Coforge Q2 FY27: consolidated PAT +42% YoY on Encora; revenue, EBIT lag Street
PAT +42.2% YoY · revenue +54.8% · margins compressing · miss vs street
₹6,170.8 Cr
+54.8% YoY
₹604.9 Cr
+42.2% YoY
9.76%
-0.8pp YoY
₹13.27
Coforge's consolidated revenue came in at ₹6,170.8 Cr (+54.8% YoY, +11.6% QoQ) with consolidated PAT of ₹604.9 Cr (+42.2% YoY, +13.8% QoQ; owners'-attributable PAT ₹588.1 Cr). Both growth rates, while large in absolute terms, undershot the Street's bar: JM Financial's post-Q1 preview had modelled Q2 FY27 revenue/EBIT/adjusted-PAT growth of 57%/82.2%/70.4% YoY, against which actual revenue growth of 54.8% and EBIT growth of ~67.7% (₹984.7 Cr, 15.96% margin, vs an implied ~17.1% margin expectation) both fell short. Adjusted PAT — stripping the ₹55.7 Cr net exceptional charge and comparing on an owners'-attributable basis — came in near ₹642 Cr, +~70.9% YoY, essentially in line with the Street's 70.4% estimate, so the bottom line held up even as the operating print softened.
Q2 FY-2027 vs prior quarters
The divergence between EBIT and PAT growth traces to two below-the-line items: consolidated finance costs jumped to ₹108.0 Cr from ₹40.9 Cr a year ago (borrowings swelled to ₹4,242.1 Cr non-current from near-nil, funding the April 2026 Encora acquisition), while minority-interest profit share fell to ₹16.8 Cr from ₹49.6 Cr after the company bought out additional subsidiary stakes (₹75.5 Cr spent this half). Net profit margin compressed to 9.80% from 10.57% YoY (though it ticked up from 9.57% in Q1), even as EBIT margin expanded YoY (14.62% to 15.96%) and EBITDA margin held near 20.6% — within management's own FY27 guidance band of 20.5–21% and slightly ahead of our pre-result preview's 20.0–20.3% expectation. On management's FY27 targets set out on the July concall (consolidated EBIT 15.5%+, EBITDA 20.5–21%, FCF-to-PAT 100%+), the quarter is on-track on margins (15.96% EBIT, ~20.6% EBITDA) but H1 FCF-to-PAT runs around 89% (₹1,007.2 Cr FCF on ₹1,136.6 Cr H1 PAT), still short of the 100%+ target.
The stock went into the print at ₹1,900.5, up 5.4% over the past month of trading.
For context: this is the second-highest quarterly PAT of the last 6 quarters; revenue is at a 6-quarter high.
What the summary numbers don't show
Net exceptional charge of ₹55.7 Cr this quarter — ₹62.7 Cr Encora acquisition/integration costs, net of ₹7.0 Cr legal-cost recovery in a cyber-security litigation matter
FY27: consolidated EBIT 15.5%+ (already delivered 16.0% in Q1), standalone EBIT 16.5-17%, EBITDA 20.5-21%, FCF-to-PAT 100%+. Order book $2.23B (+44% YoY). Q2 expected robust growth as large deals ramp.
— This quarter: met
Standalone results tell a materially different story: standalone PAT fell to ₹210.3 Cr from ₹362.3 Cr a year ago (-42% YoY) even as revenue rose to ₹3,812.0 Cr, because the standalone entity now carries the Encora acquisition debt (finance costs up to ₹78.9 Cr from ₹14.4 Cr) and its own ₹27.4 Cr exceptional charge, without the offsetting operating contribution that shows up only at the consolidated level. Corporate developments this quarter align with the acquisition-integration theme: the Board approved Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants as statutory auditor for FY27–32, confirmed Akhil Gupta as Chairperson following two independent-director resignations in September, and approved winding up a dormant Encora-group Italian subsidiary — all housekeeping rather than operational signals. No separate management press release accompanied this filing beyond the board-outcome letter, so there is no fresh management commentary on growth or margin trajectory to weigh against the print.
