October 01, 2014 Edelweiss Research is also available on www.edelresearch.com, Bloomberg EDEL <GO>, Thomson First Call, Reuters and Factset.
Edelweiss Securities Limited IT Growth momentum to continue
India Equity Research| IT
We expect Q2FY15 to extend the growth momentum seen in Q1FY15, riding improving visibility in the US markets and higher off-shoring from Europe. This, coupled with a seasonally strong quarter, induces us to forecast sequential growth of 3.0-7.2% for the top-4 IT players Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro and HCL Technologies (HCLT) in Q2FY15. TCS is expected to lead the pack with ~7.2% QoQ growth (4.5% organic plus 2.7% from consolidation of IT Frontier Corporation). HCLT is likely to post 3.6% growth, while Infosys and Wipro are likely to clock 3.0% growth each. We expect Infosys to maintain its annual revenue guidance of 7-9%. Investors will keenly track Infosyss commentary regarding changes in its strategy going ahead under the new CEO, Dr. Vishal Sikka. As for sector commentaries on demand outlook for the year, deal pipeline, discretionary spend particularly on consulting side remain key monitorables.
Q2FY15: Growth momentum to sustain While Q1FY15 set the tone for a better FY15 than FY14, Q2FY15 (a seasonally strong quarter) is likely to witness the growth momentum to continue backed by improving visibility in the US and higher off-shoring from Europe. For the top-4 IT players, we have built in 3.0-7.2% growth. TCS is likely to grow 7.2% QoQ (4.5% organic plus 2.7% from consolidation of IT Frontier Corporation), driven by broad-based growth across verticals (unlike Q1FY15 where growth was driven by smaller verticals). HCLT is likely to maintain its growth momentum and grow 3.6% QoQ with IMS and BPO being the growth drivers. Infosys and Wipro are likely to post 3.0% growth each owing to seasonally strong quarter and ramp up of the deals won earlier. Tech Mahindra (TECHM) is expected to grow 3.6% QoQ.
Wage hikes to singe margins EBITDA margins of the top-4 IT companies (except Infosys) are likely to decline by 30- 80bps impacted by wage hikes (HCLT and Wipro), while consolidation of IT Frontier Corporation will impact TCS margin (60bps). Wage hikes are likely to mar Wipros and HCLTs EBITDA margin by 80bps and 30bps, respectively. Infosyss margins are likely to improve by 150bps as it ramps up deals won earlier thereby improving operational metrics. Commentary by players on margin trajectory and levers available, particularly in wake of the stable currency scenario, will be keenly monitored by investors.
Outlook: Gearing up for growth Q2FY15 is expected to maintain the momentum seen in Q1FY15, riding improved demand momentum in the US (driven by digital technologies), while cost pressures will continue to drive higher outsourcing in Europe. Investors will keenly track the deal pipeline (particularly in the large integrated deals) and discretionary spending. We continue to prefer Infosys, HCLT, TCS and Tech Mahindra in the large-cap space.
Edelweiss Securities Limited IT Chart 1: IT Index has outperformed the benchmark index during the quarter
Source: Bloomberg
Chart 2: Wipro has underperformed peers during the quarter
Source: Bloomberg
90.0 96.0 102.0 108.0 114.0 120.0 1 - J u l - 1 4 6 - J u l - 1 4 1 1 - J u l - 1 4 1 6 - J u l - 1 4 2 1 - J u l - 1 4 2 6 - J u l - 1 4 3 1 - J u l - 1 4 5 - A u g - 1 4 1 0 - A u g - 1 4 1 5 - A u g - 1 4 2 0 - A u g - 1 4 2 5 - A u g - 1 4 3 0 - A u g - 1 4 4 - S e p - 1 4 9 - S e p - 1 4 1 4 - S e p - 1 4 1 9 - S e p - 1 4 2 4 - S e p - 1 4 2 9 - S e p - 1 4 ( % ) BSE Sensex BSE IT Index 80.0 88.0 96.0 104.0 112.0 120.0 1 - J u l - 1 4 6 - J u l - 1 4 1 1 - J u l - 1 4 1 6 - J u l - 1 4 2 1 - J u l - 1 4 2 6 - J u l - 1 4 3 1 - J u l - 1 4 5 - A u g - 1 4 1 0 - A u g - 1 4 1 5 - A u g - 1 4 2 0 - A u g - 1 4 2 5 - A u g - 1 4 3 0 - A u g - 1 4 4 - S e p - 1 4 9 - S e p - 1 4 1 4 - S e p - 1 4 1 9 - S e p - 1 4 2 4 - S e p - 1 4 2 9 - S e p - 1 4 ( % ) TCS Infosys Wipro HCLT
