Sector Update Accenture
Sector Update | 19|March 2020
Technology
Accenture’s outlook should calm the nerves!
Commentary and outlook are encouraging
Stock covered
TCS
Infosys
Wipro
HCL Technologies
Tech Mahindra
LTI
Mindtree
Cyient
Persistent
NIIT Technologies
Zensar
The company witnessed a robust increase of ~22% YoY in new bookings, driven
by high demand for digital, cloud and security related services.
This is impressive given the nearly two months of COVID-19 disruption in
APAC/growth markets and almost a month of restricted global travel.
Strong increase in bookings was led by Outsourcing (~40% YoY, CC) which is a
key positive read through for Indian IT companies.
For FY20, the company now expects revenue growth to be in the range of 3-6%
YoY (CC), compared to the earlier guidance of 6-8% YoY (CC). This guidance
downgrade was attributed to the COVID-19 impact - a significant part of which is
expected to come in the May'20 quarter.
It should be noted that the downgrade was driven more by the Consulting
segment rather than Outsourcing (which is more relevant to Indian IT).
The company now expects margin expansion of 10-20bp YoY in FY20 v/s earlier
expectation of 10-30bp, indicating limited expected disruption to operations.
Overall revenue grew ~8% YoY in local currency at the top end of the guidance,
despite nearly two months of COVID-19 disruption in some growth markets.
Growth was broad based across the Consulting and Outsourcing segments.
Across geographies, growth was driven by North America (11% YoY, CC). Despite
slight deceleration (from 13% YoY in 1QFY20 to 11% YoY CC), growth markets
delivered a good performance, especially in the context of COVID-19 impact for
almost two months in some key APAC countries.
Europe (2% YoY, CC) remained a drag on overall growth.
Growth in Financial services (3% YoY, CC) was weak. Within this segment, while
Insurance reported strong growth, Banking and Capital markets remained
modest. Growth in FSI was largely driven by growth markets, followed by the
Americas, while business in Europe witnessed a contraction.
Notably, the key operational parameters like utilization remained stable (at
91%), despite the lockdowns in some geographies.
The company indicated that, till date, it has not experienced any material
disruption to its service delivery.
Travel was restricted and employees were asked to work from home wherever
possible. Significant portion of the workforce (60% in India/Philippines and
~85%-90% in geographies like Italy/Spain) is already using this option.
Accenture has a good expertise in virtual work using collaborative technologies.
Note that the company is the largest user of Microsoft Teams globally.
In cases where services cannot be delivered from home due to the nature of the
business or other constraints, measures are taken to reduce the density of e
mployees across centers, initiate extra hygiene and social distancing protocols.
Impressive performance despite COVID-19 impact on growth markets
Adapting to a new way of work due to COVID-19
Research analyst – Sudheer Guntupalli –
(Sudheer.Guntupalli@MotilalOswal.com); +91225036 2749
Research analyst: Mohit Sharma
(Mohit.Sharma@MotilalOswal.com); +9122 6129 1531 /
Heenal Gada
(Heenal.Gada@MotilalOswal.com); +9122 2368 1805
19 March 2020
1
Investors are advised to refer through important disclosures made at the last page of the Research Report.
Motilal Oswal research is available on www.motilaloswal.com/Institutional-Equities, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Factset and S&P Capital.
 Motilal Oswal Financial Services
Sector Update | Accenture
Anecdotes around continued recruitment and virtual onboarding in locked-
down and heavily impacted geographies like Italy reiterate the
company’s/business model’s adaptability in challenging situations.
Should calm the nerves of Indian IT investors
Accenture’s Feb’20 performance is perhaps the first quantitative data which
came out post the start of COVID-19 disruption in APAC in late Dec’19.
Analysis of geographical growth rates, utilizations and new deal wins in
outsourcing suggests no damaging disruption due to COVID-19 so far.
The revised revenue growth, margin guidance, commentary around demand
and supply are encouraging, especially in the context of the recent alarming
increase in COVID-19 cases in major markets like the US, the UK and Europe.
This should partly calm the nerves of Indian IT investors about the potential
disruption to operations, business continuity and new deal wins.
