

IT sector re-rating hopes fade amid Middle East tensions, Gen AI
The demand environment for IT services is stable rather than sharply improving, according to Accenture. Clients continue to prioritize large, strategic transformation programs with spending trends similar to 2025, said the global IT giant, which competes with tier-I Indian technology companies in outsourcing business and is often seen as an indicator of future prospects.Accenture’s managed services (outsourcing) constant currency (CC) revenue increased 5% year-on-year in Q2FY26, outpacing the consulting business, the company told investors in its earnings call for the quarter ended February (Q2FY26)—Accenture follows a September to August financial year.Sequentially, managed services growth moderated with softening deal wins, but the management expects a gradual improvement in H2FY26, supported by the conversion of large deals.
Also, robust momentum in the BFSI vertical (year-on-year CC revenue up 7%) bodes well for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Mphasis and LTIMindtree given their meaningful exposure to the sector. Currently, altering sentiments towards battered Indian IT stocks is a herculean task, requiring solid re-rating triggers that are nowhere to be found.
Accenture’s 4% year-on-year CC revenue growth in Q2FY26 was at the top-end of its 1-5% guidance.With strong deal bookings, sustained execution, and AI-led momentum, Accenture raised the lower end of its FY26 CC growth target marginally to 3-5% from 2–5%. “From an organic growth of 4% in FY25, Accenture is projecting 2.5% in FY26.
Thus, the narrative of a slight pickup in organic growth in FY27 (by 100-200 basis points) for the Indian industry could be brought into question,” said a BoB Capital Markets report dated 20 March. “We believe the market has
. Read on livemint.com