Is Accenture's Cautious Cash Management Boosting Returns for Shareholders?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 17 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Financial Performance: Accenture generated $10.9 billion in free cash flow in fiscal 2025, a 26.2% increase from the previous year, driven by improved operating cash flow and controlled capital expenditures, allowing for significant shareholder returns of $8.3 billion.
Future Outlook: The company anticipates operating cash flow between $10.8 billion and $11.5 billion for fiscal 2026, alongside a minimum shareholder return of $9.3 billion, reflecting confidence in its cash management and investment strategies despite a 37.9% decline in stock value over the past year.
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Analyst Views on ACN
Wall Street analysts forecast ACN stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ACN is 295.67 USD with a low forecast of 251.00 USD and a high forecast of 330.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
16 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 261.220
Low
251.00
Averages
295.67
High
330.00
Current: 261.220
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.
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