Aeries Technology (NasdaqCM:AERT) Q3 2026 Earnings call February 09, 2026 08:00 AM ET Speaker2Today, and welcome to Aeries Technology third quarter and fiscal year 2026 earnings call. Joining us today on the call are Aeries Chief Executive Officer Ajay Khare and Chief Financial Officer Daniel Webb. The call will review the results for the quarter ended December 31st, 2025, and outline strategic priorities that are shaping the next stage of our growth. Before we begin, please note that today's discussion con ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues for Q3 FY 2026 were $5.1 billion, reflecting a sequential growth of 0.6% and a year-on-year growth of 1.7% in constant currency terms [5][11] - Adjusted operating margin for Q3 was 21.2%, with a reported margin of 18.4% impacted by changes in labor codes [11][12] - Free cash flow generated was $915 million, with an adjusted free cash flow conversion for nine months standing at 118% [15][16] - The company revised its revenue growth guidance for FY 2026 to 3%-3.5% in constant currency [9][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Large deal total contract value (TCV) for Q3 was robust at $4.8 billion, with 57% being net new deals [14][17] - Financial services vertical saw a year-on-year growth of 3.9% in constant currency terms, with Europe leading growth at 7.2% [12][17] - The healthcare sector benefited from a significant $1.6 billion deal with the National Health Service in the UK, contributing to incremental revenues [5][39] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company signed 26 large deals during the quarter, with 10 in financial services and 16 in the Americas [17][18] - There is a noted shift in client priorities towards AI-led transformation and vendor consolidation across various sectors [19][20] - The manufacturing vertical is facing challenges due to tariff uncertainties, while the energy sector is witnessing increased demand driven by infrastructure investments [18][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is expanding its strategic partnerships with AI companies and has deepened its AI capabilities with the Topaz AI suite [6][8] - Six AI-led value pools have been identified as significant growth opportunities, including AI engineering services and legacy modernization [8][9] - The company aims to position itself as a leading AI value creator for global enterprises, with a focus on driving value realization from AI investments [9][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth trajectory for FY 2027, particularly in financial services and energy sectors, driven by strong deal wins [9][21] - The operating environment remains challenging, with a focus on cost discipline and efficiency among clients [20][21] - Management highlighted the importance of AI in driving future growth and the increasing demand for AI infrastructure and services [19][20] Other Important Information - The company completed its largest-ever buyback, returning INR 18,000 crores to shareholders, which is expected to aid in EPS accretion [16] - The labor code changes had a notable impact on operating profit, net profit, and free cash flow for the quarter [11][12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why is the implied outlook for Q4 not stronger despite strong signings? - Management indicated that while there is strong momentum, the lower working day calendar in Q4 presents a headwind [25][29] Question: Are there signs of discretionary spending expanding beyond financial services and energy? - Management confirmed that growth is expected in financial services and energy, but other sectors are still emerging [25][26] Question: Is AI a headwind or tailwind for margins? - Management stated that AI projects are not negatively impacting pricing and are seen as accretive [30][32] Question: What is the outlook for North America and specific industries? - Management noted a contraction in North America due to lower third-party costs across segments [35][36] Question: How is the healthcare sector performing? - The healthcare sector saw significant growth, partly due to the NHS deal, with expectations for continued contribution [39][41] Question: What is the impact of new labor laws on margins? - The recurring impact of new labor laws is expected to be approximately 15 basis points on an ongoing basis [61][62]

Core Viewpoint - Genpact Limited (NYSE: G) is recommended as a buy due to its anticipated predictable, double-digit EPS growth driven by AI-led transformation and strong demand signals [1] Company Analysis - Genpact is entering a new phase characterized by predictable, double-digit EPS growth [1] - The management outlined their growth strategy during the investor day, emphasizing the role of AI in driving transformation [1] Investment Strategy - The investment approach focuses on long-term investments while also considering short-term opportunities to uncover alpha [1] - The analysis is based on a bottom-up approach, assessing the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of individual companies [1] - The investment duration is medium to long-term, targeting companies with solid fundamentals, sustainable competitive advantages, and growth potential [1]

Core Insights - Cognizant reported strong financial performance in Q1 2025, with revenue of $5.115 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.5% and 8.2% in constant currency [3][9][40] - The company achieved a GAAP operating margin of 16.7%, up 210 basis points from the previous year, and an adjusted operating margin of 15.5%, which increased by 40 basis points year-over-year [3][9][40] - GAAP diluted EPS rose to $1.34, a 22% increase year-over-year, while adjusted diluted EPS increased by 10% to $1.23 [3][9][40] Financial Performance - Revenue growth was driven by recent acquisitions, contributing approximately 400 basis points to overall revenue growth [3][44] - The company returned $364 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in Q1 2025, with a planned return of $1.7 billion for the full year [5][11] - Bookings for the trailing twelve months increased by 3% year-over-year to $26.7 billion, with a book-to-bill ratio of approximately 1.3x [6][9] Operational Highlights - The first quarter performance demonstrated strong operational rigor amid elevated uncertainty, with revenue exceeding guidance and adjusted operating margin expansion [5][9] - The company expects second quarter revenue to be between $5.14 billion and $5.21 billion, representing growth of 5.9% to 7.4% [15] - Full-year 2025 revenue guidance remains unchanged at $20.5 billion to $21.0 billion, with expected growth of 3.9% to 6.4% [15] Strategic Initiatives - Cognizant is focusing on AI-led transformation, leveraging its differentiated AI and platform capabilities to assist clients in navigating macroeconomic challenges [2][14] - Recent client agreements and partnerships include collaborations with Boehringer Ingelheim, Citizens Financial Group, and Docusign, aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies and driving innovation [16][20] - The company plans to establish a Cognizant Immersive Learning Center in Chennai, India, to train 100,000 individuals annually, reflecting its commitment to workforce development [20]