Accenture's Acquisition and Analyst Upgrade Boosts Confidence
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 17 2024
0mins
Should l Buy ACN?
Source: Business Insider
Accenture's stock has declined 4.64% and hit a 20-day low amid broader market weakness, with the Nasdaq-100 down 1.49% and the S&P 500 down 0.91%.
The decline comes despite positive news, as Accenture was named one of the 15 best S&P 500 dividend stocks for 2026, and Wells Fargo analyst raised its price target from $251 to $275 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating. Additionally, the acquisition of UK-based AI services company Faculty aims to enhance Accenture's capabilities in secure AI solutions, integrating over 400 AI professionals to improve client services.
This combination of analyst confidence and strategic acquisition highlights Accenture's potential for stable returns and growth, even as the stock faces short-term pressure from market conditions.
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Analyst Views on ACN
Wall Street analysts forecast ACN stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ACN is 295.67 USD with a low forecast of 251.00 USD and a high forecast of 330.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
16 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 233.580
Low
251.00
Averages
295.67
High
330.00
Current: 233.580
Low
251.00
Averages
295.67
High
330.00
About ACN
Accenture plc is a global professional services company. It is engaged in providing a range of services and solutions across strategy and consulting, technology, operations, Industry X and Song. Its services include application services, artificial intelligence, automation, business process outsourcing, business strategy, change management, cloud, customer experience, data and analytics, ecosystem partners, finance consulting, Industry X, infrastructure, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, operating models, security, supply chain management, sustainability, technology consulting, technology innovation, and zero-based budgeting (ZBB). It specializes in the SAP business technology platform that designs digital products and experiences for enterprise customers, including custom portals and Web solutions and mobile applications. It provides clients with quantitative and qualitative risk management and compliance services. It specializes in advisory, management services and cybersecurity.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Accenture Secures VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Contract
- Contract Scope and Duration: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Electronic Health Record Modernization program, which is expected to enhance healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans.
- Strategic Technology Transformation: The initiative aims to replace outdated systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, designed to create a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition to veteran status.
- Industry Experience and Collaboration: Accenture brings extensive experience in EHR modernization across both commercial and public sectors, having advanced complex transformations for major health systems through partnerships with leading technology providers, thereby strengthening its technical and clinical expertise.
- Commitment and Vision: Accenture Federal Services emphasizes its dedication to leveraging deep technical expertise and a long-standing relationship with Oracle to help the VA achieve its ambitious goals, ensuring that every veteran receives a modern and effective healthcare experience.
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- Contract Scale and Impact: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans, marking a pivotal milestone in VA's healthcare transformation.
- System Integration and Transformation: The initiative will replace legacy systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, creating a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition from active duty to veteran status, thereby improving nationwide healthcare efficiency.
- Technological and Partnership Advantages: Accenture will leverage its proven experience in modernizing EHRs across both commercial and public sectors, collaborating with leading technology partners to advance this complex transformation, thereby enhancing its technical, clinical, and operational expertise to improve the care experience for veterans.
- Strategic Commitment and Vision: The CEO of Accenture Federal Services emphasized that this partnership represents a significant commitment from the company's global and federal leadership to accelerate VA's operational and clinical transformation through advanced technology upgrades, ensuring that every veteran receives the modern healthcare experience they deserve.
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- Cloud Computing Advantage: Accenture's cloud business, which accounts for over 50% of its revenue, is expected to continue benefiting from AI innovations as legacy systems are revamped to leverage AI capabilities, enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Generative AI Momentum: The momentum of generative AI, contributing around 10% of revenue, is anticipated to accelerate as companies transition to multi-year implementations, presenting long-term revenue growth opportunities for Accenture.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: McVeigh notes that IT spending is expected to stabilize in 2026, with generative AI reshaping infrastructure and cloud migration; despite challenges in employment and rapid transformation, companies that can swiftly adjust strategies are poised for outsized growth.
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- Tariff Reduction Impact: The White House's announcement to cut India's import tariff from 25% to 18% is expected to enhance trade relations between the two countries, driving up stock prices for IT consulting firms, particularly those with significant operations in India like Accenture and Infosys.
- Stock Performance: Following this news, Accenture's stock rose by 1%, Infosys increased by 4%, and Wipro surged by 7%, reflecting market optimism regarding the prospects of the Indian IT sector.
- Strategic Cooperation Commitment: As part of the agreement, India committed to purchasing more American goods and ceasing Russian oil imports, which is viewed as a potential measure to alleviate the war in Ukraine, further solidifying U.S.-India economic ties.
- Market Reaction: In addition to IT consulting firms, manufacturing stocks like Apple also saw a 2% increase, indicating a broad positive market response to the improvement in U.S.-India trade relations, which could stimulate growth across multiple sectors.
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Participating Companies: Several companies, including Accenture, Acentra Health, and Deloitte, are voluntarily participating in a collaborative initiative.
Focus Areas: The initiative aims to address key health and wellness issues, with a focus on improving outcomes and enhancing community health.
