ACN vs. PLTR: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ACN and PLTR, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
PLTR’s market capitalization of 304.04 billion USD is significantly greater than ACN’s 190.80 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
PLTR carries a higher beta at 2.64, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ACN (beta: 1.33) exhibits greater stability.
| Symbol | ACN | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Accenture plc | Palantir Technologies Inc. |
| Country | IE | US |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Information Technology Services | Software - Infrastructure |
| CEO | Julie T. Spellman Sweet | Alexander C. Karp |
| Price | 304.78 USD | 134.36 USD |
| Market Cap | 190.80 billion USD | 304.04 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.33 | 2.64 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | July 19, 2001 | September 30, 2020 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ACN and PLTR by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ACN
27.11%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 47.24%
- Q3
- 23.27%
- Median
- 12.85%
- Q1
- 2.22%
- Min
- -26.63%
In the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry, ACN’s Return on Equity of 27.11% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
PLTR
12.03%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 80.61%
- Q3
- 29.97%
- Median
- 2.84%
- Q1
- -8.35%
- Min
- -56.26%
PLTR’s Return on Equity of 12.03% is on par with the norm for the Software - Infrastructure industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
ACN
17.83%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 28.29%
- Q3
- 13.19%
- Median
- 7.24%
- Q1
- 0.23%
- Min
- -18.82%
In the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry, ACN’s Return on Invested Capital of 17.83% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
PLTR
6.67%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 39.31%
- Q3
- 11.97%
- Median
- 1.67%
- Q1
- -7.10%
- Min
- -34.29%
PLTR’s Return on Invested Capital of 6.67% is in line with the norm for the Software - Infrastructure industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
ACN
11.61%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 20.47%
- Q3
- 11.62%
- Median
- 5.97%
- Q1
- 1.89%
- Min
- -4.62%
ACN’s Net Profit Margin of 11.61% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Information Technology Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
PLTR
18.32%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 46.46%
- Q3
- 14.65%
- Median
- 2.66%
- Q1
- -7.70%
- Min
- -35.45%
A Net Profit Margin of 18.32% places PLTR in the upper quartile for the Software - Infrastructure industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
ACN
15.38%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 29.42%
- Q3
- 14.75%
- Median
- 8.92%
- Q1
- 2.62%
- Min
- -11.92%
An Operating Profit Margin of 15.38% places ACN in the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
PLTR
13.02%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 48.51%
- Q3
- 16.56%
- Median
- 4.48%
- Q1
- -6.43%
- Min
- -40.18%
PLTR’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.02% is around the midpoint for the Software - Infrastructure industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 27.11% | 12.03% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 12.55% | 8.47% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 17.83% | 6.67% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 11.61% | 18.32% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.38% | 13.02% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 32.07% | 80.01% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ACN
1.46
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 2.37
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.00
ACN’s Current Ratio of 1.46 aligns with the median group of the Information Technology Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
PLTR
6.49
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 3.80
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.23
PLTR’s Current Ratio of 6.49 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ACN
0.19
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.16
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.09
- Min
- 0.01
ACN’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.19 is typical for the Information Technology Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
PLTR
0.05
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 2.56
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.33
- Q1
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Software - Infrastructure industry, PLTR’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.05 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ACN
210.82
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 17.52
- Q3
- 10.04
- Median
- 4.66
- Q1
- 0.80
- Min
- -10.50
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 210.82, ACN demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Information Technology Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
PLTR
--
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 32.21
- Q3
- 5.24
- Median
- 0.95
- Q1
- -17.99
- Min
- -50.82
Interest Coverage Ratio data for PLTR is currently unavailable.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.46 | 6.49 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.46 | 6.49 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.19 | 0.05 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | -0.32 | -1.75 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 210.82 | -- |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ACN and PLTR. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ACN
1.88%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 1.39%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 1.88%, ACN offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Information Technology Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
PLTR
0.00%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 4.07%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PLTR currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ACN
45.10%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 112.81%
- Q3
- 20.98%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ACN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 45.10% is in the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
PLTR
0.00%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 48.68%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PLTR has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.88% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.10% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ACN
23.94
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 49.12
- Q3
- 36.91
- Median
- 24.84
- Q1
- 15.88
- Min
- 1.55
ACN’s P/E Ratio of 23.94 is within the middle range for the Information Technology Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
PLTR
552.96
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 107.77
- Q3
- 54.40
- Median
- 28.10
- Q1
- 18.03
- Min
- 5.32
At 552.96, PLTR’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ACN
2.73
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 5.35
- Q3
- 3.79
- Median
- 2.23
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.03
ACN’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.73 is within the middle range of its peers in the Information Technology Services industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
PLTR
19.10
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 8.12
- Q3
- 3.94
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 0.94
- Min
- 0.01
PLTR’s Forward PEG Ratio of 19.10 is exceptionally high for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ACN
2.79
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 8.15
- Q3
- 4.17
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.10
ACN’s P/S Ratio of 2.79 aligns with the market consensus for the Information Technology Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
PLTR
97.61
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 18.25
- Q3
- 9.05
- Median
- 4.77
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.11
With a P/S Ratio of 97.61, PLTR trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Software - Infrastructure industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ACN
6.23
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 11.78
- Q3
- 6.14
- Median
- 3.23
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- 0.42
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Information Technology Services industry.
PLTR
58.18
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 19.94
- Q3
- 10.91
- Median
- 6.33
- Q1
- 2.95
- Min
- 0.51
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Software - Infrastructure industry.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 23.94 | 552.96 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.73 | 19.10 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 2.79 | 97.61 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 6.23 | 58.18 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 60.08 | 230.62 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 15.83 | 707.45 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 2.73 | 97.37 |