Accenture PLC - ACN STOCK NEWS

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has made a strategic investment in QuSecure, a post-quantum cybersecurity leader founded in 2019. The partnership aims to provide comprehensive post-quantum crypto agility solutions for government agencies and private businesses.

QuSecure's QuProtect software delivers quantum security-as-a-service architecture, combining zero-trust and quantum-resilient technology to protect networks against current and future quantum threats. In 2023, Accenture and QuSecure achieved the first successful multi-orbit data communications test secured with post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

A notable implementation includes Banco Sabadell's successful project with both companies to integrate PQC technologies into their banking infrastructure. As part of the investment, QuSecure joins Accenture Ventures' Project Spotlight program, gaining access to Accenture's expertise and enterprise clients.

Telstra and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) have announced a proposed seven-year joint venture to accelerate Telstra's data and AI initiatives. The JV would be 60% owned by Accenture and 40% by Telstra, combining specialists from both companies' Data & AI teams. Telstra would gain access to Accenture's $3 billion AI investment portfolio and Silicon Valley AI teams.

The venture aims to modernize Telstra's AI platforms, implement responsible AI design, and develop specialized AI tools. Key focuses include reinventing business processes through agentic AI and building workforce AI fluency. The partnership would consolidate Telstra's data and AI providers from 18 to just two JVs - Quantium Telstra and this new Accenture venture.

Telstra's core Data & AI workforce in Australia and India would be offered positions in the JV, with guaranteed roles at Telstra after the seven-year term. The deal is subject to consultation with Telstra's employees and unions.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired a digital twin technology platform from Percipient, a Singapore-based fintech company. The platform creates virtual duplicates of banks' legacy and modern systems, integrating data into a single real-time hub. This acquisition enhances Accenture's banking modernization capabilities in Asia Pacific.

The technology enables banks to develop new products and services faster without disrupting existing operations. According to Accenture's research, banks that shift to modern, cloud-enabled digital cores can achieve up to 60% higher revenue growth rates and a 40% increase in profits.

Percipient's founder and CEO Navin Suri, along with the core technology leadership team, will join Accenture. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Accenture has released its 25th annual Technology Vision report, highlighting a new era of AI-powered autonomy across organizations. The research reveals that 69% of executives believe AI brings new urgency to business reinvention, while 77% state AI's true benefits will only be realized when built on trust.

The report predicts AI will evolve into a technology development partner, brand ambassador, and physical world operator through robotics. Key findings show that 81% of executives agree trust strategy must evolve alongside technology strategy. The vision explores AI's impact across multiple dimensions, including software development, customer experience, robotics, and workforce interaction.

80% of executives express concern about AI chatbots potentially giving every brand a similar voice, while 77% believe brands can differentiate through personified AI experiences. The research also highlights the emergence of generalist robots and the importance of maintaining positive human-AI relationships in the workplace.

KION GROUP AG has partnered with Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and NVIDIA to revolutionize supply chain optimization through AI-powered robots and digital twins. The collaboration, showcased at CES 2025, introduces Mega, an NVIDIA Omniverse blueprint for large-scale industrial digital twins.

The partnership enables warehouse operators to design efficient facility configurations using digital twins, optimizing robot fleets, worker allocation, and automation equipment without disrupting operations. The system integrates with KION's warehouse management software and uses advanced AI to simulate and refine operations through continuous learning.

Accenture has developed an interactive application that monitors key performance indicators such as throughput, task completion time, and safety incidents. The partners are working to integrate the digital twin with a vision language model using NVIDIA NIM, creating an environment where humans and machines can collaborate seamlessly while predicting and addressing potential operational issues.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has launched AI Refinery™ for Industry, introducing 12 industry agent solutions designed to help organizations build and deploy AI agent networks. Built on NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, these solutions aim to accelerate the deployment of specialized, multi-agent networks that can be customized with organizational data.

The company plans to expand to over 100 AI Refinery agent solutions by year-end. The initial solutions target key industry challenges including revenue growth management for consumer goods, clinical trial assistance, industrial asset troubleshooting, and B2B marketing. The platform integrates with all public and private cloud platforms and the broader SaaS ecosystem.

Accenture has already implemented autonomous agents with over 600 marketing professionals, enabling them to create more effective campaigns with access to 20+ data sources. The company is also piloting content production agents for hyper-customization of content, with broader deployment planned for next month.

Accenture (ACN) reported strong Q1 FY25 results with revenues of $17.7 billion, up 9% in USD and 8% in local currency. New bookings reached $18.7 billion, including $1.2 billion in Generative AI bookings. Consulting revenues were $9.0 billion while managed services reached $8.6 billion.

The company reported GAAP EPS of $3.59, a 16% increase year-over-year, and operating margin of 16.7%. Accenture raised its fiscal 2025 revenue growth outlook to 4-7% in local currency and updated its GAAP EPS guidance to $12.43-$12.79. The quarterly cash dividend increased 15% to $1.48 per share.

Growth was broad-based across all markets and industry groups, with notable performance in Health & Public Service (+13%) and Products (+12%) sectors.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has announced plans to acquire IQT Group, an Italian engineering managed services provider specializing in large infrastructure projects. The acquisition will merge Accenture's generative AI and digital capabilities with IQT Group's infrastructure expertise to enhance net-zero project execution.

IQT Group, based in Rovigo, Italy, focuses on designing and supervising net-zero infrastructure projects for electricity generation and transmission. The company's more than 450 consultants and engineers will join Accenture's Industry X infrastructure and capital projects practice in Italy. IQT Group has been actively supporting Italy's clean energy transition under the EU's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

This acquisition follows Accenture's strategic expansion in infrastructure services, including recent acquisitions of Anser Advisory, Comtech, and BOSLAN. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal awaits antitrust clearance.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has launched an on-demand Generative AI Scholars Program, powered by Stanford Online content. The program offers over 40 hours of self-paced learning, combining Stanford faculty expertise with Accenture industry insights.

The curriculum features bite-sized learning modules, industry case studies, and checkpoint assessments, covering topics like technical fundamentals, foundation models, prompt engineering, and responsible AI. The program is hosted on the Accenture LearnVantage platform and was inspired by the success of the Foundation Models Scholar Program previously delivered to 150 Accenture leaders.

This initiative aims to equip business and technology leaders with practical generative AI skills while addressing technical and societal challenges. Upon completion, participants receive an Accenture-issued certificate.