Accenture Beats Estimates

First-quarter profit jumped at Accenture (ACN) - Get Report as revenue grew 14%.

The information technology outsourcing firm said Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Nov. 30 grew to $284.2 million, or 46 cents a share, from $214.9 million, or 36 cents a share, a year earlier.

A Thomson First Call consensus estimate expected earnings of 42 cents a share in the first quarter.

Revenue grew to $5.17 billion from $4.54 billion a year earlier, blowing past First Call's estimate of $4.51 billion.

Shares of Accenture rose 1.9% in recent after-hours trading to $35.75.

Accenture said consulting net revenue rose 13% to $2.91 billion; outsourcing net revenues rose 16% to $1.84 billion.

For the second quarter, Accenture expects revenue of $4.6 billion to $4.8 billion, above First Call's estimate of $4.49 billion.

For the full fiscal year, Accenture raised its EPS outlook to between $1.80 and $1.85 from $1.77-$1.82.