We recently published a list of 10 Best Predictive Analytics Stocks to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) stands against other predictive analytics stocks to invest in now.

Data is at the forefront of many inventions today and is the primary ingredient of innovation. Of the many branches of data usage, predictive analytics is garnering immense traction, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence. Predictive analytics is the use of data, statistics, modeling, and machine learning to forecast, predict, and plan future events. There are different types of predictive analytics including regression analysis, time-series analysis, and machine learning algorithms.

According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global predictive analytics market was valued at $14.71 billion in 2023. The global predictive analytics market is expected to grow to $95.3 billion by 2032 from $18.02 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.1%. The report attributes the growth in the industry to the growing investments in data by the government and large corporations followed by IoT and AI integrations. The use of predictive analytics is bifurcated into multiple segments including life sciences, automotive, retail, energy, telecom, and healthcare, to name a few.

Startups Disrupting the Predictive Analytics Space

There are a range of startups in the predictive analytics space that are revolutionizing the industry. One such name is Pecan AI. The automated predictive analytics platform is developed and designed intricately to meet the needs of data scientists. Data scientists can use the platform to build powerful predictive AI capabilities and machine learning models that drive business impact. Data scientists do not need coding or data science skills to make use of the platform. The platform is used by a range of companies including Johnson & Johnson, SciPlay, Hydrant, Kenvue, Proper Cloth, and DME Acquire. Earlier in January, the company introduced predictive generative AI to transform enterprises. Pecan AI also has partnerships with some of the largest tech corporations and platforms including Azure and AWS.

DataRobot is another leader in the predictive analytics industry that delivers revolutionary AI use cases for businesses. Its AI platform consists of core AI features such as generative AI, predictive AI, AI governance, AI observability, and AI foundation. The platform promises 83% faster deployment and secures nearly 1.4 billion predictions every day. Users can run models in minutes by skipping manual data preparation and cleaning. Additionally, the platform eliminates the need for repetitive coding, by streamlining feature discovery and defining elements of datasets automatically. Users can connect data from warehouses such as AWS and Azure into a singular workspace. Some of the predictive use cases facilitated by DataRobot include time series modeling, clustering and seasonality, cold start forecasting, nowcasting, and anomaly detection.

Our Methodology

To come up with the 10 best predictive analytics stocks to invest in now we went through multiple reports on the internet, ETFs, and stock screeners. We then examined the analyst upside of each stock and ranked the ones with the highest percentage. Our list is in ascending order of the analyst upside as of November 11, 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN)

Analyst upside as of November 11, 2024: 9%

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) ranks 10th on our list of the best predictive analytics stocks to invest in now. The IT company, headquartered in Ireland, specializes in information technology services and management consulting.

Accenture’s (NYSE:ACN) data and analytics help businesses gain powerful insights using data. The company also identifies use cases that align with users’ needs to offer advanced business solutions. On the artificial intelligence front, Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) allows users to develop reusable data products and build and scale AI to solve problems

The company started working on its predictive analytics capabilities over a decade ago and is now poised to become a leading AI and data company. Only recently, Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) completed the acquisition of Camelot Management Consultants, a SAP-focused management and technology consulting firm in Germany, that specializes in supply chain, data, and analytics. This will further enhance Accenture’s position in analytics-backed operations.

With generative AI bringing in $3 billion in bookings for Accenture (NYSE:ACN), the company is set to benefit immensely from the AI wave, especially in data and predictive analytics use cases. Analysts are also bullish on the stock and their median price target of $389 represents an upside of 9% from current levels, as of November 11.

ClearBridge Investments’ ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“One of the keys to recent results and to delivering consistent, long-term performance through market cycles is how we think about risk. During our investment diligence process and ongoing work on portfolio holdings, we focus attention on how our thesis could be wrong and what the implications for stock valuation would be under these scenarios. Being sensitive to valuation is at the core of our portfolio construction efforts and prevents us from owning a particular stock or theme where we are not comfortable with the price. Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN), a new addition in the second quarter, is a good example. The stock was on our whiteboard for several years, and we remained patient until volatility created an attractive entry point. We further added to the position in the third quarter.”

Overall, ACN ranks 10th on our list of best predictive analytics stocks to invest in now. While we acknowledge the potential of ACN to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ACN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.