Q4 2025 Mastech Digital Inc Earnings Call

February 19, 2026

Speaker #2: Good day and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Mastech Digital 4th Quarter 2025 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode.

Speaker #2: After the speaker's presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you will need to press star 11 on your telephone.

Speaker #2: You will then hear an automated message advising your hand is raised. To withdraw your question, please press star 11 again. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded.

Speaker #2: I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Jenna Lacey, Manager of Legal Affairs for Mastech Digital. Please go ahead.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Operator, and welcome to Mastech Digital's 4th Quarter and full year 2025 conference call. If you have not yet received a copy of our earnings announcement, it can be obtained from our website at www.mastechdigital.com.

Jenna Lacey: Thank you, operator, and welcome to Mastech Digital's Q4 and full year 2025 conference call. If you've not yet received a copy of our earnings announcement, it can be obtained from our website at www.mastechdigital.com. With me on the call today are Nirav Patel, Mastech Digital's Chief Executive Officer, and Kannan Sugantharaman, our Chief Financial and Operations Officer. I would like to remind everyone that statements made during this call that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include our financial growth and liquidity projections, as well as statements about our plans, strategies, intentions, and beliefs concerning the business, cash flows, costs, and the markets in which we operate. Without limiting the foregoing, the words believes, anticipate, plans, expects, and similar expressions are intended to identify certain forward-looking statements.

Speaker #3: With me on the call today are Nirav Patel, Mastech Digital's Chief Executive Officer, and Kannan Sugantharaman, our Chief Financial and Operations Officer. I would like to remind everyone that statements made during this call that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements.

Speaker #3: These forward-looking statements include our financial growth and liquidity projections, as well as statements about our plans, strategies, intentions, and beliefs concerning the business, cash flows, costs, and the markets in which we operate.

Speaker #3: Without limiting the foregoing, the words "beliefs," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions are intended to identify certain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these statements as circumstances change.

Jenna Lacey: These statements are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these statements as circumstances change. There are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, including those listed in the company's 2024 annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at www.sec.gov. Additionally, management has elected to provide certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement our financial results presented on a GAAP basis. Specifically, we will provide non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share data, which we believe will provide greater transparency with respect to the key metrics used by management in operating the business. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable GAAP measures are included in our earnings announcement, which can be obtained from our website at www.mastechdigital.com.

Speaker #3: There are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, including those listed in the company's 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at www.sec.gov.

Speaker #3: Additionally, management has elected to provide certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement our financial results presented on a GAAP basis. Specifically, we will provide non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share data which we believe will provide greater transparency with respect to the key metrics used by management in operating the business.

Speaker #3: Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable GAAP measures are included in our earnings announcement, which can be obtained from our website, at www.mastechdigital.com.

Speaker #3: As a reminder, we will not be providing guidance during this call, nor will we provide guidance in any subsequent one-on-one meetings or calls. I will now turn the call over to Nirav for his comments.

Jenna Lacey: As a reminder, we will not be providing guidance during this call, nor will we provide guidance in any subsequent one-on-one meetings or calls. I will now turn the call over to Nirav for his comments.

Speaker #4: Thanks, Jenna. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today as we review our fourth quarter and full year 2025 results. When I started 2025 as CEO, I set three transformation priorities.

Nirav Patel: Thanks, Jenna. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today as we review our Q4 and full year 2025 results. When I started 2025 as CEO, I set three transformation priorities: mobilizing our leadership team, establishing clarity on where we are headed, and moving our organization towards that direction. We believe we have made meaningful progress across each of these priorities. The market backdrop remained challenging throughout 2025. Clients remained cautious with their technology budgets while pushing their modernization agenda as best as they could through prudent discretionary spending. Despite this environment and the revenue pressures that accompanied it, we delivered stable margins in Q4 and the full year. We believe this outcome reflects deliberate choices around stronger pricing discipline, tighter operational controls, and a focus on revenue quality.

Speaker #4: Mobilizing our leadership team, establishing clarity on where we are headed, and moving our organization towards that direction. We believe we have made meaningful progress across each of these priorities.

Speaker #4: The market backdrop remained challenging throughout 2025. Clients remained cautious with their technology budgets, while pushing their modernization agenda as best as they could through prudent discretionary spending.

Speaker #4: Despite this environment, and the revenue pressures that accompanied it, we delivered stable margins in Q4 and for the full year. We believe this outcome reflects deliberate choices around stronger pricing discipline, tighter operational controls, and a focus on revenue quality.

Speaker #4: Beyond financial discipline, we believe we also took meaningful strides in establishing the foundational layer for our core capabilities. We expanded our data platform build and scale-up, moving our relationship with GCP and Snowflake to the next level, alongside our established Informatica partnership that we announced earlier in the year.

Nirav Patel: Beyond financial discipline, we believe we also took meaningful strides in establishing the foundational layer for our core capabilities. We expanded our data platform build and scale-up, moving our relationship with GCP and Snowflake to the next level, alongside our established Informatica partnership that we announced earlier in the year. We also established our industry solutions practice, where we are building AI-powered, industry-led workflows as we help companies reimagine themselves in an AI-first world, whether they are accelerating with AI, transforming with AI, or reimagining with AI. Now, let me provide you a brief summary of our segment performance. In our IT staffing services segment, revenues during the fourth quarter of 2025 declined 7% year-over-year, while headcount fell 16.7%, underscoring our focus on higher value work and improved revenue quality. Kannan will provide more color on this in his remarks.

Speaker #4: We also established our industry solutions practice, where we are building AI-powered industry-led workflows as we help companies reimagine themselves in an AI-first world, whether they are accelerating with AI, transforming with AI, or reimagining with AI.

