Infosys to Buy Back $2 Billion of Stock After Share Price Slump

Core Viewpoint - Infosys Ltd. is initiating a share buyback of up to 180 billion Indian rupees ($2 billion) to return cash to investors amid a decline in stock price and slowing sales growth due to geopolitical and economic challenges [1][2]. Company Summary - The board of Infosys approved a buyback of up to 100 million shares at a price of 1,800 rupees each, compared to a closing price of 1,509.70 rupees on the day of the announcement [2]. - This buyback marks the first for Infosys in nearly three years, reflecting the company's confidence in its long-term investments in digital services and new technologies, including artificial intelligence [3]. - Infosys has forecasted sales growth of 1% to 3% on a constant-currency basis for the fiscal year ending March 2026 [3]. Industry Summary - Shares of Infosys have decreased by approximately 20% this year, while the broader Mumbai market has seen gains [4]. - The Indian software services sector, valued at $280 billion, is experiencing muted growth as corporations reduce spending in response to geopolitical uncertainties, including wars and trade policies [4]. - Infosys and its competitors are transitioning from providing cost-effective back-office solutions to leveraging automation, cloud computing, and generative AI to secure larger contracts from multinational corporations [5].