Latest news with #Accenture
Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
EV battery outlook: Lithium-ion demand set to jump 48% by 2030, says ICEA report; Import reliance and EoL waste pose key challenges
The lithium-ion battery (LiB) market in India is projected to grow sharply over the next five years, led by rising demand from electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and stationary storage applications, according to a joint report released by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and Accenture. The report estimates that total LiB demand will reach 115 GWh by 2030, with electric vehicle-linked usage expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 48per cent. In comparison, demand from stationary storage is projected to grow at 14per cent CAGR and from consumer electronics at 3per cent, ANI reported. The surge in demand comes amid India's broader push towards its Net Zero targets and the government's supportive policies on clean energy adoption, domestic cell manufacturing, and battery end-of-life (EoL) management. However, the report also highlights structural challenges related to import dependence and environmental risks. Imports rise as local capacity lags 'India currently lacks Li-ion cell pack manufacturing capabilities and mining infrastructure, making it heavily reliant on imports of LiBs consisting of critical battery-active materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese,' the report noted. ICEA and Accenture estimate that cumulative demand for these critical materials will exceed 250 kilo tonnes between 2024 and 2030, translating to an import exposure of over $5 billion. To address these risks, the government has launched initiatives including the Critical Minerals Mission and exemptions on trade duties for key minerals. The report also references the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR), introduced by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2022, which mandate responsible disposal and recycling of used batteries. Collection remains low despite rules Despite the regulatory push, about 39per cent of end-of-life consumer electronics batteries are not being collected, the report observed. India's goals under its COP26 'Panchamrit' pledge include achieving 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity and cutting emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. It also plans to reduce GDP emissions intensity by 45per cent and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. According to the report, India's ability to meet these targets hinges partly on its capacity to scale Li-ion battery production while managing the supply chain and environmental footprint.
Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CYBR Stock Trades at a P/S of 12.81X: Should You Buy, Sell or Hold?
CyberArk Software CYBR shares are overvalued, as the Value Score of F suggests. CYBR shares are trading at a significant premium compared to the Zacks Computer & Technology sector. Its 12-month Price/Sales (P/S) of 12.81X is higher than the broader sector's 6.59X. Is CYBR's premium valuation justified? Let's dig deep to find out. CyberArk Forward 12 Months (P/S) Valuation Chart Traction in Identity Security Drives CyberArk CyberArk has been leading the identity security space, where it witnessed a CAGR of 44% from 2020 to 2024 and reached an annual recurring revenues (ARR) of $1.17 billion in fiscal 2024 alone. CYBR crossed the milestone of 10,000 customers recently and projects huge growth opportunities given the total addressable market scope for its identity security solutions to be $80 billion. In the first quarter of 2025, CyberArk's subscription ARR grew 65% year over year and is expected to rise on the back of robust demand. CyberArk is keeping pace with the growing cybersecurity market by capitalizing on the recent trends. CYBR's implementation of AI solutions, including CyberArk Secure AI Agents Solution and CORA AI, has deepened its capability. CyberArk also collaborated with Accenture ACN to enhance its identity security platform with Accenture's AI Refinery. CYBR's implementation of CORA AI and Secure AI Agents into CyberArk's identity security platform will aid its customers to secure a full spectrum of identities, including human, AI and machine. CYBR will also be exposed to Accenture's client base after Accenture's AI Refinery integration, potentially unlocking large-scale deployments. As CyberArk continues to enhance its offerings with upgrades and AI implementation, the rise in adoption of its identity security products will rise. Furthermore, CYBR is also expanding its capabilities through inorganic growth. CYBR's acquisitions of Zilla Security and Venafi have expanded its expertise in identity governance and machine identity. The acquisitions also enhanced its recurring revenues and market share. These factors have boosted CyberArk's top line, which is reflected in its recent guidance. For 2025, CyberArk expects revenues in the band of $1.313-$1.323 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimates for 2025 revenues is pegged at $1.32 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 31.88%. CyberArk Drives Growth Through Key Alliances Since its inception in 1999, CyberArk has expanded its customer base to include more than 5,400 global businesses, which comprise over 50% of the Fortune 500 and 35% of the Global 2000 companies. One of the key drivers for customer growth is CyberArk's strategic partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft MSFT, Amazon 's AMZN Amazon Web Services ('AWS') and Alphabet's Google Cloud. By integrating its solutions with Microsoft's Azure Active Directory, Amazon's AWS cloud infrastructure and Alphabet's Google Cloud, CyberArk deepened its ability to secure cloud environments, offering robust identity management solutions across various IT ecosystems. Microsoft and CyberArk further expanded on Microsoft's External Authentication Methods, allowing CyberArk users to use FIDO2-based MFA. With all these enhancements in place, CyberArk provides its customers with comprehensive and integrated security solutions, making CYBR an indispensable player in today's identity security solutions landscape. CYBR's high gross margin reflects its success in its premium SaaS business and 18% non-GAAP operating margin reflects operational discipline while CyberArk continues to scale. The Zacks Consensus Estimates for its 2025 bottom line is pegged at $3.83, indicating a year-over-year rise of 26.4%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research CyberArk Stock Outperforms Sector Year to date, CyberArk shares have outperformed the sector and industry. The stock has gained 13.2%, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's growth of 7.4% in the same timeframe. CyberArk YTD Price Performance Chart CyberArk: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock? CyberArk's innovative cybersecurity portfolio with AI integration makes it well-positioned to benefit from the strong TAM of the identity security space. This bodes well for long-term investors. The company's collaboration with industry leaders and high-margin operational business model justifies its premium valuation at present. CyberArk currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), suggesting investors that it is the right time to buy the stock. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops." Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.5% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Inc. (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis Report Accenture PLC (ACN): Free Stock Analysis Report CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR): Free Stock Analysis Report
