First Merchants 13F: Cuts Accenture (ACN) Stake by $574K
First Merchants trimmed its stake in Accenture plc by 3,131 shares, leaving it with 38,560 shares in a filing on October 15, 2026.
Reviewed by automated data checks against the source filing. How we make and check alerts
First Merchants sold 3,131 shares from its stake in Accenture plc ($ACN), a 7.51% decrease, according to a 13F filing with the SEC dated October 15, 2026. It reported 38,560 shares worth $7.07 million at the end of the quarter.
Since the filing, $ACN is up 2.1% to date (from the $224.92 close on Oct 15, 2026).
ACN
Accenture plc
Key Points
- First Merchants lowered its investment in Accenture plc by 7.5% during the quarter, bringing its total holding to 38,560 shares valued at about $7.1 million.
- Accenture trades with a trailing P/E ratio of 16.6 and a 3.04% dividend yield, with its next earnings report expected on December 17, 2026.
- Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs and Mizuho updated their price targets ahead of the filing, while insiders reported routine share sales.
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First Merchants lowered its investment in Accenture plc by 3,131 shares during the quarter, according to a Form 13F filed with the SEC on October 15, 2026.
What Changed in First Merchants's Accenture Position
The firm cut its position by 7.5%, ending the period with 38,560 shares of the IT consulting firm. The remaining stake carried a reported value of $7,070,748 at the time of the filing.
Other Institutional Activity in Accenture
Other large institutional investors adjusted their holdings around the same time with varied strategies. Euro Pacific Asset Management grew its holdings by 11,738 shares, ending with 117,454 shares worth about $22,339,785. DAVENPORT reduced its position by 481,931 shares, finishing with 341,083 shares valued at about $61,967,640. Waverly Advisors grew its holdings by 3,584 shares, ending with 110,841 shares worth about $13,626,793. Franklin Resources, Inc. grew its holdings by 850,032 shares, ending with 7,817,508 shares worth about $1,795,525,180.
Accenture plc Stock Up 6.8%
Accenture shares recently traded around $229.60, sitting above their 50-day and 200-day moving averages. On the day of the filing, October 15, 2026, the stock closed at $224.92.
Recent Earnings
Accenture reported trailing twelve-month revenue of $74.18 billion and earnings of $13.56 per share. The company posted a net profit margin of 11.3% and a return on equity of 26.0%. 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 with a yield of 3.04%, backed by a payout ratio of 50.9%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture plc
Company insiders executed several transactions prior to the filing. Officer Katherine Lee Clifford sold 68 shares on August 14, 2026, at $175.98 per share for a total of $11,966. Chief Operating Officer Hogan Catherine Kiernan sold 700 shares under a planned trading program on October 12, 2026, at $214.24 per share for $149,965. Catherine Kiernan Hogan also sold 700 shares on October 12, 2026, valued at $149,965.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Wall Street firms updated their views on the stock ahead of and during the filing window. On October 2, 2026, Goldman Sachs maintained a Buy rating and raised its price target to $260.00 from $230.00. On the same day, Truist Securities maintained a Hold rating and raised its target to $220.00 from $150.00. Mizuho maintained an Outperform rating on October 6, 2026, lifting its target to $241.00 from $226.00. On October 15, 2026, TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating with a $201.00 target, while Susquehanna maintained a Neutral rating with a $230.00 target. Overall, the stock carries a consensus buy rating and a mean price target of $224.95 across 24 analyst opinions.
About Accenture
Accenture plc operates as a global professional services company specializing in information technology consulting, strategy, digital services, and cloud solutions. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, the firm employs hundreds of thousands of people and helps enterprise clients navigate digital transformations, automation, and security upgrades.
Bottom Line
Institutional investors continue to reallocate shares of Accenture as the company approaches its next financial update in December. Market participants will monitor upcoming earnings and further SEC filings to gauge institutional sentiment.
Related Filing Alerts
Source: First Merchants's 13F filing on $ACN (Oct 15, 2026). 13F filings show holdings as of the end of the reporting quarter and may not reflect the fund's current position. Read the original filing: 13F-HR filing on SEC EDGAR. Written by software, not financial advice. How we make alerts