Nitin Padmanabhan · Investec
On the 80% AI transformation happening outside IT — how are clients managing budget unlocks for this? And on working capital intensity with BFSI growing strongly, how should we think about free cash flow conversion and ideal DSO going forward?
On budgets: clients are reprioritizing spend toward AI-led programs with clear ROI. Business units are willing to fund even outside tech budgets when ROI is clear — underwriting modernization, for example, is a revenue expansion play not a cost play. Tech spend is up low single-digits but being repurposed toward building AI stacks. Large infrastructure capex-driven spends will open up as enterprises modernize compute environments. Aravind addressed the DSO/cash flow question.
Nitin Padmanabhan · Investec
Working capital intensity and free cash flow conversion with BFSI growing, and ideal DSO normalization?
DSO improved by a day. Contract assets have come down as customers accepted milestones — it moved to current receivables. DSO would improve by another 3 days if $17Mn payment delay is factored. OCF was around 76-80% for FY26; we are reasonably confident on the 80% target going forward. Contract acquisition cost payments happened in Q4, which impacted operating cash flow.
Sandeep Shah · Equirus Securities
With 26% of pipeline toward modernization and many vendors turning bullish, how does Mphasis differentiate to win wallet share in this space?
Differentiation comes from NeoIP and the AI-led platform approach — enabling modernization at scale with very fast time to market compared to traditional programs. Mphasis started this journey years ago and has a significant time-to-market advantage. The recent Theory and Practice acquisition extends the stack beyond IT modernization into business transformation, which is a competitive advantage.
Sandeep Shah · Equirus Securities
On EBIT margin ex-hedge losses showing 80bps expansion in FY26, how to model this going forward with rupee depreciating?
Hedge book continues for next four quarters. Continued hedge losses in H1 FY27, tapering in H2. Full benefit of rupee depreciation won't be seen due to hedging policy, but H2 FY27 will see lesser hedge losses.
Vibhor Singhal · Nuvama
BFSI vertical delivered very strong growth in Q4 and FY26. Can this momentum be sustained in FY27? Any headwinds or tailwinds at the vertical level?
Very happy with BFS and Insurance double-digit growth — both are broad-based driven by in-account action, deal-making and ramp-ups. Large deals won in Q1 accelerated growth in H2. Pipeline shows rapid buildup in BFS even after this strong year. No caution signals in these sectors; fairly confident of sustaining growth momentum, though whether at same rate or faster depends on deal conversion speed.
Vibhor Singhal · Nuvama
Logistics vertical has been hovering around $24 million for past three quarters. What's the outlook for FY27?
There was churn internally as new customers were added to replace rampdowns, which is why the business stabilized in H2. With just one or two large deal wins, the segment can swing quickly given its size. High quality logos in logistics, transportation, airlines, and railroads. Expected to gradually recover through FY27.
Dipesh Mehta · Emkay Global
Three questions: (1) What investments are planned to diversify beyond BFS for sustainable long-term growth? (2) OCF to profit guidance at 80% vs historic 100%+ — what's the structural change? (3) Is XaaP pipeline growth linked to ERP cannibalization?
On diversification: AI-led deal making naturally concentrates in forward-leaning companies — banks, consumer-facing companies, CPG, Retail, Telecom. Mphasis has made significant leadership investments and recent CPG/Retail expansion through Theory and Practice acquisition. On XaaP: it's about building foundational platform stacks with NeoSaBa and other assets — not cannibalizing ERP as Mphasis is a custom applications business not a core platform deployment business. Aravind addresses OCF.
Dipesh Mehta · Emkay Global
OCF to profit at 80% vs historic 100%+ — what's the structural change?
Transition to more annuity large deals with savings passed on to clients necessitates working capital investments — customers ask for year-one savings. This is a transition period; in subsequent years, working capital investments unwind. This is a conscious decision to drive growth. 80% is the discipline line we will not cross. As fresh deals are added, incremental impact diminishes over time.
Abhishek Shindadkar · InCred
Peers highlighted project start deferrals, but Mphasis data contradicts this. What's different?
The environment is the same — it all depends on propositions. Mphasis has been calling out this divergence for four or five quarters. Ability to drive value-based deals with competency in people and technology is key. Intentional investment in large deals capability 18 months ago with a new leader and team has created scalability and repeatability in driving propositions. Full impact of that team hasn't played out yet, which is exciting for FY27.
Rishi Jhunjhunwala · IIFL Capital
Large BFSI firms are asking for AI productivity and you have large exposure there — how are clients asking for productivity passbacks and are they ramping AI adoption for wallet share gains?
Seeing increased productivity gains especially in engineering, testing and maintenance. Pass-through is very measured and structured — partially passing back while asking clients to reinvest in additional automation, AI layers, and modernization. Net effect is not pure deflation — driving both efficiency and growth. In top banking accounts, delivered productivity through superior commercial constructs and consolidated SDLC work. Platform-led transformation programs and outcome-linked deals make accounts more resilient and enable higher growth.
Rishi Jhunjhunwala · IIFL Capital
EBIT margins ex-hedging losses appear at multi-year highs around 16.5%. How to think about margins in FY27 given accelerating growth and increased investments?
The business is constructed to hold margins steady despite productivity deflation pressure, which creates flexibility to invest back. Operating leverage available from platform-led proposition model — cost of goods sold equation improves if delivering outcomes without pricing for full effort. Target band 14.75-15.75% unchanged for FY27. Hedge impact addressed by Aravind.
Nitin Padmanabhan · Investec
Follow-up on DSO and cash flow: strategically, when growing BFSI at 18% and participating on AI side, working capital consumption is expected; the $16M released post FY26 makes 80% look lower — thoughts on assuring the 80% OCF target?
$16Mn is about 7-8% of PAT — so excluding it, OCF is 80% for FY26. It's a semantic point. Contract assets are not coming into DSO but into debtors — always included in DSO disclosure. Quality of debtors improved — contract assets and non-current debtors both came down. DSO improved by a day without the $17M benefit; with it, improves by 4-5 days. Contract acquisition cost payments in Q4 reflect investments made for large deals. Will continue making those investments but 80% is the discipline line for FY27.