On Thursday, Citi adjusted its outlook on WNS Limited (NYSE:WNS), a leading provider of global Business Process Management (BPM) services. The firm's price target on the stock was lowered to $55.00 from the previous $61.00, while the Buy rating was maintained.
The revision follows WNS's recent financial results, which fell short of expectations, prompting a downward revision of their future outlook. The main factor influencing this change was the removal of incremental large deal pipeline conversion, with the timing of these deals proving to be unpredictable due to uncertain macroeconomic conditions and their more strategic nature.
Despite these challenges, Citi remains optimistic about WNS's potential. The company's pipeline is still considered healthy, including over 20 opportunities that could represent more than $500 million in combined Annual Contract Value (ACV). However, any conversions from this pipeline are expected to impact financial year 2026 more significantly.
Additionally, WNS is experiencing continued volume reductions in the Online Travel Agency (OTA) space, which accounts for 1%-2% of the outlook revision. Nevertheless, Citi believes in WNS's capability to secure a substantial number of these opportunities. This confidence is supported by the company's sequential headcount growth and sustained investment levels.
Looking ahead, Citi sees an attractive setup for WNS in FY26, anticipating high-single digit growth with potential for further upside. However, the firm emphasizes that WNS will need to demonstrate effective execution in the upcoming quarters to realize this growth.
In other recent news, WNS Holdings Limited reported its fiscal second quarter results, which exceeded analyst expectations. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.13, surpassing the consensus of $0.99, and revenue of $322.6 million, beating estimates of $313.26 million.
However, WNS revised its fiscal 2025 guidance, disappointing investors with adjusted earnings per share now expected to be between $4.13 and $4.35, falling short of the $4.51 consensus. Revenue for the fiscal year is forecasted to be between $1.25 billion and $1.296 billion, also missing analyst projections of $1.309 billion.
WNS's CEO, Keshav Murugesh, noted challenges persist in online travel volumes and project-based revenues, leading to the removal of expected revenue contributions from large deals in its fiscal 2025 guidance due to less visibility on deal conversions and associated revenue ramps. Furthermore, the company's second-quarter revenue less repair payments, a significant metric, declined by 4.4% year-over-year to $310.7 million. On a constant currency basis, it fell 5.2%.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement Citi's analysis, InvestingPro data offers additional insights into WNS Limited's financial position. As of the latest available data, WNS has a market capitalization of $2.37 billion and a P/E ratio of 21.28, which aligns with the company's growth prospects discussed in the article.
An InvestingPro Tip highlights that WNS operates with a moderate level of debt, which could provide financial flexibility as the company navigates the uncertain macroeconomic conditions mentioned in Citi's report. Additionally, another InvestingPro Tip indicates that WNS has been profitable over the last twelve months, with a revenue of $1.32 billion and an EBITDA of $238.12 million for the same period.
Despite the challenges outlined in the article, WNS's financial metrics suggest a stable foundation. The company's gross profit margin stands at 36.5%, while its operating income margin is 14.26%, indicating efficient operations even in a challenging environment.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 6 additional tips for WNS, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
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