ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy Trails Russell 1000 Growth Due to AI Stock Holdings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ACN?
Source: seekingalpha
- Market Underperformance: The ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy lagged behind the Russell 1000 Growth Index during a major market rally primarily due to its lower holdings in AI stocks and avoidance of lower-quality AI-related companies, negatively impacting overall returns.
- New Position Initiation: The strategy opened a position in Arista Networks (ANET), citing the company's relatively small share in the enterprise segment and strong potential for growth as organizations modernize their campus networking infrastructure, indicating a positive outlook for future market opportunities.
- Flexible Strategy Adjustments: ClearBridge stated it will remain active in adding to positions or initiating new ones during market pullbacks, as demonstrated by its actions with Palo Alto Networks (PANW) following the CyberArk acquisition announcement and Netflix (NFLX) when its stock sold off after disclosing plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), showcasing its adaptive investment approach.
- Position Reallocation: In Q3, the strategy exited its investment in Accenture (ACN) and shifted its restaurant exposure to Chipotle (CMG), reflecting its keen ability to navigate industry dynamics and adjust its portfolio accordingly.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ACN?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on ACN
Wall Street analysts forecast ACN stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 222.050
Low
251.00
Averages
295.67
High
330.00
Current: 222.050
Low
251.00
Averages
295.67
High
330.00
About ACN
Accenture plc is a global professional services company. It is engaged in providing a range of services and solutions across strategy and consulting, technology, operations, Industry X and Song. Its services include application services, artificial intelligence, automation, business process outsourcing, business strategy, change management, cloud, customer experience, data and analytics, ecosystem partners, finance consulting, Industry X, infrastructure, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, operating models, security, supply chain management, sustainability, technology consulting, technology innovation, and zero-based budgeting (ZBB). It specializes in the SAP business technology platform that designs digital products and experiences for enterprise customers, including custom portals and Web solutions and mobile applications. It provides clients with quantitative and qualitative risk management and compliance services. It specializes in advisory, management services and cybersecurity.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Accenture Appoints Rachel Frey as Chief Communications Officer
- New Chief Communications Officer: Accenture has appointed Rachel Frey as Chief Communications Officer, a newly created role, reporting directly to Chair and CEO Julie Sweet, highlighting the company's commitment to communication strategy.
- Extensive Industry Experience: Frey brings over 20 years of communications experience, having served as Accenture's global head of Corporate Communications, where she successfully enhanced the company's relationships with external audiences and drove AI reinvention across major sectors.
- Strategic Communication Enhancement: Under her leadership, Accenture implemented an enhanced communications strategy leveraging data and AI to elevate the function's performance, ensuring the company's leadership position globally.
- Comprehensive Communication Management: Frey will oversee internal communications, global media relations, financial communications, and crisis management, utilizing multiple channels to reinforce Accenture's value proposition and help achieve strategic objectives.
See More
Analysis of VGT ETF's 52-Week Price Fluctuations
- Price Range Analysis: The VGT ETF has a 52-week low of $451 per share and a high of $806.99, with the latest trade at $746.16, indicating stability within its trading range and investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average provides valuable insights for investors, aiding in market trend assessment and potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding highlights notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), which can significantly affect the performance of individual stocks within the ETF and overall market dynamics.
See More
Accenture Secures VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Contract
- Contract Scope and Duration: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Electronic Health Record Modernization program, which is expected to enhance healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans.
- Strategic Technology Transformation: The initiative aims to replace outdated systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, designed to create a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition to veteran status.
- Industry Experience and Collaboration: Accenture brings extensive experience in EHR modernization across both commercial and public sectors, having advanced complex transformations for major health systems through partnerships with leading technology providers, thereby strengthening its technical and clinical expertise.
- Commitment and Vision: Accenture Federal Services emphasizes its dedication to leveraging deep technical expertise and a long-standing relationship with Oracle to help the VA achieve its ambitious goals, ensuring that every veteran receives a modern and effective healthcare experience.
See More
Accenture Federal Services Wins VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Contract
- Contract Scale and Impact: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans, marking a pivotal milestone in VA's healthcare transformation.
- System Integration and Transformation: The initiative will replace legacy systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, creating a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition from active duty to veteran status, thereby improving nationwide healthcare efficiency.
- Technological and Partnership Advantages: Accenture will leverage its proven experience in modernizing EHRs across both commercial and public sectors, collaborating with leading technology partners to advance this complex transformation, thereby enhancing its technical, clinical, and operational expertise to improve the care experience for veterans.
- Strategic Commitment and Vision: The CEO of Accenture Federal Services emphasized that this partnership represents a significant commitment from the company's global and federal leadership to accelerate VA's operational and clinical transformation through advanced technology upgrades, ensuring that every veteran receives the modern healthcare experience they deserve.
See More
UBS Names Accenture a Top Pick Amid AI Growth
- Investment Rating Upgrade: UBS has designated Accenture (ACN) as a Top Pick, with analyst Kevin McVeigh highlighting the potential of generative AI and strong alliances (approximately 60% of revenue) to drive revenue and margin growth.
- Cloud Computing Advantage: Accenture's cloud business, which accounts for over 50% of its revenue, is expected to continue benefiting from AI innovations as legacy systems are revamped to leverage AI capabilities, enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Generative AI Momentum: The momentum of generative AI, contributing around 10% of revenue, is anticipated to accelerate as companies transition to multi-year implementations, presenting long-term revenue growth opportunities for Accenture.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: McVeigh notes that IT spending is expected to stabilize in 2026, with generative AI reshaping infrastructure and cloud migration; despite challenges in employment and rapid transformation, companies that can swiftly adjust strategies are poised for outsized growth.
