting demand remains resilient despite generative AI adoption.
