<div>Accenture Plc raised its full-year revenue forecast for the third time, reflecting continued strong demand for the company's consulting and outsourcing services.</div><div> </div><div>The company also reported third-quarter profit and revenue above analysts' estimates, helped by growth in its North America business, sending its shares 2.3 percent higher to $99.99 in premarket trading.</div><div> </div><div>Accenture raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to 9-10 percent on a local currency basis.</div><div> </div><div>In March, the company said it had expected revenue to grow 8-10 percent in the year ending August. Accenture raised its revenue growth forecast to 5-8 percent in December from 4-7 percent.</div><div> </div><div>The company's net revenue increased to $7.77 billion from $7.74 billion in the third quarter ended May 31, beating analysts' average expectation of $7.45 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.</div><div> </div><div>Revenue in the outsourcing business rose 10 percent in local currency, while consulting business revenue rose 11 percent.</div><div> </div><div>The consulting business accounts for a little more than half of Accenture's total revenue, with its outsourcing unit contributing the rest.</div><div> </div><div>Accenture's business in North America rose 11 percent to $3.64 billion.</div><div> </div><div>New York-based Accenture's rivals include India's Infosys Ltd and Tata Consultancy Services in the outsourcing business and Hewlett-Packard Co and IBM Corp in the consulting business.</div><div> </div><div>The company's net income fell to $1.24 per share in the three months ended May 31, from $1.26 per share a year earlier.</div><div> </div><div>Excluding items, the company earned $1.30 per share, above the average analyst estimate of $1.23 per share.<br><br><br>(Reuters)</div>
