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EPAM Systems, Inc. (EPAM)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 revenue was $1.353B, up 18.0% YoY; GAAP diluted EPS was $1.56 (down 8.2% YoY), and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.77 (up 13.1% YoY). EPAM raised full-year reported revenue growth to 13–15% and organic constant currency growth to 3–5% .
- Results broadly beat Wall Street consensus: revenue $1.353B vs $1.333B estimate*, and non-GAAP EPS $2.77 vs $2.61 estimate*, driven by improved organic momentum and AI-native work; gross margin was pressured by variable compensation and lower profitability of recent acquisitions .
- Q3 guidance: revenue $1.365–$1.380B (17.6% YoY at midpoint), GAAP EPS $1.89–$1.97, non-GAAP EPS $2.98–$3.06; full-year GAAP EPS was lowered to $6.48–$6.64 while non-GAAP EPS was raised to $10.96–$11.12 .
- Strategic narrative: three consecutive quarters of positive organic growth, accelerating AI-native engagements (DIAL 3.0, AWS Marketplace entry), and diversified delivery hubs; CEO transition to Executive Chairman planned for September 1, 2025, with Balazs Fejes to assume CEO role .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Organic momentum: Third consecutive quarter of positive organic constant currency growth; Q2 organic CC growth was 5.3%, with all six industry verticals and all regions growing YoY .
- AI-native traction: Management highlighted double-digit sequential growth in AI-related revenues and advancing enterprise-scale agentic programs; DIAL 3.0 release and DIAL availability in AWS Marketplace strengthened commercialization routes .
- Guidance raised for top line: Reported revenue growth outlook increased to 13–15% for FY25, reflecting stronger organic CC performance and FX tailwinds; organic CC raised to 3–5% .
Management quotes:
- “Our second quarter efforts delivered results ahead of expectations… combining best in class AI native services with our core engineering…” — Arkadiy Dobkin .
- “Clients… are increasingly turning to us to build out their data and AI foundation.” — Balazs Fejes .
- “We expect further improvement in our year-over-year organic constant currency growth rate in the quarter.” — Jason Peterson .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP EPS decline YoY: GAAP diluted EPS fell to $1.56 (-8.2% YoY) due to factors including higher effective tax rate and gross margin pressure from variable compensation and acquisition mix .
- Gross margin compression: GAAP gross margin was 28.8% (vs 29.3% prior year), with non-GAAP at 30.1%; management cited variable compensation and lower profitability of acquisitions as key headwinds .
- Cash conversion softness intra-quarter: CFO pointed to lower Q2 operating cash flow ($53M) vs prior year ($57M) and elevated DSO given increased fixed-fee milestone billing .
Financial Results
Segment Breakdown (Q2 2025)
Geography Breakdown (Q2 2025)
KPIs and Operating Metrics
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “This reaffirms our long-standing view that deep engineering and technology expertise is critical, especially in AI-led solutions… with no material exposure to traditional legacy outsourcing services.” — Arkadiy Dobkin .
- “As our clients prioritize their AI-readiness… they are increasingly turning to us to build out their data and AI foundation.” — Balazs Fejes .
- “Our strong results… are being driven by clients turning to EPAM for trusted quality coupled with accelerating momentum across our AI and AI native offerings.” — Jason Peterson .
- CEO transition update: “The CEO transition plan has been going well… Balazs Fejes will become our new chief executive officer… and I transition into the role of Executive Chairman.” — Arkadiy Dobkin .
Q&A Highlights
- Utilization and hiring balance: Active bench optimization driving utilization to 78.1%; net headcount additions expected in Q3/Q4 to support growth .
- Discretionary demand: Clients returning to EPAM for quality execution; AI-driven modernization (data, cloud) catalyzing spend despite macro complexity .
- Pricing and margins: Focus on account margin and appropriate pricing; 2025 profitability compressed by comp and acquisitions, with aim to exit improved and pursue 16%+ longer term .
- Delivery strategy: Non-legacy managed services; platform-based delivery via EPAM platforms (e.g., DIAL) gaining traction; balanced pyramid and upskilling across roles .
- DSO and cash conversion: Elevated DSO due to milestone billing in fixed-fee; still targeting 80–90% conversion over time .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025: Revenue $1,353.4M vs $1,333.4M estimate*; non-GAAP EPS $2.77 vs $2.61 estimate* — both beats.
- Q1 2025: Revenue $1,301.7M vs $1,282.3M estimate*; non-GAAP EPS $2.41 vs $2.27 estimate* — beats.
- Q4 2024: Revenue $1,248.4M vs $1,213.3M estimate*; non-GAAP EPS $2.84 vs $2.75 estimate* — beats.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Where estimates may adjust:
- FY25 reported revenue growth raised to 13–15% and organic CC to 3–5% (FX tailwinds and stronger organic performance), implying potential upward revisions to top-line models; FY25 non-GAAP EPS raised, GAAP EPS lowered (tax rate to ~26%, mix effects) .
- Q3 guide implies continued YoY growth with margin improvement; seasonality likely flattens Q4 sequentially .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Broad-based growth and AI-native momentum underpin beats; watch for sustained organic CC growth (6.2% implied in Q3 guide) as a key driver of multiple expansion .
- Margin trajectory is improving via utilization and account discipline, but near-term gross margin faces acquisition and comp headwinds; non-GAAP EPS outlook raised despite GAAP EPS reduction (tax rate, adjustments) .
- Raised FY25 revenue guidance and Q3 outlook highlight stabilizing demand; seasonality and dynamic macro suggest prudent expectations for Q4 sequential trends .
- Strategic positioning strengthened by DIAL 3.0 and AWS Marketplace presence, enabling platform-based delivery and faster AI adoption — a potential differentiator in services pricing and win rates .
- Share repurchases lowered diluted share count, supporting EPS; liquidity remains solid (> $1.0B cash), though DSO elevated with fixed-fee milestones .
- CEO transition appears orderly with continuity in AI-native strategy; expect further commercialization and partner-led go-to-market leverage .
- Near-term trade: lean long on AI momentum and sequential growth into Q3; hedge for Q4 seasonality and macro variance; monitor pricing improvements, gross margin mix, and any FX shifts .
Notes on Non-GAAP Adjustments
- Non-GAAP excludes stock-based comp, acquisition-related costs (including amortization), humanitarian support in Ukraine, cost optimization programs, FX impacts, and tax effects; reconciliations provided in exhibits .
- Q2 guidance reconciles GAAP to non-GAAP Op margin and EPS with detailed adjustment items (e.g., SBC ~3.2% of revenue; amortization ~1.3%; tax effects) .
Additional Relevant Q2 Press Releases
- EPAM Releases DIAL 3.0 (open-source GenAI platform); strengthens enterprise AI orchestration and agentic workflows .
- DIAL now available in AWS Marketplace AI Agents & Tools, simplifying procurement and deployment of agentic solutions .
Disclosures
- All figures and statements are sourced from EPAM’s Q2 2025 8-K, press release, and earnings call transcript, plus prior-quarter documents as cited. Non-GAAP and guidance reconciliations are from EPAM exhibits .
- Estimates comparisons are based on S&P Global consensus data via GetEstimates (see asterisks above).