Accenture Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $380 Calls Sweep (79) near the Bid: 109 vs 592 OI; Earnings 3/20 Before Open 

Accenture Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $380 Calls Sweep (79) near the Bid: 109 @ $69.5 vs 592 OI; Earnings 3/20 Before Open Ref=$384.28

Accenture Option Alert: Jan 16 $410 Calls at the Bid: 250 vs 372 OI; Earnings 3/20 Before Open 

Accenture Option Alert: Jan 16 $410 Calls at the Bid: 250 @ $31.5 vs 372 OI; Earnings 3/20 Before Open Ref=$387.85

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) Azioni

Accenture

Accenture is a leading global IT services firm that provides consulting, strategy, and technology and operational services. These services run the gamut from aiding enterprises with digital transformation to procurement services to software system integration. The company provides its IT offerings to a variety of sectors, including communications, media and technology, financial services, health and public services, consumer products, and resources. Accenture employs just under 500,000 people throughout 200 cities in 51 countries.

Prague,cz,-27,April,2023:,Logo,On,Accenture,Headquarters,In,Prague.

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Mentre i mercati si preparano a una nuova giornata di scambi, gli investitori sono in attesa di importanti trimestrali. Ecco i punti focali.

Accenture, FedEx e 3 altre azioni da tenere d&#39;occhio in questo giovedì

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L&#39;esperto indica i titoli da acquistare e da evitare. Focus su dividendi, crescita e strategie di investimento a lungo termine.

Da Accenture a LPX: i consigli dell&#39;esperto Jim Cramer a &#34;Mad Money&#34;

Le azioni di Accenture, Micron, Nike, Lennar e FedEx sono al centro dell&#39;attenzione degli investitori nel pre-market.

Pre-market: 5 titoli da monitorare oggi, 19 dicembre 2024

Accenture plc Class A Ordinary Shares (Ireland)

Accenture PLC

ACNB Corp

CapitaLand India Trust Units Real Estate Investment Trust

CapitaLand India Trust

ALICE CONSOL MINES INC by Alice Consolidated Mines, Inc.

Alice Consolidated Mines Inc

AMSTERDAM COMMODITIES NV by Amsterdam Commodities N.V.

Acomo NV

AMER CMNTY NEWSPAPRS INC by American Community Newspapers, Inc.

American Community Newspapers Inc

AusCann Group Holdings Ltd

Ascent Industries Co

ACCELERA INNOVATIONS INC by Accelera Innovations, Inc.

Accelera Innovations Inc

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ACN usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 17 extraordinary options activities for Accenture. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 41% leaning bullish and 52% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $211,082, and 12 are calls, amounting to $12,677,230.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $260.0 to $360.0 for Accenture during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Accenture stands at 115.11, with a total volume reaching 7,652.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Accenture, situated within the strike price corridor from $260.0 to $360.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Accenture 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743534118_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$51.7</td>
<td>$49.5</td>
<td>$51.2</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$7.1M</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$51.7</td>
<td>$49.5</td>
<td>$51.2</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$4.8M</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$51.1</td>
<td>$48.6</td>
<td>$51.0</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$255.0K</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$33.3</td>
<td>$32.6</td>
<td>$32.6</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$91.2K</td>
<td align="right">42</td>
<td>39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$15.6</td>
<td>$15.5</td>
<td>$15.5</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$69.7K</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td>61</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Accenture</h3>
Accenture is a leading global IT services firm that provides consulting, strategy, and technology and operational services. These services run the gamut from aiding enterprises with digital transformation to procurement services to software system integration. The company provides its IT offerings to a variety of sectors, including communications, media and technology, financial services, health and public services, consumer products, and resources. Accenture employs just under 500,000 people throughout 200 cities in 51 countries.
In light of the recent options history for Accenture, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Accenture Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,095,171, the price of ACN is down -0.14% at $311.61. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 80 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Accenture</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $388.6.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho persists with their Outperform rating on Accenture, maintaining a target price of $398. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Piper Sandler continues to hold a Overweight rating for Accenture, targeting a price of $396. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from RBC Capital keeps a Outperform rating on Accenture with a target price of $392. 
&#x2A; An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Accenture, which currently sits at a price target of $387. 
&#x2A; An analyst from BMO Capital persists with their Market Perform rating on Accenture, maintaining a target price of $370. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Accenture with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Decoding Accenture's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

Accenture And Schaeffler Join Forces With NVIDIA And Microsoft To Reinvent Factory Operations With AI-Driven Humanoid Robots