Speaker #4: Now, let me provide you a brief summary of our segment performance. In our IT staffing services segment, revenues during the 4th Quarter of 2025 declined 7% year over year, while headcount fell 16.7%, underscoring our focus on higher-value work and improved revenue quality.

Speaker #4: Kannan will provide more color on this in his remarks. Despite these volume pressures, we believe our business continued to perform well operationally, even with the seasonal impact we typically face in Q4 from the holiday season.

Nirav Patel: Despite these volume pressures, we believe our business continued to perform well operationally, even with the seasonal impact we typically face in Q4 from the holiday season. We achieved our highest ever average bill rates at $87.32, reflecting our disciplined approach to pricing and our emphasis on higher value engagements. And we are increasingly positioning our staffing consultants, not just as capacity, but as enablers of our clients' AI modernization journey. In our data and analytics services segment, revenues for Q4 2025 declined 24% year-over-year, largely due to backlog reversal from some of our 2024 engagements and reflecting a challenging comparison against the results in the second half of last year.

Speaker #4: We achieved our highest-ever average wheel rates at 87.32, reflecting our disciplined approach to pricing, and our emphasis on higher-value engagements. And we are increasingly positioning our staffing consultants not just as capacity, but as enablers of our clients' AI modernization journey.

Speaker #4: In our data and analytics services segment, revenues for the 4th Quarter of 2025 declined 24% year over year, largely due to backlog reversal from some of our 2024 engagements.

Speaker #4: And reflecting the challenging comparison against the results in the second half of last year. However, we saw strong bookings activity during the 4th Quarter of 2025, up nearly 37% over the same period last year, driven by strong renewals which we believe reflects our customers' confidence in our ability to continue delivering value for them.

Nirav Patel: However, we saw strong bookings activity during Q4 2025, up nearly 37% over the same period last year, driven by strong renewals, which we believe reflects our customers' confidence in our ability to continue delivering value for them. We believe the market is at a crossroad. We are seeing traditional business models being disrupted by AI, and this disruption is accelerating as leading AI hyperscalers like OpenAI and Anthropic become more enterprise-focused. To survive and thrive in this environment, we believe companies with strong fundamentals and forward-leaning leadership that can quickly pivot to the new will build a more sustainable moat over the long run. There is an open canvas to invest in, and we intend to position ourselves to capture that demand as it materializes. 2025 was a foundational year.

Speaker #4: We believe the market is at a crossroad. We are seeing traditional business models being disrupted by AI, and this disruption is accelerating as leading AI hyperscalers like OpenAI and Anthropic become more enterprise-focused.

Speaker #4: To survive and thrive in this environment, we believe companies with strong fundamentals and forward-leaning leadership that can quickly pivot to the new will build a more sustainable moat over the long run.

Speaker #4: There is an open canvas to invest in, and we intend to position ourselves to capture that demand as it materializes. 2025 was a foundational year, as we look ahead; we believe 2026 will be a year of execution.

Nirav Patel: As we look ahead, we believe 2026 will be a year of execution. We are seeing the strategic actions we took last year, putting us in a position of strength as we implement our vision to build an AI-first services company. We have three clear priorities for 2026: to deliver long-term sustainable growth, unlock substantial value for our customers, and invest in building truly differentiated capabilities to win in the future. We believe we are entering 2026 with clarity on our direction, conviction in our strategy, and confidence in our ability to execute and win in the market. As I have said from day one, growth is only meaningful when it is sustainable and profitable. We intend to drive efficiency across the organization, operate with accountability, and ensure that every investment we make creates lasting value for our customers, employees, and shareholders.

Speaker #4: We are seeing the strategic actions we took last year putting us in a position of strength as we implement our vision to build an AI-first services company.

Speaker #4: We have three clear priorities for 2026. To deliver long-term sustainable growth, unlock substantial value for our customers, and invest in building truly differentiated capabilities to win in the future.

Speaker #4: We believe we are entering 2026 with clarity on our direction, conviction in our strategy, and confidence in our ability to execute and win in the market.

Speaker #4: As I have said from day one, growth is only meaningful when it is sustainable and profitable. We intend to drive efficiency across the organization, operate with accountability, and ensure that every investment we make creates lasting value for our customers, employees, and shareholders.

Speaker #4: With that, let me turn it over to Kannan to walk through the financials.

Nirav Patel: With that, let me turn it over to Kannan to walk through the financials.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Thanks, Nirav. Good morning, everyone. I will now discuss our Q4 and full year financial results. During the Q4, we delivered consolidated revenue of $45.5 million, a year-over-year decrease of 10.4% as compared to the prior period. Our IT services segment, IT staffing services segment delivered revenue of $37.7 million, 7% lower than the prior year period. As Nirav noted, our focus on revenue quality resulted in all-time high Mastech bill rates at $87.32, though our billable consultant base declined by 168 consultants since the Q4 of 2024, a 16.7% decline that was largely concentrated towards the last two weeks of the quarter. The decline was driven largely by two main factors.

Speaker #5: Thanks, Nirav. Good morning, everyone. I will now discuss our 4th Quarter and full year financial results. During the 4th Quarter, we delivered consolidated revenue of 45.5 million year-over-year decrease of 10.4% as compared to the prior period.

Speaker #5: Our IT services segment, IT staffing services segment delivered revenue of 37.7 million, 7% lower than the prior year period. As Nirav noted, our focus on revenue quality resulted in all-time high Mastech build rates at 87.32, though our billable consultant base declined by 168 consultants since the 4th Quarter of 2024, a 16.7% decline, that was largely concentrated towards the last two weeks of the quarter.

Speaker #5: The decline was driven largely by two main factors. First, a notable impact driven by insourcing from one of our top 10 customers, a strategy they implemented in Q4 consistently across all vendors which has impacted us as well.

