TCS shares recover as investors digest top helm rejig; outgoing CEO Gopinathan promises smooth transition

TCS share price: The stock of Tata Consultancy Services — India's largest IT services company — swung between gains and losses in a volatile session on Friday before finishing in the red, as investors digested a sudden change at the top helm of the Tata group giant.

TCS share price: The stock of the Tata group IT giant declined on Friday a day after its CEO Rajesh Gopinathan resigned. | Image: Reuters

TCS share price: The stock of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) — India's largest IT services company — suffered minor losses on Friday as investors stared at a major change at the top helm of the Tata group giant. TCS CEO Rajesh Gopinathan resigned on Thursday, and the IT major named K Krithivasan as his successor.

The outgoing TCS CEO, Rajesh Gopinathan promised a smooth transition at the top position. Gopinathan said he will be "100 per cent" available to Krithivasan, named CEO Designate, during the transition.

Gopinathan said his stint at TCS was as wonderful, adding that "there couldn't be a better time to move on". Speaking at a press conference before market hours on Friday, he said TCS has been "built on pillars of customer centricity and employees who have always committed and given their best". Read more on what outgoing TCS CEO Rajesh Gopinathan said

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TCS shares ended with a cut of Rs 5.8 or 0.2 per cent at Rs 3,179 apiece on BSE, after gyrating in a range of Rs 75 around the flatline during the session.

What analysts make of the top-level changes in TCS management

The Street is divided on the management rejig at the Tata group company, with a wide array of targets on either side of the current market price.

Brokerage	Rating	Target price	Upside/ downside
CLSA	Outperform	Rs 3,550	+11.5%
Morgan Stanley	Equal-weight	Rs 3,350	+5.2%
JPMorgan	Underweight	Rs 3,000	-5.8%
Citi	Sell	Rs 2,990	-6.1%
Nomura	Reduce	Rs 2,850	-10.5%

According to Morgan Stanley, which retained an 'equal-weight' rating on the stock with a target price that implies upside potential of more than five per cent from Thursday's closing price, Gopinathan's resignation may create a short-term overhang.

However, the brokerage expects the transition to be smooth and well-managed.

JPMorgan said the surprising change at top helm of the company comes in an uncertain year with slowing momentum. Krithi should keep strategies largely unchanged, according to the brokerage.

TCS share price: Historical performance under outgoing CEO Rajesh Gopinathan

Under the leadership of Gopinathan, TCS shares rewarded investors with a return to the tunr of more than 150 per cent, beating the headline Nifty50 index's return of about 85 per cent by a huge margin. The stock has reflected the rapid growth in the more recent years, cementing its position as India's second most valuable company.

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