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ACN, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 14 uncommon options trades for Accenture.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 35% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $382,190, and 5 are calls, for a total amount of $183,546.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $300.0 to $350.0 for Accenture over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Accenture's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Accenture's whale trades within a strike price range from $300.0 to $350.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Accenture Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743451262_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$17.6</td>
<td>$17.4</td>
<td>$17.5</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$61.2K</td>
<td align="right">358</td>
<td align="right">101</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$17.6</td>
<td>$17.3</td>
<td>$17.6</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$52.8K</td>
<td align="right">358</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$28.3</td>
<td>$25.7</td>
<td>$27.9</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$50.2K</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$9.9</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$9.9</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$48.5K</td>
<td align="right">149</td>
<td align="right">97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ACN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$1.45</td>
<td>$1.1</td>
<td>$1.4</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$46.7K</td>
<td align="right">59</td>
<td align="right">912</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Accenture</h3>
Accenture is a leading global IT services firm that provides consulting, strategy, and technology and operational services. These services run the gamut from aiding enterprises with digital transformation to procurement services to software system integration. The company provides its IT offerings to a variety of sectors, including communications, media and technology, financial services, health and public services, consumer products, and resources. Accenture employs just under 500,000 people throughout 200 cities in 51 countries.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Accenture, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of Accenture</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,992,244, with ACN's price up by 2.75%, positioned at $312.71.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 81 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Accenture</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $383.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Baird has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Accenture, which currently sits at a price target of $372. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Overweight rating on Accenture, maintaining a target price of $390. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Piper Sandler persists with their Overweight rating on Accenture, maintaining a target price of $396. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from UBS continues to hold a Buy rating for Accenture, targeting a price of $387. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from BMO Capital keeps a Market Perform rating on Accenture with a target price of $370. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Accenture with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

What the Options Market Tells Us About Accenture

German industrial major&nbsp;Siemens AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SIEGY#OTC">SIEGY</a>) and Accenture Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) are deepening their partnership with a fresh initiative focused on accelerating digital <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44554843/new-accenture-siemens-business-group-to-reinvent-engineering-and-manufacturing-for-clients" rel="noreferrer noopener">innovation in manufacturing and engineering.</a>
The companies introduced the Accenture Siemens Business Group, a dedicated unit comprising 7,000 specialists. This team will integrate automation, industrial AI, and Siemens&#8217; Xcelerator software suite with Accenture&#8217;s strengths in data analytics and artificial intelligence.
The newly formed business group will develop solutions tailored for sectors including aerospace, automotive, electronics, industrial machinery, and semiconductors.
The primary objective is to aid engineering services by boosting R&amp;D models and setting up global engineering centers to speed up the creation of software-driven products.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44393734/siemens-to-slash-6000-jobs-as-demand-slows-in-germany-and-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">Siemens To Slash 6,000 Jobs As Demand Slows In Germany And China</a>
Furthermore, it will promote wider adoption of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and facilitate the implementation of software-defined vehicle (SDV) frameworks for the automotive industry.
&#8220;By strengthening our partnership, we combine the unique capabilities of two market leaders: Siemens&#8217; technology, access to data and deep domain knowledge in software, automation and industrial AI with Accenture&#8217;s power to apply data and AI in engineering and manufacturing,&#8221; said President and CEO of Siemens, Roland Busch.
Accenture&#8217;s Industry X digital engineering solutions will be instrumental in driving AI-enhanced engineering advancements.
This involves developing specialized AI agents for simulation and robotics. Generative AI agents integrated into Siemens NX software will streamline industrial workflows by automatically assessing the feasibility and cost implications of design changes.
Manufacturing services under the initiative will help companies deploy and refine manufacturing execution systems, improving real-time tracking and control of operations.
By applying IT methodologies, the group will enhance AI-powered shopfloor automation and cybersecurity protections for critical systems, leveraging Accenture&#8217;s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR) platform.
Price Action: ACN shares traded higher by 0.72% at $306.52 at last check Monday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/03/44532830/rocket-lab-joins-us-space-forces-5-6-billion-launch-program-stock-soars" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rocket Lab Joins US Space Force&#8217;s $5.6 Billion Launch Program; Stock Soars</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Equities

General

SIEGY

Siemens, Accenture Deepen Alliance With New Business Group Targeting AI-Driven Engineering