Kannan Sugantharaman: First, a notable impact driven by insourcing from one of our top ten customers, a strategy they implemented in Q4 consistently across all vendors, which has impacted us as well. We expect the impact of this to continue through the first half of 2026. The second, our focus on quality of revenue and high margin deals has resulted in us consciously exiting non-strategic staffing positions. Our data and analytics services segment reported revenue of $7.8 million, a decrease of 24% as compared to the prior year period, largely due to backlog reversal from some of our 2024 engagements. Fourth quarter bookings totaled $11.3 million, as compared to bookings of $8.2 million in the prior year, after accounting for project reversals of $2.8 million in Q4 of 2024.

Speaker #5: We expect the impact of this to continue through the first half of 2026. The second, our focus on quality of revenue and high margin deals has resulted in us consciously exiting non-strategic staffing positions.

Speaker #5: Our Data and Analytics Services segment reported revenue of $7.8 million, a decrease of 24% as compared to the prior year period, largely due to backlog reversal from some of our 2024 engagements.

Speaker #5: 4th Quarter bookings totaled 11.3 million, as compared to bookings of 8.2 million in the prior year after accounting for project reversals of 2.8 million in Q4 of '24.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Gross profit totaled $12.9 million, representing a decline of 12.5% compared to the same period last year. Gross margin decreased by 70 basis points relative to Q4 2024. Although both segments individually showed improved performance in Q4 2025 versus Q4 2024, the overall margin was impacted primarily by changes in business mix and a reduced share of revenue from the Data and Analytics Services segment compared to the prior year period. GAAP net income was $1 million or $0.08 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $0.3 million or $0.02 per diluted share in the prior year period.

Speaker #5: Gross profit totaled 12.9 million, representing a decline of 12.5% compared to the same period last year. Gross margin decreased by 70 basis points, relative to the 4th Quarter of 2024.

Speaker #5: Although both segments individually showed improved performance in Q4 '25 versus Q4 '24, the overall margin was impacted primarily by changes in business mix, and a reduced share of revenue from the data and analytics services segment compared to the prior year period.

Speaker #5: GAAP net income was $1 million, compared to net income of $0.3 million or $0.02 per diluted share in the prior year period. We incurred $0.7 million in severance and finance and accounting transition costs during the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, which was reflected in the year-on-year increase in GAAP net income.

Kannan Sugantharaman: We incurred $0.7 million in severance and finance and accounting transition costs during Q4 2025, as compared to $2.1 million in Q4 2024, which are reflected in the year-on-year increase in GAAP net income. Non-GAAP net income was $2.5 million or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $2.8 million or $0.23 per diluted share in the prior year period. For the full year 2025, we delivered consolidated revenue of $191.4 million, a year-over-year decrease of 3.8% compared to the prior year period. Our IT staffing services segment delivered revenue of $158.1 million or 2.6% lower than the prior year period.

Speaker #5: Non-gap net income was 2.5 million or 21 cents per diluted share, compared to 2.8 million or 23 cents per diluted share in the prior year period.

Speaker #5: For the full year 2025, we delivered consolidated revenue of $191.4 million, a year-over-year decrease of 3.8% compared to the prior year period.

Speaker #5: Our IT staffing services segment delivered revenue of $158.1 million, or 2.6% lower than the prior year period. Our Data and Analytics Services segment reported revenue of $33.3 million, a decrease of 9.1% as compared to the prior year period.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Our data and analytics services segment reported revenue of $33.3 million, a decrease of 9.1% as compared to the prior year period. Gross profit of $53.1 million was a decrease of 4.6% as compared to the prior year period. Gross margins remained flat year-on-year, largely driven by decreases in revenue of our data and analytics services segment. GAAP net income was $0.6 million or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $3.4 million or $0.28 per diluted share in the prior year period. As we had previously discussed, we expected to incur transition and severance costs that would impact near-term reported financial results.

Speaker #5: Gross profit of 53.1 million was a decrease of 4.6% as compared to the prior year period. Gross margins remained flat year-on-year, largely driven by decreases in revenue of our data and analytics services segment.

Speaker #5: Gap net income was 0.6 million or 5 cents per diluted share, compared to a net income of 3.4 million or 28 cents per diluted share in the prior year period.

Speaker #5: As we had previously discussed, we expected to incur transition and severance costs that would impact near-term reported financial results. We incurred $5 million in severance and finance and accounting transition costs during 2025, as compared to 2.1 million during 2024, which are reflected in the year-on-year decline in gap net income.

Kannan Sugantharaman: We incurred $5 million in severance and finance and accounting transition costs during 2025, as compared to $2.1 million during 2024, which are reflected in the year-on-year decline in GAAP net income. Non-GAAP net income was $8.6 million or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to $8.6 million or $0.71 per diluted share in the prior year period. This was a year where we fundamentally reimagined how we operate. We didn't just talk about transformation, we acted on it. The EDGE initiative, Efficiencies Driving Growth and Expansion, which we launched in Q3 of 2025, has begun reshaping our cost structure, sharpening our resource allocation, and freeing up investment capacity for the capabilities that we believe will define our competitive advantage in the years to come.

Speaker #5: Non-GAAP net income was $8.6 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to $8.6 million, or $0.71 per diluted share in the prior year period.

Speaker #5: This was a year where we fundamentally reimagined how we operate. We didn't just talk about transformation; we acted on it. The Edge initiative—efficiencies driving growth and expansion—which we launched in Q3 of 2025, has begun reshaping our cost structure, sharpening our resource allocation, and freeing up investment capacity for the capabilities that we believe will define our competitive advantage in the years to come.

Speaker #5: We maintain positive momentum on edge during the 4th Quarter as we continued focusing on optimizing our organization and the operating model. We now believe edge has created the capacity we need to invest in execution, in 2026, in our offerings, in our go-to-market strategies, in our leadership, and to fuel sustainable value creation as we become an AI-first organization ourselves.

