Capgemini raises 2026 guidance as AI push brings work to IT consultants

Oct 30 (Reuters) - French IT consulting firm Capgemini raised its 2026 guidance for the second time this year after its third-quarter revenue grew 12%, in the strongest signal yet that the rush to deploy AI is turning into contracts for Europe's established consultancies. 

Capgemini CEO Aiman Ezzat said on Friday that third-quarter growth beat analyst expectations and outpaced the sector, with demand now concentrated in overhauling clients' data systems to adapt their business to AI.

• Capgemini targets 2026 revenue growth of 9.0% to 9.5% at constant exchange rates, up from 8.5% to 9.0% previously

• Third-quarter revenue rose to €6.07 billion ($6.78 billion), while bookings increased 3.4% to €5.40 billion

• Growth was strongest in Britain and Ireland at 25.2% and North America at 18.3%; France grew 4.9% in a second straight quarterly increase

• It targets growth of 3% to 4% in the fourth quarter, reflecting earlier acquisitions entering the comparison base rather than weaker demand, Ezzat told reporters

($1 = 0.8957 euros)

(Reporting by Leo Marchandon in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)