<ul>
<li>Dedicated business practice expands long-standing alliance to drive development of software-defined products and factories at scale across industry</li>
<li>Companies plan to scale new group to 7,000 professionals to combine leading industrial technology with AI-powered engineering and manufacturing capabilities</li>
<li>Partners have driven digital transformation for clients including KION Group and Navantia</li>
</ul>

Accenture Siemens Business Group Debuts With 7,000 Professionals To Power AI-Driven Engineering And Software-Defined Manufacturing

ACN climbs throughout the session and closes at high for the day
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/21201116/Screenshot-2025-03-21-at-4.08.46%E2%80%AFPM-1024x928.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8551" /></figure>
Accenture plc (ACN) today experienced a Power Inflow, a significant event for those who follow where smart money goes and value order flow analytics in their trading decisions.&nbsp;
Today, at 10:29 AM on March 21st, a significant trading signal occurred for Accenture plc (ACN) as it demonstrated a Power Inflow at a price of $297.62. This indicator is crucial for traders who want to know directionally where institutions and so-called "smart money" moves in the market. They see the value of utilizing order flow analytics to guide their trading decisions. The Power Inflow points to a possible uptrend in Accenture&#8217;s stock, marking a potential entry point for traders looking to capitalize on the expected upward movement. Traders with this signal closely watch for sustained momentum in Accenture&#8217;s stock price, interpreting this event as a bullish sign.
Signal description
Order flow analytics, aka transaction or market flow analysis, separate and study both the retail and institutional volume rate of orders (flow). It involves analyzing the flow of buy and sell orders, along with size, timing, and other associated characteristics and patterns, to gain insights and make more informed trading decisions. This particular indicator is interpreted as a bullish signal by active traders.&nbsp;
The Power Inflow occurs within the first two hours of the market open and generally signals the trend that helps gauge the stock&#8217;s overall direction, powered by institutional activity in the stock, for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;
By incorporating order flow analytics into their trading strategies, market participants can better interpret market conditions, identify trading opportunities, and potentially improve their trading performance. But let's not forget that while watching smart money flow can provide valuable insights, it is crucial to incorporate effective risk management strategies to protect capital and mitigate potential losses. Employing a consistent and effective risk management plan helps traders navigate the uncertainties of the market in a more controlled and calculated manner, increasing the likelihood of long-term success
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for ACN <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://benzinga.com/apis?_gl=1&#x2A;1hlgn5i&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTY1NjE2NTYxMi4xNzE0NzQ4MTAy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDc0ODEwMi4xLjEuMTcxNDc0ODQyOC4wLjAuMA..">Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs</a> and include firms, like&nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.tradepulse.net">https://www.tradepulse.net</a>&nbsp; which are responsible for parts of the data within this article. 
&#xA9; 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
After Market Close UPDATE:
The price at the time of the Power Inflow was $297.62. The returns on the High price ($305.58) and Close price ($305.32) after the Power Inflow were respectively 2.7% and 2.6%. That is why it is important to have a trading plan that includes Profit Targets and Stop Losses that reflect your risk appetite. In this case, the high of the day and close were almost the same but that is not always the case
Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results

Technicals

Signals

Accenture Shares Rise Over 2.5% After Key Signal

Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal maintains Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $415 to $390.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Accenture, Lowers Price Target to $390

