TCS Records Steady performance; Macro Uncertainty Weighs On Growth Visibility

TCS noted a tad better than expected operating performance in Q1. Revenue grew 1.9% QoQ (2.2% CC) to USD7.51bn, slightly surpassing expectations and largely backed by higher than estimated revenue contribution from the BSNL deal (almost half of incremental revenue QoQ). EBITM fell by 130bps QoQ to 24.7% due to wage hike. Deal wins moderated sequentially owing to timing of deal closures, but remained healthy at USD8.3bn (book-to-bill: 1.1x) and well within the management’s guided comfortable range of USD7-9bn per quarter. Despite broad-based revenue growth, healthy deal wins, and strong pipeline, the Mgmt refrained from commenting on growth sustainability, considering the near-term demand volatility caused by weakness in discretionary spending and unabated pressure from the sudden pause/deferment of projects by clients amid macro uncertainty. The management reiterated FY25 revenue growth being better than that in FY24. We largely retain FY24-27E earnings and our REDUCE on TCS, as well as TP of Rs3,950/share at 25x Jun-25E EPS.

Results Summary

Revenue grew 1.9% QoQ (2.2% QoQ/4.4% YoY CC) to USD7.51bn, a tad above our estimate of USD7.48bn. Cost of equipment and software licenses rose by USD70mn QoQ, partly reflecting ramp up of the BSNL deal. EBITM fell by 130bps QoQ to 24.7%, ahead of our estimate of 24.5%. EBITM was impacted (-170bps) by wage hike and higher third-party costs and partially offset by operating efficiencies including better productivity, higher utilization, and lower subcontracting costs. Among geographies, North America, UK, and Continental Europe grew 0.9%, 2.5%, and 0.5% QoQ (in USD terms). BFSI, Manufacturing, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Technology & Services, Regional Markets & Others, and ERU grew 0.6%, 1.9%, 2.9%, 0.7%, 10.6%, and 1.9% QoQ respectively. Consumer segment saw flat growth, whereas Communications & Media declined 4.2%. Headcount grew 0.9% QoQ (on-boarded 11,000 freshers), after three straight quarters of decline. The company announced an interim dividend of Rs10/share. What we liked: Steady operating performance, broad-based growth with almost all verticals reporting sequential growth. What we did not like: Weak cash conversion (67% OCF/EBITDA).

Earnings Call KTAs

i) TCS continued to witness the dichotomy that it has being seeing in the past 6 quarters. While larger and strategic transformation programs with enterprise-wide scope continued apace, some smaller programs with narrower scope benefits are being scrutinized more stringently, and hence tend to get deprioritized. TCS is seeing clients prioritize spend on initiatives oriented towards cost optimization which offer an immediate ROI. ii) BFSI saw return of QoQ growth. Clients are attempting to balance their priority between transformation and cost optimization projects. iii) Consumer segment saw QoQ growth, led by demand for cost optimization, operating model transformation, and vendor consolidation programs. Consumer confidence improvement and moderation in inflation are likely to drive a demand uptick. iv) CME continues to face growth headwinds. Interest rate cuts may be a trigger for higher spending by clients. v) TCS rolled out double-digit wage hikes for top-performing employees; average salary hike for employees is 4.5-7% wef Apr-24. vi) Revenue growth was led by AI Cloud, Cyber Security, and Enterprise Solutions. vii) In Q1, >270 AI/GenAI engagements have been deployed or are in various stages of progress. The AI/GenAI pipeline has almost doubled QoQ to USD1.5bn. viii) Near-term margin levers are pyramid rationalization, improved productivity, and better utilization, whereas pricing and growth acceleration would assist in the medium term.

First Advantage Releases Q1 2024 India Employment Screening Trends Report - FMCG Sector Shows Discrepancy Trends In Q1-24

First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FA), a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions, announces the publication of its Q1 2024 India Employment Screening Trends Report. The 33-page document is a compilation of anonymized data and analytics from the Company’s background screenings performed for its customers in the Indian market during the first quarter of 2024.

