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Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.: Q2 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 1.9% reported: Revenue was $3.7 billion, down 1.9% as reported and down 0.8% in constant currency, compared with a 3% decline in the first quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.42: Adjusted net income was $92 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, compared with $89 million, or $0.38, in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Kyndryl Consult revenue grew 4.2%: Kyndryl Consult revenue rose 4.2% year-over-year in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $699 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $699 million, up from $641 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.1% against 17.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow was negative $34 million: Free cash flow was a use of $34 million, against a source of $22 million a year earlier. Six-month free cash flow was a use of $434 million. Source
  • Senior notes issued in September: The notes were issued on September 28, 2026 and their net proceeds funded the October repayment and the end-September revolver repayment. Source
  • Healthcare IT Leaders acquisition closed: The acquisition was completed in mid-September. Kyndryl says it strengthens healthcare application implementation and managed services. Source

“Our performance reflects demand for Kyndryl’s AI-led modernization capabilities and deep mission-critical expertise that help customers evolve their complex technology environments, strengthen cybersecurity and achieve measurable business outcomes.”

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Martin Schroeter

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted pretax income Sourcefiscal 2027$600 to $700 millionKept
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2027$400 to $500 millionKept
Constant-currency revenue Sourcefiscal 2027flat to down 2%Kept
Workforce rebalancing charges Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $200 millionKept
Annualized run-rate operating expense savings Sourcefiscal year 2028approximately $400 to $500 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2027 guidance was reaffirmed for adjusted pretax income, free cash flow and constant-currency revenue, matching the first-quarter release. Source
  • New: Kyndryl completed the Healthcare IT Leaders acquisition in mid-September 2026, an IT services provider to U.S. hospitals and health systems. Source
  • New: Operations in India moved from the Principal Markets segment to the Strategic Markets segment, with historical figures restated. Source
  • New: Kyndryl expanded its AI-led modernization offering with new Agentic Modernization services-as-software. Source
  • New: Kyndryl issued $600 million of 7.80% notes due 2029 and $400 million of 7.875% notes due 2032 in late September. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 1.9% reported: Revenue was $3.7 billion, down 1.9% as reported and down 0.8% in constant currency, compared with a 3% decline in the first quarter. Source
  • GAAP net income and EPS lower: Net income was $59 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared with $68 million, or $0.29, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.42: Adjusted net income was $92 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, compared with $89 million, or $0.38, in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • First-quarter revenue decline was 3%: The first-quarter release reported revenue of $3.6 billion, down 3% as reported and in constant currency.

Segments and regions

  • United States revenue grew 9%: United States revenue was $980 million, up 9.0%, and adjusted EBITDA was $273 million against $195 million. The release says the commercial matter's effect was mitigated at company level. Source
  • Principal Markets and Japan declined: Principal Markets revenue was $1,177 million, down 6.1% as reported and 4.8% in constant currency. Japan revenue was $555 million, down 4.6% reported and up 2.9% in constant currency. Source
  • Strategic Markets revenue and EBITDA fell: Strategic Markets revenue was $939 million, down 4.8% as reported and 6.7% in constant currency. Adjusted EBITDA was $142 million against $152 million. Source
  • India moved to Strategic Markets: Operations in India moved from Principal Markets to Strategic Markets this quarter, and historical segment figures were restated to match. Source

“Our results reflect continued progress against our strategic and financial priorities,”

Chief Financial Officer Ellen Johnson

Products and customers

  • Kyndryl Consult revenue grew 4.2%: Kyndryl Consult revenue rose 4.2% year-over-year in the quarter. Source
  • Hyperscaler revenue grew 27.2%: Hyperscaler-related revenue exceeded $550 million in the quarter, up 27.2%. Trailing-twelve-month hyperscaler revenue reached $2.1 billion, up 38.5%. Source
  • Growth rates eased from first quarter: The first-quarter release showed hyperscaler-related revenue up 34%, compared with 27.2% in the second quarter; Consult growth was 10% in that release.
  • Consult trailing revenue rose 8.1%: Trailing-twelve-month Consult revenue reached $3.6 billion, up 8.1%, and Consult signings reached $4.6 billion, up 19.1%. Source

Demand and order book

  • Second-quarter signings reached $4.1 billion: Signings were $4.1 billion in the second quarter against $2.8 billion a year earlier. Trailing-twelve-month signings were $15.5 billion against $15.6 billion. Source
  • Large contracts: 43 over trailing year: Contracts above $50 million signed over the trailing year numbered 43, with 11 in the quarter. The first-quarter release counted 40 and 10. Source

Costs and margins

  • Workforce charges rose to $38 million: Workforce rebalancing charges were $38 million in the second quarter, against $19 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $699 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $699 million, up from $641 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.1% against 17.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted pretax income rose to $150 million: Adjusted pretax income was $150 million, up from $123 million, against reported pretax income of $112 million. Source

Cash flow and free cash flow

  • Operating cash flow was $172 million: Cash from operations was $172 million, compared with $147 million a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow was negative $34 million: Free cash flow was a use of $34 million, against a source of $22 million a year earlier. Six-month free cash flow was a use of $434 million. Source
  • First-quarter cash use drivers: The first-quarter release tied the $310 million cash use to working capital timing, including higher software payments and lower billings and collections, partly offset by lower incentive payments.

Capital, debt and shareholder returns

  • Senior notes issued in September: The notes were issued on September 28, 2026 and their net proceeds funded the October repayment and the end-September revolver repayment. Source
  • 2.05% notes of $700 million repaid: The $700 million of 2.05% senior notes were repaid at maturity in October 2026. Interest expense was $37 million, against $20 million a year earlier. Source
  • $1 billion revolver balance repaid: The revolver balance was repaid at end-September. Cash was $1,659 million and debt $4,059 million at September 30, against $2,623 million and $4,089 million at March 31. Source
  • First-quarter buyback of 5.0 million shares: Six-month share repurchases totaled $97 million. Since November 2024 the program has bought back 19.3 million shares for $462 million, 8% of shares outstanding.

Strategy, acquisitions and AI offerings

  • Healthcare IT Leaders acquisition closed: The acquisition was completed in mid-September. Kyndryl says it strengthens healthcare application implementation and managed services. Source
  • Agentic Modernization services-as-software: Kyndryl added new Agentic Modernization services-as-software and continued expanding its AI Innovation Lab network in Dallas and Luxembourg. Source
  • Legacy integration cited as top obstacle: Kyndryl's 2026 State of Modernization Report says AI is driving new modernization demand, while 51% of organizations cite legacy integration as their top obstacle. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Form 10-Q filing later today: The second-quarter Form 10-Q is expected to be filed later on the day of the release, with liquidity discussion in Item 2. Source
  • Workforce savings begin second half: Savings from the workforce rebalancing actions are expected to begin in the second half of fiscal 2027 and largely offset the charges. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Large customers: contracts above $50 million, trailing twelve months Source43 contracts; 11 in the second quarter

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Signings can vary with the timing of a small number of larger outsourcing contracts, so the definition notes they are not a comprehensive measure of future revenue. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains focused on disciplined execution to strengthen fundamentals, support margin expansion and drive free cash flow growth. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said management remained focused on consistent execution and delivery of fiscal 2027 and multi-year objectives.

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.