Danny Moses, renowned for his accurate prediction of the 2008 financial crisis, has voiced concerns over the economic impact of recent federal job cuts.
What Happened: The founder of Moses Ventures cautioned that the market has not fully considered the economic repercussions of the job cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a move supported by Elon Musk.
Moses expressed concerns about the negative effects on the economy, stating, &#8220;We're hurting the revenue side of the equation.&#8221;
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44447865/jamie-dimon-reveals-he-will-remain-jpmorgans-ceo-for-few-more-years-jokes-he-wont-swear-this-time"> Jamie Dimon Reveals He Will Remain JPMorgan&#8217;s CEO For &#8216;Few More Years,&#8217; Jokes He Won&#8217;t Swear This Time</a>
Under President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration, over 24,000 federal employees have been dismissed, with an additional 75,000 opting for deferred resignation.
The cuts are part of efforts to reduce government spending, which DOGE claims to have decreased by $115 billion. However, experts question the accuracy of these savings.
Moses noted that the cuts have begun to impact major contracts, with Accenture Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) losing U.S. government contracts, causing its share price to drop by 7.3%.
The elimination of federal jobs and contracts creates an &#8220;unvirtuous cycle,&#8221; affecting both small businesses and private contractors.
The influx of former federal workers into the job market raises concerns about their ability to find new employment, particularly in sectors like tech and data science. The uncertainty surrounding tariffs, labor supply, and immigration further complicates the situation, leaving employers hesitant to make hiring decisions.
Why It Matters: Danny Moses is not new to making bold predictions. Known for his role in shorting the U.S. housing market before its crash in 2008, Moses and his colleagues at FrontPoint Partners gained fame through Michael Lewis&#8217; book, &#8220;The Big Short,&#8221; later adapted into a film.
Recently, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43355225/the-big-short-goes-long-men-who-predicted-housing-bubble-like-asian-stocks-gold">Moses and his peers</a> have shifted their focus to long positions, particularly in Asian stocks and gold.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/01/42933234/michael-burrys-hedge-fund-could-soar-if-china-cuts-interest-rates-in-2025">Michael Burry</a>, another &#8220;Big Short&#8221; alum, is betting on Chinese tech companies, anticipating potential gains if China cuts interest rates.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44447804/a-peek-inside-googles-100-day-ai-sprint-how-gemini-went-from-generating-controversial-images-to-emerging-as-a-chatgpt-rival">A Peek Inside Google&#8217;s 100-Day AI Sprint: How Gemini Went From Generating Controversial Images To Emerging As A ChatGPT Rival</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Government

Politics

Economics

Big Short Investor Danny Moses Warns Of Economic Risks From Elon Musk's DOGE-Induced Federal Job Cuts

Goldman Sachs analyst James Schneider reiterated the Buy rating on Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>), lowering the price forecast to $415 from $430.
The tech behemoth reported second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.82 per share, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44415440/accenture-q2-fy2025-earnings-almost-inline-with-expectations-new-bookings-fall-to-209-billion-tightens-annual-sales-growth-forecast" rel="noreferrer noopener">slightly above&nbsp;the consensus of $2.81.</a>
The company reported sales of $16.66 billion, almost in line with the consensus of $16.62 billion and management&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42586612/accenture-delivers-q1-revenue-growth-bolstered-by-consulting-and-managed-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidance of $16.2 billion–$16.8 billion</a>.
Schneider highlights that Accenture's results are slightly negative for the IT Services sector, as management's comments indicate rising uncertainty in the broader discretionary environment, though the company's underlying business is still showing gradual improvement.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44441145/planet-labs-faces-q4-losses-but-analyst-stays-bullish-with-230-million-jsat-deal-seen-as-a-game-changer" rel="noreferrer noopener">Planet Labs&#8217; Pivot To Solutions And AI Signals Long-Term Upside, Says Analyst</a>
The analyst acknowledges that some investors might be disappointed with management's cautious comments on the current demand environment, particularly given the increased uncertainty resulting from recent macroeconomic events.
However, Schneider writes that this cautious approach is warranted, given the lack of clarity among business leaders and policymakers regarding future macroeconomic outcomes.
Despite these concerns, the focus remains on Accenture's performance and the overall industry backdrop. The analyst notes that the company's increased revenue guidance is a significant positive development.
The analyst maintains a Buy rating on Accenture's stock, highlighting the strong secular tailwinds the company is poised to benefit from once cyclical challenges subside.
Furthermore, Schneider views the current stock price as an attractive entry point for investors.
Schneider explains that management has pointed to increased use of subcontractors as the primary reason for near-term margin pressure, although the company's internal utilization rate remains strong at 91%. He suggests that the company could be experiencing additional margin pressure due to the start of several significant new outsourcing contracts during the quarter.
Price Action: ACN shares are trading higher by 0.99% to $303.90&nbsp;at last check Friday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44431990/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-economic-conditions-dont-signal-a-downturn-say-analysts-as-they-expect-resilient-earnings-to-lift-equities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower, But ‘Economic Conditions Don't Signal A Downturn,' Say Analysts As They Expect ‘Resilient Earnings' To Lift Equities</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Movers

Accenture's Stock Price A Prime Entry Point For Investors, Says Goldman Sachs Analyst

RBC Capital analyst Daniel Perlin maintains Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $399 to $392.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Accenture, Lowers Price Target to $392

UBS analyst Kevin Mcveigh maintains Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $455 to $387.

