OpenAI is enlisting some of the world’s biggest consulting firms in its fight to dominate the enterprise AI market.Today the AI company announced partnerships with Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Co., Accenture, and Capgemini that will see the consulting firms helping sell and implement OpenAI’s new Frontier AI agent platform. The consultants will help their clients redesign workflows; integrate AI agents with software tools and systems; help clients with change management; and provide industry-specifi ...

This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. The Trial Balance is CFO.com’s weekly preview of stories, stats and events to help you prepare. Part 1 — OpenAI finds ‘Frontier Alliances’ in revenue push OpenAI announced on Monday that it has entered into multi-year partnerships with Accenture, Boston Consulting Group, Capgemini and McKinsey & Company, formalizing a consulting ecosystem around its new enterprise platform a ...

Industry Overview - The global metaverse market was valued at $105.40 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46.4% from 2025 to 2030, reaching $936.57 billion by 2030 [2] - North America leads the VR and AR technologies market with a 42.8% share, driven by significant expenditures and widespread adoption [2] - Software accounts for 41.6% of the market revenue, with desktop platforms being the most frequently used [2] - The demand for cloud infrastructure, real-time rendering, and immersive applications is facilitating the scalable creation of interactive digital environments [2] Company Developments - Organizations are increasingly creating digital replicas of physical locations, which is driving demand for virtual land and customized spaces, especially in education and business [3] - Meta has purchased 350,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs to support AGI and metaverse services, while Ansys launched SimAI to enhance engineering processes [4] - Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are transforming virtual business by enabling secure transactions and verifying ownership of digital assets, contributing to the development of a networked, immersive metaverse [4] Notable Collaborations - Meta and VictoryXR launched 130 digital twin university campuses in Europe, showcasing significant collaboration in the metaverse space [3] - Unity has partnered with Apple for spatial computing, while Vagon is enabling cloud-based 3D content streaming [3] - Capgemini is expanding Unity's digital twin development, further enhancing the metaverse ecosystem [3] Investment Insights - The article identifies metaverse-related stocks from ETFs like the iShares Future Metaverse Tech and Communications ETF, focusing on those with positive analyst upside [7] - The methodology ranks stocks based on the number of hedge fund holders as of Q3 2025, including both pure-play metaverse companies and those with significant exposure to the space [7] - Research indicates that imitating top stock picks from hedge funds can lead to market outperformance, with a reported return of 427.7% since May 2014 [8] Company Highlights - Snap Inc. (NYSE:SNAP) has 50 hedge fund holders and a price target upside of 69.13%, with a shift towards higher-margin subscription revenue expected to improve financial standing [10][11] - QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) has 63 hedge fund holders and a price target upside of 5.17%, with plans to invest up to $150 million in Indian firms focusing on deep technology and AI [15][17]

Market Performance - European stocks closed positively, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 up by 1.19%, the UK's FTSE 100 climbing 1.23%, Germany's DAX gaining 1.12%, and France's CAC 40 ending 0.81% higher [1][3]. - Defense stocks rose due to an agreement between India and France to strengthen defense and aerospace ties [2]. - Mining and banking sectors also saw significant gains, with notable performances from companies like Antofagasta, which soared nearly 11% [4]. Company Updates - BAE Systems reported a better-than-expected 12% rise in full-year operating profit, leading to a 4% increase in its shares [4]. - In Germany, Rheinmetall climbed more than 5%, and Heidelberg Materials gained about 4.3% [5]. - Bayer's shares fell over 7% due to a proposed $10.5 billion settlement related to litigation over its Roundup weedkiller [6]. Sector Performance - In the UK market, mining companies such as Fresnillo, Anglo American Plc, and Glencore gained between 4.25% and 4.8% [4]. - In France, companies like Thales, ArcelorMittal, and STMicroelectronics saw gains of 2%-5% [7]. - Notable declines were observed in food retailer Carrefour, which slid more than 5% after reporting a decline in operating profit [8]. Economic Indicators - France's inflation eased to the lowest in five years, with the consumer price index rising only 0.3% year-on-year in January [9]. - The EU harmonized inflation softened to 0.4% from 0.7% in December, marking the weakest rate since December 2020 [10]. - In the UK, the consumer price index posted an annual increase of 3% in January, the lowest since March 2025 [12].

