This is also HCLTech’s biggest weekly loss since December 2008, when the stock had declined 20% in a week. Prior to it, the stock had fallen 17.9% in a week in October 2008 and 16.9% in a week in September 2003.
Earlier this week, HCLTech reported its earnings for the fourth quarter, missing estimates on key metrics.
It guided for a weaker-than-expected FY27, and has pegged revenue growth at 1%-4% in constant currency, which was below Street estimates of 2%-6%.
The IT major’s services revenue growth is projected to be between 1.5%-4.5% compared to estimates of around 2%-5%. It has also guided for EBIT margin to be in the 17.5%-18.5% range, which is broadly in-line with a previous brokerage estimate of 17%-19%.Its constant currency revenue was down 3.3% from the earlier quarter, steeper than the estimated 1% drop.
On Wednesday, HCLTech CEO and MD C Vijayakumar said the near-term outlook reflects continued softness in discretionary spending as well as client-specific delays, with the FY27 growth guidance at 1%-4%.
He expects growth to improve due to the scale up of AI-led services, with advanced AI revenues estimated to increase 25-30% from the previous year and contribute around 20% of the company’s overall revenue over the next three to four years.
HCLTech is also prioritising long-term value over low-margin deals. It is even walking away from more than $1 billion in bookings, while positioning for AI-driven, outcome-based services.
Brokerages issued downgrades and cut their price targets on HCLTech after its results miss. The miss from the company has resulted in a steep sell-off in its other IT peers, which was accelerated after Infosys reported for the quarter as well on Thursday evening.
HCLTech shares declined 6.2% to hit an intraday low of ₹1,198.1 apiece on Friday. The stock has declined 12.4% in the past month and 26.3% this year, so far.
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