ASGN (NYSE:ASGN) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 04, 2026 04:30 PM ET Speaker6Greetings, and welcome to the ASGN Incorporated fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings call. At this time, all participants are on a listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Kimberly Eskin of Investor Relations. Thank you. You may begin.Speaker2G ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales grew 24.6% to $615 million, with product sales increasing 32.2% year-over-year, driven by strong performance in data center, cloud, networking, and security [5][12] - Net earnings from continuing operations increased 129.3% to $33.4 million, with adjusted EBITDA rising 97% to $53.4 million, reflecting a margin of 8.7%, which is 320 basis points higher than the same period last year [9][17] - Year-to-date consolidated net sales increased 22.2% to $1.86 billion, with gross profit rising 23.7% to $469 million [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product revenue grew 32.2% year-over-year to $501.9 million, while service revenue totaled $112.8 million, slightly down from $113.6 million in the prior year [12][16] - Managed services revenue grew 10.5%, while professional services revenue declined 7.8% due to project delays in the retail sector [12][28] - Security gross billings for products and services grew 16.4% year-over-year, with a 27.6% increase for the trailing twelve months [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Growth was observed across all customer size segments, particularly in the mid-market and enterprise space [4][5] - Telecom, media, and entertainment accounted for 27% of net sales, while technology, SLED, and healthcare each accounted for 13% [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its solutions portfolio, enhancing professional and managed services capabilities, and extending geographic reach [10] - There is an emphasis on AI, cloud, security, and networking as key growth areas, with plans to enhance AI envisioning sessions and acceleration offerings [10][21] - The company is evaluating acquisitions and investments to enhance its position in higher growth areas [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued growth, supported by industry demand trends and financial flexibility [11][21] - The company raised its full-year guidance for net sales to 20%-22% year-over-year growth, up from mid-teens [21] - Potential near-term risks include an industry-wide memory shortage impacting customer deployments [22][23] Other Important Information - The company approved a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share and repurchased over 200,000 shares during the quarter [5][20] - Cash and cash equivalents at quarter end totaled $326.3 million, down from $389.4 million at the end of the last fiscal year [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Nature of outsized projects from enterprise customers - Management noted that mid-market customers had the biggest growth, with some large enterprise customers contributing significantly in Q3, but they do not expect to replicate that in Q4 [26][27] Question: Professional services project delays - Management expects project delays from retail customers to materialize in fiscal 2027, attributing the decline in professional services to a few customers and tough comparisons from the previous year [28] Question: Inventory build and project timing - Management indicated that inventory increased due to demand, and they expect inventory levels to remain inflated in the next several quarters [33] Question: Impact of AI on business - AI is now seen as a tailwind, driving growth in data center, cloud, and networking areas, with customers defining use cases to modernize legacy systems [35][36] Question: Importance of integrated solutions - Management highlighted that offering integrated solutions across AI, cloud, and networking is a key differentiator, as customers prefer to work with fewer strategic vendors [37][38]

Core Viewpoint - Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. achieved a 6.95% dollar revenue growth in 2025, reaching $21.12 billion, marking its best performance since 2021 and a significant recovery from a revenue decline in 2023 [1] Revenue Growth - Cognizant's growth was primarily driven by product and resource sales, contributing over a third of its revenue growth, which is higher than HCL Technologies' 5.1% growth [2] - The company outperformed major Indian IT firms, with Infosys reporting $19.85 billion (3.85% growth), Tata Consultancy Services at $29.86 billion (down 0.72%), and Wipro at $10.42 billion (down 1.41%) [3] Major Contracts - The company signed three contracts exceeding $1 billion in 2025, including a significant $1 billion IT modernization deal with Novartis AG [4] Future Outlook - Cognizant anticipates revenue between $22.14 billion and $22.66 billion for 2026, indicating a growth rate of 4.9-7.4%, with 1.5% expected from acquisitions [7] - The company is considering a share listing in India to enhance valuations, although specific details remain undisclosed [8] Profitability - Profitability improved, with a 140 basis point increase to 16.1%, although net profit slightly decreased by 0.45% to $2.23 billion [10] Employee Growth - The company increased its workforce to 351,600 employees, gaining 14,800 from the previous year, contrasting with TCS's reduction of nearly 20,000 employees [11] Market Reaction - Following the positive results, Cognizant's shares rose by 2.71% to $76.52 in pre-market trading, indicating strong shareholder confidence [12] Execution and Strategy - The growth is attributed to improved execution and deal conversion rather than a sudden demand rebound, with a focus on large client mining and cost discipline [13]

