Midcap IT firms to see margin squeeze
By siliconindia   |   Thursday, 22 July 2010, 21:52 IST   |    3 Comments
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Midcap IT firms to see margin squeeze
Mumbai: Indian technology firms are gaining traction after the global economic downturn. Though they have posted a muted quarterly numbers in April-June, operational challenges like high attrition and wage inflation are likely to put pressure on margins of the midcap IT firms, reports Reuters. A survey of brokerages launched by Reuters estimated that profits at Patni Computer Systems to fall 2 percent, Mphasis to rise by 13 percent and Tech Mahindra up by 18 percent. "The recovery will be U.S. led for midcap IT firms but the bigger worry is margins. Margin pressure will be more for the mid-caps than the large-caps," according to an analyst with Emkay Global. "Companies have given an average wage hike of 12-14 per cent offshore and 2-3 per cent onsite to be competitive in an improving demand scenario," an analyst with Mumbai-based brokerage said. Analysts expect margins of firms like Patni, Mindtree, Mphasis, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindrato dip by 80-117 basis points during the quarter. Companies like Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech and Mastek, with huge exposure to the UK and Europe, will be impacted as the dollar rose 7 percent against the euro and 3.5 per cent against the pound in the quarter, analysts said. Europe is the second-biggest market for the sector after the United States. Infosys Technologies, posted an unexpected decline in quarterly profit, and gave a muted forecast on concerns a weak European economy could curb new orders and dampen a recovery for India?s outsourcing sector. Tata Consultancy Services, said it saw strong demand after posting a better-than-expected 21 percent rise in quarterly profit, but was cautious about economic conditions in Europe. Analysts agreed that there would be more clarity about the impact of the euro zone crisis on the performance of mid-cap IT firms over the next 2-3 quarters.

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