In Q1-24, Industries such as FMCG, Healthcare & Pharma, Services and Telecom sectors had discrepancies percentages that were much higher than the overall average of 9.59 percent.

In the first quarter of 2024, there was a noticeable rise in discrepancies in the employment sectors of BFSI, Engineering & Infrastructure, Healthcare & Pharma, Retail, and Services compared to the previous quarter. Similarly, education discrepancies were higher in the BFSI, FMCG, E-commerce & Logistics, and Services industries. Employment verifications saw a shift, with sectors like IT, Consulting, FMCG, Engineering & Infrastructure, and Manufacturing increasingly favoring alternate modes of verification. This trend highlights evolving industry practices and the growing emphasis on thorough background checks.

For a complimentary copy of the “First Advantage Employment Screening Trends Report: India,” and for other queries contact:

DeepashriSunder

+918861013031

deepashri.under@fadv.com

About First Advantage:

First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions. The Company delivers innovative services and insights that help customers manage risk and hire the best talent. Enabled by its proprietary technology, First Advantage helps companies protect their brands and provide safer environments for their customers and their most important resources: employees, contractors, contingent workers, tenants, and drivers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories on behalf of its more than 30,000 customers. For more information about First Advantage, visit the company’s website at https://fadv.com/.

Samsung Launches New Foldable Phones Galaxy Z Fold6 And Z Flip6 To Elevate Galaxy AI To New Heights

Samsung has announced its all-new Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6, along with Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro at Galaxy Unpacked in Paris. With the introduction of the new Galaxy Z series, Samsung is opening the next chapter of Galaxy AI by leveraging its most versatile and flexible form factor perfectly designed to enable a range of unique mobile experiences. Galaxy AI uses powerful, intelligent, and durable foldable experience to accelerate a new era of communication, productivity, and creativity.

“Samsung’s long history of innovation has allowed us to lead in the mobile space, creating the foldable form factor and ushering in the mobile AI era. Now, we are excited to bring these two complementary technologies together and unlock new possibilities for users around the world,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our foldables meet the unique needs of every user and now enhanced by the power of Galaxy AI, Samsung is delivering an experience like never before.”

Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip5 are the slimmest and lightest Galaxy Z series ever, optimized for portability. The perfectly symmetrical design with straight edge provides an aesthetically sleek finish while a new cover screen ratio on Galaxy Z Fold6 provides a more natural bar-type viewing experience. For your peace of mind, the latest Galaxy Z series is also equipped with enhanced Armor Aluminum and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making this the most durable Galaxy Z series yet.

Both the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 are equipped with the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, the most advanced Snapdragon mobile processor yet, combining best-in-class CPU, GPU, and NPU performance.

The Galaxy Z Fold6 offers a range of AI-powered features and tools such as Note Assist, PDF Overlay Translation, Composer, Sketch to image and Interpreter - that maximize the large screen and significantly enhance productivity.

Galaxy Z Fold6 offers an upgraded gaming experience, anchored by its powerful chipset and 1.6x larger vapor chamber for the ability to game for longer, while still maintaining performance.

The Galaxy Z Flip6 is not just optimized for portability, but it offers a range of new customization and creativity features so you can make the most of every moment.

The 3.4-inch Super AMOLED FlexWindow has been enhanced yet again, enabling AI-assisted functions without even needing to open the device. Plus, FlexWindow offers more Widgets than ever, and allows you to check information from multiple Widgets simultaneously.

FlexCam continues to offer the most versatile camera experience and unlocks new creative options. With the new Auto Zoom, FlexCam automatically finds the best framing for your shot by detecting the subject and zooming in and out before making any necessary adjustments. That way, you don’t have to choose between your friends or an incredible backdrop being in the shot – and it’s all hands-free.