UBS Maintains Buy on Accenture, Lowers Price Target to $387

Accenture Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) reported better-than-expected earnings for its second <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44415440/accenture-q2-fy2025-earnings-almost-inline-with-expectations-new-bookings-fall-to-209-billion-tightens-annual-sales-growth-forecast">quarter on Thursday</a>.
The company posted second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.82 per share, slightly above the consensus of $2.81. The company reported sales of $16.66 billion, almost in line with the consensus of $16.62 billion and management guidance of $16.2 billion–$16.8 billion.
"The trust and confidence in our unique strengths and capabilities is reflected in 32 clients with quarterly bookings greater than $100 million and we are very pleased to have another milestone quarter in Gen AI with $1.4 billion in new bookings," commented Accenture chair and CEO Julie Sweet.
Accenture narrowed its fiscal year 2025 revenue growth outlook to 5%-7% in local currency, compared to prior guidance of 4%-7%. The company forecasts 2025 diluted earnings of $12.55-$12.79 per share compared to the consensus of $12.90.
Accenture shares fell 1.2% to trade at $297.26 on Friday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Accenture following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Baird analyst David Koning maintained Accenture with an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $390 to $372.</li>
<li>Guggenheim analyst Jonathan Lee maintained the stock with a Buy rating and slashed the price target from $400 to $395.</li>
</ul>

Considering buying ACN stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="blob:https://editorial.benzinga.com/1464d686-56bd-41b5-a202-1bd81fb40b64" alt="" style="width:545px;height:auto" /></figure>
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/03/44414749/top-2-defensive-stocks-that-may-keep-you-up-at-night-in-march">Top 2 Defensive Stocks That May Keep You Up At Night In March</a></li>
</ul>

These Analysts Lower Their Forecasts On Accenture Following Q2 Results

Guggenheim analyst Jonathan Lee maintains Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $400 to $395.

Guggenheim Maintains Buy on Accenture, Lowers Price Target to $395

Baird analyst David Koning maintains Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $390 to $372.

