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ACN vs. NOW: Accenture vs. ServiceNow Stock Comparison

How do Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but ACN is classified in IT Services while NOW is classified in Software.

Company profile comparison for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
Profile ItemACNNOW
NameAccenture plcServiceNow Inc.
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryIT Consulting & Other ServicesSystems Software
Market Capitalization153.89 billion USD105.84 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 19, 2001June 29, 2012
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ACN
NOW
GSPC
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
Total Return (1Y)7.87%-39.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-4.56%-5.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.20%-5.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ACN
NOW
GSPC
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)50.02%64.49%
Beta (5Y)1.000.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)-68.17%-64.54%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.18M15.74M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ACN and NOW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.07-0.68
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.10-0.89

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Accenture (ACN) at 26.03% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 11.85% 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%

NOW

Software & Services industry group

11.85%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
NOW
11.85%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 11.28% and ServiceNow (NOW) at 9.36% 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%

NOW

Software & Services industry group

9.36%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
NOW
9.36%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Accenture (ACN) at 17.83% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ServiceNow (NOW) at 17.39%, 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%

NOW

Software & Services industry group

17.39%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
NOW
17.39%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
ROE (TTM)26.03%11.85%
ROA (TTM)10.95%4.59%
Net Margin (TTM)11.28%9.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.83%17.39%
Gross Margin (TTM)32.05%73.08%

Growth

Revenue Growth

ServiceNow (NOW) at 20.88% 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.

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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Accenture (ACN) at 11.60% and ServiceNow (NOW) at 22.08% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.47%20.88%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.98%22.38%
EPS Growth (YoY)11.60%22.08%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)7.98%73.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Accenture (ACN) at 1.43 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.72 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NOW.

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

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
NOW
0.72
Min
0.03
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 0.40 and ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.64 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

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.64

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
NOW
0.64
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.430.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.400.64
Net Debt / EBITDA0.041.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ServiceNow (NOW) 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%

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NOW
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ServiceNow (NOW) 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%

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NOW
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
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 ServiceNow (NOW) at 73.36 sits in the richer quartile — NOW 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

NOW

Software & Services industry group

73.36

Max
112.94
NOW
73.36
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Accenture (ACN) at 2.07 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while ServiceNow (NOW) at 6.86 prices around its industry’s middle — ACN costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

NOW

Software & Services industry group

6.86

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
NOW
6.86
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Accenture (ACN) at 4.91 and ServiceNow (NOW) at 8.08 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

NOW

Software & Services industry group

8.08

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
NOW
8.08
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Accenture (ACN) vs. ServiceNow (NOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Accenture (ACN) and ServiceNow (NOW)
MetricACNNOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.2173.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.076.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.918.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.94%5.44%