Accenture: earnings rise with digital, cloud and security

(CercleFinance.com) - Technology outsourcing and consulting firm Accenture has said that its quarterly profit has risen sharply, boosted by high-growth businesses, such as digital, cloud and security services.


Accenture said on Thursday that profit for its fiscal fourth quarter, ended August, increased to 1.05 billion dollars, or 1.61 dollar a share, from 983 million dollars, or 1.51 dollar a share, the previous year.

Quarterly net revenue rose to 10.1 billion dollars from 9.1 billion, above the company's guidance of 9.80-10.05 billion dollars.

Consulting revenues were up 12%, while outsourcing revenues jumped by 9%.

For fiscal 2019, which started earlier this month, the company said it expects revenue growth to be in the range of 5%-to-8% in local currency.

Last but not least, Accenture plans to pay an interim cash dividend of 1.46 dollar per share, up 10% over the previous dividend announced in March. In addition, the IT group approved additional share buybacks amounting to 5 billion dollars.

After all these announcements, Accenture shares were down 1.4% in pre-market trading on Thursday. Yesterday they closed up 0.1% at 173 dollars on the New York Stock Exchange.

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