Morgan Stanley Downgrades Accenture to Hold
Morgan Stanley lowered its rating on Accenture to hold, setting a new price target.
Key Points
- On June 15, Morgan Stanley downgraded Accenture to a hold rating with a new target price of $177.
- Accenture's stock is trading at $170.28, with a market cap of $104.8 billion and a P/E ratio of 14.
- Insider buying activity includes CEO Julie Spellman Sweet purchasing 216 shares on June 5.
On June 15, 2026, Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette downgraded Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) from a previous rating to hold, setting a new price target of $177. This move reflects a more cautious stance on Accenture's stock, which was trading at approximately $170.28 at the time.
Other Institutional Activity in Accenture
Several institutional investors have recently adjusted their holdings in Accenture. BlackRock, Inc. increased its position by 1,069,810 shares, bringing its total to 57,140,737 shares valued at about $11.33 billion. State Street Corp added 546,156 shares, reaching a total of 28,810,831 shares worth approximately $5.71 billion. Meanwhile, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc significantly boosted its holdings by 14,072,672 shares, ending with 19,500,578 shares valued around $3.87 billion.
Accenture Stock Snapshot
Shares of Accenture (NYSE: ACN) are currently trading near $170.28. The company boasts a market capitalization of approximately $104.8 billion and a P/E ratio of 13.97, with a forward P/E of 11.46. Accenture's beta is 1.069, indicating moderate volatility. The stock's 52-week range spans from a low of $155.82 to a high of $317.05, with a 50-day moving average of $181.33 and a 200-day moving average of $228.18.
Recent Earnings
Accenture reported revenue of $72.11 billion, reflecting a growth of 8.3%. The company's earnings per share (EPS) stood at $12.19, with a net margin of 10.61% and a return on equity (ROE) of 24.76%. Investors are looking ahead to the next earnings release scheduled for June 18, 2026.
Dividend
Accenture offers an annual dividend rate of $6.52, yielding 3.83%. The dividend payout ratio is 50.98%, providing a steady income stream for shareholders.
Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture plc
Recent insider activity at Accenture includes several executives purchasing shares on June 5, 2026. CEO Julie Spellman Sweet acquired 216 shares at an average price of $179.76. Other insiders, including John Walsh, Joel Unruch, Melissa Burgum, Katherine Lee Clifford, and Manish Sharma, also bought shares on the same date.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Morgan Stanley's downgrade to a hold rating and $177 price target is the latest in a series of analyst actions. On June 8, JP Morgan maintained a buy rating with a $201 target, while TD Cowen also kept a buy rating with a $258 target. Overall, Accenture holds a consensus buy recommendation with an average target price of $236.86 based on 26 analyst opinions.
About Accenture
Accenture plc is a global professional services company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It provides a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, digital, technology, and operations. With a workforce of approximately 786,000 employees, Accenture serves clients across various sectors, including communications, media, technology, financial services, health, and public service. The company is led by CEO Julie T. Spellman Sweet.
Bottom Line
Morgan Stanley's recent downgrade of Accenture to a hold rating with a $177 price target reflects cautious optimism about the company's future prospects. Investors will continue to monitor Accenture's performance, particularly with its upcoming earnings report. As always, it's important to remember that analyst ratings are one of many tools investors use to evaluate stocks.
See Also
This instant news alert was generated by automated narrative technology and financial data from EarningsIQ and public regulatory filings. It is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.