Core Insights - CDW's fourth-quarter performance exceeded expectations, driven by strong growth in software, cloud, and professional managed services, leading to the highest gross margin of the year at 22.8% [3][5][7] Financial Performance - For Q4, CDW reported net sales of $5.5 billion, a 5% increase year over year, with gross profit ranging from $1.25 billion to $1.3 billion, reflecting a 9% increase [4][7] - Non-GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter was $2.57, up 4%, while non-GAAP operating income was approximately $502 million to $503 million, up roughly 1% [4][7] Market Dynamics - The company anticipates a low-single-digit growth in the U.S. IT market for 2026, targeting 200 to 300 basis points of outperformance [5][18] - CDW's revenue mix is shifting towards higher-margin categories such as cloud and SaaS, with netted down revenues representing 36.1% of gross profit in Q4, up from 35.8% year over year [13] Segment Performance - Double-digit growth was observed in software, cloud, and professional managed services, with cloud contributing approximately half of the gross profit growth for the quarter [3][9] - Small business sales grew by 18%, driven by cloud consumption and modernization of client devices, while corporate sales declined by 1% due to slowing hardware solutions [8][11] Operational Efficiency - Non-GAAP SG&A expenses increased by 14.6% year over year to $752 million, primarily due to higher commissions and performance-based expenses [14] - Adjusted free cash flow for Q4 was $418 million, with a full-year total of $1.09 billion, representing 82% of non-GAAP net income [15] Capital Allocation - CDW returned nearly $1 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, exceeding its initial target of 50% to 75% of adjusted free cash flow [17] - The company plans to continue returning 50% to 75% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders in 2026 while remaining active in M&A [17]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2025, the company reported net sales of $5.5 billion, an increase of 5% year-over-year, and gross profit of $1.25 billion, up 9% [5][6] - Non-GAAP operating income was $503 million, up 1%, and non-GAAP net income per share was $2.57, up 4% compared to 2024 [6][7] - Full-year 2025 results showed net sales of over $22 billion, up 7%, with gross profit nearly $5 billion, up 6%, and non-GAAP net income per share reaching $10.02, up 5% [7][8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong double-digit growth was observed in software, cloud, and professional managed services, contributing to the highest gross margin of the year [6][10] - Corporate sales were relatively flat, down 1%, while small business sales grew by 18%, driven by cloud consumption and client device modernization [9][10] - The healthcare segment increased by 5%, and education saw a 13% increase, driven by strong relationships and lifecycle services capabilities [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.K. and Canadian operations together delivered sales of $2.7 billion in 2025, with strong performance in small business and state and local markets [9] - The government segment increased by 4%, with strong growth in state and local offsetting declines in federal due to the government shutdown [10] - The company expects the U.S. IT addressable market to grow in the low single digits in 2026, with CDW targeting outperformance of 200-300 basis points [17][34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes a three-part strategy for growth, focusing on diverse customer end markets, a broad portfolio of solutions, and relentless execution [8][13] - Investments in high-growth areas, particularly AI, are seen as critical for future success, with a focus on delivering integrated solutions across the technology stack [13][14] - The company plans to maintain a disciplined capital allocation strategy, targeting a return of 50%-75% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders [29][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the complexity of the operating environment, including government shutdowns and geopolitical risks, but expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt and grow [7][17] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations for low single-digit growth in gross profit and mid-single-digit growth in non-GAAP net income per diluted share [34][35] - Management noted that AI momentum is building across all markets, positioning the company to leverage its expertise in helping customers