TLDR
- Accenture stock jumped nearly 15% pre-market after stronger Q4 earnings and revenue.
- Q4 revenue reached $18.7 billion as local-currency growth climbed 7% year over year.
- Full-year revenue rose to $74.2 billion as adjusted earnings per share gained 8%.
- Accenture returned a record $11.5 billion to shareholders during fiscal 2026.
- Fiscal 2027 guidance targets 3% to 6% revenue growth in local currency terms.
Accenture plc (ACN) stock jumped in pre-market trading after the company reported stronger fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 results. ACN closed at $183.37, up 3.53%, before surging 14.97% to $211.00 before Thursday’s opening bell. The move followed higher revenue, earnings growth, strong bookings, and substantial shareholder returns.
Accenture Q4 Revenue Reaches $18.7 Billion
Accenture reported fourth-quarter revenue of $18.7 billion, representing a 6% increase in U.S. dollar terms. Meanwhile, revenue increased 7% in local currency compared with the same quarter last year. The results exceeded the company’s previous revenue guidance range and ended fiscal 2026 with broad business growth.
New bookings reached $22.2 billion during the quarter, increasing 4% in U.S. dollars. Moreover, bookings rose 5% in local currency as companies continued spending on Accenture’s consulting and technology services. Accenture also recorded 141 quarterly client bookings worth at least $100 million each.
Fourth-quarter GAAP operating margin reached 15.3%, representing an increase of 370 basis points from the prior-year period. At the same time, GAAP diluted earnings per share climbed 46% to $3.29. The earnings figure also exceeded adjusted earnings per share from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 by 9%.
Fiscal 2026 Revenue Climbs to $74.2 Billion
For fiscal 2026, Accenture generated $74.2 billion in revenue, adding $4.5 billion from the previous year. Consequently, annual revenue increased 6% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency. Full-year new bookings totaled $84.5 billion across the company’s global operations.
GAAP diluted earnings per share reached $13.56 for the year, representing a 12% annual increase. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings per share increased 8% to $13.97 during fiscal 2026. Accenture also recorded a 15.4% GAAP operating margin and a 15.8% adjusted operating margin.
Cash generation remained strong, with fourth-quarter free cash flow reaching $2.8 billion. Furthermore, free cash flow totaled $11.6 billion for the full fiscal year. The company used its cash position to fund operations while returning substantial capital to shareholders.
Accenture Returns Record Cash and Sets FY2027 Outlook
Accenture returned a record $11.5 billion to shareholders during fiscal 2026, representing a 38% annual increase. That total included $7.5 billion spent on share repurchases or redemptions during the year. The company completed another $2 billion in share repurchases during its fourth quarter.
For fiscal 2027, management expects revenue growth between 3% and 6% in local currency. Accenture also expects GAAP diluted earnings per share between $14.39 and $14.81. That range represents projected growth between 6% and 9% compared with fiscal 2026 GAAP earnings.
The company also plans to return at least $9.5 billion in cash to shareholders during fiscal 2027. Accenture enters the new fiscal year after expanding revenue, earnings, bookings, and free cash flow. Its latest outlook now sets the financial targets for the next phase of its fiscal-year performance.
The post Accenture plc (ACN) Stock: Soars After Q4 Revenue Hits $18.7 Billion and Strong FY2026 Results appeared first on Blockonomi.
