The Indian information technology (IT) sector, long regarded as a pillar of the country’s economic growth, has suffered substantial headwinds in the last two years. This industry, which comprises software services, business process outsourcing, and hardware manufacturing, has seen a significant decline following years of strong performance.
However, with the recovery of IT services, the industry appears to be well positioned to resume its growth path. One such company in this category that appears to be leading the pack from the front is none other than the industry’s behemoth, TCS (Tata Consultancy Services).
Industry Outlook
The IT sector in India is navigating a challenging period marked by global economic uncertainty, talent shortages, and margin pressures. Despite recent underperformance, the industry shows signs of revival. Companies are adapting to new technologies like AI, cloud computing, and automation, while also dealing with shifts in client demands and spending patterns.
The BFSI crisis and changing technology trends have forced IT firms to evolve their strategies. However, increasing digital adoption across industries offers new growth opportunities. While the sector may not immediately return to its previous high-growth rates, there’s cautious optimism for gradual recovery. Success will depend on effectively managing ongoing challenges while capitalizing on emerging technologies and market demands.
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Company Overview Of TCS
Tata Consultancy Services(TCS) the largest IT services provider in India, is a global leader in the field and operates in 55 countries. TCS provides a wide range of services, such as application development, business process outsourcing, and consulting. The company has strong financial results, steady revenue growth, and industry-leading profit margins.
TCS is renowned for its highly skilled workforce, commitment to innovation in fields like artificial intelligence and cloud computing, and long-standing relationships with numerous Fortune 500 clients. TCS also keeps up with changing market trends and emerging technologies.
Human Resource Management
As of Q1 FY25, TCS had 606,998 total employees. With 151 different countries represented among its staff of 35.5% women, the corporation maintains a diversified workforce. In the IT services sector, TCS reports a low attrition rate of 12.1% (LTM). The organization places a strong emphasis on developing its workforce; as of FY25, employees have accrued 11 million learning hours.
In the same time frame, TCS workers also gained 1.2 million competences and 129,000 high-demand competencies. These numbers demonstrate TCS’s dedication to preserving a knowledgeable and varied workforce while successfully controlling turnover.
Financial Highlights Of TCS
Revenue increased steadily, rising by 5.4% from ₹59,381 Crores in June 2023 to ₹62,613 Crores in June 2024. Net profit also grew, improving by 9% from ₹11,120 Crores to ₹12,105 Crores over the same period.
Operating profit margin remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 25% and 28% over the five quarters, ending at 27% in June 2024. Operating profit showed consistent growth, increasing from ₹13,755 Crores to ₹15,442 Crores, a 12.3% rise.
Earnings per share also demonstrated growth, rising from ₹30.26 in June 2023 to ₹33.28 in June 2024, representing a 10% increase over the one-year period.
Key Metrics Of TCS
Result Outlook and Management Commentary
On July 11, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) published its June quarter results, which met market expectations. The tech company announced a 9% increase in consolidated net profit to ₹12,105 crore from the previous year. In the period between April and June, India’s largest IT company’s revenue from operations increased by 5.4 percent to ₹62,613 crore year on year. The company also issued an interim dividend of ₹10 per share.
A filing with the stock exchanges revealed that TCS has observed that all of its major markets have resumed sequential growth. The company also reported that nearly all verticals experienced sequential growth, with manufacturing leading the way at 9.4% year-over-year growth, followed by energy, resources & utilities at 5.7%, and Life Sciences & Healthcare at 4.0%. Emerging markets, in particular, saw a robust double-digit growth, nearly reaching 62% year-over-year.
Total Contract Value
Over the past five quarters, TCS has experienced significant fluctuations in its Total Contract Value (TCV). In Q1 2024, TCS reported a robust TCV of $34.10 billion (All Time High Deal Wins), setting a high benchmark. However, subsequent quarters saw a substantial decline. Q2 2024 recorded $11.20 billion, a 67.2% decrease from Q1.
The downward trend continued in Q3 2024 with $8.10 billion, marking a 27.7% drop from Q2. Q4 2024 showed signs of recovery with $13.20 billion, a 63% increase from Q3. The most recent quarter, Q1 2025, reported $8.30 billion, representing a 37.1% decrease from Q4 2024 and a dramatic 75.7% decline from the same quarter last year. This volatility in TCV reflects the challenging and dynamic market conditions TCS has been navigating.
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Future Outlook Of TCS
- Digital transformation: As businesses worldwide accelerate their digital initiatives post-pandemic, TCS is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend. The company can leverage its expertise to help clients modernize their operations and enhance digital capabilities.
- Cloud migration: With more companies moving to cloud-based solutions, TCS has significant opportunities to grow its cloud services. This includes assisting clients with cloud migration, management, and optimization across various platforms.
- AI and automation: TCS’s ongoing investments in artificial intelligence and automation technologies will be crucial. These areas are becoming increasingly important for clients, offering opportunities for TCS to develop innovative solutions and maintain its competitive edge.
- Talent management: Addressing the IT skills gap and reducing attrition rates will be vital for TCS. The company needs to focus on retraining and upskilling its workforce to meet evolving client needs and maintain project continuity.
- Global economic factors: TCS is navigating various global economic challenges, including geopolitical tensions and potential recessions in key markets. The company’s ability to adapt to these uncertainties will impact its performance and growth.
- Client expectations: There’s a shift towards more value-driven, outcome-based engagements. TCS is changing its service models and delivery approaches to meet these changing client expectations and maintain strong relationships.
- Cost management: In a competitive market with margin pressures, TCS is focusing on effective cost control. This involves optimizing operations, improving efficiency, and balancing investments in new technologies with profitability.
Will TCS cross the ₹5,000 mark?
Macquarie, the international brokerage firm, has given the highest price target on the D-Street as it reaffirmed its ‘outperform’ rating for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services firm, and praised the company’s impressive AI investments and use cases.
Moreover, Macquarie has added TCS to its Marquee idea list and raised the stock’s price target to Rs 5,740 per share, up from the previous Rs 4,522.55. The report highlights TCS’s significant R&D investment, which now exceeds $300 million per year, and its development of a legacy modernisation framework based on AI.
Macquarie believes that AI can enhance the quality of software engineering and enable legacy modernisation with greater accuracy and lower costs, potentially opening up a large market for such modernisation. This positive outlook has led Macquarie to maintain its earnings estimate for TCS, anticipating a medium-term demand pickup from a wave of legacy modernisation programs.
Conclusion
Despite industry-wide problems, TCS demonstrates resilience and promise for growth. The company’s above-average performance in Q1 FY25, which included improved net profit and revenue, demonstrates its ability to navigate market uncertainty. TCS’s emphasis on digital transformation, cloud services, artificial intelligence, and automation prepares it well for future opportunities.
However, the organization must continue to handle talent management concerns and adapt to evolving client demands. While some analysts are positive about TCS’s future, others are more concerned. Overall, TCS’s future outlook appears cautiously optimistic, depending on its ability to properly exploit upcoming technology and manage global economic variables.
Witten By Dipangshu Kundu
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