adopt AI solutions [56] Other Important Information - The company reported adjusted free cash flow of $1.1 billion for 2025, with nearly $1 billion returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [8][28] - The company is actively evaluating M&A opportunities to enhance its lifecycle capabilities and has made a recent acquisition to bolster its education segment [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of memory price changes on demand - Management indicated that while there is some pull forward in demand due to memory price increases, they expect to see continued strength in PCs despite potential deceleration in growth [38][39] Question: SG&A expenses and operating leverage - Management acknowledged that SG&A expenses are expected to remain high initially but emphasized that operating leverage will improve as growth picks up throughout 2026 [42][44] Question: Allocation of IT budgets in 2026 - Management expects client device growth to remain strong, with cloud, SaaS, and security continuing to be key areas of investment for customers [58][60] Question: Differences in performance between corporate and small business segments - Management noted that small businesses are more agile in adopting AI, while larger corporations are taking a cautious approach, focusing on cost optimization and extending asset life [72][73]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 was $5.3 billion, representing a 3.8% year-over-year growth in constant currency, all organic [30][41] - Full-year revenue reached $21.1 billion, growing 6.4% in constant currency, surpassing the $20 billion mark [6][30] - Adjusted Operating Margin improved to 16%, up 30 basis points year-over-year, with a full-year adjusted operating margin of 15.8%, exceeding guidance [6][39] - Adjusted diluted EPS for Q4 was $1.35, up 12% year-over-year, leading to a full-year EPS of $5.28, an 11% increase from the prior year [41][45] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Financial Services segment led growth with a 9% year-over-year increase in constant currency for Q4 and 7% for the full year, marking the highest annual level since 2016 [5][32] - Health Sciences segment grew at 6%, outperforming the company average, driven by strong demand for administrative and patient care solutions [86] - BPO business experienced a 9% year-over-year growth, indicating strong demand for AI-enabled operations [80][82] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America was the standout region with over 4% year-over-year growth in constant currency, primarily driven by Financial Services and healthcare [37] - Europe grew 2% in constant currency, with healthy growth in Financial Services and Life Sciences [38] - The Rest of World segment grew in line with the total company, driven by the Middle East [38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to bridge the AI velocity gap, focusing on transforming AI technology into measurable returns for clients [11] - Cognizant's strategy includes a three-vector approach to capture demand, emphasizing AI-led productivity and the development of new agentic software [12][13] - The company plans to maintain its position in the industry's winner's circle by continuing to innovate and expand its AI capabilities [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth in 2026, supported by a strong pipeline of large deals and a focus on AI integration [31][67] - The operating environment remains complex, but the company views it as an opportunity to capture wallet share in large deals and help clients reinvest savings into innovation [32] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining productivity and cost discipline to navigate market challenges [59] Other Important Information - The company returned $2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in 2025 [10][41] - The acquisition of 3Cloud was completed, adding over 1,200 Azure specialists to enhance capabilities in AI and cloud services [10] - The company is actively evaluating potential strategic acquisitions and a possible secondary listing in India [46] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI's impact on revenue and package implementation - Management noted that AI provides opportunities for increased total addressable spend and emphasized the need for reimagining processes to integrate new technologies effectively [50][54] Question: Gross margin dynamics for 2026 - Management indicated that Q4's gross margin decline was primarily due to higher variable compensation, but they expect to maintain productivity and manage costs effectively in 2026 [56][59] Question: Confidence in large deal growth for 2026 - Management expressed optimism about the strong pipeline of large deals and the potential for timely deal ramps, expecting acceleration in growth during the year [68][69] Question: Risks and opportunities of fixed-price contracts - Management explained that fixed-price contracts place delivery risk on the service provider, but they have a robust process to monitor performance and ensure delivery aligns with expectations [75][76] Question: Durability of BPO growth - Management highlighted that