New 50MP Wide and 12MP Ultra-wide sensors provide an upgraded camera experience with clear and crisp details in pictures. The new 50MP sensor supports 2x optical zoom for noise-free photos, while offering AI zoom for an advanced shooting experience with up to 10x zoom.

You can continue using all the creative and customizable features of Galaxy Z Flip6 without worrying about battery life either, with longer usage time made possible by hardware and software optimization.

Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 are secured by Samsung Knox, Samsung Galaxy’s defense-grade, multi-layer security platform built to safeguard critical information and protect against vulnerabilities with end-to-end hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection.

Galaxy Buds3 Series: Expanding the Connected Experience through Galaxy AI

With the power of Galaxy AI, the Galaxy Buds3 series brings a new communication experience. The Galaxy Buds3 series comes with a new computational design boasting a comfortable fit. The premium blade design also targets style-centric consumers with an ultra-sleek and modern style complemented with Blade Lights. This new design enables a more intuitive physical experience by allowing you to control the device by simply pinching or swiping up or down on the blade, thereby offering convenience and tasteful aesthetics at the same time. Galaxy Buds3 and Buds3 Pro offer two purpose-built design options. Galaxy Buds3 Pro is Canal Type for those looking for immersive sound, while Buds3 is Open Type for people who prefer to use the device in a variety of situations for an extended period of time.

JSW Group Signs MOU With MSRIT And SHARIKA To Establish Center of Excellence At Bengaluru

* The JSW Center of Excellence will foster research, training and development in Flexible Power Systems - Smart Grid

The US $24 billion JSW Group has entered into a triparty Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), an autonomous Private Engineering Institute, affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, and approved by the State Govt. of Karnataka  and Sharika Smartec, a division of Sharika Enterprises, a technical knowledge based consultancy & training company engaged in Design & Development of Smart Grid Technologies, to convert conventional power system into flexible power system through innovative solutions. This triparty collaboration will establish, at the MSRIT campus in Bengaluru, the JSW Center of Excellence (JSW-COE) for Smart Grid technologies. According to the Agreement signed, JSW Group shall provide  financial grant to the JSW-COE, MSRIT shall actively take on the pivotal role of establishing and hosting the JSW-COE and Sharika Smartec will be its knowledge partner and support in establishing, operating and maintaining the JSW-COE.

All the three parties to the MOU will leverage the collective strength of society to propel continuous learning, skill development and knowledge enhancement for operations staff, engineers and managerial professionals. The Center of Excellence  will provide a robust platform for learning, training, and development through the JSW Center of Excellence.  This state-of-the-art Center of Excellence is expected to introduce a radical change in learning & training modules by offering "Lab as a Service" to the next generation of engineering professionals, supporting startups while providing testing as well as consultative support. It will drive continuous learning, skill development, and knowledge enhancement in the rapidly evolving field of power systems.

With the advent of AI, deep learning, big data, blockchain, networking, and automation, the demand for innovative interventions in power & energy systems has become significantly critical. The JSW Center of Excellence at MSRIT will cater to this need by providing advanced learning, design, development, and implementation capabilities in Smart Grid or Flexible Power Systems.

Focusing on Smart Grid Power System training while equipping engineers, graduates and technical staff with advanced skills and knowledge, the JSW Center of Excellence at MSRIT will facilitate the upgrading and production of skilled manpower. In order to address the evolving needs of the industry, it will foster professional development within the energy sector.

Located at M S Ramaiah Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bengaluru - 560054, the JSW Center of Excellence will serve as a hub for innovative research, training, and development in power systems, ultimately contributing to the growth and advancement of the industry.

