ACN vs. PS: Accenture vs. Pershing Square Stock Comparison
How do Accenture (ACN) and Pershing Square (PS) 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 Pershing Square (PS) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but ACN is classified in IT Services while PS is classified in Software.
Accenture (ACN) has been public since July 19, 2001, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Pershing Square (PS) listed only on April 29, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
| Profile Item | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Accenture plc | Pluralsight 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 | 20.58 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | July 19, 2001 | April 29, 2026 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.87% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -4.56% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.20% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Pershing Square (PS) carries a highly aggressive beta of 6.25, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Accenture (ACN) is closer to market-like at 1.00 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 50.02% | 100.16% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.00 | 6.25 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -68.17% | -43.14% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.18M | 428.47K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both ACN and PS need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.07 | -- |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.10 | -- |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Accenture (ACN) earns 26.03% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no ROE this period.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
- PS
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative net margin of -20.98%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Accenture (ACN) reports 11.28%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-20.98%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- PS
- -20.98%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative operating margin of -35.45%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Accenture (ACN) reports 17.83%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-35.45%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
- PS
- -35.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 26.03% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.95% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.28% | -20.98% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.83% | -35.45% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 32.05% | 24.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Pershing Square (PS) at 64.66% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Accenture (ACN) at 6.47% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Accenture (ACN) reports EPS growth of 11.60%, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.47% | 64.66% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.98% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 11.60% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.98% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Accenture (ACN) shows current ratio of 1.43 against its industry benchmark, while Pershing Square (PS) has no reading this period.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
- PS
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Accenture (ACN) at 0.40 and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.18 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
PS
Software & Services industry group
0.18
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- PS
- 0.18
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.43 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.40 | 0.18 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.04 | 4.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Accenture (ACN) at 2.49% and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.24% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
0.24%
- PS
- 0.24%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative payout ratio of -10.99%, usually because earnings are negative; the payout ratio is not a useful dividend-sustainability benchmark in that state. Meanwhile Accenture (ACN) reports 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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-10.99%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
- PS
- -10.99%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.49% | 0.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 48.08% | -10.99% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Accenture (ACN) trades at 19.21 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Pershing Square (PS) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
- PS
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Accenture (ACN) at 2.07 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Pershing Square (PS) at 27.11 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
27.11
- PS
- 27.11
- Max
- 17.91
- 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 Pershing Square (PS) at 15.12 carries an above-peer premium to book — PS 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
PS
Software & Services industry group
15.12
- Max
- 16.63
- PS
- 15.12
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ACN | PS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.21 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.07 | 27.11 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.91 | 15.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.94% | -- |