HCL Tech shares gain after strong Q2 results, brokerages see up to 15% upside move

HCL Tech share price gained over 3 per cent in early trade to emerge as the top Nifty gainer. The buying was buoyed as the country's third-largest IT company reported better-than-expected results in the July-September quarter. The counter made an intraday high of Rs 989.05, gaining around 3 per cent at 10 AM, the scrip was quoting a price of Rs 974 apiece on the NSE and BSE.

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Meanwhile, brokerages have issued upgrades and raised estimates for HCL Tech. Several of them have revised their target for the scrip with Morgan Stanley, HSBC and Macquarie giving the new target of above Rs 1,000. While Morgan Stanley has set the new target of HCL Tech shares at Rs 1,100, brokerage firm Macquire has given new ratings of 'outperform' with the target of Rs 1420. 

Also, the Board of Directors has declared an Interim Dividend of Rs 10 per equity share of Rs 2 each of the Company for the Financial Year 2022-23. The Record Date of October 20, 2022, fixed for the payment of the aforesaid interim dividend has been confirmed by the Board of Directors. The Payment date of the said interim dividend shall be November 2, 2022.

The country's third largest IT company posted a 7 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit for the September quarter at Rs 3,489 crore, topping street expectations, and raised the full year revenue guidance citing strong demand and deal pipeline despite macro concerns.

Amid widespread fears of global recession, HCL Tech said it clinched a "stellar quarter on all fronts", delivering strong performance in top line. The IT services firm exuded confidence about its near term and the medium term growth, as it uppped revenue guidance to 13.5-14.5 per cent for the full year, against the 12-14 per cent growth band projected earlier.

"We remain very positive of near term growth and medium term growth. This confidence is coming from the booking that we had in the first half of this year and also the quality of pipeline that we have for the remainder of the year," HCL Tech CEO C Vijayakumar told reporters at a briefing.

The confidence is in line with the spending patterns and trends that the company sees in the market, Vijayakumar said, adding that typically during difficult economic environment, technology is seen as an "enabler" and mission critical and transformation deals that reduce costs are prioritised.

The revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 came in at Rs 24,686 crore, 19.5 per cent higher than the same period previous year and 5.2 per cent higher sequentially.

In dollar terms, the revenue of USD 3,082 million was 1.9 per cent higher quarter- on-quarter and 10.4 per cent year-on-year. The services revenue rose 5.3 per cent sequentially and 18.9 per cent year-on-year in constant currency.

The company won 11 large deals - eight in services and three in products.

So far this year, the counter has yielded a negative return of over 25 per cent. The 52-week high and low of the HCL Tech stock are Rs 1,359.40 and 877.35 respectively.

The stock hit its all-time of Rs 2,998 on February 21, 2000 and all-time low of 86.50 on March 6, 2009. 

With PTI inputs