About JSW Group: The US$ 24 billion JSW Group is ranked among India's leading business houses. JSW's innovative and sustainable presence in various sectors including Steel, energy, infrastructure, defence, cement, realty, paints, ecommerce, sports, green mobility and venture capital. is helping the Group play an important role in driving India’s economic growth. The Group strives for excellence by leveraging its strengths & capabilities including a successful track-record of executing large capital-intensive & technically complex projects, differentiated product-mix, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and greater focus on pursuing sustainable growth. With a culturally diverse workforce spread across India, USA, Europe and Africa, JSW Group directly employs more than 44,000 people. It also has a strong social development focus aimed at empowering local communities residing around its Plant & Port locations. JSW Group is known to create value for all its stakeholders by combining its growth roadmap,  superior execution capabilities and a relentless drive to be #BetterEveryday.

National Skill Development Corporation And Visvesvaraya Technological University Forge A Partnership To Launch Futuristic Skill Programs

To revolutionize higher education and skill development in India, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic partnership aims to introduce cutting-edge skill programs bridging the gap between academia and industry.

The collaboration marks a significant step towards strengthening the higher education landscape by integrating skill development programs tailored to meet the demands of the 21st century job market. NSDC is set to become a hub of excellence, offering a diverse range of innovative programs aligned with industry needs and technological advancements.

The partnership aims to establish Skill Hub centres in over 150 colleges affiliated with VTU and set up Centres of Excellence (CoE) in select engineering colleges. Through these initiatives, the aim is to enroll 240 students per college in the Future Skills programme under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY), the flagship scheme of Skill India Mission. This is an opportunity for the youth of the country to get trained under direct guidance from industry experts and NSDC will provide the necessary support and oversight for these courses, ensuring adherence to the scheme's guidelines.

Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International, said “This partnership with VTU is a landmark moment in our mission to future-proof India’s youth. By integrating advanced skill programs into the academic framework, we aim to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring our young talent is prepared to excel in the global marketplace.”

“This collaboration enhances the employability of India's youth while fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. It empowers them to lead in fields such as AI, Machine Learning, and Robotics, driving the future of technology and industry. Together, we are setting the stage for a new era of workforce readiness and innovation.” He added.

Students participating in the PMKVY Future Skills Program will benefit from mentorship. Upon completing the training, students will undergo an assessment by the Sector Skill Council (SSC) NASSCOM and present their projects to industry experts. Successful candidates will receive an internship certificate from NASSCOM, recognized by VTU as fulfilling the internship or project requirements for final-year students.

Dr. Vidya Shankar S, Vice Chancellor, VTU- Belagavi, said "This partnership with NSDC will empower our students with industry-relevant skills, ensuring they are future-ready. Together, we are creating pathways for our students to excel in fields such as AI, Machine Learning, and Robotics, setting a new benchmark in higher education."

As part of the collaboration, VTU students will have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Hack to Hire’ hackathon, where they can tackle AI-based problem statements and compete for job opportunities with some of India’s most innovative startups.

This partnership between NSDC and VTU marks a transformative step towards a more integrated and skill-oriented education system, setting a new benchmark for higher education and workforce readiness in India.

About National Skill Development Corporation

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is the principal architect of the skill ecosystem in the country. It is a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) enterprise working under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. NSDC was established to catalyse the skilling ecosystem for private sector participation and be the strategic implementation and knowledge partner to Skill India Mission to build efficient vocational training initiatives, empowering India’s youth. NSDC provides support to enterprises, start-ups, companies, and organizations that are creating an impact by offering a world of opportunities in futuristic skills to the potential workforce. The organization develops appropriate models to enhance, support, and coordinate private sector initiatives in skilling by offering funding support to eligible entities, concessional loans to the candidates along with other innovative financial products and building strategic partnerships.

About Visvesvaraya Technological University

Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) is one of the largest Technological Universities in India with 24 years of Tradition of excellence in Engineering & Technical Education, Research and Innovations. It came into existence in the year 1998 to cater the needs of Indian industries for trained technical manpower with practical experience and sound theoretical knowledge. University has very successfully achieved the tremendous task of bringing various colleges affiliated earlier to different Universities, with different syllabi, different procedures and different traditions under one umbrella.

