Stock Update (NYSE:ACN): Accenture Named Leader in an IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Life Sciences Research & Development Vendor Assessment on Business Process Outsourcing

[Business Wire] – Accenture is positioned as a Leader in an IDC Health Insights IDC MarketScape vendor assessment covering business process outsourcing across the life sciences research and development industry . Read more on this. Accenture plc (ACN) , valued at $58.84B, opened this morning at $96.65. Today’s price range has been between $93.35 and $96.65 per share and has traded between $86.40 and $109.86 over the past year. Priced at 19.00x this year’s forecasted earnings, ACN shares are relatively expensive compared to the industry’s 6.91x forward p/e ratio. And for those looking to make a return holding the stock, the company pays shareholders $2.20 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.22%. According to a consensus of 24 analysts, the earnings estimate of $1.18 per share would be $0.10 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.01 sequential increase. What we find to be interesting is that the full-year EPS estimate of $5.21 is a $0.39 improvement when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is based on a consensus revenue forecast of the current quarter of $7.72 Billion. If realized, that would be a 3.07% increase over the year-ago quarter. In terms of ratings, Cantor Fitzgerald Initiated ACN at Buy (Oct 16, 2015). Previously, Argus upgraded ACN from Hold to Buy. Investors should keep in mind is that the average price target is $112.74, which is 16.65% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NYSE:ACN) Similar Articles: Stock Update (NYSE:ACN): Accenture Interactive Named a Leader among Digital Experience Service Providers by Independent Research Firm Market Update (NYSE:ACN): Accenture Achieves Leader Position on Everest Group’s PEAK Matrix™ for Life Sciences Clinical and R&D IT Services Market Update (NYSE:ACN): Accenture Positioned as a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Finance and Accounting BPO Services 2015 Vendor Assessment