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TCS Information Technology 10 Oct 2024

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd — Q2 FY25

TCS reported Q2 FY25 revenue of INR 64,259 crore, up 7.6% YoY, with constant currency growth of 5.5%.

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Revenue ₹64,259 Cr +7.6%
EBITDA
EBITDA Margin
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Read Time 1 min read

✓ Verified against BSE filing

2-Minute Summary

✦ AI-Generated from Full Transcript

TCS reported Q2 FY25 revenue of INR 64,259 crore, up 7.6% YoY, with constant currency growth of 5.5%. Operating margin declined 60bps sequentially to 24.1%, impacted by a large transformational project and talent investments. BFSI showed signs of recovery, especially in North America, while life sciences and healthcare faced client-specific headwinds expected to stabilize by Q3. Deal TCV was $8.6 billion, with a strong pipeline near all-time highs. Management remains cautiously optimistic on discretionary spend recovery but flagged near-term pressure in manufacturing and telecom. Key risk: client-specific scope reductions and prolonged macro uncertainty could delay growth acceleration.

Bear Cases2 alive · 0 deadRisks4 trackedTranscriptfull text
Research workspace

Focused Modules

Bear Cases 2 tracked

Bear Cases vs Reality

Deal TCV decline signals weakening demand pipeline Alive 2, weakening 0, dead 0.

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!Risks 4 risks

Risk Intelligence

Client-specific scope reductions in life sciences

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Transcript Full text

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Quarter Snapshot

Deal TCV $8.6B
-20% H1 vs H1 last year

Total contract value for Q2 was $8.6 billion, down from $10.2 billion in Q2 last year due to absence of mega deals.

Attrition (IT Services) 12.3%
Flat vs Q1

LTM attrition remained within the 11%-13% comfort range, reflecting stable workforce retention.

Net Headcount Addition 5,726
Similar to Q1

TCS added 5,726 employees in Q2, continuing strategic hiring for growth markets and emerging tech.

GenAI Engagements in Production 86
+975% QoQ

GenAI production engagements surged from 8 to 86, indicating rapid scaling from POC to deployment.

What Changed vs Last Quarter

Comparing Q2 FY25 vs Q1 FY25
4 new guidance3 dropped4 new risk3 risk resolved
NEW
Life sciences headwinds to stabilize in Q3, return to growth in Q4

Client-specific headwinds in life sciences and healthcare are expected to stabilize in Q3 and return to growth in Q4.

NEW
BSNL deal peak revenue to continue for one more quarter, then taper

The BSNL transformational program is at peak revenue; expected to remain at similar levels for one more quarter before tapering.

NEW
Margin aspiration to exit Q4 at 26%

Management aspires to exit Q4 FY25 at 26% operating margin, similar to Q4 FY24 exit.

NEW
Growth markets as long-term growth driver

TCS is investing significantly in India, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa as sustainable long-term growth drivers.

DROPPED
FY25 better than FY24

Management reiterated that FY25 will be better than FY24 in terms of revenue growth, but declined to provide specific numbers.

DROPPED
Operating margin aspirational band of 26-28%

CFO Samir Seksaria reaffirmed commitment to the 26-28% operating margin band, with levers including productivity, utilization, and pricing.

DROPPED
Campus hiring target of ~40,000 trainees

CHRO Milind Lakkad indicated that the company aims to hire close to 40,000 trainees in FY25, consistent with historical practice.

NEW RISK
Client-specific scope reductions in life sciences

A large life sciences client abruptly reduced scope, causing revenue decline. Recovery depends on client's future investment decisions.

NEW RISK
Prolonged weakness in telecom and manufacturing

Telecom and manufacturing verticals face structural headwinds; telecom due to CapEx caution, manufacturing due to labor and supply chain issues.

NEW RISK
BSNL deal tapering could create revenue gap

The BSNL deal revenue is at peak and expected to taper after Q3, potentially creating a growth headwind in H2.

NEW RISK
Margin pressure from growth market investments

Growth markets have lower margins; scaling them may pressure overall margins until volumes improve.

RISK GONE
Sustained weakness in North America and BFSI

North America revenue declined 1.1% YoY and BFSI remained negative YoY, with management citing ongoing client uncertainty and delayed decision-making.

RISK GONE
Order book lumpiness and delayed closures

Q1 TCV of $8.3B was below the $12.4B in Q4, with some large deals slipping to Q2, indicating volatility in deal closures.

RISK GONE
Dependence on BSNL for India growth

Analyst questioned whether India's 61.8% YoY growth was largely BSNL-driven, raising concerns about sustainability of growth outside this deal.

🤫 Topics management stopped discussing

Fresher hiring of 40,000 for FY24 still on track

Mentioned in Q1 FY24, Q1 FY25, Q3 FY24

CHRO Milind Lakkad indicated that the company aims to hire close to 40,000 trainees in FY25, consistent with historical practice.

Prolonged demand softness in North America and BFSI

Mentioned in Q1 FY24, Q1 FY25, Q3 FY24

North America revenue declined 1.1% YoY and BFSI remained negative YoY, with management citing ongoing client uncertainty and delayed decision-making.

FY25 growth expected to be better than FY24

Mentioned in Q1 FY25, Q4 FY24

Management reiterated that FY25 will be better than FY24 in terms of revenue growth, but declined to provide specific numbers.

Headcount decline may signal demand softness

Mentioned in Q2 FY24, Q3 FY24

Headcount declined by 5,600 in Q3. CHRO said further decline would not be surprising, which could signal lower utilization or demand.

Operating margin aspirational band of 26-28%

Mentioned in Q1 FY24, Q1 FY25

CFO Samir Seksaria reaffirmed commitment to the 26-28% operating margin band, with levers including productivity, utilization, and pricing.

Fast read

Guidance and risk preview

Top guidance Life sciences headwinds to stabilize in Q3, return to growth in Q4

Client-specific headwinds in life sciences and healthcare are expected to stabilize in Q3 and return to growth in Q4.

Top risk Client-specific scope reductions in life sciences

A large life sciences client abruptly reduced scope, causing revenue decline.

View Risks →