Market Overview - European stocks closed mostly higher, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 gaining 0.45% and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbing 0.79% [2] - Investors are optimistic about potential monetary easing from central banks, particularly the Bank of England, amid rising unemployment rates in the UK [1][9] Sector Performance - Defense stocks showed weakness due to hopes of de-escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions [3] - In the UK market, several companies such as Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Barratt Redrow, and AstraZeneca saw gains between 2% and 3.5% [3] - Conversely, miners like Endeavour Mining and Antofagasta fell between 2% and 4% [4] Notable Company Movements - GSK's shares rose over 2.5% following the announcement of a £2 billion share buyback program [3] - Bayer in Germany soared more than 8%, while other companies like Vonovia and Infineon gained approximately 4% and 3.25% respectively [4] - In France, Dassault Systemes climbed about 4%, with other firms like Unibail Rodamco and AXA gaining 2%-3% [6] Economic Indicators - German consumer price inflation rebounded to 2.1% in January, influenced by higher food and services costs [7] - The UK's jobless rate increased to 5.2% in the fourth quarter, with average earnings growth at 4.2%, below expectations [9]

Core Insights - Capgemini's net profit for 2025 decreased by 4.2% to €1.6 billion, down from €1.67 billion in 2024, despite a revenue increase of 1.7% to €22.5 billion [1] - The company reported a basic EPS decline of 3.7% to €9.46, while normalized EPS rose by 5.8% to €12.95 [2] - Capgemini's bookings for the year reached €24.4 billion ($28.96 billion), reflecting a 3.9% increase at constant exchange rates, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.08 [2] - The operating margin remained stable at 13.3%, equating to €2.98 billion, and organic free cash flow was stable at €1.95 billion [2] - Q4 revenue growth was 10.6%, driven by demand for cloud, data, AI, and digital services, with generative and agentic AI accounting for over 10% of Q4 bookings [2] Strategic Developments - The acquisition of WNS enhanced Capgemini's AI capabilities and is expected to accelerate the integration of AI into business processes [3] - For 2026, Capgemini targets revenue growth of 6.5% to 8.5% at constant exchange rates and an operating margin of 13.6% to 13.8%, focusing on AI-led transformation and sovereignty solutions [4] - The company plans restructuring initiatives with expected costs of approximately €700 million over the next two years to align its workforce with growth objectives [4] Regional Performance - North America saw a revenue increase of 7.3%, supported by WNS and strong financial services performance, while the UK and Ireland experienced a 10.5% growth [5] - France faced a 4.1% revenue decline due to challenges in the manufacturing sector, with other regions showing varied performance [5] Workforce Expansion - As of December 31, 2025, Capgemini's total headcount reached 423,400, an increase of 82,300 or 24% compared to the previous year, largely due to the integration of WNS team members [6]

Market Performance - European stocks exhibited a mixed performance for the third consecutive session, influenced by corporate earnings updates and regional economic data [1] - The pan-European Stoxx 600 index decreased by 0.13%, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 rose by 0.42% and Germany's DAX increased by 0.25% [1] - France's CAC 40 closed down by 0.35%, and Switzerland's SMI gained 0.52% [1] Sector Performance - In the U.K. market, defense stocks saw gains, while banks experienced weakness [2] - Notable gainers included Relx, which soared by 10%, and Experian and 3i Group, which rose by 5.5% and 5.1%, respectively [2] - Rolls-Royce Holdings, Halma, Endeavour Mining, Melrose Industries, Tesco, Fresnillo, and BAE Systems gained between 2% and 4% [2] Company-Specific Updates - Entain declined by 4.7%, while Natwest Group, Croda International, HSBC Holdings, Barclays Group, Lloyds Banking Group, and others lost between 1% and 2.5% [3] - In Germany, companies like Deutsche Boerse, MTU Aero Engines, and BMW saw gains ranging from 1% to 5.2% [3] - Rheinmetall's stock rose sharply due to news of an automotive divestment and a €200 million NATO contract for 120mm ammunition [4] - In France, Safran's stock surged over 8% on strong revenue growth and an upward revision of future financial targets [5] - Capgemini increased by 5.6% due to strong full-year revenue growth, with other companies like Eurofins Scientific and Publicis Groupe also closing with strong gains [5] Economic Indicators - The euro area experienced steady GDP growth of 0.3% in the fourth quarter, matching the growth rate of the previous quarter [7] - Year-on-year GDP growth was recorded at 1.3%, slightly below the 1.4% seen in the prior quarter [7] - Employment in the euro area increased by 0.2% in the fourth quarter, with a yearly rise of 0.6% [7] - The euro area trade surplus decreased to €12.6 billion in December from €13.9 billion the previous year, with exports increasing by 3.4% [8] - Germany's wholesale prices rose by 1.2% year-on-year in January, consistent with the previous month's increase [9]