Baird Maintains Outperform on Accenture, Lowers Price Target to $372

U.S. stock futures declined on Friday after tumbling in trade on Thursday. Futures of all four benchmark indices were lower in premarket trading.
While Jerome Powell&#8216;s comments on tariff-induced &#8220;transitory&#8221; inflation buoyed the market on Wednesday, the concerns about the projections of higher inflation and lower economic growth dampened the markets on Thursday.
However, the &#8220;dot plot&#8221; still projected two rate cuts in 2025, maintaining the Fed&#8217;s initial forecast.
The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.22%, while the two-year yield was at 3.94%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.htm">tool</a>, there is an 83.8% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep the interest rates unchanged during its May meeting.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.46%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.64%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.57% to $562.24, and the QQQ declined 0.40% to $477.34, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
Only energy, utilities, financials, and healthcare sectors advanced on Thursday, whereas materials, consumer staples, and information technology sectors led the decline.
Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) shares rose 6% on strong earnings, while Accenture Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) fell 7% due to lower-than-expected guidance.
U.S. jobless claims rose slightly, indicating a stable March labor market, but rising trade tensions and government spending cuts cloud the outlook. Longer unemployment durations were also noted. Philadelphia Fed manufacturing, while still expanding, slowed in March, falling to 12.5, though exceeding forecasts.
February U.S. home sales rose to 4.26 million units, exceeding forecasts, as supply increased, though economic uncertainty poses a risk. Meanwhile, the U.S. Leading Economic Index fell 0.3% in February, continuing a decline, but the six-month pace of decline slowed significantly.
As of Thursday, the Nasdaq 100 remains in correction territory, having fallen 11.45% from its prior peak. Similarly, the Dow Jones and S&amp;P 500 have dropped 6.92% and 7.88%, respectively, from their 52-week highs.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.33%</td>
<td>17,691.63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.22%</td>
<td>5,662.89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.027%</td>
<td>41,953.32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.65%</td>
<td>2,068.63</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
Analysts at BlackRock said that markets were doubting U.S. growth and equity strength. &#8220;Yet economic conditions don't signal a downturn. Resilient earnings keep us overweight U.S. stocks.&#8221;
The note added that the recent volatility was exacerbated by policy uncertainty and investors moving out of crowded positions.
According to them, &#8220;Over time, deleveraging will have run its course, and uncertainty will likely ease as we get more policy implementation details, such as the White House's full tariff plan due in April.&#8221;
&#8220;We think the biggest risk to U.S. growth is prolonged policy uncertainty. U.S. stocks could face more near-term pressure, but we stay overweight on our tactical horizon. We stay underweight long-term Treasuries as we see yields rising,&#8221; the note stated.
Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates reiterated that he expects four rate cuts in 2025. &#8220;I am anticipating global interest rates to crash due to the fact that economic growth in Asia is weak, while Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Mexico are all in the midst of economic contractions. As a result, I am expecting that the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, and other central banks to continue to slash key interest rates, which in turn, will cause Treasury yields to decline. And since the Fed does not fight market rates, four key interest rate cuts are still on the table,&#8221; he said.
Meanwhile, Ryan Detrick of Carson Research highlighted that all bear markets start with a correction, but not all corrections turn into a bear market.
He highlighted historical data where 13 of the previous 39 corrections turned into bear markets. &#8216;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">13 of the previous 39 corrections turned into bear markets. All bears start with a correction, but not all corrections turn into a bear market. <a href="https://t.co/jyQYQTM9F5">pic.twitter.com/jyQYQTM9F5</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1902753838618071157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a>
Upcoming Economic Data
-No data is scheduled to be released on Friday this week.
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Nio Inc. ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>) was down 2.55% in premarket on Friday ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect quarterly loss at 42 cents per share on revenue of $2.85 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) declined 2.41% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 2 cents per share on revenue of $5.75 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>MINISO Group Holding Ltd. ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNSO#NYSE">MNSO</a>) fell 1.39% ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect earnings of 38 cents per share on revenue of $698.66 million.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) dropped 7.08% after it posted weaker-than-expected earnings for its third quarter, while sales topped estimates.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) was 5.09% lower despite better-than-expected third-quarter earnings as its fourth-quarter outlook disappointed.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>CFSB Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFSB#NASDAQ">CFSB</a>) tumbled 19.39% as its short interest surged 42.1% in February to 10,800 shares, representing 1.6 days of trading volume and 0.4% of shares shorted.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>FrontView REIT Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FVR#NYSE">FVR</a>) surged 17.99% as it added 29 properties, completed a successful IPO, and declared a dividend, despite a net loss, generating $9.1 million, issuing positive 2025 guidance.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Luminar Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAZR#NASDAQ">LAZR</a>) jumped 10.67% after crushing fourth-quarter expectations. Revenue rose slightly to $22.5 million from $22.1 million a year earlier and was well above a FactSet estimate of $17.7 million.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Allurion Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALUR#NYSE">ALUR</a>) climbed 40.79% after its combined obesity treatment drug showed a significant 20.3% weight loss in initial trials.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Patriot National Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNBK#NASDAQ">PNBK</a>) gained 51.89% after it raised over $50 million in a private placement to strengthen its capital, despite a &#8216;Fair&#8217; financial health rating.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.03% to hover around $68.05 per barrel.
The gold spot index was down by 0.35% to $3,033.93 per ounce. Its last record high was at $3,057.51 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up by 0.13% at the 103.991 level.
Asian markets closed mixed on Friday with China&#8217;s CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index falling in trade. Whereas, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, South Korea's Kospi, and Australia's ASX 200 index advanced. European markets were lower in trade.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44431882/jim-cramer-says-micron-looks-good-as-ceo-sanjay-mehrotra-notes-record-hbm-revenue-stock-slides-in-pre-market-trading">Jim Cramer Says &#8216;Micron Looks Good&#8217; As CEO Sanjay Mehrotra Notes Record HBM Revenue, Stock Slides In Pre-Market Trading</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market Summary

Futures

Federal Reserve

ALUR

CFSB

LAZR

MNSO

PNBK

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower, But 'Economic Conditions Don't Signal A Downturn,' Say Analysts As They Expect 'Resilient Earnings' To Lift Equities

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, with the S&amp;P 500 falling around 0.2% during the session.
Investors digested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s remarks on inflation and tariffs following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday.
Powell downplayed concerns that tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump could reignite inflation, calling their impact &#8220;transitory.&#8221; Yet, the Fed&#8217;s latest projections signaled slower economic growth, rising unemployment, and hotter inflation.
Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) shares gained around 6% on Thursday in reaction to stronger-than-expected earnings. Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) shares dipped over 7% after the company issued FY25 diluted EPS guidance below estimates.
On the economic data front, the U.S. current account deficit shrank by 2.0% to $303.9 billion in the fourth quarter, versus a revised deficit of $310.3 billion in the third quarter. U.S. initial jobless claims increased by 2,000 to 223,000 during the second week of March, compared to market estimates of 224,000. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index fell to 12.5 in March from 18.1 in the previous month, versus market estimates of 8.5.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with materials, consumer staples, and information technology stocks recording losses on Thursday. However, energy and utilities stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 11 points to 41,953.32 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.22% to 5,662.89, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.33% to 17,691.63 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from NIO Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>, )) and MINISO Group Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNSO#NASDAQ">MNSO</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 22.1, the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 22.7.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/03/44414749/top-2-defensive-stocks-that-may-keep-you-up-at-night-in-march">Top 2 Defensive Stocks That May Keep You Up At Night In March</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

