Accenture(ACN) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In fiscal year 2025, the company achieved a revenue growth of 7%, adding $5 billion in revenue, with over $80 billion in bookings [6][7] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 was $3.03, reflecting a 9% growth compared to the previous year [16][22] - Free cash flow for Q4 was $3.8 billion, and for the full year, it was $10.9 billion, up 26% year over year [16][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consulting revenues for Q4 were $8.8 billion, up 6% in U.S. dollars and 3% in local currency [18] - Managed services revenues for Q4 were also $8.8 billion, reflecting an 8% increase in U.S. dollars and 6% in local currency [19][24] - The capital projects business grew 49% year on year, reaching $1.2 billion [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Americas, revenue grew 5% in local currency, with significant contributions from banking and capital markets [19] - EMEA delivered 3% growth in local currency, driven by insurance and life sciences [19] - Asia Pacific revenues grew 6% in local currency, led by banking and capital markets [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to be the number one partner for the tech ecosystem, with 60% of revenue coming from partnerships with top technology companies [8] - A significant investment of $3 billion in Gen AI is expected to drive future growth, with revenue from advanced AI reaching $2.7 billion in FY25 [9][10] - The company is focusing on reinvention services, integrating all capabilities into a single unit to enhance service delivery [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's positioning for FY26, citing strong bookings and a solid pipeline for large transformation deals [47] - The overall market conditions remain stable, with no significant changes anticipated [26] - The company expects revenue growth in FY26 to be in the range of 2% to 5% in local currency, with an estimated 1% to 1.5% impact from federal business [41][42] Other Important Information - The company initiated a business optimization program with a total expected charge of approximately $865 million, aimed at talent rotation and divestiture of non-strategic acquisitions [17] - The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.63 per share, a 10% increase over the previous year [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Visibility on revenue growth and discretionary spending - Management indicated strong demand for large transformation deals and a solid backlog, with guidance reflecting a range of discretionary spending scenarios [46][47] Question: AI-driven productivity and potential deflationary effects - Management does not view AI as deflationary but rather expansionary, with efficiency gains being reinvested into new priorities [48][49] Question: Balance between Gen AI and managed services - Both consulting and managed services are expected to grow in the low to mid-single-digit range, with managed services becoming increasingly strategic [54][55] Question: CapEx investments and their allocation - The company expects about $1 billion in CapEx, primarily for expanding real estate and leasehold improvements [63][64] Question: Client behavior regarding Gen AI and agentic solutions - Many clients initially attempted to implement Gen AI independently but later sought assistance for scaling their efforts [82][83] Question: Expected savings from the business optimization program - The company anticipates over $1 billion in savings from the optimization program, which will be reinvested in the business and talent [85]