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Summary of IT Services Industry Outlook and Key Insights Industry Overview - The IT Services industry is expected to see improved demand in 2026 as AI proof-of-concept projects transition to broader enterprise implementations, particularly benefiting consulting services [1][4] - Despite the anticipated improvements, the narrative surrounding AI disruption in IT Services is expected to persist, although it may diminish as the complexities of enterprise AI become more recognized [2][37] Key Insights Demand and Spending Trends - IT Services spending is projected to improve year-over-year for the first time in four years, shifting from infrastructure-focused spending to include applications and services [3][4] - Global IT spending is expected to reach $6.1 trillion in 2026, growing by 10% year-over-year [20] Business Model Evolution - Business models are evolving from time and materials to more outcome-based pricing, although this transition will not be universal due to varying complexities [5][62] - The shift towards outcome-based pricing is seen as a potential for higher margins, despite initial perceptions of deflationary pressures [62] Margins and Valuations - Margins are expected to be managed flat to slightly higher, but ongoing investments in AI may limit significant upside [5][84] - IT Services firms are currently experiencing depressed valuations, with multiples at historic lows, making it an attractive entry point for investors [6][34][92] Top Picks in IT Services - The top picks for large, mid, and small-cap companies within the IT Services sector are Cognizant (CTSH), EPAM Systems (EPAM), and Grid Dynamics (GDYN), respectively [1][15] - Cognizant is expected to see organic growth exit 2026 at a mid to high single-digit pace, while EPAM and GDYN are projected to improve their growth rates significantly [15][19] AI and Partnerships - Partnerships with IT Services firms are becoming increasingly vital for AI companies, as they often lack the sophistication to manage enterprise workflows independently [3][78] - The emergence of "killer use cases" in AI is anticipated to drive increased investment in growth-oriented initiatives, necessitating back-end modernization [4][59] Market Performance - The IT Services sector has underperformed the S&P 500 for four consecutive years, with a year-to-date decline of 26% [28][31] - Despite the underperformance, the sector is expected to outperform in 2026 as multiples re-rate higher due to improved growth prospects [6][34] Future Outlook - The complexity of enterprise AI is significantly underestimated, indicating a continued need for IT Services expertise as enterprises transform [10][44] - The overall sentiment suggests that while AI disruption fears remain, the reality of implementing enterprise AI will require specialized knowledge and support from IT Services firms [2][44] Conclusion The IT Services industry is poised for a recovery in 2026, driven by a shift in spending patterns and the maturation of AI applications. While challenges remain, particularly regarding valuations and the ongoing narrative of AI disruption, the sector presents potential investment opportunities, especially in firms that are adapting their business models and forming strategic partnerships.

Core Insights - Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. has entered into a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services, focusing on generative AI for enterprise companies [1] - This agreement extends a 15-year relationship between Grid Dynamics and AWS, enhancing their partnership [1] - The collaboration grants Grid Dynamics access to AWS Data Foundations, which is crucial for scaling AI initiatives [1] Company Overview - Grid Dynamics is recognized as a premier IT consulting and digital services provider [1] - The company aims to leverage the collaboration with AWS to enhance its service offerings in generative AI [1] Industry Implications - The partnership signifies a growing trend in the IT consulting industry towards integrating advanced technologies like generative AI [1] - Companies in the sector are increasingly seeking collaborations with major cloud service providers to enhance their technological capabilities [1]

Core Insights - Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. has entered into a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services, focusing on generative AI for enterprise companies, extending a 15-year relationship [1] Company Summary - The collaboration allows Grid Dynamics to access AWS Data Foundations, enhancing its capabilities in IT consulting and digital services [1]

Core Insights - Prosper Stars & Stripes achieved a net return of +9.8% in Q3 2025, outperforming its peer group which returned +3.8% and the Russell 2000 Index which returned +12.4% [1] - Year-to-date, the fund returned +8.6%, lagging behind the HFRI's +13.6% and the Russell's +10.4% [1] - The fund's long book performed well, while the short book negatively impacted overall performance [1] Company Insights - Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:GDYN) was highlighted as a significant stock in the fund's portfolio, with a one-month return of 7.04% but a 52-week loss of 54.39% [2] - As of November 26, 2025, Grid Dynamics had a market capitalization of $735.261 million, with shares closing at $8.67 [2] - The company is involved in IT consulting and advanced analytics, serving Fortune 500 clients, but faces challenges due to client spending apprehension and the impact of Generative AI on demand [3] - Grid Dynamics was identified as vulnerable to disruption, trading at approximately 16x FY24 EBITDA, and the fund closed its position shortly after Q3 due to these pressures [3]

