ACN vs. GWRE: Accenture vs. Guidewire Software Stock Comparison
How do Accenture (ACN) and Guidewire Software (GWRE) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Accenture (ACN) and Guidewire Software (GWRE) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but ACN is classified in IT Services while GWRE is classified in Software.
| Profile Item | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Accenture plc | Guidewire Software Inc. |
| Country/Region | Ireland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | IT Services | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | IT Consulting & Other Services | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 153.89 billion USD | 13.34 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 19, 2001 | January 25, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.87% | -25.97% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -4.56% | 21.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.20% | 4.78% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 50.02% | 62.03% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.00 | 0.99 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -68.17% | -60.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.18M | 1.29M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.07 | -0.49 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.10 | -0.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Accenture (ACN) at 26.03% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 10.51% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ACN.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
26.03%
- Max
- 53.85%
- ACN
- 26.03%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
10.51%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- GWRE
- 10.51%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Accenture (ACN) at 11.28% and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.44% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
11.28%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- ACN
- 11.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
9.44%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- GWRE
- 9.44%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Accenture (ACN) at 17.83% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 15.16%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
17.83%
- Max
- 46.89%
- ACN
- 17.83%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
15.16%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- GWRE
- 15.16%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 26.03% | 10.51% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.95% | 3.54% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.28% | 9.44% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.83% | 15.16% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 32.05% | 64.21% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 22.70% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Accenture (ACN) at 6.47% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 101.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Accenture (ACN) at 11.60% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GWRE.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.47% | 22.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.98% | 17.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 11.60% | 101.23% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.98% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Accenture (ACN) at 1.43 and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 1.79 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
1.43
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- ACN
- 1.43
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
1.79
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- GWRE
- 1.79
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Accenture (ACN) at 0.40 and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 0.60 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
0.40
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- ACN
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
0.60
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- GWRE
- 0.60
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.43 | 1.79 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.40 | 0.60 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.04 | -0.38 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Guidewire Software (GWRE) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Accenture (ACN) reports a yield of 2.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
2.49%
- ACN
- 2.49%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- GWRE
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Guidewire Software (GWRE) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Accenture (ACN) reports a payout of 48.08%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
48.08%
- ACN
- 48.08%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- GWRE
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.49% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 48.08% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Accenture (ACN) at 19.21 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 99.02 sits in the richer quartile — GWRE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
19.21
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- ACN
- 19.21
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
99.02
- Max
- 112.94
- GWRE
- 99.02
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Accenture (ACN) at 2.07 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.04 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
2.07
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- ACN
- 2.07
- Min
- 0.02
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
9.04
- Max
- 17.91
- GWRE
- 9.04
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Accenture (ACN) at 4.91 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 11.09 carries an above-peer premium to book — GWRE is pricier on assets.
ACN
Software & Services industry group
4.91
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- ACN
- 4.91
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
11.09
- Max
- 16.63
- GWRE
- 11.09
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ACN | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.21 | 99.02 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.07 | 9.04 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.91 | 11.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.94% | 2.57% |