EPAM Systems: AI Is Eating The Old Business, But 8.7x Earnings Is Too Cheap

Eudaemon Research 277 Followers Follow Summary EPAM Systems faces near-term revenue headwinds as AI cannibalizes legacy services, but trades at just 8.7x forward non-GAAP earnings. AI-native revenue now exceeds 11% of EPAM, growing double-digit sequentially, while margins and adjusted EPS are improving despite flat topline growth. Engine Capital's activist push for a $750M buyback leverages EPAM's strong balance sheet and could materially shrink the share count at current valuations. I rate EPAM a Buy: the stock is priced for too much permanence in the current transition, with upside if AI-native work fills the legacy gap by 2027. Jonathan Kitchen/DigitalVision via Getty Images EPAM Systems ( EPAM ) customers are cutting back on manual testing, user-experience work and other task-based services because of AI. These are just the areas investors were worried about, and these are the areas it is getting hit. This work can be replaced by This article was written by Eudaemon Research 277 Followers Follow The author is a director at a small Boston-based software company where he oversees India operations across HR, finance, and business development. His broader professional background spans entrepreneurship, operations, and management across multiple industries. Earlier in his career, he was involved in building out a bottled beverages plant, reflecting a longstanding interest in business building, execution, and commercial strategy. He also holds a PhD in history and teaches part-time at a local college, bringing a research-driven and analytical perspective to both his professional and investing workHe has been investing in U.S. equities for nearly two decades, having started well before international access to U.S. markets became commonplace for Indian investors. Over time, he has developed a style that sits between value and growth. He is most interested in businesses where long-term earnings potential, competitive positioning, or strategic optionality are not yet fully reflected in the stock price. His work is grounded in valuation, but he also looks closely at business quality, management execution, industry structure, and the durability of growth.His primary sector focus is software, IT, and AI, including the growing application of AI across industries such as healthcare. He is especially interested in companies with scalable models, improving economics, and the ability to compound earnings over time. At the same time, his interests are not limited to technology. He also follows real estate-related opportunities, including REITs, and remains open to writing on other sectors where the investment case is compelling.On Seeking Alpha, he aims to write thoughtful, research-based articles that combine business analysis with valuation discipline. His goal is not simply to identify attractive stories but to assess whether the market is mispricing risk, growth, or long-term earnings power. He writes to share well-reasoned ideas with serious investors, refine his own thinking through public analysis, and contribute to a more disciplined discussion around investing. The author is associated with another Seeking Alpha analyst - Dr. Manimala M. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.