Kannan Sugantharaman: We maintained positive momentum on EDGE during Q4 as we continued focusing on optimizing our organization and operating model. We now believe EDGE has created the capacity we need to invest in execution in 2026, in our offerings, in our go-to-market strategies, in our leadership, and to fuel sustainable value creation as we become an AI-first organization ourselves. SG&A expense items not included in non-GAAP financial measures, net of tax benefits, are detailed in our Q4 2025 earnings release for the periods presented, which are available in our website. Our financial position. During Q4 of 2025, our liquidity and overall financial position remained solid. On 31 December 2025, we had $36.5 million cash balances on hand, no bank debt outstanding, and cash availability of $19.9 million under our revolving credit facility.

Speaker #5: As G&A expense items not included in non-GAAP financial measures, net of tax benefits are detailed in our fourth quarter 2025 earnings release for the periods presented, which are available on our website.

Speaker #5: Our financial position: during the 4th Quarter of 2025, our liquidity and overall financial position remained solid. On December 31st, 2025, we had 36.5 million cash balances on hand.

Speaker #5: No bank debt outstanding, and cash availability of $19.9 million under our revolving credit facility. Our day-to-day outstanding measurement on December 31, 2025, was 54 days, which is well within our target range and in line with our DSO measurement a year ago.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Our days sales outstanding measurement on 31 December 2025, was 54 days, which is well within our target range and in line with our DSO measurement a year ago. During the fourth quarter, we repurchased approximately $0.7 million worth of Mastech common stock at an average price of $7.2 per share. For the full year, we repurchased approximately $2.2 million worth of Mastech common stock at an average price of $7.49 per share. At the end of the fourth quarter, we had approximately 123,556 shares available under our previously announced share repurchase program that expired on 8 February 2026. Finally, I am pleased to share that our board of directors has authorized a new share purchase program effective 16 February 2026.

Speaker #5: During the fourth quarter, we repurchased approximately $0.7 million worth of Mastech common stock at an average price of $7.20 per share. For the full year, we repurchased approximately $2.2 million worth of Mastech common stock at an average price of $7.49 per share.

Speaker #5: At the end of the fourth quarter, we had approximately 123,556 shares available under our previously announced share repurchase program that expired on February 8, 2026.

Speaker #5: Finally, I am pleased to share that our board of directors has authorized a new share purchase program effective February 16th, 2026. Under this program, the company is now authorized to repurchase shares of the company's common stock up to an aggregate value of $5 million.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Under this program, the company is now authorized to repurchase shares of the company's common stock up to an aggregate value of $5 million. We believe this authorization underscores the board's confidence in our strategy and the trajectory of our business. We also believe our strong financial position enables us to enhance shareholder value while continuing to invest for sustained growth. Operator, this concludes our prepared remarks. We will now open the line for questions.

Speaker #5: We believe this authorization underscores the board's confidence in our strategy and the trajectory of our business. We also believe our strong financial position enables us to enhance shareholder value while continuing to invest for sustained growth.

Speaker #5: Operator, this concludes our prepared remarks. We will now open the line for questions.

Speaker #1: Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, please press *11 on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. To withdraw your question, please press *11 again.

Operator: Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, please press star one one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. One moment while we compile the Q&A roster. Our first question comes from Lisa Thompson at Zacks Investment Research.

Speaker #1: One moment while we compile the Q&A roster. And our first question comes from Lisa Thompson at Zach's Investment Research.

Lisa Thompson: Hi, good morning. So I have a-

Speaker #6: Hi, good morning. So I have a few little questions, and then I just want you to go over the big strategy for this year and next.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Good morning.

Lisa Thompson: A few little questions, and then I just want you to go over the big strategy for this year and next. First off, why did you end the quarter with how many consultants?

Speaker #6: First off, why did you end the quarter with how many consultants?

Speaker #7: Yeah. Hey, Lisa. How are you doing? So we ended our headcount for December at billable headcount was 840, 840 billable consultants in IT staffing services as of December 25.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Yeah. Hey, Lisa, how are you doing? So we ended our headcount for December at billable headcount was 840, 840 billable consultants in IT Staffing Services as of 25 December.

Lisa Thompson: How many employees do you have in total now?

Speaker #6: And how many employees do you have in total now?

Lisa Thompson: How many employees do you have in total now?

Kannan Sugantharaman: 1488 as of December 2025.

Speaker #7: 1488 as of December. 25.

Kannan Sugantharaman: 1488 as of December 2025.

Speaker #6: Great. So first question is, are we done with one-time expenses and severance or no?

Lisa Thompson: Right. So first question is, are we done with one-time expenses and severance, or no?

Kannan Sugantharaman: Our finance and accounting transition is complete, so there are no more of transition costs that we are likely to incur. In most cases, most of our severances are already done with respect to the reorg that we had done. We don't expect anything more material or significant to hit us in the future.

Speaker #7: Our financial and accounting transition is complete. So there are no more transition costs that we are likely to incur. And in most cases, most of our severances are already done with respect to the reorg that we had done.

Speaker #7: So we don't expect anything more material or significant to hit us in the future.

Speaker #6: Great. So now that you've had some time to implement all your cost cutting, how much more do you think you're going to be saving in 2026 versus what you spent in 2025?

Lisa Thompson: Great. So now that you've had some time to implement all your cost cutting, how much more do you think you're gonna be saving in 2026 versus what you spent in 2025, excluding-

Speaker #6: Excluding all the one-time stuff.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Uh.

Lisa Thompson: All the one-time stuff?

