Accenture Plc shares surged about 20% in pre-market trading on Thursday after the consulting and IT services giant reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and issued an upbeat forecast.
The stock was quoted at $202.49 in pre-market trading, up $19.12, or 10.16%, from its previous close of $183.37, according to market data.
The sharp move came as investors reacted to the company’s quarterly results and outlook, with the earnings beat and stronger forecast lifting sentiment around the stock.
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Accenture Plc reported stronger-than-expected results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenue rising 6% year-on-year and adjusted earnings per share increasing 8%, while the company issued a positive outlook for fiscal 2027.
The consulting and technology services company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $18.7 billion, up 6% in US dollar terms and 7% in local currency. For the full fiscal year, revenue stood at $74.2 billion, an increase of $4.5 billion, or 6%, from the previous year.
The results helped lift sentiment around the stock, with Accenture shares jumping about 10% in pre-market trading on Thursday. The shares were quoted at around $202.49 before the market opened, compared with the previous close of $183.37.
Accenture’s fourth-quarter GAAP diluted earnings per share came in at $3.29, up 46% from a year earlier. Adjusted EPS rose 9% from the year-ago quarter, while full-year GAAP diluted EPS increased 12% to $13.56. Adjusted full-year EPS rose 8% to $13.97.
The company also reported a sharp improvement in operating margins. Fourth-quarter GAAP operating margin was 15.3%, up 370 basis points from a year earlier. Full-year GAAP operating margin stood at 15.4%, an improvement of 70 basis points.
New bookings, a closely watched measure for future business, rose 4% in US dollar terms and 5% in local currency to $22.2 billion during the quarter. Full-year bookings reached $84.5 billion.
Accenture Chair and CEO Julie Sweet said the company exceeded its fourth-quarter revenue guidance and delivered broad-based growth across its business.
“We exceeded our fourth-quarter revenue guidance range and capped off another year of broad-based growth across our business,” Sweet said, adding that the company had reached a new high of 141 quarterly client bookings of $100 million or more.
Accenture generated $2.8 billion in free cash flow during the fourth quarter and $11.6 billion for the full year. The company returned a record $11.5 billion to shareholders during fiscal 2026, up 38% from the previous year. This included $7.5 billion through share repurchases or redemptions, including an additional $2 billion in share buybacks during the fourth quarter.
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For fiscal 2027, Accenture expects revenue growth of 3% to 6% in local currency. The company forecast GAAP diluted EPS of $14.39 to $14.81, representing growth of 6% to 9%.
Accenture also expects to return at least $9.5 billion in cash to shareholders during fiscal 2027. The company said its strategy remains focused on helping clients build digital capabilities and adopt artificial intelligence, with AI and data among the key capabilities supporting its reinvention services.
Accenture ended fiscal 2026 with approximately 814,000 employees, around 9,000 clients and annual revenue of approximately $74 billion.
