5 Best Safe Dividend Stocks for 2026

4. Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN)

Dividend Yield as of March 16: 3.27%

On March 16, Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette lowered the firm’s price recommendation on Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) to $240 from $320. The firm reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares. The change comes ahead of the company’s fiscal Q2 earnings report, scheduled for Thursday, March 19. Morgan Stanley expects Accenture to raise the low end of its FY26 revenue growth outlook to 3%-5%, compared with the earlier range of 2%-5%. The firm noted that bookings have been “weak.” Based on its checks, the analyst also believes the company may be going through a talent rotation.

Also on March 16, Accenture said it has completed the acquisition of Faculty, a UK-based artificial intelligence company known for its technical expertise and its work applying AI safely across public and private sectors to help clients improve services and drive growth. Following the acquisition, Faculty CEO and co-founder Dr. Marc Warner is expanding his role and will also serve as chief technology officer of Accenture. He will join the company’s Global Management Committee.

The acquisition adds to Accenture’s capabilities as it helps clients redesign core and critical business processes using secure, outcome-focused AI solutions. As part of the deal, more than 400 AI specialists from Faculty, including data scientists and AI engineers, are joining Accenture to support the expansion of its AI capabilities for clients.

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) operates as a global professional services company. It provides services and solutions across strategy and consulting, technology, operations, Industry X, and Song.