Accenture (NYSE:ACN) shares climbed 3.8% in premarket trading on Thursday after the consulting and professional services group delivered first-quarter results that exceeded market expectations, supported by solid revenue growth and a sharp increase in new client bookings.
For the quarter ended November 30, 2025, Accenture reported adjusted earnings of $3.94 per share, beating analyst forecasts of $3.74. Revenue totaled $18.7 billion, representing growth of 5% in local currency and 6% in U.S. dollars year over year, and came in above the consensus estimate of $18.51 billion.
New bookings were a standout, rising 10% in local currency to $20.9 billion. This included $2.2 billion in advanced artificial intelligence-related contracts. Accenture said 33 clients each generated more than $100 million in quarterly bookings, highlighting broad-based demand for its services.
“I am very pleased with our $21 billion in new bookings,” said Julie Sweet, Accenture Chair and CEO. “These results reflect our strategy to be the reinvention partner of choice for our clients.”
Profitability also improved during the quarter. Adjusted operating margin expanded by 30 basis points to 17.0%, while free cash flow amounted to $1.5 billion. Accenture returned $3.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases over the period.
Looking ahead, Accenture reaffirmed its outlook for fiscal 2026. The company continues to expect revenue growth of 2% to 5% in local currency terms. Excluding an estimated 1% impact from its U.S. federal business, revenue growth is still projected at 3% to 6%. Accenture also maintained its adjusted earnings per share guidance of $13.52 to $13.90, broadly in line with the analyst consensus of $13.77.