Infosys(INFY) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue grew 0.6% sequentially and 1.7% year-on-year in constant currency terms [2] - Adjusted operating margin was reported at 21.2% [2] - Free cash flow generated was $915 million [2] - Revenue growth guidance for the financial year revised to 3%-3.5% in constant currency [4] - Operating margin guidance remains at 20%-22% [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Significant large deals totaled $4.8 billion, with 57% being net new [2] - Strong momentum in AI adoption, with 90% of the largest 200 clients engaged in AI projects [3] - Company is currently working on 4,600 AI projects and has generated over 28 million lines of code using AI [3] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Notable deal with the National Health Service in the U.K. valued at $1.6 billion [2] - Positive outlook in financial services and energy sectors, with good traction observed [18][38] - Manufacturing and Europe have shown significant growth, previously experiencing softness [42] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Company aims to capture market share across six AI-led value pools, positioning itself as a leading AI value creator for global enterprises [3] - Plans to share a comprehensive view of its approach at an Investor Day later this quarter [4] - M&A strategy includes looking for acquisitions in cyber, consulting, and energy services, with a strong pipeline of potential companies [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in market demand, reflected in headcount increases despite peers reducing jobs [6][9] - Positive outlook for the next financial year based on strong execution and large deal pipeline [9][18] - Management noted that while there are challenges, the overall demand environment remains strong, particularly in financial services and energy sectors [18][38] Other Important Information - Adjusted margins have expanded by 20 basis points sequentially, despite investments in sales and marketing [11][22] - Labor code impacts have been fully accrued in financial statements, with ongoing impacts expected to be around 15 basis points annually [29][69] - Company maintains a flexible work model and does not plan to change its approach to office requirements [65] Q&A Session Summary Question: Headcount increase amidst job cuts in peers - Management indicated that the headcount increase reflects confidence in market demand and is part of their strategy to build future capacity [6][9] Question: Impact of large deals on revenue guidance - Management stated that the revenue guidance upgrade is influenced by large deals and strong execution in the current quarter [9] Question: Sequential dip in margins despite currency tailwinds - Management explained that margins were impacted by various factors, including higher variable pay and lower utilization due to training new hires [11][22] Question: AI adoption and pricing models - Management noted that AI adoption is strong across client bases, with evolving pricing models being tested [18][19] Question: M&A strategy and market trends - Management confirmed ongoing discussions for potential acquisitions, focusing on areas like AI and consulting [28] Question: Labor code impact on margins and appraisals - Management clarified that the impact of labor codes has been accounted for, with no changes expected in appraisal approaches [29][69]