For top Indian IT companies Q3 likely to be 'weak' quarter

New Delhi: Third quarter earnings for the Indian IT companies are expected to be weak, with a 7.3 per cent year-on-year growth in constant currency terms for top IT companies, says a report.

According to Japanese financial services major Nomura, rupee appreciation, wage hikes, pricing pressure and need to change onsite staffing pre-emptively are key headwinds to margins of IT companies.

"Third quarter of this fiscal (3QFY18) is likely to be a weak quarter, in line with seasonality (due to lower working days/shutdowns), with 1.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 7.3 per cent year-on-year growth in constant currency terms," Nomura said in a research note.

The report further noted that "while 3Q might not see any impacts from INR appreciation, going forward if the current USD-rupee rates of around 63.5 sustains, there could be downside risks to consensus EPS estimates which are based on USD-rupee rates of 65 or higher".

Regarding wage hikes, the report said wage hikes could cause some depression in 4Q (January-March), which is likely to be countered by weak staff additions or staff cuts.

Meanwhile, a report by Kotak Institutional Equities, also noted that revenue growth of top Indian IT companies is expected to be 'soft' in the December quarter, while mid-tier companies are likely to report better performances.

Revenue growth for Indian IT companies decelerated in calender year 2017 on account of lacklustre growth in BFS, regulatory issues in US healthcare and challenges in retail vertical.

Changes in sourcing strategy of clients and slow progress on digital and sub-optimal participation of Indian IT also affected revenue growth of domestic IT companies, it added.