the BPO business has shown consistent growth and sees a long-term tailwind due to the need for ongoing transformation and maintenance of AI-enabled processes [82][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 was $5.3 billion, representing a 3.8% year-over-year growth in constant currency, all organic [25][30] - Full-year revenue reached $21.1 billion, growing 6.4% in constant currency, surpassing the $20 billion mark [6][25] - Adjusted Operating Margin improved to 16%, up 30 basis points year-over-year, with a full-year adjusted operating margin of 15.8%, exceeding guidance by 50 basis points [6][30] - Adjusted diluted EPS for Q4 was $1.35, up 12% year-over-year, leading to a full-year EPS of $5.28, an 11% increase from the prior year [31][34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Financial Services segment led growth with a 9% year-over-year increase in constant currency for Q4 and 7% for the full year, marking the highest annual level since 2016 [5][25] - Health Sciences segment grew at over 6%, significantly above the company average, driven by strong performance in administrative and clinical processes [78] - Digital Engineering practices saw an 8% year-over-year growth in Q4, supported by proprietary platforms [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America was the standout region with over 4% year-over-year growth in constant currency, primarily driven by financial services and healthcare [28] - Europe experienced a 2% growth in constant currency, with healthy performance in financial services and life sciences [28] - The Rest of World segment grew in line with the total company, driven by the Middle East [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to bridge the AI velocity gap, focusing on transforming AI technology into measurable returns for clients [11][12] - Cognizant's strategy includes a three-vector approach to capture demand, emphasizing AI-led productivity and the development of new agentic software [12][13] - The company plans to maintain its position in the industry's winner's circle by 2027, having achieved this goal two years early [8][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth in 2026, supported by a strong pipeline of large deals and a focus on AI integration [24][58] - The operating environment remains complex, but management views it as an opportunity to capture wallet share in large deals and help clients reinvest savings into innovation [25][26] - The company anticipates a modest increase in defined benefit costs due to recent labor law changes in India, but this is not expected to materially impact the P&L [30] Other Important Information - The company returned $2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in 2025 [10][32] - Cognizant completed the acquisition of 3Cloud, adding over 1,200 Azure specialists to enhance its capabilities in AI and application innovation [10][32] - The company has a healthy M&A pipeline and intends to maintain an active acquisition strategy aligned with its AI builder strategy [32][34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI's impact on revenue and package implementation - Management sees AI as a net positive, increasing total addressable spend and creating opportunities for innovation and productivity [40][41] Question: Gross margin dynamics for 2026 - The decline in Q4 gross margin was primarily due to higher variable compensation, but management remains confident in maintaining margins through productivity measures [47][50] Question: Confidence in large deal growth for 2026 - Management expressed strong confidence in the pipeline for larger deals, expecting timely ramps and acceleration in growth throughout the year [55][58] Question: Risks and opportunities of fixed-price contracts - Management indicated that while delivery risk resides with the service provider, they have a robust process to monitor performance and maintain margins [66][67] Question: Durability of BPO growth - Management believes the BPO segment will continue to grow due to the need for ongoing transformation and maintenance of processes enabled by AI [71][74] Question: Health Sciences segment growth amidst regulatory pressures - Management is confident in the Health Sciences segment's growth, leveraging their platform to transform administrative processes and improve patient care [78][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2025, the company reported net sales of $5.5 billion, an increase of 5% year-over-year, and gross profit of $1.25 billion, up 9% [5][6] - Full-year 2025 results showed net sales of over $22 billion, up 7%, with gross profit nearly $5 billion, up 6% [8][9] - Non-GAAP operating income for Q4 was $503 million, up 1%, and non-GAAP net income per share was $2.57, up 4% [6][21] - Full-year non-GAAP net income per diluted share reached $10.02, up 5% [8][27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong double-digit growth was observed in software, cloud, and professional managed services, contributing to the highest gross margin of the year [6][12] - Corporate sales were relatively flat, down 1%, while small business sales grew by 18% [10][11] - The healthcare