Economic Indicators - The U.S. consumer price index rose by 0.2 percent in January, lower than the expected 0.3 percent increase, following a 0.3 percent rise in December [2][20] - The annual growth rate of consumer prices slowed to 2.4 percent in January from 2.7 percent in December, below the anticipated 2.5 percent [2][20] - Core consumer prices, excluding food and energy, increased by 0.3 percent in January, matching expectations, while the annual growth rate dipped to 2.5 percent from 2.6 percent [3][21] Stock Market Reactions - Major U.S. stock indices experienced a sell-off, with the Nasdaq dropping 469.32 points (2.0 percent), the S&P 500 falling 108.71 points (1.6 percent), and the Dow declining 669.42 points (1.3 percent) [5] - The sell-off was partly driven by concerns regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on various industries, including financial, transportation, logistics, and commercial real estate [6][8] - Cisco Systems saw a significant drop of 12.3 percent after reporting better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results but providing disappointing guidance for the current quarter [6] Sector Performance - The NYSE Arca Networking Index fell by 3.0 percent, influenced by Cisco's performance [7] - Gold stocks experienced substantial weakness, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index declining by 6.9 percent due to a drop in gold prices [7] - Transportation stocks also faced significant declines, with the Dow Jones Transportation Index plunging by 4.0 percent amid AI concerns [7] International Market Impact - Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower, with concerns over AI's impact on various sectors influencing investor sentiment [12] - European stocks showed mixed results, with the French CAC 40 Index down by 0.3 percent, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index and the German DAX Index rose by 0.1 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively [18]

Core Viewpoint - Capgemini shares have declined by 25% this year, leading to a significant drop in its price-to-earnings ratio to single digits, raising concerns among investors regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on the technology consulting sector [1] Company Summary - The decline in Capgemini's share value reflects broader investor apprehensions about the potential disruptions caused by artificial intelligence within the technology consulting industry [1] - The current price-to-earnings ratio of Capgemini is now in single digits, indicating a potential undervaluation or market skepticism about future earnings growth [1] Industry Summary - The technology consulting industry is facing increased scrutiny as investors evaluate the implications of artificial intelligence on traditional business models and revenue streams [1] - The significant drop in share prices across the sector may signal a shift in investor sentiment, with a focus on how companies adapt to technological advancements [1]

Core Viewpoint - Capgemini CEO Aiman Ezzat rejects the notion of complete technological sovereignty in Europe, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to digital autonomy that accommodates both sovereignty and global competitiveness [1] Group 1: Technological Sovereignty - Ezzat states that "there is no such thing as absolute sovereignty," highlighting that no entity possesses complete control over the entire value chain necessary for service delivery [1] - The current European tech policy reflects a tension between the desire for autonomy and the reality of reliance on U.S. tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft [1] - Ezzat outlines a four-layer framework for digital autonomy: data, operations, regulation, and technology, indicating that Europe has independence at the first three levels but lacks complete technological independence due to U.S. dominance [1] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships - Instead of pursuing full autonomy, Ezzat advocates for finding "the right sovereignty solution based on the use case, the client environment, the government" [1] - Capgemini has formed partnerships with U.S. hyperscalers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft to provide "sovereign" AI solutions, which are cloud services offered by a European company but utilize American infrastructure [1] - The company is also engaging with European AI firms like France-based Mistral as part of its strategy to navigate the complexities of technological sovereignty [1] Group 3: Reputational Challenges - Capgemini is facing reputational issues related to government contracts, exemplified by its decision to sell its U.S. subsidiary, Capgemini Government Solutions, following backlash over a $4.8 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [1]