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Epam Systems, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 lowered, 9 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 7.6% reported: Revenue was $1.400 billion, up $98.4 million or 7.6%; organic constant currency growth was 3.7%. Source
  • Currency added 3.9 points to growth: Foreign exchange rates added 3.9 points to reported growth, and acquired revenue added none. Source
  • Growth slower than fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter 2025 revenue was $1.408 billion, up 12.8%, with 5.6% organic constant currency growth.
  • Operating margin up on both bases: Operating margin was 8.3% GAAP and 14.3% non-GAAP; the first quarter of 2025 showed 7.6% and 13.5%. Source
  • Operations used $36.4 million cash: Cash used in operating activities was $36.4 million, against $24.2 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Repurchases totaled $324 million: Share repurchases in the quarter totaled $324 million, including $300 million for the accelerated share repurchase agreement. Source

“Our Q1 performance reflects steady execution and continued momentum across our AI-native and AI foundational readiness initiatives,”

Balazs Fejes, CEO & President, EPAM

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth SourceFull year 20264.0% to 6.5%Lowered from 4.5% to 7.5%
Organic constant currency revenue growth SourceFull year 20262.5% to 5.0%Lowered from 3% to 6%
Foreign exchange impact on revenue growth SourceFull year 2026(1.5)%Kept
GAAP income from operations as percent of revenues SourceFull year 202610% to 11% of revenuesKept
Non-GAAP income from operations as percent of revenues SourceFull year 202615% to 16% of revenuesKept
GAAP effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 27%Raised from approximately 26%
Non-GAAP effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 24%Kept
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$8.29 to $8.59Raised from $7.95 to $8.25
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$12.98 to $13.28Raised from $12.60 to $12.90
Weighted average diluted shares SourceFull year 202652.7 millionLowered from 54.4 million
Revenue SourceSecond quarter 2026$1.400 billion to $1.415 billionNew
Organic constant currency revenue growth SourceSecond quarter 20262.7% at midpointNew
GAAP income from operations as percent of revenues SourceSecond quarter 20269% to 10% of revenuesNew
Non-GAAP income from operations as percent of revenues SourceSecond quarter 202615% to 16% of revenuesNew
GAAP effective tax rate SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately 27%New
Non-GAAP effective tax rate SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately 24%New
GAAP diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter 2026$1.79 to $1.87New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter 2026$3.10 to $3.18New
Weighted average diluted shares SourceSecond quarter 202652.4 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 reported revenue growth range lowered from 4.5% to 7.5% to 4.0% to 6.5%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 organic constant currency growth range lowered from 3% to 6% to 2.5% to 5.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS range raised from $7.95 to $8.25 to $8.29 to $8.59. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS range raised from $12.60 to $12.90 to $12.98 to $13.28. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year GAAP effective tax rate raised from approximately 26% to approximately 27%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year weighted average diluted share count lowered from 54.4 million to 52.7 million. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance given for revenue, margins, tax rates, EPS and share count. Source
  • Ended: Non-GAAP adjustment list no longer names geographic repositioning costs or the exit from Russia, which the fourth-quarter release named. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 7.6% reported: Revenue was $1.400 billion, up $98.4 million or 7.6%; organic constant currency growth was 3.7%. Source
  • Currency added 3.9 points to growth: Foreign exchange rates added 3.9 points to reported growth, and acquired revenue added none. Source
  • GAAP operating income up 17.6%: Non-GAAP income from operations was $200.7 million, up $25.0 million or 14.2% from $175.8 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS up about 19%: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.52, up $0.24 or 18.8% from $1.28 a year earlier. Source
  • Growth slower than fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter 2025 revenue was $1.408 billion, up 12.8%, with 5.6% organic constant currency growth.

Margins and cost lines

  • Operating margin up on both bases: Operating margin was 8.3% GAAP and 14.3% non-GAAP; the first quarter of 2025 showed 7.6% and 13.5%. Source
  • Cost of revenues increased: Cost of revenues rose to $1.012 billion from $952.0 million; SG&A rose to $239.7 million from $218.9 million. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization flat: Depreciation and amortization expense was $31.5 million, against $31.4 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

“We are on a multi-year transformation journey, continuing to position ourselves to fully benefit and capitalize on AI growth”

Balazs Fejes, CEO & President, EPAM

Non-GAAP adjustments and one-time items

  • Adjustments to operating income $84.0 million: Adjustments to GAAP operating income were $84.0 million, mainly stock-based compensation and $17.7 million of amortization of acquired intangibles. Source
  • Humanitarian support expenses booked: Humanitarian support in Ukraine was $0.6 million in cost of revenues and $2.4 million in SG&A; management expects these not to recur once the crisis subsides. Source
  • Tax planning benefit excluded: A $0.7 million discrete benefit from tax planning was excluded from non-GAAP results as one-time. Source
  • Foreign exchange gain excluded: A $2.3 million foreign exchange gain was excluded from non-GAAP results, compared with a $10.7 million loss a year earlier. Source

Net income and taxes

  • Net income rose to $82.5 million: Net income was $82.5 million against $73.5 million; diluted EPS was $1.52 against $1.28. Source
  • Tax provision rose to $38.1 million: Provision for income taxes was $38.1 million, against $20.9 million, on pre-tax income of $120.6 million. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Diluted weighted average shares were 54.2 million, against 57.3 million a year earlier. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operations used $36.4 million cash: Cash used in operating activities was $36.4 million, against $24.2 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance down $258.8 million: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $1.043 billion at March 31, 2026, against $1.301 billion at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $165.0 million: Long-term debt was $165.0 million at March 31, 2026, against $25.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Trade receivables rose: Trade receivables and contract assets were $1.175 billion, up from $1.108 billion at year-end 2025. Source

Share repurchases and capital returns

  • Repurchases totaled $324 million: Share repurchases in the quarter totaled $324 million, including $300 million for the accelerated share repurchase agreement. Source
  • Shares received under the program: 1.8 million shares were received in the first quarter, with another 0.5 million received in April on ASR settlement. Source
  • Authorization remaining at year-end 2025: At December 31, 2025, $776.5 million remained under the repurchase authorization; 2025 repurchases totaled $660.6 million.

Workforce and cost optimization

  • Total headcount near 62,750: Total headcount was about 62,750 at March 31, 2026, with about 56,500 delivery professionals, down 0.2% from year-end 2025. Source
  • Delivery headcount grew in 2025: At December 31, 2025, headcount was about 62,850, with about 56,600 delivery professionals, up 2.7% from 2024.
  • Cost optimization charges rose: Cost Optimization charges were $13.4 million in the quarter, against $5.3 million a year earlier, and were excluded from non-GAAP results. Source

AI strategy and client work

  • AI-native revenue scaling cited in Q4: The fourth-quarter release said AI-native revenues were being scaled and accelerated.
  • AI client zero work accelerating: Management said it is accelerating its own AI client zero transformation, alongside its multi-year transformation journey. Source
  • Investment in AI and partnerships: The prior release tied the transformation to continued investment in AI innovation, talent development and strategic partnerships.

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited a rapidly evolving macroeconomic landscape as the backdrop to the quarter. Source
  • External: Currency translation moved reported revenue growth, which management reconciles to organic constant currency growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Ongoing humanitarian expenses are recorded against the earlier $100 million commitment. Source
  • Not stated: Full-year GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin ranges were carried forward unchanged from the prior release. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.