segment increased by 5%, and education saw a 13% increase in top line [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.K. and Canadian operations delivered sales of $2.7 billion in 2025, with strong performance in small business and state and local markets [10] - The public sector showed growth in healthcare and government, with state and local growth offsetting declines in federal due to the government shutdown [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deliver sustainable, profitable growth by deepening customer value and deploying capital with discipline [19][32] - A focus on AI solutions is evident, with the company positioning itself to lead in the AI era through its full stack, full lifecycle offerings [15][16] - The company plans to maintain a target of returning 50%-75% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [31][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the IT addressable market is expected to grow in the low single digits in 2026, with CDW targeting 200-300 basis points of outperformance [18][35] - The company anticipates gross profit growth in the low single digits for 2026, with a slight increase in gross margin compared to 2025 [36][37] - Management expressed optimism about AI adoption among customers and its potential to drive growth [56][57] Other Important Information - The company reported adjusted free cash flow of $1.09 billion for the full year, representing 82% of non-GAAP net income [30] - The company has made a tuck-in acquisition to enhance capabilities in the education sector [31][32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of memory price changes on demand - Management indicated that there is uncertainty regarding the impact of memory prices on demand, but they expect a similar pull forward in Q1 as seen in Q4 [40][41] Question: SG&A expenses and operating leverage - Management acknowledged that SG&A expenses are expected to show operating leverage in 2026, with a focus on optimizing costs [43][45] Question: IT budget allocation for 2026 - Management expects client device growth to remain strong, with cloud, SaaS, and security categories continuing to be important [59][60] Question: Corporate versus small business performance - Management noted differences in spending cycles, with small businesses being more agile in adopting AI compared to larger corporations [70][72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2025, the company reported net sales of $5.5 billion, an increase of 5% year-over-year, and gross profit of $1.25 billion, up 9% [5][6] - Non-GAAP operating income was $503 million, up 1%, and non-GAAP net income per share was $2.57, up 4% compared to 2024 [6][8] - Full-year 2025 results showed net sales of over $22 billion, up 7%, with gross profit nearly $5 billion, up 6%, and non-GAAP net income per share reaching $10.02, up 5% [8][27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced strong double-digit growth in software, cloud, and professional managed services, which contributed to the highest gross margin of the year [6][12] - Corporate sales were relatively flat, down 1%, while small business sales grew by 18%, driven by cloud consumption and client device modernization [10][11] - The healthcare segment increased by 5%, and education saw a 13% increase, driven by strong relationships and lifecycle services capabilities [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. IT addressable market is expected to grow in the low single digits in 2026, with the company targeting 200-300 basis points of outperformance [18][35] - The company’s U.K. and Canadian operations delivered sales of $2.7 billion in 2025, with strong performance in small business and state and local markets [10][11] - The government segment saw a 4% increase, with strong growth in state and local offsetting declines in federal due to the government shutdown [11][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deliver sustainable, profitable growth by deepening customer value, sharpening efficiency, and deploying capital with discipline [19][32] - The focus is on high relevance, high growth areas, particularly in AI, where the company believes it has the architectural depth and partner reach to lead [15][19] - The company is actively evaluating M&A opportunities to bolster its end-to-end lifecycle capabilities, as demonstrated by the acquisition of Lexicon Tech Solutions [32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that 2025 was a year of transition and resilience amid economic uncertainties, including tariffs and government spending changes [7][27] - The company expects gross profit to grow in the low single digits for 2026, with a slight increase in gross margin compared to 2025 [35][36] - Management highlighted the importance of AI adoption and consumption, indicating that customers are increasingly looking for help in integrating AI into their operations [55][72] Other Important Information - The company generated $1.1 billion in adjusted free cash flow in 2025, returning nearly $1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [9][30] - Non-GAAP SG&A expenses for Q4 totaled $752 million, up 