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- Technical Analysis Pressure: Currently, Palantir's stock is trading 7.8% below its 20-day simple moving average and 9.6% below its 100-day average, suggesting short-term struggles, even as shares have increased by 100.40% over the past year.
- Earnings Report Outlook: Investors are looking forward to the earnings report on February 2, with an EPS estimate of $0.21 and revenue expected to reach $1.34 billion, indicating potential for significant revenue growth.
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Accenture Secures VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Contract
- Contract Scope and Duration: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Electronic Health Record Modernization program, which is expected to enhance healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans.
- Strategic Technology Transformation: The initiative aims to replace outdated systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, designed to create a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition to veteran status.
- Industry Experience and Collaboration: Accenture brings extensive experience in EHR modernization across both commercial and public sectors, having advanced complex transformations for major health systems through partnerships with leading technology providers, thereby strengthening its technical and clinical expertise.
- Commitment and Vision: Accenture Federal Services emphasizes its dedication to leveraging deep technical expertise and a long-standing relationship with Oracle to help the VA achieve its ambitious goals, ensuring that every veteran receives a modern and effective healthcare experience.
See More
Accenture Federal Services Wins VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Contract
- Contract Scale and Impact: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans, marking a pivotal milestone in VA's healthcare transformation.
- System Integration and Transformation: The initiative will replace legacy systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, creating a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition from active duty to veteran status, thereby improving nationwide healthcare efficiency.
- Technological and Partnership Advantages: Accenture will leverage its proven experience in modernizing EHRs across both commercial and public sectors, collaborating with leading technology partners to advance this complex transformation, thereby enhancing its technical, clinical, and operational expertise to improve the care experience for veterans.
- Strategic Commitment and Vision: The CEO of Accenture Federal Services emphasized that this partnership represents a significant commitment from the company's global and federal leadership to accelerate VA's operational and clinical transformation through advanced technology upgrades, ensuring that every veteran receives the modern healthcare experience they deserve.
See More
UBS Names Accenture a Top Pick Amid AI Growth
- Investment Rating Upgrade: UBS has designated Accenture (ACN) as a Top Pick, with analyst Kevin McVeigh highlighting the potential of generative AI and strong alliances (approximately 60% of revenue) to drive revenue and margin growth.
- Cloud Computing Advantage: Accenture's cloud business, which accounts for over 50% of its revenue, is expected to continue benefiting from AI innovations as legacy systems are revamped to leverage AI capabilities, enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Generative AI Momentum: The momentum of generative AI, contributing around 10% of revenue, is anticipated to accelerate as companies transition to multi-year implementations, presenting long-term revenue growth opportunities for Accenture.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: McVeigh notes that IT spending is expected to stabilize in 2026, with generative AI reshaping infrastructure and cloud migration; despite challenges in employment and rapid transformation, companies that can swiftly adjust strategies are poised for outsized growth.
See More
IT Consulting Stocks Rise as India Cuts Tariffs on U.S. Imports
- Tariff Reduction Impact: The White House's announcement to cut India's import tariff from 25% to 18% is expected to enhance trade relations between the two countries, driving up stock prices for IT consulting firms, particularly those with significant operations in India like Accenture and Infosys.
- Stock Performance: Following this news, Accenture's stock rose by 1%, Infosys increased by 4%, and Wipro surged by 7%, reflecting market optimism regarding the prospects of the Indian IT sector.
- Strategic Cooperation Commitment: As part of the agreement, India committed to purchasing more American goods and ceasing Russian oil imports, which is viewed as a potential measure to alleviate the war in Ukraine, further solidifying U.S.-India economic ties.
- Market Reaction: In addition to IT consulting firms, manufacturing stocks like Apple also saw a 2% increase, indicating a broad positive market response to the improvement in U.S.-India trade relations, which could stimulate growth across multiple sectors.
See More
CMS Reports That Companies Choosing to Participate Include Accenture, Acentra Health, Conduent, GDIT, Deloitte, Gainwell, Maximus, and Curam by Merative
Participating Companies: Several companies, including Accenture, Acentra Health, and Deloitte, are voluntarily participating in a collaborative initiative.
Focus Areas: The initiative aims to address key health and wellness issues, with a focus on improving outcomes and enhancing community health.
See More
Palantir Stock Declines Amid Mixed Market Sentiment
- Market Underperformance: Despite a 0.6% rise in the tech sector, Palantir's stock fell 2.95%, reflecting mixed investor sentiment and indicating caution among market participants regarding the stock's outlook.
- Technical Analysis Pressure: Currently, Palantir's stock is trading 7.8% below its 20-day simple moving average and 9.6% below its 100-day average, suggesting short-term struggles, even as shares have increased by 100.40% over the past year.
- Earnings Report Outlook: Investors are looking forward to the earnings report on February 2, with an EPS estimate of $0.21 and revenue expected to reach $1.34 billion, indicating potential for significant revenue growth.
- Analyst Rating Changes: The stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $163.08, and recent upgrades from analysts reflect a more optimistic outlook for Palantir's future performance.
See More