Speaker #7: Right. So let me explain that in terms of the overall program of edge, right? So the idea was efficiencies that drove growth and expansion.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Right. So let me explain that in terms of the overall program of EDGE, right? So the idea was efficiencies that drove growth and expansion. That program, which was focused on driving quality of revenue, process simplification, and automation, and disciplined sales management, was effectively to unlock capacity for investment, which we believe most of them has already gone in and has been delivered as of Q4 2025. There were two tracks, efficiency to free capacity and the growth to reinvest. So our efficiencies, we were focused on, you know, cost optimization, diagnostics, process simplification, operational excellence, rationalization of our contracts, and so on. And Q3 2025 actions continued to have positive impact in Q4 2025. But one of the major milestones in Q4 2025 was the completion of, of course, the finance transition, right?

Speaker #7: That program, which was focused on driving quality of revenue, process simplification, and automation, and discipline self-management, was effectively to unlock capacity for investment, which we believe most of them have already gone in and has been delivered as of Q4.

Speaker #7: There were two tracks: efficiency to free capacity and the growth to reinvest. So our efficiencies, we were focused on cost optimization, diagnostics, process simplification, operational excellence, rationalization of our contracts, and so on.

Speaker #7: And Q3 25 actions continue to have positive impact in Q4 of 25. But one of the major milestones in Q4 25 was the completion of, of course, the finance transition, right?

Kannan Sugantharaman: Our growth, our focus on enhancing talent, competency building, and market expansion, we are now starting to invest a lot more on some of those elements. We now have the senior leadership team in place for our AI and analytics solution, and we are beginning to start traction in that. And we are also hiring leaders in the banking and financial services domain to target new logos in this space. So we see multiple levers playing a part in the transformation journey, and we are hoping that all of these will fill in seamlessly as we reinvest and reorient for growth in 2026. So look at 2025 as the laying foundation year, 2026 as the year of execution and investment, where in Q1 of 2026, we will start disproportionately investing in our offerings, in our go-to-market strategy, and in our leadership. Lisa?

Speaker #7: Our growth, our focus on enhancing talent competency building and market expansion, we are now starting to invest a lot more on some of those elements.

Speaker #7: We now have the senior leadership team in place. For our AI and analytics solution, and we are beginning to start traction in there. And we are also hiring leaders in the banking and financial services domain to target new logos in this place.

Speaker #7: So we see multiple levers playing a part in the transformation journey, and we are hoping that all of these will fill in seamlessly as we reinvest and reorient for growth in 2026.

Speaker #7: So, look at 2025 as the laying foundation year. 2026 as the year of execution and investment, where in Q1 2026, we will start disproportionately investing in our offerings, in our go-to-market strategy, and in our leadership.

Speaker #7: Lisa?

Speaker #6: Okay. All right. So what are your what's the grand plan for 2026 and 2027? Are you looking to increase revenues or increase profits or what's the plan for this year?

Lisa Thompson: Okay. All right. So what is, what's the grand plan for 2026 and 2027? Are you looking to increase revenues or increase profits? Or, you know, what's the plan for this year? And then what do you think you'll come out of this year looking at 2027 like?

Speaker #6: And then what do you think you'll come out of this year looking at 2027 like?

Nirav Patel: Good morning, Lisa. This is Nirav. Let me take that question. So look, I think growth is paramount for us. And you know, all that we began last year from a strategy and sort of a transformation standpoint was to you know, serve that single most purpose of driving growth for us. And you know, everything that we are doing around EDGE, reorganizing ourselves towards more of a new way of working with AI, and then preparing the capability, organization and partnerships to scale in that area, right? So where we are right now, right? We believe now we have kind of a clarity of thought on three fundamental questions, in my opinion, right? Who we serve, what we serve, and last, how we serve, right?

Speaker #7: Good morning, Lisa. This is Nirav. Let me take that question. So look, I think growth is paramount for us. And all that we began last year from a strategy and sort of a transformation standpoint was to serve that single most purpose of driving growth for us.

Speaker #7: And everything that we are doing around edge, reorganizing ourselves, towards more of a new way of working with AI, and then preparing the capability organization and partnerships to scale in that area, right?

Speaker #7: So where we are right now, right, we believe now we have kind of the clarity of thought on three fundamental questions in my opinion, right?

Speaker #7: Who we serve, what we serve, and last, how we serve, right? And we've identified a few industries, segments, that we would like to focus and double down on, particularly in spaces like health sciences, financial services, and also retail and consumer markets because those tend to be right now continuing to be somewhat disrupted, but also providing a backdrop of an opportunity for us to offer multi-scale growth in that.

Nirav Patel: And we have identified a few industry segments that we would like to focus and double down on, particularly in spaces like health sciences, financial services, and also retail and consumer markets, because those tend to be, you know, somewhat disrupted, but also providing a backdrop of an opportunity for us to offer multiscale growth in that. We also want to try to re-refocus our energies on targeting what I call the Global Two Thousand customers, so that we are working with the largest of the customers that define the market. So to me, I feel that who we serve addresses that. And when we talk about what we serve to them, we want to try and offer a suite of offerings that help companies reimagine themselves in an AI-first world.

Speaker #7: We also want to try to refocus our energies, targeting what I call the global 2000 customers so that we are working with the largest of the customers that define the market.

Speaker #7: So to me, I feel that who we serve addresses that. And when we talk about what we serve to them, we want to try and offer a suite of offerings that help companies reimagine themselves in an AI-first world.

Speaker #7: I mean, needless to say, the world is quickly trying to modernize themselves with all things AI. And so depending on where they are in the journey, I think clearly there is a huge, what I call, pilot-to-scale gap where more and more companies are sort of no longer looking at pilots, but are accelerating their path to scaling up AI adoptions in their organizations.

Nirav Patel: I mean, needless to say, the world is quickly trying to modernize themselves with all things AI. And so depending on where they are in the journey, I think clearly there is a huge, what I call pilot to scale gap, where more and more companies are sort of no longer looking at pilots but are accelerating their path to scaling up AI adoptions in their organizations. And, you know, those offerings are very central for us. We have to build the core capabilities that we think we can... allows us to win in that future.