14.6% year-over-year, primarily due to higher performance-based expenses [24][25] - The company plans to increase its dividend in line with non-GAAP net income growth, targeting a payout ratio of approximately 25% going forward [31][32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of memory pricing on demand - Management indicated that they expect a similar amount of pull forward in Q1 as seen in Q4, with strong demand for PCs despite potential deceleration in growth [40][41] Question: SG&A as a percentage of gross profit - Management acknowledged that while operating leverage is a priority, the SG&A ratio will improve as growth picks up and expenses are optimized [42][44] Question: Drivers of IT budget allocation in 2026 - Management expects client device growth to remain strong, with cloud, SaaS, and security continuing to be important categories for spending [57][58] Question: Corporate versus small business performance divergence - Management noted that larger companies are taking time to integrate AI, while small businesses are more agile in adopting new technologies [71][72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 was $5.3 billion, growing 3.8% year-over-year in constant currency, all organic [24] - Full-year revenue reached $21.1 billion, a 6.4% increase in constant currency, surpassing the $20 billion mark [5][24] - Adjusted Operating Margin for Q4 was 16%, improving by 30 basis points year-over-year, while full-year adjusted operating margin was 15.8%, exceeding guidance by 50 basis points [5][28] - Adjusted diluted EPS for Q4 was $1.35, up 12% year-over-year, leading to a full-year EPS of $5.28, an 11% increase from the prior year [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Financial Services segment led growth with constant currency revenue increasing 9% year-over-year in Q4 and 7% for the full year, marking the highest annual level since 2016 [4][24] - Health Sciences showed resilient performance despite industry cost pressures, with growth driven by cost savings and productivity improvements [25] - Digital Engineering practices experienced an 8% year-over-year growth in Q4 and full year, fueled by proprietary platforms [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America was the standout region with over 4% year-over-year growth in constant currency, primarily driven by financial services and healthcare [26] - Europe grew 2% in constant currency, with healthy growth in financial services and life sciences [26] - The Rest of World segment grew in line with the total company, driven by the Middle East [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to bridge the AI velocity gap, focusing on converting AI technology into measurable returns for clients [9] - A three-vector strategy is being implemented to capture demand, including applying AI-led productivity to traditional software cycles and building new cycles of agentic capital [10][11] - The company is committed to maintaining its position in the industry's winner's circle and aims to lead as an AI builder [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth in 2026, supported by a strong pipeline of large deals and a focus on AI-driven productivity [23][50] - The operating environment remains complex, but the company views it as an opportunity to capture wallet share in large deals [24] - Management highlighted the importance of reinvention and reimagination of processes to leverage new technologies effectively [39] Other Important Information - The company returned $2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [8] - The acquisition of 3Cloud was completed, adding over 1,200 Azure specialists to enhance capabilities in Azure data and AI [8] - The company is targeting 2,000 campus hires in the U.S. and approximately 20,000 in India for 2026 [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI's impact and revenue from package implementation - Management noted that new technology creates more opportunities rather than replacing old ones, emphasizing the need for process reinvention to realize value [38][39] Question: Gross margin dynamics for 2026 - Management indicated that Q4's gross margin decline was primarily due to higher variable compensation, but they expect to maintain productivity and manage costs effectively [43][45] Question: Confidence in large deal growth for 2026 - Management expressed excitement about the strong bookings and pipeline for larger deals, indicating a solid ramp-up expected in 2026 [50][54] Question: Risks and opportunities of fixed-price contracts - Management explained that delivery risk primarily resides with the service provider, and they have a robust process to monitor deal performance, ensuring they meet budgeted goals [60][63] Question: Durability of BPO growth - Management sees BPO as a significant growth area, driven by the need for transformation and maintenance of processes enabled by AI [68][69] Question: Growth margins and regulatory pressures in Health Sciences - Management expressed confidence in the Health Sciences segment's growth, highlighting the company's strong position and the potential for transformation amid regulatory uncertainties [72][75]