• Operating margin outlook: Full-year margins remained resilient at 21%, with management projecting margins between 20% and 22% for the coming year while absorbing 60 to 70 basis points of acquisition-related cost headwinds.
• Acquisition revenue impact: The completed Stratis acquisition is factored into guidance at approximately 25 basis points, while contributions from the pending Optimum acquisition and Australian joint venture will only be added after regulatory approvals.
• Large deal performance: Full-year large deal total contract value grew 24% year-on-year to $14.9 billion with a 55% net new share, maintaining healthy momentum despite quarterly lumpiness that brought Q4 large deals to $3.2 billion.
• Headcount and hiring: While softer quarterly volume and seasonality led to a sequential decline of 8,000 employees, full-year headcount expanded by 5,000, and the company plans to hire at least 20,000 freshers in the upcoming year.
• AI business growth: AI revenue expanded beyond the 5.5% share reported in Q3, with management noting that new AI-first programs and partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic are currently outpacing client-driven AI productivity compression.