This article was written by a human. Here’s how to tell.

Accenture reported mixed financial performance in its third quarter earnings report, but it nevertheless had a few business achievements to share with investors.

The world’s largest consultancy by headcount closed the three months ended May 31 with $16.5 billion in fee income. That’s more or less the same amount Accenture posted a year earlier. Sales declined across North America and Europe, which together contribute most of the firm’s revenue, but revenue from clients in emerging markets rose 6%.

One of the factors that dragged down Accenture’s top line was a decrease in demand from high-tech clients. Deals with companies in the communications, media and technology sectors contributed 1% less revenue than a year earlier. Demand from financial sector clients dropped too, but Accenture’s salespeople managed to deliver a 9% increase in the health and public services segments.

More detailed information about the firm’s revenue sources was tough to find in its earnings report. But Accenture did reveal that its cybersecurity services business achieved “very strong double-digit growth,” which might prompt the leadership team to give the segment more attention in the next few quarters. Accenture’s growth strategy relies heavily on acquisitions and it might ramp up the pace at which it buys cybersecurity consultancies going forward.

The firm’s cloud unit and Industry X group, which helps industrial companies streamline their operations through IT upgrades, performed relatively well as during the third quarter. Both units grew their sales at a faster rate than Accenture as a whole.

The firm’s adjusted EPS declined by 2% to $3.13. But Accenture executives managed to boost its adjusted operating margin by a hair, a positive signal for shareholders. 

text

text