Summary of the Conference Call on India IT Services Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the **India IT Services** industry, discussing its evolution over the last two decades and analyzing key drivers of stock performance [1][3]. Core Insights - **Current Economic Cycle**: The US nominal GDP growth is expected to slow, with a weak multiplier effect due to volatile macroeconomic conditions and a technology transition cycle [6][9]. - **India IT Exports**: There is a prolonged slowdown in India IT exports, with a notable impact from the digital and cloud cycle, which experienced a temporary break due to COVID-19 [7][12]. - **Revenue Growth Trends**: Revenue growth recovery for India IT services is anticipated to be gradual, contrasting with previous cycles such as post-GFC and post-COVID-19 [12][70]. - **Market Fragmentation**: The global IT services market remains fragmented, with the top 20 vendors accounting for only about 28% of total spending [18][19]. Key Data Points - **Growth Rates**: The year-over-year growth rate for India IT/ITES exports has shown fluctuations, with a significant decline noted during macroeconomic slowdowns [7][82]. - **CIO Expectations**: According to the MS AlphaWise CIO Survey, 90% of CIOs expect stable to increased levels of IT spending over the next three years, although near-term growth expectations are lower than historical averages [84][87]. - **Revenue Composition**: The revenue mix for major players like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro shows a significant share in application implementation and managed services, indicating a shift in service offerings [96]. Additional Insights - **Global Capability Centers (GCCs)**: There has been an accelerated pace of GCC additions in India, with 120 GCCs expected to be added per year over FY24-25, reflecting the demand for low-cost tech talent [81][82]. - **Valuation Trends**: The two-year forward P/E ratios for major IT companies are currently lower than their five-year averages, indicating a cautious market outlook [97][100]. - **AI Adoption**: The adoption of AI is seen as a potential growth driver for India IT services, with expectations that it will not dilute margins but could enhance profitability depending on investment strategies [93][94]. Conclusion - The India IT Services industry is navigating a complex landscape characterized by macroeconomic challenges, evolving technology cycles, and shifting client expectations. The gradual recovery in revenue growth, coupled with the strategic adaptation of business models, positions the industry for potential long-term growth despite current headwinds [79][80].

Group 1 - The core thesis for recommending a buy rating on Infosys Limited (NYSE: INFY) is based on its attractive long-term growth outlook and reasonable valuation [1] - Infosys executed well in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, reinforcing the positive outlook for the company [1] - The investment approach emphasizes value investing principles, focusing on acquiring quality companies at a discount to their intrinsic value for long-term holding [1]

Core Insights - Infosys has announced a strategic collaboration with RWE to enhance operational efficiency through automated digital workplace transformation [1][2] - The partnership aims to implement solutions that automate processes and provide self-service options, aligning with RWE's goals for operational excellence [1][2] Group 1: Collaboration Details - Infosys has been a trusted partner of RWE for over 12 years, supporting various modernization and business transformation initiatives [2] - The collaboration will focus on user centricity and sustainability, utilizing tools such as automated Office 365 migration, collaboration apps, and Azure-powered conversational bots [2][3] - The goal is to streamline business operations and enhance employee experience through advanced digital workplace solutions [2][3] Group 2: Leadership Statements - Gülnaz Öneş, Group CIO of RWE, highlighted the importance of modern technologies in achieving sustainability and efficiency goals, emphasizing the value created through the partnership with Infosys [3] - Ashiss Kumar Dash from Infosys stated the commitment to empower RWE in becoming a leading all-digital enterprise in Europe, focusing on enhancing operational capabilities and delivering exceptional value to customers [3] Group 3: Infosys Overview - Infosys is recognized as a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, with over 320,000 employees supporting clients in 59 countries [4] - The company emphasizes an AI-first approach and continuous improvement through the transfer of digital skills and expertise [4]

Core Insights - Infosys reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results with earnings of 19 cents per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while revenues increased 4.8% year over year to $4.94 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate by 2.1% [1][2][10] Financial Performance - The company's revenues grew from $4.71 billion in the year-ago quarter to $4.94 billion, driven by strategic initiatives and growth across segments [2] - Gross profits rose 4.8% year over year to approximately $1.53 billion, with a gross margin remaining flat at 30.9% [6] - Operating income increased 3.4% year over year to $1.03 billion, although the operating margin contracted by 30 basis points to 20.8% [6][10] Revenue Breakdown - Revenue growth was observed in several segments: Manufacturing increased 14.72% to $795 million, Financial Services grew 6.23% to $1.38 billion, and Energy, Utilities, Resources & Services sales rose 7.19% to $671 million [4] - The Retail segment saw a modest increase of 1.38% to $660 million, while Life Sciences revenues declined by 6.41% to $321 million [5] Geographic Performance - Revenues in North America and Europe increased by 0.5% and 16.2% year over year, respectively, while revenues in India declined by 3.1% [3] - On a constant currency basis, North America and Europe saw increases of 0.4% and 12.3%, while India experienced a decline of 1% [3] Client Metrics - Infosys added 93 clients in the fiscal first quarter, bringing the total number of clients generating over $100 million to 41, an increase from 40 in the previous year [5] Guidance - The company projects fiscal 2026 revenues to grow by 1-3% on a constant currency basis and expects an operating margin in the range of 20-22% [8]

