IT's grim portents

What next for stocks of IT firms

About What next for stocks of IT firms

Information technology (IT) bellwether Infosys Technologies' January-March quarter earnings, announced on Thursday, missed Street estimates. While its net profit for the three-month period declined 11.7 per cent from a year ago to Rs 7,033 crore, the more concerning piece of news lay in its outlook for FY26: The company guided for weaker than expected revenue growth during the ongoing financial year.   Even as global economic uncertainty, tariff disruptions and cautious client spending cloud the sector's outlook, Infosys seems to share the pessimism aired earlier by Accenture, which fears loss of US federal contracts, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro, which too flagged a challenging business scenario.   Both Infosys and TCS, though, have affirmed that they intend to continue hiring in thousands from engineering colleges this financial year. While Infosys said it would hire 20,000 fresh engineering graduates this year, TCS committed to sticking to its annual hiring numbers of 42,000. Only Wipro said it would recalibrate its campus hiring programme based on the demand environment.   The equity market also seems to echo the grim portents of the IT sector, with India's top IT services exporters continuing to lose ground on the bourses, despite bulls' return to the Street. In April alone, the Nifty IT index has fallen as much as 9.5 per cent, even as the broader Nifty 50 has gained 1.4 per cent. The IT sector's weighting in the Nifty 50, at 10.2 per cent, stands at the lowest in 17 years and only a shade better than the all-time low of 9.7 per cent before the breakout of the 2008 global financial crisis.   Meanwhile, TCS appears to be facing more difficulty, with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigating allegations of discrimination levelled against it by dozens of American workers.   What might these developments mean for the stocks and books of India's IT giants? Read on to arm yourself with insights and inform your investment decisions.

IT companies' slice of Nifty 50 pie shrinks sharply to 17-year low

Sector's weighting in index has slipped to 10.2% from peak of 17.7%

Updated On: Apr 18 2025 | 12:01 PM IST

Infosys Q4FY25 results: Net profit declines 11.7% to ₹7,033 crore

Infosys signals weak FY26 after muted Q4 result

Updated On: Apr 18 2025 | 12:02 PM IST

US agency probes bias claims against TCS on race, age, national origin

An EEOC spokesperson, citing federal law, said the agency cannot comment on investigations. Complaints, or charges, made to the EEOC are confidential under federal law.

Updated On: Apr 18 2025 | 12:03 PM IST

IT major Infosys to hire 20,000 fresh engineering graduates in FY26

It remains to be seen how this hiring will pan out, which will largely depend on project ramp-ups and more deal inflows. Any further deterioration may force the companies to proceed with caution

Updated On: Apr 18 2025 | 12:01 PM IST

Latest Updates on What next for stocks of IT firms

Index up, portfolios down? Half of BSE 500 stocks trail Sensex

According to Ace Equity data compiled by Business Standard, 250 out of 495 BSE 500 stocks have lagged the Sensex over the same period as of March 10, 2026

Updated On: 12 Mar 2026 | 10:07 AM IST

Risk-reward ratio favorable for long-term investors: Rahul Singh, Tata AMC

Strategy for 2026, he said, is shifting toward sectors with a probable growth visibility such as Banking, Consumer, Resources and Manufacturing.

Updated On: 11 Mar 2026 | 10:39 PM IST

IT stock: Happiest Minds shares zoom nearly 30% in two days; here's why

Happiest Minds share price: The strong buying interest emerged after the Bengaluru-headquartered firm revised its revenue growth expectation for FY27 to 12.5%, up from its earlier estimate of 10%

Updated On: 11 Mar 2026 | 10:53 AM IST

Tata Consultancy Services wealth erosion tops $100 billion from peak

TCS loses over $100 billion in market value from its 2022 peak as AI uncertainty and IT sector correction trigger a sharp valuation reset

Updated On: 11 Mar 2026 | 12:37 AM IST

TCS stock at lowest level since October 2020, tanks 17% in 1 month

Thus far in the calendar year 2026, TCS's market price plunged 23 per cent, as against 7.4 per cent decline in Nifty 50, data shows. The NIfty IT index lost over 1 per cent in trade on Tuesday.

Updated On: 10 Mar 2026 | 2:15 PM IST

R Systems International jumps 29% in two days; what's driving the rally?

