By Chelsey Dulaney 

Accenture PLC said Thursday that it will take a larger-than-expected hit from foreign exchange this year, though the consulting giant raised its revenue growth target on a local currency basis.

Shares gained 2.7% in premarket trading.

For the fiscal year ending in August, Accenture lowered the top end of its earnings forecast by four cents, excluding a settlement charge, now calling for a profit of $4.66 to $4.76 a share. The company said it now expects to see a negative foreign-exchange impact of 8%, up from its previous assumption for a 5% impact. On a local currency basis, the company raised its net revenue growth outlook to a range of 8% to 10%, compared with its previous call for 5% to 8% growth.

The company also lowered the top end of its earnings forecast by four cents, excluding a settlement charge, now calling for a profit of $4.66 to $4.76 a share.

For the current quarter, the company expects net revenue between $7.35 billion to $7.60 billion., while analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast revenue of $7.63 billion. The guidance assumed a 11% negative impact from foreign exchange.

Accenture's earnings have grown steadily in recent years, while its outsourcing and consulting businesses have enjoyed strong growth. Accenture was tapped last year to help fix the embattled HealthCare.gov and in December said it won a five year $563 million contract to continue its work on the federal insurance site.

For the fiscal second-quarter ended Feb. 28, the consulting unit's net revenue grew 4% to $3.84 billion. Revenue from outsourcing grew 6% to $3.65 billion.

Overall, Accenture reported earnings of $690.7 million, up from $671.3 million in the prior-year period. On a per-share basis, which includes income attributable to noncontrolling interests, earnings rose to $1.08 from $1.03.

Analysts had projected earnings of $1.07 a share in the latest period.

Net revenues, or revenues before reimbursements, grew 5% to $7.49 billion, in-line with its expectation for revenue between $7.25 billion and $7.50 billion. Foreign exchange had a negative 6.5% impact on revenues in the quarter.

Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com

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