6 European Stocks Resistant to Debt Crisis

Dublin-based Accenture (ACN) has been an emblem of its motto "High performance. Delivered" -- as has its German consulting competitor SAP (SAP). Both of the management, tech and outsourcing consulting giant's shares are up nearly 20% in 2011, even as some of its clients, which include governments and corporations, struggle under the weight of the European debt crisis.

Accenture, initially called Andersen Consulting, was formed in 1989 from the Chicago-based Arthur Andersen accounting firm to help businesses manage large technological systems and business processes. In 2001, after Arthur Andersen was caught up in the Enron accounting scandal, its consulting business changed its namesto Accenture and launched what it calls one of the "most successful rebranding campaigns in corporate history."

Currently, Accenture gets more than a third of its $27.3 billion in annual revenue from the Americas, which is its largest region for doing business. The company has also grown its Asia Pacific sales to nearly $3.4 billion since 2007. According to its Web site, Accenture now has nearly 236,000 employees consulting businesses in more than 120 countries.

Meanwhile, Weinheim, Germany-based SAP, founded in the 1970s, has a greater portion of sales tied to Europe, nearly 50% of $12.5 billion in overall sales. Even with a spiraling debt crisis, its IT consulting and software manufacturing businesses have held firm, reflecting resilience.

>>To see these stocks in action, visit the 6 European Stocks Resistant to Debt Crisis portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Antoine Gara in New York

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