Company Performance - Infosys has raised the lower end of its annual growth forecast for the current fiscal year after reporting better-than-expected results for the June quarter [1][3] - The company reported a net profit of 69.2 billion rupees ($801 million) for the April-June quarter, reflecting an 8.6% year-on-year increase [3][4] - Revenue for the same quarter rose by 7.5% year-on-year to 422.8 billion rupees [4] Revenue Forecast - Infosys now expects revenue growth of 1% to 3% on a constant-currency basis for the current financial year, an increase from the previous forecast of flat to 3% growth [3][4] - The company's performance is attributed to its enterprise AI capabilities and large deal wins totaling $3.8 billion, indicating strong client relationships [4] Industry Context - Despite Infosys's positive results, the broader Indian IT sector, valued at $283 billion, faces a challenging outlook, with larger rival TCS reporting disappointing quarterly numbers [5] - The slow revival in client spending is noted, influenced by global economic uncertainties and trade tensions, although Trump's tariffs do not directly impact Indian IT firms [2]

Core Insights - Infosys reported revenue of $4.94 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.8% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the same period was $0.19, compared to $0.18 a year ago, aligning with the consensus EPS estimate [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.84 billion, resulting in a surprise of +2.18% [1] Company Performance Metrics - Infosys has returned -0.2% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite increased by +5.9% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting potential outperformance against the broader market in the near term [3] Employee Metrics - The number of software professionals at Infosys was 306,706, significantly higher than the two-analyst average estimate of 256,265 [4] - Consolidated utilization including trainees was 82.7%, slightly below the average estimate of 82.8% [4] - Consolidated utilization excluding trainees was 85.2%, surpassing the average estimate of 84.9% [4] - The number of employees in sales and support was 17,082, exceeding the two-analyst average estimate of 14,344 [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues grew 2.6% sequentially and 3.8% year on year in constant currency terms [6][10] - Operating margin was 20.8%, down 20 basis points quarter on quarter and 30 basis points year on year [14][16] - Free cash flow was $884 million, representing 109% of net profit, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of free cash flow exceeding 100% of net profit [15][16] - EPS in rupee terms grew by 8.6% and in dollar terms grew by 5.8% year on year [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Growth was broad-based with significant contributions from enterprise AI and large deal wins, totaling $3.8 billion [6][16] - Manufacturing grew in double digits, while financial services saw good momentum in the U.S. [13][20] - The company signed nine deals in communication, six in URS, five in manufacturing, four in financial services, and two each in high-tech and retail [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America grew 2.9% sequentially in constant currency, while Europe grew 12.3% year on year, significantly above the company average [14] - The company noted that clients remain cautious in discretionary spending, impacting decision-making timelines [20][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company revised its revenue guidance for FY 2026 to 1% to 3% growth in constant currency terms, reflecting ongoing uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment [10][26] - Focus on enterprise AI and vendor consolidation as key growth drivers, with a strong pipeline for large and mega deals [23][26] - Continued investment in industry, cloud, energy transition, and AI-driven operational efficiency [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed that the business environment remains uncertain due to unresolved tariff issues and geopolitical tensions [19][20] - Near-term visibility is good, with expectations for stronger performance in the first half of the year compared to the second half [20][27] - Clients are increasingly interested in AI solutions, but discretionary spending remains cautious [24][105] Other Important Information - The company is positioned as a leader in Gartner's first generative AI consulting and implementer services quadrant [10] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 28.9%, with expectations for the fiscal year to be in the range of 29% to 30% [19] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: On organic growth momentum and guidance - Management indicated that the guidance reflects heightened uncertainty in the environment, despite strong Q1 performance [31][32] Question: On AI-related margin or pricing trade-offs - Management noted that productivity gains from enterprise AI are typically shared with clients, and they are actively engaging clients on these opportunities [35][36] Question: On Europe’s strong performance - Management attributed Europe’s growth to prior investments and successful large deal wins, with confidence in sustaining this growth [49][50] Question: On vendor consolidation and competition - Management believes that they are benefiting from vendor consolidation due to their strong delivery capabilities and AI solutions [55][56] Question: On the outlook for discretionary spending - Management stated that clients are currently cautious, and the timing for a return to discretionary spending remains uncertain [94][105]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues grew 2.6% sequentially and 3.8% year on year in constant currency terms [4][10] - Operating margin was 20.8%, down 20 basis points quarter on quarter and 30 basis points year on year [12][14] - Free cash flow was $884 million, representing 109% of net profit, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of free cash flow exceeding 100% of net profit [13][14] - EPS in rupee terms grew by 8.6% and in dollar terms grew by 5.8% year on year [12][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Large deals totaled $3.8 billion, with 55% being net new [14] - Manufacturing grew in double digits, while financial services saw good momentum in the U.S. [11][17] - The company signed nine deals in communication, six in URS, five in manufacturing, four in financial services, and two each in high-tech and retail [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America grew 2.9% sequentially in constant currency, while Europe grew 12.3%, over three times the company average [12][15] - The company is positioned as a leader in Gartner's first generative AI consulting and implementer services quadrant [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company revised its growth guidance for FY 2026 from 0% to 3% to 1% to 3% in constant currency terms, maintaining margin guidance at 20% to 22% [7][24] - Focus on enterprise AI and vendor consolidation as key growth drivers [4][20] - Investment in industry, cloud, energy transition, and AI-driven operational efficiency is expected to drive growth [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management noted that clients remain cautious in discretionary spending, leading to delayed decision-making [16][21] - The geopolitical situation and tariff uncertainties continue to impact client behavior [16][17] - Near-term visibility remains good, with expectations for stronger performance in the first half compared to the second half of the year [16][24] Other Important Information - The company has built 300 AI agents across business operations and IT areas, enhancing operational efficiency for clients [4][5] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 28.9%, with an expected range of 29% to 30% for the financial year [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Organic growth momentum and guidance - The management explained that the guidance reflects heightened uncertainty in the environment, despite strong Q1 performance [27][29] Question: AI impact on margins and pricing - The management indicated that productivity gains from enterprise AI are shared with clients, and they are proactively engaging clients on these benefits [31][32] Question: Vendor consolidation and competition - The management noted that they are benefiting from vendor consolidation, as clients seek strong delivery and AI solutions [34][52] Question: Europe performance sustainability - The management expressed confidence in the growth opportunities in Europe, driven by large deals and outsourcing trends [44][47] Question: Discretionary spending outlook - The management stated that clients are currently cautious, and the timing of a return to discretionary spending remains uncertain [86][96] Question: Impact of tariffs on client spending - The management acknowledged that tariff uncertainties continue to affect client spending decisions, but there is interest in leveraging AI for productivity [94][96]

