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EPAM Systems Raises 2025 Revenue and Profit Forecasts on Strong AI-Driven Demand

EPAM Systems boosted its annual revenue and profit outlook on Thursday, driven by robust demand for its software services as companies continue heavy investments in artificial intelligence technologies. The company also exceeded second-quarter earnings expectations, pushing its shares up over 5% in premarket trading.

The software provider, known for its consulting, cloud, AI transformation, and engineering services, reported broad-based revenue growth across key industry sectors including financial services, healthcare, software, and consumer goods, as well as across global regions.

“As our clients prioritize their AI-readiness and preparatory actions, they are increasingly turning to us to build out their data and AI foundation,” said Chief Revenue Officer Balazs Fejes, who is set to become CEO in September.

EPAM now projects 2025 annual revenue growth between 13% and 15%, revised upward from a previous range of 11.5% to 14.5%. Analysts had expected 13.4%, according to LSEG data. The company also raised its adjusted earnings per share forecast to between $10.96 and $11.12, surpassing the prior guidance of $10.70 to $10.95 and analysts’ estimate of $10.85.

For the third quarter, EPAM anticipates revenue of $1.37 billion to $1.38 billion and adjusted earnings per share between $2.98 and $3.06, both above market expectations.

In Q2, the company posted revenue of $1.35 billion, an 18% increase year-over-year that beat estimates of $1.33 billion. Adjusted earnings per share of $2.77 also surpassed the forecast of $2.61.

TCS misses revenue estimates amid tariff-driven client caution

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest software-services exporter, reported quarterly revenue below analyst expectations on Thursday, as client spending slowed due to ongoing uncertainty around U.S. tariffs. The revenue miss has sparked concerns over demand for India’s $283 billion IT sector and negatively impacted shares of U.S.-listed Indian tech rivals Infosys and Wipro.

TCS CEO K Krithivasan noted on a conference call that delays in decision-making and project launches related to discretionary spending have persisted and intensified during the quarter. He said it is “too early” to predict when growth will return but suggested that clarity might emerge by late July or early August, depending on the U.S. spending bill’s progress.

TCS reported consolidated sales of 634.37 billion rupees ($7.40 billion) in Q1, rising 1.3% year-on-year but falling short of the 646.66 billion rupees analysts had forecasted. Four of TCS’s six verticals saw revenue declines compared to the previous year, with only banking and financial services (up 1%) and technology services (up 1.8%) showing growth.

Total order bookings dropped to $9.4 billion in the quarter, down from $12.2 billion in the previous quarter but higher than $8.3 billion a year ago.

Research analyst Sagar Shetty from StoxBox highlighted that the weak top-line numbers reflect ongoing client caution, a trend likely to affect other tier-1 IT firms and potentially lead to downward revisions in revenue guidance. HCLTech, Infosys, and Wipro are set to report results later in July. Following TCS’s announcement, Infosys shares fell 3.3% and Wipro shares dropped 4.2%.

Despite the revenue shortfall, TCS’s net profit rose 6% to 127.60 billion rupees, beating analyst expectations largely due to a delayed wage hike and higher other income.

HCLTech Shares Plunge 10% After Missing Quarterly Revenue Estimates

Shares of HCLTech (HCLT.NS) dropped nearly 10% on Tuesday, marking their worst session since September 2015. The decline came after India’s third-largest software services provider missed revenue estimates for its third quarter and adjusted only the lower end of its full-year sales guidance.

Revenue Miss and Analyst Reactions

HCLTech reported a 5.1% year-on-year rise in consolidated revenue to 298.9 billion rupees ($3.45 billion), falling short of analysts’ expectations of 300.68 billion rupees. The miss was attributed to underperformance in the company’s software business.

Following the earnings release, at least 11 brokerages downgraded their ratings on HCLTech, and four brokerages reduced their price targets, according to LSEG data.

Guidance and Market Sentiment

Despite the disappointing results, HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar projected an improving demand environment in 2025, echoing optimism expressed by larger competitor Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The company revised its fiscal year 2025 revenue growth forecast to 4.5%-5% from the earlier 3.5%-5%, factoring in acquisitions.

However, analysts remain cautious. Goldman Sachs noted that the midpoint of HCLTech’s revised revenue guidance fell slightly below expectations, citing weaker growth in the software segment and the gradual ramp-up of discretionary projects. Sanjeev Hota, vice president at Mirae Asset Sharekhan, commented that the lack of an increase in the upper range of revenue guidance further dampened investor sentiment.

Market Performance

HCLTech’s shares were the worst performers on India’s blue-chip Nifty 50 index (.NSEI), which rose 0.5% on Tuesday after a 1.5% drop in the previous session. Despite Tuesday’s plunge, HCLTech had outperformed its peers in 2024, posting a 31% gain compared to a 22% rise in the Nifty IT index (.NIFTYIT).

In contrast, competitors Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys recorded gains of 8.5% and 22.5%, respectively, over the same period. On Tuesday, TCS and Infosys shares dipped by 0.31% and 0.61%, respectively.