Despite the near-term COVID-19 uncertainties, we continue to like
Infosys/HCLT/TCS among Tier I, and LTI/Mindtree/Hexaware among mid-caps.
This is attributable to their robust business models, high return ratios, strong
management teams and attractive valuations after the recent sharp correction.
These companies have the legacy of overcoming multiples business challenges
and technology change cycles in the past. Accordingly, we believe they will be
able to adapt and overcome any transient challenges posed by COVID-19.
19 March 2020
2
 Motilal Oswal Financial Services
Sector Update | Accenture
Story in Charts
Exhibit 1:
Strong revenue growth at the top end of guidance
Overall (YoY CC)
Exhibit 2:
CMT vertical remained soft
Communication, Media & Tech (YoY CC)
10%
9%
8%
7%
9%
8%
14%
12%
7%
5%
7%
5%
Source: Company, MOFSL
Source: Company, MOFSL
Exhibit 3:
While insurance shined, BCM remained modest
Financial services (YoY CC)
6%
4%
2%
1%
4%
3%
Exhibit 4:
Continued growth momentum in Health & PS
Health & Public services (YoY CC)
15%
13%
5%
6%
8%
3%
Source: Company, MOFSL
Source: Company, MOFSL
Exhibit 5:
Growth momentum in products remained strong
Products (YoY CC)
12%
10%
10%
8%
8%
10%
Exhibit 6:
Further growth deceleration in resources
Resources (YoY CC)
21%
22%
19%
12%
7%
5%
Source: Company, MOFSL
Source: Company, MOFSL
19 March 2020
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 Motilal Oswal Financial Services
Sector Update | Accenture
Exhibit 7:
Growth momentum in Americas remained strong
Americas (YoY CC)
10%
8%
11%
9%
8%
9%
Exhibit 8:
Sharp growth deceleration in Europe
Europe (YoY CC)
6%
7%
5%
4%
2%
7%
Source: Company, MOFSL
Source: Company, MOFSL
Exhibit 9:
Growth markets were strong despite COVID-19
Growth markets (YoY CC)
17%
16%
Exhibit 10:
Strong growth in new bookings
New bookings (YoY USD)
15%
19%
21%
13%
12%
13%
11%
2%
-10%
1%
Source: Company, MOFSL
Source: Company, MOFSL
Exhibit 11:
New bookings during 2Q were at record high
New bookings (USD bn)
14
13
12
10
11
10
Exhibit 12:
Margin trajectory was on expected lines
Operating margins
15%
15%
14%
13%
16%
13%
Source: Company, MOFSL
Source: Company, MOFSL
19 March 2020
4
 Motilal Oswal Financial Services
Sector Update | Accenture
Exhibit 13:
Improvement in book to bill ratio
Book-to-bill ratio
1.1
1.2
1.1
0.9
Exhibit 14:
Utilizations were stable despite COVID-19
Utilizations
92%
1.0
1.0
91%
91%
91%
91%
91%
Source: Company, MOFSL
Source: Company, MOFSL
Exhibit 15:
Share of outsourcing revenue witnessed a marginal increase
Consulting
Outsourcing
44%
45%
44%
44%
44%
45%
56%
55%
56%
56%
56%
55%
1QFY19
2QFY19
3QFY19
4QFY19
1QFY20
2QFY20
Source: Company, MOFSL
19 March 2020
5
 Motilal Oswal Financial Services
Sector Update | Accenture
NOTES
19 March 2020
6
 Motilal Oswal Financial Services
Sector Update | Accenture
Explanation of Investment Rating
Investment Rating
BUY
SELL
NEUTRAL
UNDER REVIEW
NOT RATED
Expected return (over 12-month)
>=15%
< - 10%
< - 10 % to 15%
Rating may undergo a change
We have forward looking estimates for the stock but we refrain from assigning recommendation
*In case the recommendation given by the Research Analyst is inconsistent with the investment rating legend for a continuous period of 30 days, the Research Analyst shall within following 30
days take appropriate measures to make the recommendation consistent with the investment rating legend.
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19 March 2020
7
 Motilal Oswal Financial Services
Sector Update | Accenture
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19 March 2020
8