Core Insights - Infosys reported Q1 revenues of $4,941 million, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 3.8% and a sequential growth of 2.6% in constant currency [1][6] - The company achieved large deal wins totaling $3.8 billion, with 55% classified as net new [1][2] - Operating margin stood at 20.8%, with a slight decline of 0.3% year-on-year [6] - Free cash flow generation was robust at $884 million, representing 109.3% of net profit [1][6] - The return on equity (ROE) improved by 140 basis points to 30.4% [1] Financial Performance - Revenue guidance for FY26 has been revised to a growth range of 1%-3% in constant currency [1][6] - Basic earnings per share (EPS) increased by 8.6% year-on-year to $0.20 [6][21] - Operating expenses increased, with selling and marketing expenses at $258 million and administrative expenses at $239 million [21] Strategic Collaborations - Infosys extended its strategic collaboration with Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. to enhance operational efficiency through managed services [7] - A partnership with AIB was announced to accelerate digital transformation initiatives [7] - Infosys collaborated with E.ON for AI-powered digital workplace transformation across Europe [8] - The company also partnered with Yorkshire Building Society to support its digital transformation goals [8] Awards and Recognitions - Infosys was recognized as a Top 100 most valuable brand globally by Kantar BrandZ [12] - The company received accolades in multiple categories at the 2025 Asia Executive Team Survey by Extel [12] - Infosys BPM won the Diversity Charter Awards 2025 for its HR initiative supporting women in the workplace [12]

Fact Sheet Fact Sheet Consolidated Financial Data - Second Quarter, Fiscal 2023 Consolidated Financial Data - First Quarter, Fiscal 2026 | 2.6% QoQ | 20.8% | 8.6% YoY | $3.8 Bn | $884 Mn | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 3.8% YoY CC Growth | Operating Margin | EPS Increase (₹ terms) | Large Deal TCV (55% Net New) | Free Cash Flow | Revenue Growth- Q1 26 | | Reported | C C | | --- | --- | --- | | QoQ growth (%) | 4.5% | 2.6% | | YoY growth (%) | 4.8% | 3.8% | Revenues by Business Segments | | | | | | (in % ...