Accenture results top Wall St view

By Gabriel Madway

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Technology outsourcing and consulting firm Accenture Ltd (ACN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday reported a quarterly profit that topped Wall Street's forecast, but the company lowered its fiscal-year outlook slightly due to currency effects.

Accenture showed revenue growth over most of its operating groups in the quarter, and Chief Executive William Green said the results demonstrated its "relative resistance" to the global financial turmoil.

"People are betting their companies on some of the initiatives that they're taking, and we're the kind of people they'll come to in order to make sure they get the results they need," Green told Reuters.

He acknowledged a "very somber, very quiet" mood among some of the company's clients. But he said the current business climate can provide opportunities for Accenture, such as growing its outsourcing business.

"There's not a board of directors out there who isn't asking the management, have you considered sourcing alternatives?"

Accenture said its net profit in its first quarter ended November 30 rose to $479.9 million, or 74 cents a share, from $381.3 million, or 60 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Net revenue climbed 6 percent to $6.02 billion, topping the $5.99 billion average estimate, according to Reuters Estimates.

Consulting revenue rose 6 percent, while outsourcing revenue climbed 7 percent. Revenue increased across all of Accenture's operating groups except for financial services, its third largest, where it dipped only slightly.