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Q3 26 EPS
$3.80
BEAT +2.48%
Est. $3.71
Q3 26 Revenue
$18.72B
MISS 0.14%
Est. $18.74B
vs S&P Since Q3 26
-16.1%
TRAILING MARKET
ACN -16.1% vs S&P +0.1%
Market Reaction
Did ACN Beat Earnings? Q3 2026 Results
Accenture delivered a solid fiscal third quarter, posting earnings per share of $3.80 against a consensus estimate of $3.71, a beat of 2.48% that extends the professional services giant's winning streak to four consecutive quarters of topping analyst… Read more Accenture delivered a solid fiscal third quarter, posting earnings per share of $3.80 against a consensus estimate of $3.71, a beat of 2.48% that extends the professional services giant's winning streak to four consecutive quarters of topping analyst expectations. Revenue of $18.72 billion grew 5.6% year over year, landing just a hair below the $18.74 billion consensus, though comfortably within the company's own guided range. The headline driver behind the EPS strength was a combination of higher operating results and a reduced share count, which together more than offset a modest uptick in the effective tax rate. New bookings of $19.32 billion, anchored by 104 client engagements of $100 million or more year-to-date, reflected sustained demand for large-scale AI transformation programs, even as some analysts have raised questions about the pace of AI-related spending across the sector. Looking ahead, Accenture narrowed its full-year local-currency revenue growth outlook to 3% to 4% while raising its GAAP diluted EPS guidance to a range of $13.38 to $13.50, signaling measured but durable confidence in the remainder of fiscal 2026.
Key Takeaways
- • Strong demand for large-scale reinvention programs with 104 quarterly client bookings of $100M or more year-to-date, up 13%
- • Growing large-scale AI transformation programs
- • Managed Services outperforming Consulting with 5% local-currency growth vs 1%
- • Communications, Media & Technology leading industry groups with 9% local-currency growth
- • Asia Pacific leading geographic growth at 8% in local currency
- • Operating margin expansion of 20 basis points driven by SG&A efficiency
- • Lower share count contributing $0.09 to EPS growth
ACN Forward Guidance & Outlook
Accenture now expects full-year FY2026 revenue growth of 3% to 4% in local currency (narrowed from 3% to 5%), or 4% to 5% excluding an estimated 1% impact from U.S. federal business. Full-year foreign-exchange impact is estimated at approximately positive 2%. GAAP operating margin is expected at 15.3% (60 bps expansion over FY25). Adjusted operating margin is expected at 15.8% (20 bps expansion). Full-year GAAP diluted EPS is expected at $13.38 to $13.50 (10% to 11% increase), and adjusted EPS at $13.78 to $13.90 (7% to 8% increase). Annual effective tax rate is expected at 24.0% to 25.0%. Operating cash flow is expected at $11.5B to $12.2B, with free cash flow of $10.8B to $11.5B. Capital return is expected to be at least $9.5B. Q4 FY26 revenue is guided at $17.75B to $18.4B with 1% to 5% local-currency growth and approximately negative 0.5% FX impact.
ACN YoY Financials
Q3 2026 vs Q3 2025, source: SEC Filings
ACN Revenue by Segment
With YoY comparisons, source: SEC Filings
ACN Revenue by Geography
With YoY comparisons, source: SEC Filings
“Accenture delivered a strong third-quarter, with broad-based revenue growth, a 9% increase in EPS, and $8.2 billion returned to shareholders year-to-date. Demand for large-scale reinvention remains strong — 104 quarterly client bookings of $100 million or more year-to-date, up 13% — and we are seeing more large-scale AI transformation programs, while executing our strategy to capture new areas of growth. Our agreement to acquire a majority stake in Dragos and all of runZero and NetRise, leaders in OT Security, is the type of move that defines our strategy: it is expanding our addressable market, creating a new platform-led growth opportunity, and is positioning Accenture at the center of one of the most critical cybersecurity challenges our clients face.”
— Julie Sweet, Q3 2026 Earnings Press Release
ACN Earnings Trends
ACN vs Market 30 Day Price Reactions
30-day stock return vs benchmark after each earnings
ACN EPS Trend
Earnings per share: estimate vs actual
ACN Revenue Trend
Quarterly revenue: estimate vs actual
ACN Quarterly Results
5 quarters of earnings data
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 26 BEAT | $3.71 | $3.80 | +2.48% | $18.72B | -0.14% |
| Q2 26 BEAT | $2.84 | $2.93 | +3.23% | $18.04B | +1.12% |
| Q1 26 BEAT | $3.72 | $3.94 | +5.87% | $18.74B | +1.14% |
| Q4 25 BEAT FY | $2.98 | $3.03 | +1.71% | $17.60B | +1.36% |
| FY Full Year | $12.88 | $12.93 | +0.40% | $69.67B | +0.35% |
| Q3 25 BEAT | $3.32 | $3.49 | +5.03% | $17.73B | +2.33% |