See More
IT Consulting Stocks Rise as India Cuts Tariffs on U.S. Imports
- Tariff Reduction Impact: The White House's announcement to cut India's import tariff from 25% to 18% is expected to enhance trade relations between the two countries, driving up stock prices for IT consulting firms, particularly those with significant operations in India like Accenture and Infosys.
- Stock Performance: Following this news, Accenture's stock rose by 1%, Infosys increased by 4%, and Wipro surged by 7%, reflecting market optimism regarding the prospects of the Indian IT sector.
- Strategic Cooperation Commitment: As part of the agreement, India committed to purchasing more American goods and ceasing Russian oil imports, which is viewed as a potential measure to alleviate the war in Ukraine, further solidifying U.S.-India economic ties.
- Market Reaction: In addition to IT consulting firms, manufacturing stocks like Apple also saw a 2% increase, indicating a broad positive market response to the improvement in U.S.-India trade relations, which could stimulate growth across multiple sectors.
See More
Accenture Appoints Rachel Frey as Chief Communications Officer
- New Chief Communications Officer: Accenture has appointed Rachel Frey as Chief Communications Officer, a newly created role, reporting directly to Chair and CEO Julie Sweet, highlighting the company's commitment to communication strategy.
- Extensive Industry Experience: Frey brings over 20 years of communications experience, having served as Accenture's global head of Corporate Communications, where she successfully enhanced the company's relationships with external audiences and drove AI reinvention across major sectors.
- Strategic Communication Enhancement: Under her leadership, Accenture implemented an enhanced communications strategy leveraging data and AI to elevate the function's performance, ensuring the company's leadership position globally.
- Comprehensive Communication Management: Frey will oversee internal communications, global media relations, financial communications, and crisis management, utilizing multiple channels to reinforce Accenture's value proposition and help achieve strategic objectives.
See More
Analysis of VGT ETF's 52-Week Price Fluctuations
- Price Range Analysis: The VGT ETF has a 52-week low of $451 per share and a high of $806.99, with the latest trade at $746.16, indicating stability within its trading range and investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average provides valuable insights for investors, aiding in market trend assessment and potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding highlights notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), which can significantly affect the performance of individual stocks within the ETF and overall market dynamics.
See More
Accenture Secures VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Contract
- Contract Scope and Duration: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Electronic Health Record Modernization program, which is expected to enhance healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans.
- Strategic Technology Transformation: The initiative aims to replace outdated systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, designed to create a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition to veteran status.
- Industry Experience and Collaboration: Accenture brings extensive experience in EHR modernization across both commercial and public sectors, having advanced complex transformations for major health systems through partnerships with leading technology providers, thereby strengthening its technical and clinical expertise.
- Commitment and Vision: Accenture Federal Services emphasizes its dedication to leveraging deep technical expertise and a long-standing relationship with Oracle to help the VA achieve its ambitious goals, ensuring that every veteran receives a modern and effective healthcare experience.
See More
Accenture Federal Services Wins VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Contract
- Contract Scale and Impact: Accenture Federal Services has secured a 4.5-year contract to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery for over 9 million veterans, marking a pivotal milestone in VA's healthcare transformation.
- System Integration and Transformation: The initiative will replace legacy systems with the modern Oracle Health Electronic Health Record system, creating a seamless and secure lifetime health record that ensures service members receive high-quality care as they transition from active duty to veteran status, thereby improving nationwide healthcare efficiency.
- Technological and Partnership Advantages: Accenture will leverage its proven experience in modernizing EHRs across both commercial and public sectors, collaborating with leading technology partners to advance this complex transformation, thereby enhancing its technical, clinical, and operational expertise to improve the care experience for veterans.
- Strategic Commitment and Vision: The CEO of Accenture Federal Services emphasized that this partnership represents a significant commitment from the company's global and federal leadership to accelerate VA's operational and clinical transformation through advanced technology upgrades, ensuring that every veteran receives the modern healthcare experience they deserve.
See More
UBS Names Accenture a Top Pick Amid AI Growth
- Investment Rating Upgrade: UBS has designated Accenture (ACN) as a Top Pick, with analyst Kevin McVeigh highlighting the potential of generative AI and strong alliances (approximately 60% of revenue) to drive revenue and margin growth.
- Cloud Computing Advantage: Accenture's cloud business, which accounts for over 50% of its revenue, is expected to continue benefiting from AI innovations as legacy systems are revamped to leverage AI capabilities, enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Generative AI Momentum: The momentum of generative AI, contributing around 10% of revenue, is anticipated to accelerate as companies transition to multi-year implementations, presenting long-term revenue growth opportunities for Accenture.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: McVeigh notes that IT spending is expected to stabilize in 2026, with generative AI reshaping infrastructure and cloud migration; despite challenges in employment and rapid transformation, companies that can swiftly adjust strategies are poised for outsized growth.
See More
IT Consulting Stocks Rise as India Cuts Tariffs on U.S. Imports
- Tariff Reduction Impact: The White House's announcement to cut India's import tariff from 25% to 18% is expected to enhance trade relations between the two countries, driving up stock prices for IT consulting firms, particularly those with significant operations in India like Accenture and Infosys.
- Stock Performance: Following this news, Accenture's stock rose by 1%, Infosys increased by 4%, and Wipro surged by 7%, reflecting market optimism regarding the prospects of the Indian IT sector.
- Strategic Cooperation Commitment: As part of the agreement, India committed to purchasing more American goods and ceasing Russian oil imports, which is viewed as a potential measure to alleviate the war in Ukraine, further solidifying U.S.-India economic ties.
- Market Reaction: In addition to IT consulting firms, manufacturing stocks like Apple also saw a 2% increase, indicating a broad positive market response to the improvement in U.S.-India trade relations, which could stimulate growth across multiple sectors.
See More
