Indian IT Services Industry has a stable outlook - ICRA

Indian IT Services Industry has a stable outlook - ICRA: ICRA has a stable outlook on Indian IT Services industry. The credit profile of Indian IT Services companies remains stable underpinned by its ability to sustain free cash flows despite pressure on revenue growth and margins. With aggregate operating margins of ICRA sample set at 22.5% for FY2018 coupled with moderate capex (organic as well as inorganic) and working capital requirements, the free cash flows have remained robust historically. Despite pressures on growth and margins over the medium term, these factors are unlikely to impact the free cash flow generation ability of Indian IT Services companies though there could be moderation in the quantum of such cash flows. The credit profile is also supported by net cash position with significant liquidity in the form of surplus investments generated out of past cash flows. Our sample set (13 leading Indian companies) reported surplus liquidity (net of debt) of approximately Rs. 1,600 billion March 2018 despite healthy dividend pay-out of approximately 30% (Rs. 206 billion) in addition to share buybacks (Rs. 73 billion).

VARINDIA- INDIA'S FRONTLINE IT MAGAZINE