Speaker #7: And those offerings are very central for us. We have to build core capabilities that we think can allow us to win in that future.

Speaker #7: And finally, I would say on that, transforming them with AI, accelerating with AI, and reimagining with AI are the set of kind of offerings that I feel our clients find a lot more resonating today as well as in the future.

Nirav Patel: Finally, I would say on that, transforming them with AI, accelerating with AI, and reimagining with AI are the set of kind of offerings that I feel our clients find a lot more resonating today as well as in the future. How we serve is really all about our commercial and delivery model. I think we have reoriented ourselves. We began that journey doing that last year, where we are relooking at how we organize ourselves commercially from a go-to-market standpoint, but more importantly, drive a delivery excellence and delivery model to reorient ourselves to suit our customers. You know, we are disproportionately investing in our people and preparing their organization to be AI ready.

Speaker #7: And how we serve is really all about our commercial and delivery model. I think we have reoriented ourselves. We began that journey doing that last year, where we are re-looking at how we organize ourselves commercially from a go-to-market standpoint.

Speaker #7: But more importantly, drive a delivery excellence and delivery model to reorient ourselves to suit our customers. So we are disproportionately investing in our people and preparing the organization to be AI-ready.

Speaker #7: And I think that the direction going forward between 26 as well as in 2027 is all around the pivot to the new and driving what I call a somewhat of a credible moat for us in the company that can deliver sustainable growth.

Nirav Patel: I think that the direction going forward between 2026 as well as in 2027 is all around the pivot to the new and driving what I call a somewhat of a credible moat for us in the company that can deliver sustainable growth. Sorry for the little bit of a long answer, but Lisa, this was important to understand how we are reshaping ourselves internally to prepare for the future.

Speaker #7: Sorry for the little bit of a long answer, but Lisa, this was important to understand how we are reshaping ourselves internally to prepare for the future.

Speaker #6: Yes. Thank you for that. So given the environment out there for using IT consulting and staffing, can you grow this year, or is the market just not going to cooperate?

Lisa Thompson: Yes, thank you for that. So given the environment out there for using IT consulting and staffing, can you grow this year, or is the market just not going to cooperate?

Nirav Patel: I think, I think if I kind of talk about the market, market trends, right? The macro backdrop continues to be volatile. Let's be clear on that. We are operating in an environment, where kind of geopolitics, macroeconomics are driving what I call significant changes across trade, regulatory frameworks, and other areas that impact enterprise decision making, right? Historically, the effects of these types of policy shifts, you know, usually takes a quarter or two to fully reflect in your client's spending behaviors and IT budget decisions. What we are trying to do is to stay, extremely focused and stay close to our, what I call, the biggest of the customers we serve, to assess how many of these, macro elements are impacting them.

Speaker #7: I think if I kind of talk about the market trends, right, the macro backdrop continues to be volatile. Let's be clear on that. We are operating in an environment where kind of geopolitics, macroeconomics are driving what I call significant changes across trade, regulatory frameworks, and other areas that impact enterprise decision-making, right?

Speaker #7: Historically, the effects of these types of policy shapes usually take a quarter or two to fully reflect. In your client spending behaviors and IT budget decisions.

Speaker #7: What we are trying to do is to stay extremely focused and stay close to what I call the biggest of the customers we serve to assess how many of these macro elements are impacting them and so hence try to gauge about where we think we are going to go as a direction with our clients we have today.

Nirav Patel: And so hence, try to gauge about where we think we are going to go as a direction with our clients we have today. As it relates to our top customers, this becomes a very important place. That said, you know, I think so far in Q1 and the discussions that we have been having as the new year has taken off, we haven't seen any, like, a radical shift or a pressure that really concerns us. I mean, we are seeing reasonable confidence from our clients, and a continued focus on modernization and accelerating their journey. I mean, this is something they really want to push forward through 2026. While near-term visibility remains limited, which is consistent with what we have been seeing in the market, the underlying demand drivers haven't weakened to say the least.

Speaker #7: As it relates to our top customers, this becomes a very important place. That said, I think so far in Q1 and the discussions that we have been having as the new year has been taken off, we haven't seen any radical shift or a pressure that really concerns us.

Speaker #7: I mean, we are seeing reasonable confidence from our clients, and a continued focus on modernization and accelerating their journey. I mean, this is something they really want to push forward through 2026.

Speaker #7: While near-term visibility remains limited, which is consistent with what we have been seeing in the market, the underlying demand drivers haven't weakened to say the least.

Nirav Patel: Our clients still need to move forward, and I think we are well positioned to help them do that.

Speaker #7: Our clients still need to move forward, and I think we are well positioned to help them do that.

Speaker #6: Great. Thank you. That's very helpful. That's all my questions.

Lisa Thompson: Great, thank you. That's very helpful. That's all my questions.

Speaker #1: Thank you. And our next question comes from Mark Riddick of Sadoty. Your line is open.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from Marc Riddick of Sidoti. Your line is open.

Lisa Thompson: Hey, good morning.

Marc Riddick: Hey, good morning.

Speaker #8: Hey, good morning. Hey, Mark.

Nirav Patel: Hey, Mark. Good morning.

Speaker #7: Good morning.

Marc Riddick: ... I wanted to touch on first with the consultant count reduction, sort of how that sort of plays into SG&A levels. Is it-- can you talk a little bit about maybe the timing of that? And does the SG&A level for, say, the fourth quarter, is that a reasonable quarterly run rate that we should be looking at? Or how should we think about SG&A levels and sort of how that tracks to Edge program efforts?

Speaker #8: I wanted to touch on first with the consultant account reduction, sort of how that sort of plays into SG&A levels. Is it can you talk a little bit about maybe the timing of that and does the SG&A level for, say, the fourth quarter is that a reasonable quarterly run rate that we should be looking at or how should we think about SG&A levels and sort of how that tracks to edge program efforts?

