Baird Raises Accenture (ACN) Price Target to $252
Key Points
- Baird lowered its rating on Accenture plc to Neutral on October 21, 2026, while nudging its price target up to $252 from $245.
- Baird's $252 price target implies 5.33% upside from Accenture plc's ($ACN) current $239.24 share price.
- Institutional funds recently adjusted holdings, with Franklin Resources, Inc. growing its stake by 850,032 shares to 7,817,508 shares.
- Accenture plc trades recently around $239.24, with a trailing P/E ratio of 17.5 and an upcoming earnings report on December 17, 2026.
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On October 21, 2026, Baird adjusted its outlook on Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN), lowering its rating on the IT services provider to Neutral while raising its price target to $252.00 from $245.00. The research note arrived as shares of the Dublin-based consulting firm traded close to $239.12, where the stock closed on October 20, 2026.
ACN
Accenture plc
Baird vs. the S&P 500
Hypothetical returns from Baird's disclosed trades, not real profit or advice. How we model this.
Baird's Call on Accenture plc
In its note on October 21, 2026, Baird moved the stock to a Neutral rating while lifting the target from $245.00 to $252.00. Wall Street firms maintain a mix of views on the technology consulting company, which recently traded around $239.24 as of October 21, 2026.
Other Institutional Activity in Accenture plc
Investment firms have made notable adjustments to their portfolios regarding Accenture plc. Franklin Resources, Inc. grew its holdings by 850,032 shares, ending with 7,817,508 shares worth about $1,869,322,474 in a report filed for June 30, 2026. Euro Pacific Asset Management added 11,738 shares for a total of 117,454 shares valued at roughly $22,339,785 on October 13, 2026. Meanwhile, First Merchants trimmed its stake by 3,131 shares, leaving it with 38,560 shares worth about $7,070,748 on October 15, 2026.
Accenture plc Stock Up 4.2%
Accenture shares recently traded around $239.24 as of October 21, 2026, sitting well above both its 50-day moving average of $190.40 and its 200-day moving average of $192.70. The stock closed at $239.12 on October 20, 2026. Shares have ranged between a 52-week low of $118.15 and a 52-week high of $291.09.
$ACN price target
Accenture plc daily closes and this analyst's $252 target. Not advice.
Recent Earnings
Accenture reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of $74,183,442,432 and earnings of $13.56 per share. The company operates with a trailing P/E ratio of 17.5. Its next earnings report is scheduled for December 17, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
8 analysts cut price targets. 0 raised targets after the report.
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EPS & revenue
EPS beat estimates by 1.4%. Revenue missed estimates by 1.1%.
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Profit surprise
EBITDA came in 17% below estimates. Operating income met estimates.
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Pre-earnings setup
Expectations were about average going in.
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Analyst signal
2 analyst downgrades after the report. 8 price target cuts after the report.
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Earnings quality
Free cash flow was positive.
Earnings Call Summary
Accenture delivered a strong quarter with $18.7 billion in revenue, up four percent year over year, and record bookings of $22.1 billion. The company now has 85,000 artificial intelligence and data professionals, exceeding its goal. Management highlighted major demand from clients across artificial intelligence transformation, cybersecurity, and core business process modernization, with significant momentum in large enterprise programs and growing opportunities in emerging markets.
Guidance Accenture raised full year guidance and now expects between $127.25 billion and $128.75 billion in revenue for fiscal 2026. They also increased earnings per share guidance to between $13.65 and $13.90. Management expects three percent to five percent revenue growth, with free cash flow expected to reach $10.8 billion to $11.5 billion, and plans to deploy about $5 billion in acquisitions.
Severe negative reset. The report materially damaged the forward outlook and likely forces major downward revisions.
Dividend
Accenture pays an annual dividend rate of $6.84 per share, offering a dividend yield of 2.98% alongside a payout ratio of 50.9%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture plc
Company insiders completed a few transactions prior to the rating change. Chief Operating Officer Hogan Catherine Kiernan sold 700 shares on October 12, 2026, under a planned transaction. Another insider, Katherine Lee Clifford, sold 68 shares on August 14, 2026, for a total value of $11,966.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Other Wall Street firms have also updated their views on the stock. Goldman Sachs maintained a Buy rating on October 2, 2026, while raising its target to $260.00 from $230.00. Mizuho maintained an Outperform rating on October 6, 2026, lifting its target to $241.00 from $226.00. TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating on October 15, 2026, raising its target to $201.00 from $193.00. Susquehanna maintained a Neutral rating on October 15, 2026, boosting its target to $230.00 from $210.00. Overall, the stock holds a consensus buy recommendation across 24 analyst opinions, with a mean target price of $225.32.
About Accenture plc
Accenture plc operates as a global professional services company, delivering consulting, technology, and managed services to clients across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. With a massive workforce supporting major enterprise technology transformations, the company's financial performance serves as a key indicator for corporate IT spending trends.
Bottom Line
Investors will look toward Accenture's upcoming earnings report on December 17, 2026, for further clues on consulting demand. Analyst target adjustments and institutional filings will continue to guide market sentiment in the interim.
Related Filing Alerts
Source: Baird's rating change on $ACN (Oct 21, 2026). Written by software, not financial advice. How we make alerts