Forbes
21 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Future-Proofing Leaders & CX: Soft Skills In An AI World
In a previous article, I cited a couple of studies from IBM and Accenture that reported that organizations' efforts to scale and deliver a return from their AI investments were being held back by a lack of a deep understanding of generative AI. The studies went on to say that organisations need not only to develop this capability but also to get several other things right if they are to harness the potential of generative AI. These include leadership alignment, enterprise strategy, data cleanliness and availability, the need for a modern technological infrastructure, the right internal skills and capabilities and the ability to manage large-scale change. The Accenture report went on to add that, in their view, talent development and new ways of working stood out as the imperative that offered the most potential to be the greatest differentiator of all of the imperatives they uncovered. However, the report noted, it was also the one that was the least developed in the organizations they surveyed. Disappointingly, the report stopped short of outlining the skills leaders and their teams will need to develop if they and their organizations are to thrive in this new AI-powered era. Soft skills However, a recent report by Skiilify, a research-based learning experience provider, sheds some light on what those new skills and capabilities might be. Their study was designed to identify the soft skills that leaders need to develop in order to thrive in an industry that is constantly evolving, the value they place on these skills, and the gaps between the perceived value of these soft skills and their actual development. Here are the main headlines of the study: While the survey focused on capturing the perspectives of tech leaders and the challenges they face, when I discussed the results recently with Dr. Paula Caligiuri, Co-Founder of Skiilify and a D'Amore-McKim School of Business Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University, she believed that the findings about skills deficiencies are directly translatable to all leaders. She also noted that two other things really stood out to her from the findings. The first was how each of these competencies was considered extremely important for the future. But, given where leaders are currently at, acquiring these new skills and competencies will require a 'big behavioural shift', Caligiuri suggests. Secondly, Caligiuri highlighted that most respondents felt they had 3-6 years to develop these competencies. This is partly aligned with Accenture's view that 'The rapid pace of technological change has reduced the half-life of skills to less than five years.' However, Caligiuri disagrees and warns that 'super-employees', those with deep technical skills and knowledge, as well as a mature set of developed soft skills, are in high demand right now, and that demand is only going to grow. As a result, Caligiuri suggests that leaders should start developing these skills now, as they will take time to develop. However, she also warns that the road ahead is likely to be 'tough' and that leaders will likely face 'some bumps and bruises along the way, but that leaders should stick with it', as these skills are likely to become increasingly important in the coming years. This is sound advice. But, one of the most telling findings for me emerging from the research was the insight that leaders often lacked the time to develop new skills. This is a real challenge. Not just for leaders but for their teams too. They not only have to create the space and time for themselves to experiment, fail, and learn, but they must also create an environment and culture that allows their team members to do the same. In a world where the pace of technological change appears to be constantly increasing, this, for some, will feel like an impossible task. However, that is the challenge emerging from this research. The truth is that if we want to achieve the better customer, employee, and business outcomes that we are all striving for, then leaders and their teams must carve out time and space to learn and try new things. This is essential if they are to give themselves a fighting chance of providing a superior experience to the customers they serve.
AU Financial Review
2 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
KPMG feels the burn of $200m in public service consulting cuts
The federal government has slashed the amount it spends on KPMG by two-thirds over the last year – from more than $300 million to just $106 million – as part of a push to reduce the use of consultants by the public service. Despite the Albanese government's move to cut spending with professional services firms, the total has not reduced over the last year. While major firms have lost work, spending with Accenture has almost doubled.
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Mourners at vigil for pedestrian killed on Elgin Street demand safer roads
Social Sharing More than 100 people attended a vigil outside city hall on Friday evening, calling for safer roads in Ottawa after a pedestrian was killed at a nearby intersection earlier in the week. Saloni Aitawadekar, 27, died after being struck by a pickup truck near a crosswalk at Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue W. on Monday. Aitawadekar, who was a graduate of Algonquin College, worked nearby in marketing for the business management firm Accenture. She stepped out of the office for a brief stroll to get a breath of air on Monday afternoon but never returned, her colleagues said. Attending the vigil, colleague Cindy Merhi recalled Aitawadekar as a vibrant presence in the office who was excited to be building a life in Canada after emigrating from India. "She had dreams; she had ambitions; she had goals; she wanted to buy a house," Merhi said. Housemate Atri Dave said his friend was an only child who had been raised by a single mother. Since moving to Canada, Aitawadekar had been financially supporting her mother in Hyderabad. "She used to send 15,000 Indian rupees [$240] to her mother every month and that's what she was surviving on. And now that support has been pulled out of her," Dave said, explaining that friends were fundraising to repatriate Aitawadekar's body and help her mother. Aitawadekar had obtained her permanent residency earlier this year, Dave said, and had a boyfriend she planned to marry. "The next stage for her was to acquire her citizenship," Dave said. Intersection upgrades delayed The vigil was organized by Marna Nightingale, who noted that plans to upgrade the intersection at Laurier and Elgin had been delayed for years, even after a cyclist was killed nearby in 2018. "They had a chance to fix it when somebody was killed in the bike lane there," she said. After plans to upgrade the intersection were delayed last year due to jurisdictional issues, work is scheduled to begin on a multimillion dollar revamp this summer. "If it hadn't taken that extra year, she might not have died," Nightingale said. Addressing the crowd, Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster reiterated a call for the city to commit to a "vision zero" strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities. The city's current road safety action plan aims to reduce traffic fatalities by 20 per cent annually. "What is the acceptable number of deaths? No death is acceptable because of bad infrastructure," Troster said. Following speeches, Aitawadekar's friends laid a pair of her shoes next to three "ghost bikes" outside city hall that represent cyclists who have been killed.