S&P 500 Settles Lower As Accenture Dips Over 7%: Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

U.S. stocks traded sideways on Thursday as investors digested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's remarks on inflation and tariffs following the Federal Open Market<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44405112/tariff-inflation-may-be-transitory-powell-says-stocks-rally-bitcoin-clears-85000-as-bulls-return"> Committee meeting on Wednesday.</a> 
Powell downplayed concerns that tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump could reignite inflation, calling their impact "transitory." Yet, the Fed's latest projections signaled slower economic growth, rising unemployment and hotter inflation. 
By midday in New York, major indexes were little changed, with financial stocks leading modest gains. 
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) extended its rally to fresh record highs, on track for a sixth consecutive positive session. The stock's year-to-date outperformance over the S&amp;P 500 has widened to 20 percentage points.
In commodities, gold edged lower as the U.S. dollar strengthened, while Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) slid 2.8%, dipping below $85,000. Oil prices jumped 1.5% to $67 per barrel amid escalating geopolitical tensions, as Israel launched a new ground operation in Gaza, breaking a two-month ceasefire.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,081.53</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,674.16</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,080.75</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,711.27</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched 0.1% down to $566.56.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.2% to $421.00.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;slipped 0.2% to $479.28.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) eased 0.2% to $206.03</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Financial&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, up 0.6%; the&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) lagged, down 0.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers </h3>
<ul>
<li>Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) rose 5.4% in reaction to stronger-than-expected earnings. </li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to corporate earnings were Jabil Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBL#NYSE">JBL</a>), up 5.2%, Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>), down 7.2%, PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), up 2%, Five Below Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NYSE">FIVE</a>), up 7%, Facset Research Systems (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>).</li>
<li>Companies slated to report their earnings after the close include Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>), FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>), Lennar Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>). </li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44418891/us-home-sales-jump-in-february-median-price-nears-400000-next-big-move-could-shock-everyone-analysts-say">US Home Sales Jump In February, Median Price Nears $400,000: &#8216;Next Big Move Could Shock Everyone,&#8217; Analysts Say</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

ETFs

$BTC

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

FIVE

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Wall Street Holds Steady As Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Notches Record Highs: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

U.S. stocks traded higher this morning, with the Dow Jones index gaining over 100 points on Thursday.
Following the market opening Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.25% to 42,070.99 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.37% to 17,817.11. The S&amp;P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.28% to 5,689.83.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44414809/tesla-to-450-here-are-10-top-analyst-forecasts-for-thursday">Tesla To $450? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Thursday</a>
Leading and Lagging Sectors Consumer discretionary shares rose by 0.7% on Thursday.
In trading on Thursday, materials shares fell by 0.3%.
Top Headline
Shares of Accenture Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) fell more than 7% on Thursday after the company reported results for the second quarter.
The company reported second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.82 per share, slightly above the consensus of $2.81. The company reported sales of $16.66 billion, almost in line with the consensus of $16.62 billion and management guidance of $16.2 billion–$16.8 billion.
Accenture narrowed its fiscal year 2025 revenue growth outlook to 5%-7% in local currency, compared to prior guidance of 4%-7%. The company forecasts 2025 diluted earnings of $12.55-$12.79 per share compared to the consensus of $12.90.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>SAG Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAG#NASDAQ">SAG</a>) shares shot up 107% to $1.3995.</li>
<li>Shares of Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WINT#NASDAQ">WINT</a>)got a boost, surging 59% to $2.6900 after the company entered a license and supply agreement to become a sourcing partner for Evofem Biosciences for Evofem&#8217;s PHEXXI.</li>
<li>OptiNose, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OPTN#NASDAQ">OPTN</a>) shares were also up, gaining 57% to $9.39 after Paratek Pharmaceuticals announced it will acquire the company in a deal worth $330 million.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Elevation Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELEV#NASDAQ">ELEV</a>) shares dropped 47% to $0.2501 after the company announced the discontinued development of EO-3021.</li>
<li>Shares of Benson Hill, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHIL#NASDAQ">BHIL</a>) were down 45% to $0.3570 after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.</li>
<li>Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADAP#NASDAQ">ADAP</a>) was down, falling 31% to $0.3088 after the company issued fourth-quarter and full year 2024 business update.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 0.5% to $67.50 while gold traded down 0.1% at $3,040.20.
Silver traded down 0.6% to $33.985 on Thursday, while copper fell 0.4% to $5.0815.
Euro zone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 0.4%, Germany's DAX 40 fell 1.2% and France's CAC 40 fell 0.8%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index fell 0.9%, while London's FTSE 100 slipped 0.1%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mixed on Thursday, with China's Shanghai Composite Index falling 0.51%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dipped 2.23% and India's BSE Sensex gaining 1.19%.
Economics
<ul>
<li>U.S. existing home sales increased by 4.2% from the previous month to an annualized rate of 4.26 million homes in February.</li>
<li>The U.S. current account deficit shrank by 2.0% to $303.9 billion in the fourth quarter, versus a revised deficit of $310.3 billion in the third quarter.</li>
<li>U.S. initial jobless claims increased by 2,000 to 223,000 during the second week of March, compared to market estimates of 224,000.</li>
<li>The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index fell to 12.5 in March from 18.1 in the previous month, versus market estimates of 8.5.</li>
</ul>
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Dow Gains Over 100 Points; Accenture Shares Plunge After Q2 Results

