Infosys slumps as Q1 looks tough

Infosys is the top loser on the BSE currently. The stock went down almost 4% lower to Rs.1192.50 and remains firmly around the same levels presently.

The sudden rise of Infosys to the top loser spot is once again on account of the Q1FY17 projection by the company’s COO, UB Pravin Rao on TV. He said that the increase in visa and compensation costs was likely to impact the margins by 200 bps in current Q1.

Mr.Rao went on to say that he expects the margins to remain under pressure in the near term though he reiterated that Infosys will be able to achieve its FY17 revenue growth guidance of 11.5 to 13.5% growth.

For Q4FY16, Infosys had posted a much-better-than-expected set of numbers for Q4Fy16 and topped it up with a much upbeat guidance.  It posted a revenue of Rs. 16,550 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, QoQ growth was 4.1%.  Operating profit was at Rs. 4,220 crore, up 7% and margins were up 60 bps at 25.5% while net profit was at Rs.3597 crore, up 4%.

The company ended FY16 with a 17% growth in revenue at Rs.62,441 crore and net profit rose 9% to Rs.13,491 crore.  Total employee count at end of FY16 stood at 1,94,044 v/s  1,76,187 in FY15.

Liquid assets including cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale financial assets and government bonds were Rs. 34,468 crore as on March 31, 2016 as compared to Rs.31,526 crore as on December 31, 2015 and Rs.32,585 crore as on March 31, 2015.