Accenture earnings for the year ended August 31, 2026 showed revenue of $74.18 billion and higher profitability, as the consulting and technology-services company continued its push into artificial intelligence. Its October 16 annual-report filing followed results announced on October 1, when management forecast fiscal 2027 revenue growth of 3%–6% in local currency.
Key Takeaways
- Fiscal 2026 revenue rose 6% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency, exceeding management’s local-currency growth guidance.
- Managed services grew faster than consulting, while annual new bookings reached $84.54 billion.
- Fiscal 2027 guidance calls for further growth, but Accenture warns that economic uncertainty and changing technology could affect client demand.
Table of Contents
- Accenture earnings show growth beyond revenue
- Managed services outpace consulting
- Fiscal 2027 guidance sets the next benchmark
- Conclusion
Accenture earnings show growth beyond revenue
Accenture’s fiscal 2026 results announcement put full-year local-currency revenue growth above the company’s guided range of 3%–4%. Fourth-quarter revenue reached $18.68 billion, also exceeding the previously guided range of $17.75 billion–$18.40 billion.
Profitability improved alongside sales. The full-year GAAP operating margin rose to 15.4% from 14.7%, while adjusted operating margin increased to 15.8% from 15.6%. GAAP diluted earnings per share rose 12% to $13.56; adjusted EPS increased 8% to $13.97.
The adjusted measures exclude business optimization costs incurred in fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025. Keeping those measures separate matters: the larger GAAP earnings increase partly reflects the different cost burden across the two years, rather than an equivalent acceleration in underlying growth.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Fiscal 2026 free cash flow | $11.62 billion, versus $10.87 billion in fiscal 2025 |
| Fiscal 2026 shareholder returns | $11.5 billion, including $7.5 billion in repurchases and $4.0 billion in dividends |
| Fiscal 2027 operating-margin outlook | 15.9%–16.1% |
| Fiscal 2027 capital-return outlook | At least $9.5 billion |
Managed services outpace consulting
Managed-services revenue increased 8% in U.S. dollars to $37.30 billion, compared with 5% growth in consulting revenue to $36.88 billion. Annual new bookings totaled $84.54 billion, up 5% in dollars and 3% in local currency.
Accenture is positioning AI adoption and digital modernization at the center of its service offering. However, the company also identifies AI as a business risk: new technology could reduce demand for some services, and investments may fail to deliver anticipated benefits.
The company warns that volatile economic and geopolitical conditions can affect clients’ business activity and spending. Its growth outlook therefore depends not just on technology demand, but also on its ability to adapt services and match employees’ skills with client needs.
Fiscal 2027 guidance sets the next benchmark
Management expects fiscal 2027 revenue growth of 3%–6% in local currency and GAAP diluted EPS of $14.39–$14.81. These are forecasts, not completed results. The earnings range represents growth of 6%–9% over fiscal 2026 GAAP EPS.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Accenture forecast revenue of $18.95 billion–$19.60 billion, equivalent to local-currency growth of 2%–6%. That quarter will provide the next operating comparison against the annual outlook.
Conclusion
The next confirmed shareholder payment is Accenture’s declared quarterly dividend of $1.71 per share, payable November 13, 2026 to shareholders of record on October 13. Operationally, the next benchmark is whether first-quarter performance tracks management’s fiscal 2027 growth outlook.
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