Accenture TodayACNAccenture$238.97 +6.41 (+2.76%) 52-Week Range$229.40▼$398.35Dividend Yield2.48%P/E Ratio19.05Price Target$309.25Add to WatchlistFor international consulting company Accenture NYSE: ACN, 2025 has been a rough year. Shares have provided a total return of approximately -33% as of the September 25 close. This has put the stock at a historically low valuation multiple. In fact, Accenture’s forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17x is the lowest it has been in three years. This suggests a st ...

Core Insights - Celent's Retail Banking Dimensions report for Europe aims to understand the technology plans, pressures, and priorities within the banking industry [1] Group 1: Industry Challenges and Priorities - 54% of banks in Europe find it more challenging to win and retain customers compared to 12 months ago [2] - Product development is a key focus, with 50% of banks identifying investment in enhanced products as a top driver of their technology strategy [2] - The largest product-level priority for 2023 is digital account opening, prioritized by 38% of banks [2] Group 2: Technology Investment Trends - IT spending among banks is projected to grow by an average of 5.0% this year, although economic disruptions may affect this growth [2] - AI technologies represent the largest area of technology investment for 29% of banks, supporting various use cases across operations [2] - 64% of banks plan to launch customer-facing services utilizing GenAI by 2025, indicating a significant push towards data utilization [2]

Core Insights - The global smartphone market's Average Selling Price (ASP) is projected to increase from $357 in 2024 to $370 in 2025, reaching $412 by 2029, with a CAGR of 3% driven by high-end trends and 5G adoption [1][4][10] - Smartphone shipments are expected to grow by 2.5% year-on-year in 2025, up from a previous forecast of 1.9%, but lower than the initial estimate of 4% due to price increases, supply chain adjustments, and macroeconomic pressures [1][4] - The combined effect of rising ASP and shipment growth is anticipated to drive smartphone revenue to increase by nearly 6% year-on-year in 2025, with a long-term revenue CAGR of 5% from 2025 to 2029, reaching $564 billion by 2029 [1][4] ASP Trends - North America's ASP is expected to rise by 7% year-on-year in 2025, driven by high-end models and ongoing promotions, with projections for ASP to reach $984 by 2026 [5][6] - In China, the ASP growth forecast for 2025 has been slightly revised down to 3.6%, influenced by Huawei, OPPO, and vivo, while Apple's ASP is expected to increase by about 2% [5][6] - India's ASP is projected to remain below $250 in 2025 but is expected to rise to $287 by 2029 due to the ongoing high-end trend [6] Brand Performance - Apple is expected to maintain its high-end market position, with ASP rising from $919 in 2025 to nearly $1,000 by 2029, despite a 9% year-on-year decline in Q1 2025 due to the introduction of the iPhone 16e [6][9] - Samsung's ASP is anticipated to remain stable, with flagship models impacting overall ASP but supported by foldable phones and GenAI integration for long-term growth [9] - Huawei is strengthening its ASP growth in China, driven by its Mate and Pura series, with expectations for overseas market expansion [9] Market Dynamics - The smartphone market is gradually normalizing after years of volatility due to pandemic demand fluctuations and supply chain challenges, with expectations for a more stable market environment by late 2025 to 2026 [4][10] - The introduction of GenAI smartphones is expected to increase the Bill of Materials (BoM) cost by $40-$60 per device, shifting ASP growth from cost-driven to value-driven as consumers are willing to pay a premium for AI-centric devices [9][10] - Foldable smartphones, although currently representing less than 2% of global shipments, are expected to influence consumer perceptions of high-end products, with Apple planning to launch its foldable model by the end of 2026 [10]

Core Viewpoint - The global smartphone average selling price (ASP) is projected to increase from $370 in 2025 to $412 in 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3% driven by high-end trends and the adoption of 5G technology [4][6][10]. Market Trends - The global smartphone market is expected to see a 2.5% year-on-year growth in shipments in 2025, an increase from the previous forecast of 1.9% [6]. - The ASP is anticipated to rise by 3.5% to $370 in 2025, influenced by price increases in North America and economic recovery in India and other Asia-Pacific regions [6][10]. - Smartphone revenue is projected to grow nearly 6% year-on-year in 2025, with a long-term CAGR of 5% from 2025 to 2029, reaching $564 billion by 2029 [10]. Regional Insights - In North America, the ASP is expected to grow by 7% year-on-year, while in China, it is projected to increase by 3.6%, primarily driven by high-end models [10][11]. - India’s ASP is expected to remain below $250 in 2025 but will gradually rise to $287 by 2029 due to the high-end trend [12]. Brand Performance - Apple is projected to maintain its position as a leader in high-end smartphone ASP, with an expected increase from $919 in 2025 to nearly $1000 by 2029 [10][12]. - Samsung's ASP is expected to remain stable, with flagship models impacting overall ASP but supported by foldable phones and GenAI integration [14]. - Huawei is strengthening its ASP growth in China, driven by its Mate and Pura series, as well as foldable phones [14]. Technology Impact - The introduction of GenAI smartphones is expected to increase the bill of materials (BoM) cost by $40-60 per device, initially raising prices but transitioning to value-driven ASP growth as AI features become more integrated [14][15]. - Foldable smartphones, although currently representing less than 2% of global shipments, are anticipated to elevate consumer perceptions of high-end products [15]. Conclusion - The global smartphone ASP outlook is optimistic, with stabilizing supply chains and diminishing tariff impacts, alongside the proliferation of high-end smartphones, GenAI, and foldable innovations driving gradual ASP increases [15].