W1
Organic vs inorganic growth clarity from Q3 onward as the Encora base anniversary approaches — watch whether EBIT margin (15.96% this quarter, guided 15.5%+) and EBITDA margin (~20.6%, guided 20.5–21%) hold without the current acquisition tailwind
W2
Order book stood at $2.23B (+44% YoY) as of Q1 FY27; this filing disclosed no updated intake — watch the next order-book print and large-deal ramp commentary
W3
H1 FY27 FCF-to-PAT ran ~89% (₹1,007.2 Cr FCF vs ₹1,136.6 Cr PAT) against management's 100%+ target — watch full-year cash conversion as acquisition integration costs taper
Coforge Q2 FY27 Print — Order Ramp & Integration Test
After Q1's explosive 49% revenue growth, the Street watches for sustained momentum as large deals ramp and Encora integration drives margin accretion. On-plan would mean sequential revenue growth, EBITDA margin at 20%+, and reaffirmed FY27 targets.
The Setup: Momentum Meets Integration
Coforge has emerged as the Street's AI play in Indian IT services. Q1 FY27 (July 2026) delivered a wake-up call: 49% rupee revenue growth (33% in USD), profit up 110%, and EBITDA margins at 20.3% — ahead of the 20.5%–21% FY27 guidance. The company has a record executable order book of $2.23B, up 44% YoY, and management flagged strong growth from Q2 to Q4 as large deals begin executing and Encora (acquired 2024) reaches full operational integration. The Street's bet: sustained high-teens/20%+ organic growth + margin expansion as AI-led revenue now drives 86% of top line. The risk: valuation (stock is up 93% off 52-week low, trading near ATH; RSI 70.4 shows overbought signals) and execution (large deal ramp must materialize).
~₹5,700 Cr
Implies 3–5% sequential growth on ₹5,528 Cr Q1; assumes Q2–Q4 accelerate with deal ramp per management guidance
~20.0–20.3%
In line with FY27 guidance of 20.5–21%; Q1 achieved 20.3%, so on-plan is hold or slight uptick
~16.0–16.5%
Q1 came in at 16.0%; guidance is 16.5–17%; watch for Encora ramp-up benefit
~$600M–$700M
Q1 logged $691M; sustained intake backing the $2.23B executable book and deal ramp narrative
A strong print would show sequential revenue growth (₹5,600–5,800 Cr), EBITDA margin at or above 20%, sustained order intake near $600M, and management reaffirming FY27 guidance of $2.8B revenue and 20.5–21% margin. A weak print would see sequential revenue flat/down, margin compression below 20%, order intake dropping below $600M, or guidance cuts — signalling deal ramp delays or Encora integration friction.
On Track for FY27?
Yes, and then some. Q1 FY27 revenue of ₹5,528 Cr annualizes to ~₹22,112 Cr; management targets US$2.8B (~₹22,400 Cr at 80 INR/USD), implying FY27 is well within reach. Q1's EBITDA margin (20.3%) sat below the midpoint of guidance (20.5–21%), so Q2 should offer a first acid test: can the company deliver upper end? The $2.23B order book (organic $1.62B, inorganic $0.61B via Encora) is up 44% YoY and provides a visible revenue backlog through FY27 and beyond. Management's assertion of acceleration from Q2 onward hinges on (1) large deals ramping into production, and (2) Encora's margin accretion as integration work completes. Both are executable within the full-year envelope.
What the Street Says
Since Last Quarter — Event Scan
2026-10-09
Sold 2.01% stake (1.9Cr shares); holding dropped from 6.31% to 4.30%. Routine institutional rebalance.
HDFC Mutual Fund stake sale
2026-10-05
New AI agentic product framework. Supports narrative of AI-native engineering edge.
Intent Engineering Framework launch
2026-10-01
Nearshore hub scaling to 660 staff by 2027. Strategic nearshore play for Western clients; supports Encora footprint.
