Detailed Narrative
TCS reported a resilient performance for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, ending December 31, 2024, demonstrating strong deal momentum and margin expansion amidst a seasonally weak period. The company achieved a revenue of ₹63,973 crores, marking a 5.6% year-on-year growth. In dollar terms, revenue reached $7,539 million, growing 3.6% year-on-year, with constant currency growth standing at 4.5%. A significant highlight of the quarter was the exceptionally strong and broad-based Total Contract Value (TCV) of US$10.2 billion, which notably did not include any mega deal wins, indicating robust underlying demand across various markets and industries.
Profitability saw a positive trend, with the operating margin improving sequentially by 40 basis points to 24.5%, despite headwinds from furloughs and Q3 seasonality. The net margin for the quarter was 19.4%, contributing to an EPS growth of 6.4% year-on-year. The company's capital allocation policy remained consistent, with the Board recommending a total dividend of ₹76 per share, comprising an interim dividend of ₹10 and a special dividend of ₹66. Geographically, India led growth at 70.2%, followed by the Middle East (15%), Latin America (7%), and Asia Pacific (5.8%), while North America and Europe experienced declines of 2.3% and 1.5% respectively.
Segment-wise, Regional Markets exhibited exceptional growth at 40.9%. BFSI and Consumer business groups showed modest growth of 0.9% and 1.1% respectively, with early signs of revival in discretionary spending. However, Life Sciences Healthcare, Manufacturing, Technology & Services, and Communication & Media sectors experienced declines. Management noted that client IT budgets for calendar year 2025 are expected to be flat with a positive bias, driven by continued investments in technology modernization, cloud, AI, and cybersecurity. The company's portfolio of products and platforms, including ignio™, TCS BaNCS™, and TCS ION, continued to secure new deals and go-lives, underscoring their market leadership.
Management expressed cautious optimism for the demand environment in CY25, anticipating it to be a better year than CY24, particularly for international business. This outlook is supported by early signs of revival in discretionary spending, easing inflation, and reduced uncertainty in the US. While the tapering down of the BSNL contract is expected to be a headwind starting Q4 FY25 or Q1 FY26, TCS is confident in compensating for most of this revenue through new opportunities both domestically and internationally. The company's margin aspiration remains at 26-28%, with efforts to push for further improvement in Q4.
Key strategic initiatives include leveraging AI and GenAI for new projects, technology modernization, and productivity improvements, with management viewing AI demand as net positive. The deal cycle has also shortened by a few weeks for deals over $20 million, indicating improved decision-making by clients. While manufacturing is expected to bottom out in Q4 and revive subsequently, Life Sciences and Healthcare's recovery is contingent on policy clarity in the US. The company continues to strengthen its talent pipeline, with plans to onboard a higher number of campus hires next year, reflecting a long-term growth strategy.