Core Insights - Accenture reported a strong quarterly performance with revenues of $150 billion, exceeding expectations due to robust demand for AI-driven consulting services, although it cautioned about slower growth due to federal government cuts in consultancy spending [1][3] - The company achieved $5 billion in growth for the year, largely attributed to deep ecosystem relationships and advanced AI solutions, with 60% of revenue generated through partnerships [2][3] - Accenture's early investments in AI have yielded significant returns, nearly tripling revenue from Generative AI and achieving over $80 billion in bookings for the year, positioning the company favorably for FY26 [3][15] AI Utilization and Industry Trends - Companies across various industries recognize the critical importance of advanced AI, but many are not yet prepared to implement it effectively, leading to increased demand for Accenture's consulting services [5][9] - The financial services sector, exemplified by Nat West, is leveraging AI for enhanced data management and fraud detection, showcasing the transformative potential of AI in operational efficiency [6][7] - Unlike previous technological waves, every industry now has leaders who are advancing in cloud and data capabilities, indicating a widespread push towards adopting advanced AI solutions [8][9] Future Outlook and Company Strategy - Accenture is witnessing an inflection point where companies are transitioning from exploratory discussions about AI to implementing enterprise-wide solutions, driving large-scale transformations [10][11] - The company has expanded its workforce in AI and data from 40,000 to 77,000 professionals since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, completing 6,000 advanced AI projects and generating $2.7 billion in revenue from a negligible starting point [15][16] - Accenture's historical track record of adapting to technological changes positions it as a key partner for clients navigating the current AI landscape, focusing on delivering value to clients as a pathway to future success [14][16]

Group 1 - Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is considered one of the top AI stocks to buy currently, with a maintained Buy rating but a reduced price target from $335 to $305 by Guggenheim due to high revenue growth projections for fiscal Q1 2026 [1][2] - Guggenheim attributes the price target cut to "peer multiple compression" rather than a change in the long-term outlook for Accenture, which specializes in IT consulting, digital transformation, and management solutions [2] - Accenture's focus on AI, particularly GenAI, is viewed as a significant long-term growth driver for the company [2]

Core Insights - Alibaba Group's CEO, Wu Yongming, announced at the Yunqi Conference that the energy consumption of Alibaba Cloud's global data centers is expected to increase tenfold by 2032 compared to 2022, marking a significant shift in the company's cloud computing strategy as it prepares for the ASI era [1] Group 1 - The announcement highlights the anticipated exponential growth in computing power investment by Alibaba Cloud [1] - The year 2022 is referred to as the "GenAI" year, indicating a pivotal moment for generative AI technologies [1]

Core Insights - Alibaba Group's CEO, Wu Yongming, announced at the Yunqi Conference that the energy consumption of Alibaba Cloud's global data centers is expected to increase tenfold by 2032, compared to 2022, marking a significant investment in computing power as the company prepares for the ASI era [1] Group 1 - The announcement highlights the anticipated exponential growth in computing power investment by Alibaba Cloud [1] - The reference to 2022 as the "year of GenAI" indicates a pivotal moment for the industry, setting the stage for future developments [1] - The projection of a tenfold increase in energy consumption underscores the scale of Alibaba Cloud's expansion plans [1]

每经记者 叶晓丹 摄 每经杭州9月24日电（记者叶晓丹）9月24日，阿里巴巴集团CEO、阿里云智能集团董事长兼CEO吴泳铭在云栖大会上表示，为了迎接超级人工智能(ASI)时 代的到来，对比2022年这个GenAI的元年，到2032年阿里云全球数据中心的能耗规模将提升10倍。这意味着阿里云算力投入将指数级提升。 每经记者｜叶晓丹 每经编辑｜陈俊杰 ...

#行情 阿里巴巴港股涨2%。外汇交易员 (@myfxtrader):阿里巴巴CEO吴泳铭：目前阿里正积极推进3800亿的AI基础设施建设，并计划追加更大的投入。为了迎接ASI时代的到来，对比2022年这个GenAI的元年，到2032年阿里云全球数据中心的能耗规模将提升10倍。这意味着阿里云算力投入将指数级提升。 ...