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Edelweiss Securities Limited IT Table 4: Quarterly estimates and comments
Stock Q2FY15E Q1FY15 Q-o-Q Q2FY14 Y-o-Y Key things to watch out for (INR mn) (INR mn) growth (%) (INR mn) growth (%) Revenues 133,369 127,700 4.4 129,650 2.9 Revenues (USD mn) 2,199 2,133 3.1 2,066 6.4 EBITDA 37,842 34,410 10.0 31,710 19.3 EBITDA margi n (%) 28.4 26.9 24.5 PAT 30,877 28,860 7.0 24,070 28.3 Revenues 240,132 221,110 8.6 209,772 14.5 Revenues (USD mn) 3,959 3,694 7.2 3,337 18.6 EBITDA 67,615 63,670 6.2 66,390 1.8 EBITDA margi n (%) 28.2 28.8 31.6 PAT 52,969 50,578 4.7 47,018 12.7 Revenues 116,526 111,358 4.6 107,727 8.2 Gl obal IT rev (USD mn) 1,792 1,740 3.0 1,631 9.8 EBITDA 25,757 25,507 1.0 22,845 12.7 EBITDA margi n (%) 22.1 22.9 21.2 PAT 21,025 21,032 (0.0) 19,321 8.8 Revenues 88,459 84,240 5.0 79,610 11.1 Revenues (USD mn) 1,458 1,407 3.6 1,270 14.8 EBITDA 23,026 22,160 3.9 20,930 10.0 EBITDA margi n (%) 26.0 26.3 26.3 PAT 17,536 18,350 (4.4) 14,160 23.8 Revenues 53,723 51,215 4.9 47,715 12.6 Revenues (USD mn) 886 855 3.6 758 16.8 EBITDA 10,745 9,284 15.7 11,110 (3.3) EBITDA margi n (%) 20.0 18.1 23.3 Adjusted PAT 7,473 6,307 18.5 6,684 11.8 Revenues 1,529 1,449 5.5 1,230 24.3 EBITDA 538 493 9.3 436 23.4 EBITDA margi n (%) 35.2 34.0 35.5 PAT 438 398 9.9 333 31.6 USD revenue growth of ~7.2% QoQ, 4.5% organi c pl us 2.7% from consol i dati on of IT Fronti er Corporati on(ITFC), EBITDA margi n di p of 60bps due to consol i dati on of ITFC. Growth to be broadbased across verti cal s. Indi a busi ness expected to do better than company average. Commentary by TCS on demand envi ronment, deal fl ows and di gi tal technol ogi es are key moni torabl es. TCS Revenue growth of 3.1% QoQ i n USD terms. EBITDA margi ns to expand 150bps QoQ due to i mprovement i n uti l i sati on and currency benefi t We expect Infosys to mai ntai n i ts 7-9% gui dance for FY15. Commentary on any changes i n the strategy of the company goi ng forward, pl ans of capi tal al l ocati on, di screti onary spend, and measures to control attri ti on are key moni torabl es. Revenue to grow 5.5% QoQ and EBITDA margi n to i mprove 120bps due to l ower staff costs . Upti ck i n recrui tment segment expected. Real estate segment to conti nue strong tracti on. InfoEdge's commentary on matri moni al portal , tracti on i n real estate segment and avenues for al l ocati on of funds rai sed recentl y key moni torabl es. Infosys Wi pro HCL Tech Expect HCL Tech to post revenue growth of 3.6% QoQ l argel y dri ven by IMS and BPO. EBITDA margi n i s expected to di p by 30bps due to wage hi kes and parti al l y offset by currency benefi t. IMS to conti nue to be growth dri ver. Management commentary on demand envi ronment i n core software and margi n outl ook for year need to be watched. Wi pro to post USD revenue growth of 3.0%. EBITDA margi n esti mated to di p by 80bps due to two month wage i mpact. Q3FY15 revenue gui dance, update on l arge deal wi ns and di screti onary spend to be keenl y tracked. Tech Mahi ndra Tech Mahi ndra revenues to grow 2.6% i n USD terms. Growth to be dri ven by both tel ecom and enterpri se segment. EBITDA margi n to expand by 190bps QoQ due to absence of one ti me cost that affected margi ns l ast quarter and INR depreci ati on. Commentary on tel ecom verti cal , l arge deal wi ns wi l l be keenl y moni tored. InfoEdge
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Edelweiss Securities Limited IT Table 4: Quarterly estimates and comments (contd.)