Speaker #7: Yeah. So I think from an edge program, we have been able to achieve the efficiencies that we want thus far. So what you're seeing in our Q4, I would say, is reasonably efficient in our mind.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Yeah. So I think from an EDGE program, we have been able to achieve the efficiencies that we want, thus far. So what you are seeing in our Q4, I would say is reasonably efficient in our mind. But what, Marc, as I was talking and explaining, EDGE has two parts to it, right? There is an efficiency part, and there is the investment part. And from Q1 onwards, we do plan to have outsized investments that we are making on the talent and enhancing talent, competency building, and the overall market expansion in the AI and analytics space, right?

Speaker #7: But what Mark, as I was talking, and explaining, the edge has two parts to it, right? There is an efficiency part, and there is the investment part.

Speaker #7: And from Q1 onwards, we do plan to have outsized investments that we are making on talent and enhancing talent, competency building, and the overall market expansion in the AI and the analytics space, right?

Kannan Sugantharaman: So, that's what we intend to do at this point in time, is to double down on some of those investments and making ourselves ready to capture the market, especially in the space that Nirav explained. Marc?

Speaker #7: So that's what we intend to do at this point in time is to double down on some of those investments and making ourselves ready to capture the market, especially in the space that Nirav explained.

Speaker #7: Mark? Okay. Great. And then maybe we can shift gears and go toward the bill rate. Improvements there and maybe sort of talk a bit about some of the things that you're seeing there and sort of the potential upside that may take place, whether it's ongoing pricing discipline or the like.

Marc Riddick: Okay, great. And then maybe we could shift gears and go toward the bill rate improvements there, and maybe you sort of talk a bit about some of the things that you're seeing there and sort of the potential upside that may take place, whether it's ongoing pricing discipline or the like.

Kannan Sugantharaman: No, no. As you would have seen in what I spoke in my script, right, our headcount reduced 16.7%. But our revenues dropped only by 7%, right? And that's the factor of our focus on the quality of revenue, right?

Speaker #8: No, no. As you would have as you would have seen, in what I spoke in my script right, our headcount reduced 16.7%. But our revenues dropped only by 7%, right?

Speaker #8: And that's the factor of our focus on the quality of revenue, right? We were deliberate in choosing better margin projects with higher bill rates over low margin staffing.

Marc Riddick: Mm-hmm.

Kannan Sugantharaman: We were deliberate in choosing better margin projects with higher bill rates over low margin staffing, and you will see that reflected in our average bill rate going up to 87.32, right? We believe the strategy has helped us so far and expanded the kind of work that we do with our customers. We intend to continue with this while also focusing on expanding our current relationships and creating new pipeline for the staffing business. Mark?

Speaker #8: And you will see that reflected in our average bill rate going up to 87.32, right? And we believe the strategy has helped us so far.

Speaker #8: And expanded the kind of work that we do with our customers. And we intend to continue with this, while also focusing on expanding our current relationships and creating new pipeline for the staffing business.

Speaker #8: Mark? Okay. And then also, I think in your prepared remarks, you may commentary around booking trends versus a year ago period. As you were exiting Q4, can you talk a little bit about that and maybe put some numbers on sort of where those were and maybe as an offshoot from that, what you're seeing with different client verticals, maybe what might be driving that?

Marc Riddick: Okay. And then also, I think in your prepared remarks, you made commentary around booking trends versus a year ago period as you were exiting Q4. Can you talk a little bit about that and maybe put some numbers on sort of where those were and maybe as an offshoot from that what you're seeing with different client verticals, maybe what might be driving that?

Speaker #7: Yeah. And Nirav, you can chime in as required. But as we explained in the last quarter, there has been a good uptick with respect to our overall bookings as I said.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Yeah. And Nirav, you can chime in as required. But as we explained in the last quarter, there has been a good uptake with respect to our overall bookings. As I said in the prepared remarks, our bookings is north of $11 million that we had closed for the Q4, as against $8.2 million that was after the project reversal. $11.3 million is what we closed. And at this time, our demand is largely broad-based, Mark. We have made inroads this past quarter with our healthcare customers, our financial services customers, our consumer clients, and are also actively pursuing large transformation initiatives and opportunities across these industries. So, that's been our bookings.

Speaker #7: In the prepared remarks, our bookings is north of $11 million that we had closed for Q4, as against $8.2 million that was after the project reverses.

Speaker #7: 11.3 million is what we closed. And at this time, our demand is largely broad-based, Mark. We have made inroads this past quarter with our healthcare customers, our financial services customers, our consumer clients, and are also actively pursuing large transformation initiatives and opportunities across these industries.

Speaker #7: So that's been our bookings. So we have been pretty encouraged by what we saw in Q4.

Kannan Sugantharaman: So we have been pretty encouraged by what we saw in Q4.

Nirav Patel: And if I can just add to what Kannan said, Mark. Hi, Nirav here. I think, look, the bookings-

Speaker #8: And if I can just add, to what Kannan said, Mark, hi, Nirav here. I think, look, the bookings good morning. I think the bookings really reflect to me a couple of things, right?

Kannan Sugantharaman: Morning.

Nirav Patel: Good morning. I think the bookings really reflect to me a couple of things, right? One is, renewals give me a very, very strong belief that our customers continue to find us relevant. So today, the way I think about it is our strength in our Q4 bookings largely came from a significant amount of renewals that customers got back to us in reinforcing that, "Hey, we would like to continue to work with us." And so to me, that definitely is a very strong signal in the way you think about renewals, securing that.

Speaker #8: One is, renewals give me a very, very strong belief that our customers continue to find us relevant. So today, the way I think about it is our strength in our Q4 bookings largely came from a significant amount of renewals—that customers got back to us in, reinforcing that, 'Hey, we would like to continue to work with you.' And so to me, that definitely is a very strong signal in the way you think about renewals, securing that.

