Accenture drops sharply after Q3 earnings as the market focuses on a weaker FY2026 outlook

📉 Accenture reported Q3 FY2026 revenue of $18.7 billion, up 6% year over year in USD terms, while EPS came in at $3.80, broadly ahead of expectations. However, the market reaction leaned heavily negative as investors focused more on the company’s full-year guidance.
⚠️ The company lowered its FY2026 revenue growth outlook to 3–4% in local currency, or 4–5% excluding the impact from its U.S. federal business. This became the main reason behind the sharp decline in Accenture shares during pre-market and early trading, even though quarterly profit was not particularly weak.
🏛️ The key pressure came from softer U.S. federal spending, suggesting that demand from government-related clients is slowing. For a major consulting and IT services company like Accenture, this signal could make investors more cautious toward the broader sector.
🌐 The impact is not limited to Accenture alone, as it also puts pressure on IT consulting, outsourcing, and service-focused technology companies tied to large enterprise spending in the U.S. The AI story remains a long-term support factor, but in the near term, the market is prioritizing a reassessment of growth risks.
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