By Everdeen Mason
Accenture PLC's (ACN) fiscal first-quarter profit increased 7.6%
as the consulting company recorded higher revenue amid stronger new
bookings.
The company raised its full-year per-share earnings forecast to
$4.44 to $4.56, compared with its October estimate of $4.42 to
$4.54, on a more positive foreign-exchange impact estimate.
Accenture backed its full-year revenue guidance.
For the current quarter, the company estimates revenue between
$6.95 billion to $7.25 billion. Analysts expect second-quarter
revenue of $7.25 billion.
The consulting company, which competes globally for contracts
with technology companies like International Business Machines
Corp. (IBM) and Hewlett-Packard Co.(HPQ), has mostly posted
earnings growth for more than two years and has seen strong revenue
growth in its outsourcing business.
For the period ended Nov. 30, Accenture reported earnings of
$751.9 million, or $1.15 per share, up from $698.8 million, or
$1.06 per share. Analysts recently forecast $1.09.
Accenture's net revenue rose 1.9% to $7.36 billion, higher than
company projections for $7 billion to $7.25 billion.
Consulting net revenue fell 1% to $3.94 billion, while
outsourcing net revenue rose 5% to $3.42 billion.
Meanwhile, the company reported new bookings of $8.7 billion,
higher than the past two quarters. Bookings rose 3% in Americas and
Europe year over year, but fell 6% in Asia Pacific on currency
fluctuations.
Gross margin widened to 33.3% from 32.8%.
Accenture's shares rose $2.38 to $78 in premarket trading. The
stock is up around 14% this year.
Write to Everdeen Mason at everdeen.mason@wsj.com
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