Krakow engineering center expansion
2026-09-30
AI-native customer experience platform. Product refresh reinforces AI positioning.
CXnova AI platform launch
2026-09-30
B2B tech brand recognition. Marketing/brand positive; no material impact on results.
ET Edge Best Tech Brands award
2026-09-28
Board governance change; non-executive, independent director. Routine governance update.
Akhil Kumar Gupta appointed Chairperson
2026-09-22
AI operations framework for enterprises. Supports AI infrastructure demand narrative.
AgenticOps capability expansion
2026-09-17
Recognized as Leader in 6 AI cloud mgmt segments. Third-party validation of AI/cloud positioning.
NelsonHall NEAT Leader ranking
Ownership & Flows: FII stake fell 6.34 percentage points QoQ (30.65% to 24.31%), while DII dropped 13.57pp (56.19% to 42.62%), hinting at profit-taking or valuation-driven exit after Q1's stellar results and ATH stock price. HDFC Mutual Fund's 2% stake reduction (6.31% to 4.30%) was a routine institutional rebalance. No pledges or insider selling flagged. Business updates: Coforge's product and capability launches (Intent Framework, CXnova, AgenticOps) signal continued AI-first engineering positioning and support the 86% AI-revenue thesis. The Krakow center expansion reinforces nearshore strategy for Western enterprise clients, a pillar of the Encora integration play. Governance: Chairperson change is routine (non-executive, independent director); no material impact on strategy or execution.
What to Watch on Result Day
1 · Revenue growth & mix — Sequential size and organic %-age
Target: ₹5,600–5,800 Cr sequential growth; organic revenue growth >15% YoY. Large deal ramp narrative hinges on top-line acceleration. Watch for organic/inorganic split and regional mix (US vs offshore vs nearshore).
2 · Margin trajectory — EBITDA & EBIT vs guidance
Guidance: 20.5–21% EBITDA, 16.5–17% EBIT (standalone). Q1 achieved 20.3% EBITDA, 16.0% EBIT. Watch for margin uplift as Encora integration delivers synergies; any compression below 20% EBITDA would flag execution risk.
3 · Order book & intake — $2.23B backlog, deal ramp pace
Record $2.23B executable book (up 44% YoY) is Q2–Q4's growth engine. Order intake near $600M+ validates pipeline health. Slowdown would raise questions about Q3/Q4 ramp.
4 · FY27 guidance reaffirm — $2.8B revenue, margin targets
Management has flagged strong growth from Q2 onward; Q2 results must validate this. Any guidance cuts or commentary on deal delays would deflate the narrative and likely pressure stock.
5 · Encora accretion — Margin and revenue contribution
Integration progress is central to margin expansion story. Watch for commentary on synergy realization, cost rationalization, and when full run-rate margins are expected.
6 · Attrition & pricing — Headcount growth, utilization, pricing power
Tech sector headwind: talent cost inflation and attrition. Q2 should show stable or improving attrition, pricing realization, and stable utilization (aim for 75–80%) to support margin guidance.
Coforge enters Q2 FY27 with strong momentum: 49% Q1 revenue growth, margins ahead of plan, record order book, and the Street backing an AI-native engineering thesis. The quarter is a pivot point: can the company convert a $2.23B executable backlog into sustained growth while Encora integration drives margin accretion toward the 20.5–21% target? On-plan would mean ₹5,600–5,800 Cr revenue, 20%+ EBITDA margin, and reaffirmed FY27 guidance of $2.8B revenue. Risks: FII selling (now 24% vs 31% a year ago), overbought technicals (RSI 70), and valuation (near ATH, ₹1904 Street target implies modest upside). Execution on order ramp and margin accretion will determine whether the bounce off the 52w low ($2,020 ATH) holds.
Watch for (1) sequential revenue growth and margin hold, (2) large deal ramp commentary, (3) Encora integration progress, and (4) FY27 targets reaffirmed. A miss on any would reset sentiment quickly given stretched valuations.