WIIM

Accenture shares are trading lower after the company issued FY25 diluted EPS guidance below estimates.

On Thursday, Accenture Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) reported second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.82 per share, slightly above <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">the consensus of $2.81</a>.
The company reported sales of $16.66 billion, almost in line with the consensus of $16.62 billion and management <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42586612/accenture-delivers-q1-revenue-growth-bolstered-by-consulting-and-managed-services" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidance of $16.2 billion–$16.8 billion</a>.
Sales increased 5% year over year in U.S. dollars and 8.5% in local currency.
Consulting revenues were $8.28 billion, an increase of 3% in U.S. dollars and 6% in local currency. Managed Services revenues reached $8.38 billion, an increase of 5% in U.S. dollars and 8.5% in local currency.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/03/44108259/accenture-ma-acquires-ai-firm-halfspace-altus-consulting-in-uk-to-expand-advanced-ai-solutions-in-europe" rel="noreferrer noopener">Accenture M&amp;A: Acquires AI Firm Halfspace, Altus Consulting In UK To Expand Advanced AI Solutions in Europe</a>
Products revenues reached $5.05 billion, up 6% in U.S. dollars and 9% in local currency. Health &amp; Public Service revenues increased by 8% in U.S. dollars and 10% in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44412689/accenture-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-2025-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">local currency to $3.61 billion</a>.
Financial Services revenue reached $3.01 billion, up 7% in U.S. dollars and 11% in local currency. Resources revenue was $2.26 billion, up 1% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency.
Communications, Media &amp; Technology revenue was $2.73 billion, up 3% in U.S. dollars and 6% in local currency.
New bookings for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were $20.91 billion, a decrease of 3% in U.S. dollars and flat in local currency compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2024, including:
<ul>
<li>Consulting new bookings were $10.47 billion</li>
<li>Managed Services new bookings were $10.44 billion</li>
</ul>
Generative AI new bookings reached $1.4 billion in the second quarter.
The company says strong Q2 FY25 results reflect broad-based revenue growth across geographic markets, industry groups, and types of work.
&#8220;The trust and confidence in our unique strengths and capabilities is reflected in 32 clients with quarterly bookings greater than $100 million and we are very pleased to have another milestone quarter in Gen AI with $1.4 billion in new bookings,&#8221; commented Accenture chair and CEO Julie Sweet.
The operating margin increased by 50 basis points to 13.5% and decreased by 20 basis points compared to the adjusted operating margin.
Guidance: Accenture narrowed its fiscal year 2025 revenue growth outlook to 5%-7% in local currency, compared to prior guidance of 4%-7%. The company forecasts 2025 diluted earnings of $12.55-$12.79 per share compared to the consensus of $12.90.
Price Action: At the last check Thursday, ACN stock was down 0.14% at $324 during the premarket session.
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BENZINGA NEL MONDO

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:39 PMFeb 20, 2025	CALL	$380.00	Jan 15, 2027	652	57	109	10	592	SWEEP	BEARISH
01:00 PMFeb 20, 2025	CALL	$410.00	Jan 16, 2026	288	250	250	67	372	TRADE	BEARISH