Speaker #8: Now, what that also does, in the second point that I was wanting to say, is that it actually presents us a platform and a play in many of these customers to go aggressively and help them with the AI pivot.

Nirav Patel: Now, what that also does, and the second point that I was wanting to say, is that it actually presents us a platform and a play in many of these customers to go aggressively and help with—help them with the AI pivot. So if I were to go build a lot of these new capabilities that we are already on our way to go scale them up, these renewals give me a renewed sense of confidence for our commercial organizations and teams to say, "Hey, we wanna go back to the same financial services clients.

Speaker #8: So if I were to go build a lot of these new capabilities that we are already on our way to go scale them up, these renewals give me a renewed sense of confidence for our commercial organizations and teams to say, "Hey, we want to go back to the same financial services clients.

Speaker #8: We want to go back to the same retailers that we work with as our customers. And that's probably the best thing an organization can do when your macro backdrop and the market volatility continues, is to somewhat centrally stay focused back on the customers you have and serve them more deeply.

Nirav Patel: We wanna go back to the same retailers that we work with as our customers." And that's probably the best thing an organization can do, when your macro backdrop and the market volatility continues, is to somewhat centrally stay focused back on the customers you have.

Kannan Sugantharaman: ... and serve them more deeply. So I think to me, you know, this is a huge win for us in some form to really secure that levels of confidence from our clients in Q4, and gives me a sense of optimism in the way we think we can possibly shape 2026 with new bookings and new deals that we can scale up into these accounts.

Speaker #8: So I think to me, this is a huge win for us in some form to really secure that levels of confidence from our clients in Q4 and gives me a sense of optimism in the way we think we can possibly shape 2026 with the new bookings and new deals that we can scale up into these accounts.

Speaker #7: Great, and then the last one for me—and certainly encouraged to see the authorization announcement; that certainly is a positive signal. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about one of the other benefits that we saw, which was improved cash.

Marc Riddick: Great. And then the last one for me, and I'm certainly encouraged to see the authorization announcement. So that certainly is a positive signal. I was wondering if you talk a little bit about, you know, one of the other benefits that we saw was improved cash. I think we're just $36.5 million in cash at the end of the year. How should we think about other cash usage prioritization, potentially beyond EDGE, I guess? I mean, and maybe how you think about the potential for either M&A activity or appetite and thoughts on what valuations you may be seeing out there, if you are inclined to consider those.

Speaker #7: I think we're just 36 and a half million in cash at the end of the year. How should we think about other cash usage prioritization potentially beyond edge, I guess?

Speaker #7: I mean, and maybe how you think about the potential for either M&A activity or appetite and thoughts on what valuations you may be seeing out there if you are inclined to consider those?

Speaker #8: Yeah, no, thanks for that, Mark. And yes, the company has generated very good and strong cash flows, especially driven by solid operating cash generation and low capital expenditures. This performance reflects, largely in my mind, significant improvement in working capital, particularly in receivables and accrued liabilities, which helped offset some of the transition costs that we had on finance and account reorganization, and the structural optimization that we did.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Yeah. No, thanks for that, Marc. And yes, the company has had generated a very good and strong cash flows, especially driven by, you know, solid operating cash generation, low capital expenditures. This performance reflects largely, in my mind, significant improvement in working capital, particularly in receivables and accrued liabilities, which help offset, you know, some of the transition costs that we had on finance and account reorganization and the structural optimization that we did. And we continue to manage cash conservatively with absolutely no debt in our balance sheet yet. And we are looking to optimally use this for our strategic priorities. Of course, one part of that is about the continued share repurchase program, but a larger part of it necessarily is going to be on the invest part, right?

Speaker #8: And we continue to manage cash conservatively, with absolutely no debt on our balance sheet yet. And we are looking to optimally use this for our strategic priorities.

Speaker #8: Of course, one part of that is about the continued share repurchase program, but a larger part of it necessarily is going to be on the invest part, right?

Kannan Sugantharaman: So as we look to invest on partnership, as we look to invest on capabilities, and when there is an opportunity to also be acquisitive, those are all opportunities we are looking at to optimally invest the cash in our balance sheet. So that is exactly what we are trying to do as part of the EDGE program, and that is what we will do as part of our continued investment program. Investment in terms of capabilities, in terms of our people, in terms of talent acquisition, and into making sure that we have the appropriate partnerships and the capabilities driven either organically or when there is an opportunity to also go inorganic about it.

Speaker #8: So as we look to invest on partnership, as we look to invest on capabilities, and when there is an opportunity to also be acquisitive, those are all opportunities we are looking at to optimally invest the cash in our balance sheet.

Speaker #8: So that is exactly what we are trying to do as part of the EDGE program. And that is what we will do as part of our continued investment program—investment in terms of capabilities, in terms of our people, in terms of talent acquisition, and into making sure that we have the appropriate partnerships and the capabilities driven either organically, or when there is an opportunity, to also go inorganic about it.

Speaker #7: Great. Thank you very much.

Marc Riddick: Great. Thank you very much.

Speaker #1: Thank you. And as a reminder, if you have a question, please press star one one. I'm showing no further questions at this time. I'd like to turn it back to Nirav Patel for closing remarks.

Operator: Thank you. And as a reminder, if you have a question, please press star one, one. I'm showing no further questions at this time. I'd like to turn it back to Nirav Patel for closing remarks.

Speaker #8: Thank you, operator. If there are no further questions, I would like to thank you for joining our call today, and we look forward to sharing our first quarter 2026 results with you in May.

Kannan Sugantharaman: Thank you, operator. If there are no further questions, I would like to thank you for joining our call today, and we look forward to sharing our Q1 2026 results with you in May.

Operator: This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating, and you may now disconnect.

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