Infosys Defies Downturn: AI-First Strategy Drives Q2 Profit Surge and Shareholder Confidence
Surging profits and strategic AI investments power Infosys's confident outlook, boosted by significant deal wins and shareholder returns.
October 16, 2025

Infosys demonstrated robust financial health and operational strength in the second quarter, reporting a significant surge in net profit and solid revenue growth that surpassed analyst expectations. The Indian IT services giant posted a consolidated net profit of ₹7,364 crore, marking a 13.2% increase from the same period last year.[1][2] This bottom-line growth was driven by a consolidated revenue that rose 8.6% year-on-year to ₹44,490 crore.[1] The performance reflects the company's resilience in a complex global macroeconomic environment and underscores the early successes of its strategic pivot towards artificial intelligence. Bolstering investor confidence, the company's board announced a substantial share buyback plan of ₹18,000 crore and an increased interim dividend of ₹23 per share.[3][4][1] This robust performance, coupled with a consistent influx of large-scale deals, has allowed Infosys to tighten its revenue growth guidance for the fiscal year, signaling a confident outlook on future business momentum and its ability to navigate market uncertainties.
A closer examination of the financial results reveals a picture of disciplined execution and sustained growth. The company's year-on-year profit growth of 13.19% to ₹7,364 crore from ₹6,506 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year showcases effective management and profitability.[3] The revenue for the quarter ending in September grew by 8.55% year-on-year, up from ₹40,986 crore.[3] In constant currency terms, the revenue growth was reported at 2.9% year-on-year and 2.2% sequentially.[5][6][7] While the operating margin saw a slight dip of 10 basis points year-on-year to 21%, it remained within the company's guided range of 20-22%.[4][7] This stability in margins is noteworthy, especially as the industry faces pricing pressures and invests heavily in new technologies. The company's earnings per share (EPS) also saw a healthy year-on-year growth of 13.1% in rupee terms, reflecting the strong overall performance.[3][2] The robust cash generation was another highlight, with free cash flow reported at ₹9,677 crore, a significant increase of 38% year-on-year.[5] This strong financial footing enables the company to make strategic investments in technology and talent while also returning capital to shareholders, as evidenced by the dividend and buyback announcements.
The primary engine behind Infosys's impressive quarterly performance has been its ability to consistently secure large and strategic client contracts. The company reported large deal wins with a total contract value (TCV) of $3.1 billion for the quarter.[3][8][5] Crucially, 67% of these deals were net new, indicating success in acquiring new clients and expanding its market share.[3][5][9] This strong deal momentum is a direct result of the company's focused "AI-first" strategy. CEO and MD Salil Parekh emphasized this connection, stating that the strong deal wins "reflect our deep understanding of clients' priorities to deliver value from AI in this environment."[3][9] The company has been proactively investing in building its AI capabilities, particularly through its Topaz suite of services, and reskilling its workforce to thrive in a human-plus-AI workplace.[3] This strategy appears to be resonating with clients who are increasingly looking to leverage generative AI and other advanced technologies to drive transformation and efficiency in their own businesses. The ability to win large, complex deals, particularly in areas like financial services and manufacturing which saw year-on-year growth, demonstrates that Infosys is successfully positioning itself as a key partner for enterprises navigating the shift towards AI-driven operations.[7]
Looking ahead, Infosys has signaled a clear vote of confidence in its business trajectory by maintaining and narrowing its full-year guidance for fiscal year 2026. The company now expects revenue to grow between 2% and 3% in constant currency terms, tightening the earlier forecast of 1% to 3%.[4][7][10] The operating margin guidance has been firmly retained at 20% to 22%.[4][7][11] This updated forecast, provided amidst ongoing global economic uncertainties, suggests that the management has strong visibility into its deal pipeline and expects the demand for its services to remain steady. The decision to execute an ₹18,000 crore share buyback at a premium and increase the interim dividend further reinforces this positive outlook.[3][4] These capital allocation moves are interpreted by analysts as a sign of management's confidence in the company's long-term growth prospects and its ability to continue generating substantial free cash flow.[4] This confidence is rooted in the strategic positioning of the company to capitalize on the growing wave of AI adoption, with hundreds of AI projects already in progress across its client base.[12]
In conclusion, Infosys's second-quarter results paint a picture of a company that is not only navigating the current economic climate successfully but is also strategically positioning itself for the next wave of technological transformation. The strong growth in profit and revenue, fueled by a consistent flow of large deals, demonstrates effective execution. The company's proactive "AI-first" strategy is clearly yielding dividends, making it a relevant and preferred partner for clients looking to harness the power of artificial intelligence. By maintaining its guidance and rewarding shareholders through dividends and buybacks, Infosys is signaling its quiet confidence in sustained growth. As businesses globally continue to prioritize digital transformation and AI integration, Infosys's focused investments and proven ability to deliver on large-scale projects place it in a strong competitive position to capture future opportunities in the evolving IT services landscape.