Indium Software Announces Basab Pradhan As New Chairman Of The Board

Indium Software, a rapidly growing, AI-driven digital engineering services company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Basab Pradhan as the new Chairman of the Board.

Basab Pradhan brings a wealth of experience and a stellar track record in leadership roles and board positions at prominent information technology companies. He has had an illustrious career, having spent over a decade at Infosys, where he rose from front-line sales roles to global Head of Sales and Marketing. More recently, Basab served as member of the Board of Hexaware and as Chairman of the Board of Coforge Ltd.

"I am honored to serve in this important role and look forward to collaborating with my board colleagues and the entire Indium leadership team to achieve our vision of becoming a global leader in Digital Engineering," said Basab Pradhan.

As Chairman, Basab will oversee the functioning of Indium alongside other board members, including Hari Gopalakrishnan, Partner at EQT, Vijai Raghavan, Head of Operations at EQT, Vijay Balaji, Co-founder of Indium, and Ram Sukumar, Co-founder and CEO of Indium.

"We are delighted to welcome Basab to Indium," said Ram Sukumar, Co-founder and CEO of Indium Software. "As an acknowledged leader with extensive experience in building and growing technology businesses, Basab’s insights will be invaluable as we continue to accelerate our growth, supported by EQT. His experience in advising boards and leaders of technology companies on their growth journeys to over $1 billion in revenue will provide our board with a unique perspective that will help us create lasting value and impact for our customers, partners, and employees."

Basab is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

About Indium Software:

Indium Software is a fast-growing, AI-driven digital engineering services company, developing cutting-edge solutions across applications and data. With deep expertise in next-generation offerings that combine Generative AI, Data, and Product Engineering, Indium provides a comprehensive range of services including Low-Code Development, Data Engineering, AI/ML, and Quality Engineering.

With over 3,400 associates globally, Indium has established strong relationships with Fortune 500, Global 2000, and technology companies across various industries, including Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Technology, and Gaming companies in North America, India, and the Asia Pacific regions.

Magicbricks Unveils PropWorth: Offers Instant Property Valuation For 50,000 projects Across 5,500 Localities

Magicbricks, India's leading real estate platform, has unveiled its instant property valuation tool, PropWorth. It is powered by an advanced machine learning algorithm to assist buyers and sellers evaluate the estimated price for any property. Trained on 15 years of data and over 30 million listings, PropWorth covers 50,000 projects in 5,500 localities across 30 cities, offering comprehensive valuations for various property types, including apartments, independent houses, and villas.

According to Magicbricks, residential demand has surged by 23.8% over the past three years, with property prices increasing by nearly 42.6% across major cities. In this context, PropWorth is a game changing tool that empowers homeowners to assess their property values, delivering an impressive accuracy rate of 98%.

Sudhir Pai, CEO Magicbricks, emphasized the significance of this launch: "In today's dynamic real estate market, accurate property valuation is more important than ever. PropWorth uses data-driven estimates to ensure quick and precise property valuation, eliminating guesswork. This clarity empowers buyers and sellers to make well-informed decisions confidently."

Video demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2IhVFMRdug 

PropWorth link: https://bit.ly/MBPropWorth

Empowered by sophisticated advanced machine learning systems, PropWorth as a tool analyzes vast amounts of data efficiently and identifies key factors to generate reliable property value estimates.

Users can provide comprehensive property information such as the project or locality name, property type (flat or house/villa), number of bedrooms, super area, floor number, and car parking spaces. Additionally, users can share specific details including property direction (as per Vastu), view from the property (e.g., road, garden, pool), additional rooms, and amenities (e.g., clubhouse, swimming pool, lift, park, gym) to further enhance the accuracy of the property valuation.

*Cities (in alphabetical order) Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Goa, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Nashik, New Delhi, Noida, Patna, Pune, Ranchi, Surat, Thane, Vadodara, Vasai-Virar, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Zirakpur.