Source: Company, Edelweiss research
Stock Q1FY15E Q4FY14 Q-o-Q Q1FY14 Y-o-Y Key things to watch out for (INR mn) (INR mn) growth (%) (INR mn) growth (%) Revenues 6,559 6,217 5.5 5,493 19.4 Revenues (USD mn) 108 104 4.0 88 23.2 EBITDA 1,052 877 20.0 1,088 (3.3) EBITDA margi n (%) 16.0 14.1 19.8 PAT 937 685 36.8 725 29.2 Revenues 6,497 6,104 6.4 6,211 4.6 Revenues (USD mn) 107 102 5.0 99 8.4 EBITDA 1,176 1,017 15.7 1,478 (20.4) EBITDA margi n (%) 18.1 16.7 23.8 PAT 865 765 13.1 988 (12.4) Revenues 2,320 2,174 6.7 2,146 8.1 Revenues (USD mn) 38 36 5.7 34 12.2 EBITDA 887 800 10.9 928 (4.4) EBITDA margi n (%) 38.2 36.8 43.2 PAT 652 534 22.1 672 (2.9) Revenues 6,268 5,926 5.8 5,608 11.8 EBITDA 1,013 911 11.2 884 14.6 EBITDA margi n (%) 16.2 15.4 15.8 PAT 721 584 23.3 673 7.1 Revenues 4,725 4,350 8.6 4,324 9.3 Revenues (USD mn) 78 73 7.2 68 13.8 EBITDA 1,116 949 17.6 1,122 (0.5) EBITDA margi n (%) 23.6 21.8 26.0 PAT 749 688 8.8 608 23.1 CMC Revenue growth of 5.8% QoQ i n INR terms, dri ven by i nternati onal revenues (~6% QoQ growth) whi l e domesti c busi ness i s expected to grow by 5%. Strong momentum i n System i ntegrati on (SI) and ITES segments. EBITDA margi n to i nch up by 80bps to 16.2% due to INR appreci ati on, hi gher offshori ng. CMC management commentary on SI and ITES segment and domesti c demand outl ook to be keenl y watched as al so commentary on sub- contracti ng costs. Persi stent USD revenue of 7.2% QoQ dri ven by both product engi neeri ng & pl atform sol uti ons and IP-l ed busi ness . Margi n to expand by 180bps due to hi gher uti l i sati on, IP l ed busi ness and INR appreci ati on. Commentary on cl i ent budgets, deal pi pel i ne and contri buti on from IP-l ed revenue are key moni torabl es. eCl erx Revenue growth to be 5.7% QoQ i n USD terms dri ven by cabl e segment. EBITDA margi n to i nch up ~140bps due to absence of one ti me costs whi ch i mpacted margi ns i n Q1FY15, uti l i sati on i mprovement and currency benefi t. Demand outl ook, parti cul arl y i n BFSI space, cabl e busi ness, pri ci ng and margi n outl ook for FY15 to be watched. CYIENT USD revenue to grow of 5.0% QoQ on the back of 6.5% growth l ast quarter. Growth to be dri ven by upti ck i n top 10 cl i ents. EBITDA margi n to i mprove by 140bps dri ven by benefi ts from uti l i sati oni mprovement, other operati onal effi ci enci es and currency. Hexaware's outl ook on the top 10 cl i ents and deal wi ns are the key moni torabl e. Hexaware USD revenue growth of 4.0% QoQ dri ven by both EBITDA margi n i mprovment of 200bps QoQ due to uti l i sati on upti ck. Softenti al i ntegrati on on expected l i nes. Cyi ent's demand outl ook, commentary on deal pi pel i ne, sustai nabi l i ty of the growth and i ntegrati on of Softenti al need to be tracked.
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Edelweiss Securities Limited IT Table 5: Valuation and recommendation snapshot
> 50bn Between 10bn and 50 bn < 10bn Date Company Title Price (INR) Recos
Buy Hold Reduce Total
Recent Research Rating Interpretation
Buy appreciate more than 15% over a 12-month period Hold appreciate up to 15% over a 12-month period Reduce depreciate more than 5% over a 12-month period Rating Expected to
24-Sep-14 Accenture Inline quarter; demand uptick in key geographies; Global Pulse
15-Sep-14 IT Cognizant acquires TriZetto for USD2.7bn; Sector Update
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Edelweiss Securities Limited IT
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