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Sonata Software LtdQ3 FY23

Sonata Software Ltd Q3 FY23 Earnings Call Analysis

Revenue, margin, capex, fundraise and order book outlook from management commentary.

Price: 284P/E: 14.7Market Cap: ₹7.5K CrSector: IT - Software

Management growth scorecard

Revenue

Category 3

Margin

Category 3

Fundraise

N/A

Order

Yes

Capex

Yes

2 of 4 growth signals are positive.

Full analysis

Revenue guidance

Category 3
  • International service business grew 40% YoY and 4.6% QoQ, with expectations to maintain high-teens YoY growth going forward.
  • Continued strong order booking with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.24x and a large deal pipeline up 25% quarter-on-quarter.
  • Large deals (e.g., $160 million deal) are fully ramped up; additional deals (like TUI) expected to ramp up further in H2 and next fiscal year.
  • Growth driven by modernization engineering, cloud, data platforms, and new large enterprise clients (17 clients >$3M revenue, 11 clients >$5M).
  • Expansion expected from Quant Systems acquisition and bundled service offerings leading to accelerated growth on new clients.
  • Optimistic long-term growth, targeting $1.5 billion revenue by FY26 with international EBITDA in low-20s.
  • Headcount and investments in AI and key tech areas to support growth, with an improving utilization rate (84.2%).

Margin guidance

Category 3
  • Sonata Software expects continued strong growth, targeting revenue of $1.5 billion by FY26.
  • International business saw 40% YoY growth this quarter; management confident of maintaining high-teens growth YoY.
  • EBITDA margin for international business to remain in the lower 20% range in the medium term, with ongoing investments.
  • Consolidated EPS improved from Rs. 8.66 to Rs. 8.96 quarter-on-quarter; PAT grew 10.2% YoY.
  • Large deal pipeline increased 25% quarter-on-quarter, with 32 large deals in the pipeline supporting future growth.
  • Amortization and interest cost related to acquisitions will reduce significantly by next year, potentially boosting PAT.
  • Employee costs may stabilize; headcount expected to rise with ongoing AI investments, supporting growth momentum.
  • Management remains optimistic about long-term growth despite potential softness in certain verticals (e.g., TMT).

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Fundraise plans

  • The company borrowed about $55 million during the acquisition of Quant, resulting in finance costs related to interest on this loan.
  • This loan carries an interest cost of approximately Rs. 6.5 crores per quarter (~Rs. 17-20 crores impact including unwinding of interest), which will reduce as repayments are made.
  • The loan is planned to be repaid sometime in the next year, with associated interest costs reducing substantially after payments in March 2024 and March 2025, and finally concluding with a payment in August 2025.
  • There is no mention of any new or planned fundraising through additional debt or equity in the current call.
  • The company appears to be focused on repaying existing debt rather than raising new funds at this time.

Order book

Yes
  • The international business order booking for Q2 stood at a book-to-bill ratio of 1.24x, which is industry-leading.
  • The large deal pipeline has increased by 25% quarter-on-quarter.
  • Sonata has 32 large deals in the pipeline currently.
  • The large deal of $160 million announced earlier in the year is fully ramped up and the transition is complete.
  • The company continues to see a strong pipeline and confidence in its value proposition across verticals and geographies.

Capex plans

Yes
  • Sonata Software is continuing to invest in AI capabilities and related talent, as highlighted by ongoing AI-focused hiring despite some quarterly hiring delays.
  • Investments are being made to support large deals and digital transformation programs, especially in modernization engineering with cloud and data focus.
  • The company has made strategic acquisitions like Quant Systems to strengthen its offerings, especially in data privacy and cross-selling opportunities.
  • Capital expenses relating to acquisitions include borrowings tied to Quant acquisition with associated finance costs over the next 2 years due to deferred payments.
  • Investments in platformization and modernization are core to Sonata’s strategy to win and scale large enterprise deals.
  • The company indicated plans to maintain margin levels in the lower 20s internationally, balancing investments with profitability.
  • No detailed breakdown of specific capital expenditure amounts was disclosed, but strategic investments are a key theme for growth and competitiveness.

How does Sonata Software Ltd rank vs peers in IT - Software?

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1Sonata Software Ltd
Rev 3Mar 3

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