A total of 40.82 million equity shares of R Systems, valued at approximately ₹1362.07 crore, changed hands on the BSE and NSE during the session

Updated On: 10 Mar 2026 | 1:03 PM IST

Infosys, HCL Tech FY27 guidance may steer IT stocks amid AI fears: HSBC

With AI concerns continuing to put pressure on Indian IT stocks, analysts at HSBC expect Infosys and HCLTech's FY27 guidance could be the key catalyst for the sector

Updated On: 10 Mar 2026 | 9:06 AM IST

Street signs: 24K support level for Nifty under watch, GIFT City IPO debuts

Nifty's 24,000 level emerges as a key support amid global fund outflows and West Asia tensions, while IT stocks turn defensive and the first IPO opens at GIFT City IFSC

Updated On: 08 Mar 2026 | 10:55 PM IST

Poor sentiment is a good vintage for building a portfolio: Vikas Khemani

Selective IT services companies with strong digital portfolios, diversified clients, and disciplined cost structures could indeed present a contrarian opportunity, he said.

Updated On: 09 Mar 2026 | 6:10 AM IST

Foreign outflows from IT stocks at 7-month high in Feb on AI shockwaves

Foreign portfolio investors sold IT stocks worth ₹16,949 crore ($1.85 billion) for the month

Updated On: 06 Mar 2026 | 1:09 PM IST

Why are IT shares gaining in a falling market? Infosys up 2%, Persistent 1%

IT stocks outperformed the market on Wednesday as rupee breached the 92 per dollar-mark. Shares of Infosys, TCS, HCL Tech gained amid the market crash

Updated On: 04 Mar 2026 | 10:34 AM IST

Earnings outlook for Indian IT sector remains subdued: Geojit's Vinod Nair

AI adoption is reshaping cost structures, leading to shorter project timelines and thereby layoffs in low-skill roles, said Geojit's Vinod Nair

Updated On: 02 Mar 2026 | 12:15 PM IST

Wobbly markets: Sensex, Nifty cap volatile February with another 1% drop

Benchmark indices slid over 1% on Friday, ending a turbulent February marked by a sharp IT selloff, weak global cues and erratic FPI flows, resulting in a third straight monthly drop

Updated On: 27 Feb 2026 | 11:51 PM IST

Cyclicals lift India's profit-to-GDP ratio to 5.3% post-Covid: ICICI Sec

Defensive sectors like IT and FMCG see market-cap share slip to 18 per cent as cyclical sectors like industrials and financials lead profit expansion

Updated On: 27 Feb 2026 | 9:06 AM IST

Xtglobal Infotech hits 20% upper circuit on AI-enbaled project win from US

Xtglobal Infotech share price hit a 20 per cent and rose to ₹33.63 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE)

Updated On: 26 Feb 2026 | 11:32 AM IST

AI fears overdone? Emkay turns 'Overweight' on IT, adds Infosys, HCL Tech

Emkay Global has turned 'Overweight' on Indian IT sector after Nifty IT fell 21 per cent in February 2026. It sees a 3-year return potential of up to 25 per cent with limited downside.

Updated On: 26 Feb 2026 | 8:54 AM IST

HDFC Sec trims target price on Mphasis, stays cautious amid AI disruption

Analysts noted that AI-led deflationary pressure is becoming visible in Mphasis' contract renewals, with discounts nearly doubling from 10 per cent to approximately 20 per cent

Updated On: 26 Feb 2026 | 8:51 AM IST

TCS, HCLTech, Infosys: IT stocks gain up to 4% in trade; Nifty IT rises 3%

Individually, HCLTech shares were up 3.57 per cent; Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS, and Wipro were trading over 2 per cent higher

Updated On: 25 Feb 2026 | 12:27 PM IST

Nifty IT headed for worst monthly fall in 23 years on AI-led disruption

The Nifty IT index last closed at 30,054, its lowest level since August 3, 2023

Updated On: 24 Feb 2026 | 11:23 PM IST

Sensex, Nifty slide over 1% on AI-led disruption and tariff worries

Sensex and Nifty fell sharply on renewed AI-driven IT sell-offs, tariff uncertainty and rising crude prices, with the Nifty IT index down 21% this month - its worst run in 23 years

Updated On: 24 Feb 2026 | 11:22 PM IST