Core Insights - The article highlights the investment strategies and achievements of Paul Franke, a seasoned investor with 39 years of trading experience, emphasizing his contrarian stock selection style and the development of a system called "Victory Formation" for identifying stocks based on supply/demand imbalances [1] Group 1: Investment Strategies - Paul Franke recommends a diversified approach by owning at least 50 well-positioned stocks to achieve regular stock market outperformance [1] - The "Bottom Fishing Club" articles focus on deep value candidates or stocks that are experiencing significant upward momentum reversals [1] - The "Volume Breakout Report" articles discuss positive trend changes supported by strong price and volume trading actions [1] Group 2: Performance and Recognition - Franke was consistently ranked among the top investment advisors nationally during the 1990s and achieved the 1 rank in the Motley Fool® CAPS stock picking contest in 2008 and 2009 out of over 60,000 portfolios [1] - As of September 2025, he was ranked in the Top 4% of bloggers by TipRanks® for 12-month stock picking performance based on suggestions made over the last decade [1] Group 3: Risk Management - Franke suggests investors implement stop-loss levels of 10% or 20% on individual stock choices to manage risk effectively [1]

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Core Insights - Grid Dynamics (GDYN) reported quarterly earnings of $0.09 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, and down from $0.10 per share a year ago [1] - The company achieved revenues of $104.16 million for the quarter ended September 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.34% and up from $87.43 million year-over-year [2] - The stock has underperformed significantly, losing approximately 63.6% since the beginning of the year compared to a 17.2% gain in the S&P 500 [3] Earnings Performance - The earnings report showed that Grid Dynamics has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times over the last four quarters [1] - The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times in the last four quarters [2] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.08 on revenues of $109.3 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.39 on revenues of $414.62 million [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Grid Dynamics was unfavorable prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Computers - IT Services industry, to which Grid Dynamics belongs, is currently ranked in the top 25% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable industry outlook [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q3 2025 revenue of $104.2 million, marking a 19.1% year-over-year growth and slightly exceeding the guidance range of $103 million to $105 million [30] - Non-GAAP EBITDA for the quarter was $12.7 million, within the higher end of the guidance range [30] - GAAP net income was $1.2 million, or $0.01 per share, down from $5.3 million in the previous quarter [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retail vertical contributed $27.8 million, experiencing a sequential decline of 2.1% and a year-over-year decrease of 2.9% [31] - The technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) vertical accounted for 27.4% of total revenues, growing 13.5% quarter-over-quarter and 18.2% year-over-year [32] - The finance vertical represented 24.6% of total revenues, with slight sequential growth and an 81% year-over-year increase [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added five times more billable engineers in Q3 compared to Q2, indicating strong demand for AI-driven solutions [7] - Partnership influence revenue exceeded 18% of total revenue, reflecting the growing importance of partnerships in driving growth [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on becoming an AI-first organization, with initiatives aimed at enhancing profitability and margins by at least 300 basis points over the next twelve months [9] - The strategic framework includes three horizons: Efforts Delivery, Agenda Guide at Scale, and Physical AI, aimed at embedding AI into operations and service delivery [11] - The company is committed to disciplined capital allocation, including a $50 million share repurchase program, reflecting confidence in long-term business prospects [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the demand recovery being structural rather than temporary, with clients shifting from risk management to growth strategies [20] - The company anticipates a materially higher billable run rate by the end of the year, positioning itself well for growth in 2026 [8] - Management noted that AI initiatives are expected to yield quicker ROI compared to traditional digital transformation programs, driving demand [22] Other Important Information - The company ended Q3 with a total headcount of 4,971, down from 5,013 in the previous quarter, while increasing billable headcount [35] - The company is rationalizing its overall headcount to align skill sets and geographies, aiming for greater efficiencies [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Trends for 2026 growth rates - Management noted that the highest billable headcount in the company's history and longer-duration programs related to AI initiatives provide confidence for growth in 2026 [44] Question: Constraints limiting adoption of AgenTeq AI - Management highlighted that the technology continues to evolve, and they are expanding capabilities to solve a broader spectrum of business problems [48] Question: Contribution of managed services versus custom build activity - The majority of revenue is currently related to solving business cases, fueling overall growth [55] Question: Share repurchase program rationale - The program signals confidence in the company's growth trajectory and is seen as a good return on investment [74] Question: Margin expansion context - Management indicated that the 300 basis points expansion target includes both gross and EBITDA margins, driven by pricing increases and cost optimization [95][100]