Wolfe Research has recently raised Accenture Plc (ACN) stock to Outperform rating, as announced on January 8, 2025, according to Finviz. Earlier, on December 6, 2024, Goldman had raised the stock from a Neutral to Buy, setting a price target of $420 for ACN stock. Exane BNP Paribas also reduced Neutral rating with a price target of $375. Additionally, TD Cowen raised Buy rating on September 30, 2024, with a target price of $400. Piper Sandler analysts, in their report published on September 26, 2024, also raised Overweight rating and set a price target of $329 for Accenture Plc’s stock. Analyst ratings are significant because they provide insights into stock performance expectations, influencing investor decisions and market sentiment.
Accenture Plc (ACN) Stock Trading Recap
On Tuesday, Accenture Plc (ACN) stock saw a decline, ending the day at $327.79 which represents a decrease of $-7.51 or -2.24% from the prior close of $335.30. The stock opened at $333.08 and touched a low of $325.55 during the day, reaching a high of $334.43. The volume of shares traded was 3.39 million exceeding the average volume of 2.79 million.
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ACN Stock Performance and Moving Averages
In recent trading, Accenture Plc (ACN) stock price has shown some volatility, fluctuating -5.20% over the last five trades and -15.08% over the past 30 trades. This represents a notable shift from earlier in the year. Over the last six months, the stock has risen by -3.55%, and it has plunged by -8.47% in the previous three months. Currently, ACN is trading at -9.70%, -10.04%, and -4.36% relative to its 20-Day, 50-Day, and 200-Day Simple Moving Averages, respectively.
As of the latest trading close, ACN, a Technology sector stock, is trading -17.71% below its 52-week high but remains 17.62% above its 52-week low. The Average True Range (ATR) (14 days) of 8.33 highlights the stock’s average volatility, providing insight into how much the price typically fluctuates. This measure is crucial for understanding potential price swings and assessing overall market risk.
Accenture Plc’s Profitability and Valuation Ratios
Accenture Plc’s profitability metrics reveal financial health. The company currently boasts an operating margin of 15.53% and a profit margin of 11.41%, with a gross margin of -3.55%. The profit margin, also known as the revenue ratio or gross profit ratio, measures how efficiently a company converts sales into net income; higher margins indicate greater profitability.
In terms of valuation, Accenture Plc’s market capitalization stands at $205.03 billion. Market cap represents the total value of all outstanding shares and is a key indicator of a company’s market value. The stock’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 27.48, assessing the company’s valuation relative to its earnings. The forward P/E ratio, which uses projected earnings for the next financial year, is 23.55. Additionally, the Price-to-Sales Ratio is 3.09, reflecting the market’s valuation of the company’s sales, while the Price-to-Book Ratio is 7.02, comparing the market value to the company’s book value.
Understanding Insider Trading
Investors often prefer to invest in shares held by company insiders, as management is typically more aligned with the company’s success and shareholder interests. Currently, insiders own just 0.27% of Accenture Plc (ACN)’s shares, while financial institutions hold 77.96%.
Notable insider trades include Sweet Julie Spellman, Chair and CEO at Accenture Plc (ACN), who sold 8,793 shares on Feb 05 ’25, at $394.47 each, totaling $3.47 million. On Feb 05 ’25, Sekido Ryoji, Co-CEO Asia Pacific, sold 1,700 shares for $394.37 each, amounting to $0.67 million. Additionally, on Feb 05 ’25, Sharma Manish sold 2,136 shares at $394.44 each, generating $0.84 million.
