Accenture reported revenue above expectations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, which ended on August 31, and projected local-currency revenue growth of 3% to 6% for fiscal 2027. According to the company’s official October 1 results, quarterly revenue reached $18.68 billion. That represented growth of 6% in US dollars and 7% in local currency, placing the figure above Accenture’s guided range of $17.75 billion to $18.40 billion.
New bookings totaled $22.17 billion in the quarter, an increase of 4% in US dollars and 5% in local currency. Consulting bookings accounted for $9.40 billion, while managed services contributed $12.77 billion. Full-year revenue rose to $74.2 billion, and Accenture said it expects fiscal 2027 diluted earnings per share of $14.39 to $14.81.
Reuters reported that the stronger outlook eased investor concerns that artificial intelligence would quickly erode demand for traditional information technology consulting. Accenture shares rose about 22% after the announcement, putting the stock on course for one of the strongest one-day moves in the company’s history. The Wall Street Journal said the results pointed to continued demand for AI transformation, data infrastructure and enterprise automation projects.
How AI is changing consulting demand
Generative AI can automate some routine software and consulting work, creating pricing pressure across the sector. At the same time, large organizations still need outside expertise to connect new models with existing systems, modernize data infrastructure and establish security and governance controls. Accenture’s quarterly results provide a current data point suggesting that automation is not only reducing some forms of work but also creating new categories of transformation services.
Management said it expects to deploy about $5 billion on acquisitions during fiscal 2027. The plan is consistent with Accenture’s strategy of expanding capacity in areas such as AI, cybersecurity and data services. Even after the strong quarter, however, the company kept its growth forecast within a relatively measured range. Client pressure for cost savings, geopolitical uncertainty and the pace at which pilot projects move into large deployments remain important variables.
The company’s official presentation said growth during fiscal 2026 was broad-based across geographic markets, industry groups and types of work. That breadth suggests the quarter was not dependent on a single large contract. Bookings do not become revenue immediately, however, so investors will closely watch how quickly the $22.17 billion quarterly total converts into reported sales over the coming periods.
The release also showed that Accenture generated $84.5 billion in new bookings across fiscal 2026 and produced $11.6 billion in free cash flow. The company plans to return at least $9.5 billion in cash to shareholders during fiscal 2027. Those targets indicate that capital allocation, alongside operational growth, will remain a central part of the company’s outlook for the coming year.
Accenture’s forecast does not settle the debate over the future of the consulting industry, but it shows that demand for consulting and managed services can persist alongside rapid AI investment. Key measures to watch in coming quarters include the conversion of bookings into revenue, the rate at which AI projects scale beyond pilot stages and the effect of automation-related pricing pressure on profitability.
