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ACN vs. ZS: Accenture vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Accenture (ACN) and Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemACNZS
NameAccenture plcZscaler 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 USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJuly 19, 2001March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ACN
ZS
GSPC
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Accenture (ACN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
Total Return (1Y)7.87%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-4.56%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.20%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ACN
ZS
GSPC
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 Zscaler (ZS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Accenture (ACN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)50.02%68.66%
Beta (5Y)1.000.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-68.17%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.18M2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ACN and ZS 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.07-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.10-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative ROE of -2.87%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Accenture (ACN) reports 26.03%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-2.87%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
ZS
-2.87%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.89%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
ZS
-1.89%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative operating margin of -1.01%, 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.01%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
ZS
-1.01%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Accenture (ACN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
ROE (TTM)26.03%-2.87%
ROA (TTM)10.95%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)11.28%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.83%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)32.05%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% 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. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Accenture (ACN) reports EPS growth of 11.60%, ranked against its industry; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Accenture (ACN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.47%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.98%27.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)11.60%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)7.98%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 1.43 and Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

1.70

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
ZS
1.70
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Accenture (ACN) at 0.40 and Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ZS
0.72
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.431.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.400.72
Net Debt / EBITDA0.04-36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Accenture (ACN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.49%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)48.08%0.00%

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 Zscaler (ZS) 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
ZS
--
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): ZS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ACN is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Accenture (ACN) at 2.07 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

9.61

Max
17.91
ZS
9.61
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Accenture (ACN) at 4.91 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZS 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

12.40

Max
16.63
ZS
12.40
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Accenture (ACN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Accenture (ACN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricACNZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.21--
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.079.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.9112.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.94%3.34%