Infosys trims FY27 revenue forecast as Q1 profit climbs 12%

Infosys reported Q1 revenue of $5.1B, up 2.4% YoY, as AI revenue reached 8.2% of total and large deal wins hit $3.6B.

"The strong deal wins reflect client confidence in our AI-first strategy and execution capabilities," Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh said.

Operating margin expanded 0.2 percentage points sequentially to 21.1%, at the midpoint of the company's 20%-22% target range. On a constant currency basis, revenue grew 1% from the prior quarter. Free cash flow totaled $0.96 billion, giving the company flexibility for share buybacks and strategic investments. Net profit rose 12% YoY to Rs 7,769 crore, or Rs 18.70 per share, driven by higher utilization rates and cost optimization measures. The company did not disclose consensus estimates for the quarter.

The company trimmed its FY27 revenue growth forecast to 1.5%-3.0% in constant currency, narrowing from the prior upper end, while retaining operating margin guidance of 20%-22%. Infosys ADRs fell more than 4% in US trading after the release, as the guidance cut overshadowed the profit beat. The stock has gained about 8% year to date, broadly in line with the S&P 500 information technology sector.

Large deal wins of $3.6 billion included 61% from net new clients, indicating sustained demand for digital transformation services. The total contract value represents one of the strongest quarters for Infosys in recent years, driven by large-scale cloud migration and AI implementation projects across financial services, retail and manufacturing. The company's deal pipeline remains healthy, with clients increasingly seeking end-to-end AI integration services rather than discrete project work.

AI-related revenue, disclosed for the first time at 8.2% of total, highlights the company's push into generative AI consulting and implementation. The Bengaluru-based firm competes with Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and HCLTech for enterprise IT contracts. The AI revenue disclosure marks a shift for Infosys, which joins a growing list of IT services firms quantifying their exposure to generative AI. TCS, India's largest IT services exporter, has similarly highlighted AI-driven deal wins in recent quarters. Infosys has been investing heavily in AI training for its workforce and building proprietary AI platforms for client use cases, including its Infosys Topaz AI suite.

The Indian IT services sector has been navigating a period of cautious client spending, with enterprises delaying large discretionary projects while accelerating AI-related investments. Infosys's strong deal wins suggest it is capturing a disproportionate share of this AI-driven demand. However, the guidance cut indicates that converting the pipeline into revenue may take longer than expected, as clients move from pilot programs to full-scale deployment.

The conservative revenue guidance suggests management is factoring in macroeconomic uncertainty in key markets including the US and Europe. Rival IT services firms are expected to report similar trends in the coming weeks, with the sector navigating a mixed demand environment as clients prioritize AI projects over traditional outsourcing. For Infosys, the next catalyst will be the Q2 earnings call, where investors will look for signs of deal conversion and AI revenue acceleration.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.