Innodata vs. EXL: Which Data Services Stock Is a Buy Now?

Core Insights - The growth of enterprise AI adoption is driving investor interest in data services and engineering companies, particularly Innodata Inc. (INOD) and ExlService Holdings, Inc. (EXLS) [1][2] Company Overview - Innodata is positioned at the foundational layer of the AI ecosystem, focusing on high-quality data and AI infrastructure, while EXL operates across diversified sectors including insurance, healthcare, and financial services [2] - Innodata reported Q3 revenues of $62.6 million, a 20% year-over-year increase, and anticipates 45% organic revenue growth for 2025 [3][8] - EXL's Q3 revenues reached $529.6 million, up 12.2% year-over-year, with a notable 21.6% growth in the healthcare and life sciences segment [6][8] Growth Drivers - Innodata's growth is fueled by hyperscaler spending, AI infrastructure development, and federal AI contracts, with a significant pretraining data business expected to generate $68 million in deals [3][4] - EXL's growth strategy is characterized by stable, predictable revenue, with over 75% of its revenues being recurring, enhancing revenue visibility [6] Market Positioning - Innodata is seen as a "picks and shovels" beneficiary of the generative AI revolution, with contracts spanning major technology companies [4][5] - EXL has launched EXLdata.ai, an AI-native data platform, to enhance its data and AI transformation capabilities [7] Stock Performance - Over the past three months, INOD stock has increased by 42.6%, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the S&P 500, while EXLS has declined by 9.8% [10] - Innodata trades at a premium valuation of 51.4X forward 12-month earnings, compared to EXL's 18.37X, reflecting differing growth expectations [13] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Innodata's 2025 EPS has risen to $0.89, with projected revenue growth of 45.6% in 2025 [16] - EXL's 2025 EPS estimate has increased to $1.92, with expected revenue growth of 13% in 2025 [20] Investment Outlook - Both companies are positioned to benefit from data and AI transformation, but Innodata is better positioned for immediate growth due to its focus on foundational AI data infrastructure and hyperscaler demand [21] - EXL remains a stable long-term investment, but Innodata offers greater upside potential in the current AI-driven growth cycle [21]