Accenture to return less to shareholders as acquisition spending rises

Accenture Plc expects to return less money to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in the current fiscal year than it did in the previous year, marking the second year-over-year decline in shareholder returns for the world’s largest IT and consulting firm since it went public in 2001.According to company management, Accenture is expected to return at least $9.5 billion to shareholders in the current fiscal year to August 2027, below the $11.5 billion returned in the previous fiscal year…