NYSE:ACNAccenture Competitors & Alternatives

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and IBM (NYSE:IBM) are both large-cap business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Accenture and IBM, as provided by MarketBeat.

Accenture presently has a consensus target price of $220.3462, indicating a potential downside of 3.60%. IBM has a consensus target price of $139.4667, indicating a potential upside of 10.03%. Given IBM's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe IBM is more favorable than Accenture.

Dividends

Accenture pays an annual dividend of $3.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. IBM pays an annual dividend of $6.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.1%. Accenture pays out 43.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. IBM pays out 50.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Accenture has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and IBM has increased its dividend for 20 consecutive years. IBM is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

73.6% of Accenture shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 56.8% of IBM shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Accenture shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of IBM shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility & Risk

Accenture has a beta of 1.06, meaning that its share price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, IBM has a beta of 1.2, meaning that its share price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Accenture and IBM's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Accenture and IBM's gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

IBM has higher revenue and earnings than Accenture. IBM is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Accenture, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

IBM beats Accenture on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:CTSH) are both large-cap business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Accenture and Cognizant Technology Solutions, as provided by MarketBeat.

Accenture presently has a consensus target price of $220.3462, indicating a potential downside of 3.60%. Cognizant Technology Solutions has a consensus target price of $67.00, indicating a potential upside of 0.71%. Given Cognizant Technology Solutions' higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Cognizant Technology Solutions is more favorable than Accenture.

Dividends

Accenture pays an annual dividend of $3.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Cognizant Technology Solutions pays an annual dividend of $0.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. Accenture pays out 43.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Cognizant Technology Solutions pays out 22.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Accenture has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Cognizant Technology Solutions has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

73.6% of Accenture shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 90.2% of Cognizant Technology Solutions shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Accenture shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of Cognizant Technology Solutions shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility & Risk

Accenture has a beta of 1.06, meaning that its share price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cognizant Technology Solutions has a beta of 1.21, meaning that its share price is 21% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Accenture and Cognizant Technology Solutions' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Accenture and Cognizant Technology Solutions' gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Accenture has higher revenue and earnings than Cognizant Technology Solutions. Cognizant Technology Solutions is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Accenture, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Accenture beats Cognizant Technology Solutions on 11 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and EPAM Systems (NYSE:EPAM) are both large-cap business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Accenture and EPAM Systems, as provided by MarketBeat.

Accenture presently has a consensus target price of $220.3462, indicating a potential downside of 3.60%. EPAM Systems has a consensus target price of $277.5385, indicating a potential downside of 6.22%. Given Accenture's higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Accenture is more favorable than EPAM Systems.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

73.6% of Accenture shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 93.5% of EPAM Systems shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Accenture shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.8% of EPAM Systems shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Accenture has a beta of 1.06, meaning that its share price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, EPAM Systems has a beta of 1.34, meaning that its share price is 34% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Accenture and EPAM Systems' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Accenture and EPAM Systems' gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Accenture has higher revenue and earnings than EPAM Systems. Accenture is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than EPAM Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) are both large-cap business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and risk.

Dividends

Accenture pays an annual dividend of $3.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Leidos pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Accenture pays out 43.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Leidos pays out 26.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Accenture has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Leidos has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Leidos is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings for Accenture and Leidos, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Accenture presently has a consensus price target of $220.3462, indicating a potential downside of 3.60%. Leidos has a consensus price target of $115.9167, indicating a potential upside of 20.81%. Given Leidos' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Leidos is more favorable than Accenture.

Volatility and Risk

Accenture has a beta of 1.06, suggesting that its stock price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Leidos has a beta of 1.1, suggesting that its stock price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

73.6% of Accenture shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.5% of Leidos shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Accenture shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.5% of Leidos shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Accenture and Leidos' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Accenture and Leidos' revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Accenture has higher revenue and earnings than Leidos. Leidos is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Accenture, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Accenture beats Leidos on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and Gartner (NYSE:IT) are both large-cap business services companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Accenture and Gartner's gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Accenture has higher revenue and earnings than Gartner. Accenture is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Gartner, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Accenture and Gartner's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

73.6% of Accenture shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 93.5% of Gartner shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Accenture shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 4.0% of Gartner shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

Accenture has a beta of 1.06, meaning that its stock price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Gartner has a beta of 1.45, meaning that its stock price is 45% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Accenture and Gartner, as provided by MarketBeat.

Accenture presently has a consensus price target of $220.3462, suggesting a potential downside of 3.60%. Gartner has a consensus price target of $125.40, suggesting a potential downside of 4.70%. Given Accenture's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Accenture is more favorable than Gartner.

Summary

Accenture beats Gartner on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH) are both large-cap business services companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton's top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Accenture has higher revenue and earnings than Booz Allen Hamilton. Booz Allen Hamilton is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Accenture, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

73.6% of Accenture shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 91.4% of Booz Allen Hamilton shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Accenture shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.0% of Booz Allen Hamilton shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

Accenture has a beta of 1.06, meaning that its share price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Booz Allen Hamilton has a beta of 0.8, meaning that its share price is 20% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Accenture pays an annual dividend of $3.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Booz Allen Hamilton pays an annual dividend of $1.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Accenture pays out 43.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Booz Allen Hamilton pays out 39.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Accenture has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Booz Allen Hamilton has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Booz Allen Hamilton is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton, as provided by MarketBeat.

Accenture presently has a consensus price target of $220.3462, suggesting a potential downside of 3.60%. Booz Allen Hamilton has a consensus price target of $83.9167, suggesting a potential downside of 2.47%. Given Booz Allen Hamilton's higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Booz Allen Hamilton is more favorable than Accenture.

Summary

Accenture beats Booz Allen Hamilton on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.