Cognizant (CTSH) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $38.92B
• Dividend Yield: 1.57%
• Average Volume (3M): 3.01M
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 16.6
• Beta (1Y): 0.87
• Revenue Growth: 4.09%
• EPS Growth: 14.05%
• Country: US
• Employees: 336,300
• Sector: Technology
• Sector Strength: 78
• Industry: Information Technology Services
• EPS (TTM): 1.23
• Shares Outstanding: 492,941,960
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 2,628,963
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 3,014,017
• PEG Ratio: 1.46
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.41
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 13.25
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 0.74
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.37
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 4.38
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 2.02
• 1Y Price Target: $88.87
• Price Target Upside: 12.56% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 17

• Rating: 76 Outperform
• Price Target: ―

Cognizant is performing well financially with strong profitability and cash flow, and its strategic focus on AI positions it for future growth. The technical indicators suggest caution due to bearish momentum and overbought conditions. Valuation metrics indicate the stock is fairly valued. Positive earnings call insights and corporate events further support the stock's prospects, although potential slowdowns in client spending pose a risk.

Positive Factors

Deal Momentum

Strong deal momentum continues, signing ten deals with a total contract value of USD100mn or more.

Financial Performance

Cognizant Technology Solutions posted solid first quarter results that came in above Street expectations due to better execution and broad-based improvement in growth.

Strategic Growth Initiatives

AI initiatives and the NextGen program are driving future growth, with investments in GenAI capabilities yielding results and expanding operating margins.

Negative Factors

Client Spending Behavior

A slowdown in client decision-making and discretionary IT spending began due to macroeconomic uncertainties.

Financial Services Segment

Continuous downturn in the financial services segment poses a risk due to decreased discretionary spending on small deals.

Global Economic Conditions

The potential global recession could disrupt business activities, potentially leading to layoffs and impacting growth.

Cognizant Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) is a leading multinational corporation specializing in information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services. The company is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, and operates globally, serving clients across various sectors including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and retail. Cognizant offers a broad range of services, including IT services, digital transformation, consulting, and business process services, helping organizations modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences.

How the Company Makes Money

Cognizant makes money primarily through providing IT services, consulting, and business process outsourcing. Its revenue model is largely driven by long-term contracts with clients across various industries, including healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing. The company earns revenue by delivering digital solutions, application development and management, systems integration, and consulting services. Additionally, Cognizant generates income through strategic partnerships and collaborations to enhance its service offerings and expand its market reach. The company's earnings are influenced by global digital transformation trends and the increasing demand for technology-driven business solutions.

Cognizant Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Cognizant exhibits strong financial health with consistent revenue growth, robust profitability margins, a solid balance sheet with low leverage, and strong cash flow generation. The revenue growth rate is moderate at 1.8%, but the company's profitability metrics are strong, with a net profit margin of 11.73%. The cash flow is notably strong, with a free cash flow growth rate of 16.77%.

Income Statement

Cognizant has shown consistent revenue growth, with a TTM revenue of $20.09 billion compared to $19.74 billion in the previous year, marking a growth rate of 1.8%. The gross profit margin stands at 32.95%, indicating efficient cost management. Net profit margin has also remained strong at 11.73%, reflecting solid profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust at 15.33% and 16.13%, respectively, showcasing operational efficiency.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet reveals a strong equity position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, suggesting low leverage and financial stability. The return on equity (ROE) is a healthy 15.82%, indicating effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio is 74.60%, highlighting a strong capital structure with significant equity backing.

Cash Flow

Cognizant's cash flow is robust, with a TTM operating cash flow of $2.43 billion translating to an operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.03. The free cash flow growth rate has been 16.77% year-over-year, demonstrating strong cash generation. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.90 reflects solid conversion of profits into cash.

Breakdown
TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement		Total Revenue
20.09B	19.74B	19.35B	19.43B	18.51B	16.65B
	Gross Profit
6.62B	6.78B	6.69B	6.98B	6.90B	5.98B
	EBIT
3.08B	2.89B	2.69B	2.97B	2.83B	2.11B
	EBITDA
3.69B	3.52B	3.35B	3.60B	3.41B	2.68B
	Net Income Common Stockholders
2.36B	2.24B	2.13B	2.29B	2.14B	1.39B
Balance Sheet		Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
1.99B	2.24B	2.63B	2.50B	2.72B	2.72B
	Total Assets
19.97B	19.97B	18.48B	17.85B	17.85B	16.92B
	Total Debt
1.18B	1.48B	1.31B	1.53B	1.64B	1.76B
	Net Debt
-801.00M	-751.00M	-1.31B	-657.00M	-150.00M	-922.00M
	Total Liabilities
5.07B	5.56B	5.26B	5.54B	5.86B	6.09B
	Stockholders Equity
14.90B	14.41B	13.23B	12.31B	11.99B	10.84B
Cash Flow		Free Cash Flow
2.13B	1.83B	2.01B	2.24B	2.22B	2.90B
	Operating Cash Flow
2.43B	2.12B	2.33B	2.57B	2.50B	3.30B
	Investing Cash Flow
-1.42B	-1.65B	-331.00M	-106.00M	-2.16B	-1.24B
	Financing Cash Flow
-1.27B	-915.00M	-1.61B	-1.94B	-1.20B	-2.01B

Cognizant Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Neutral
• Last Price: 78.95
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CTSH, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 78.95 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 80.35, above the 50-day MA of 76.21, and above the 200-day MA of 78.00, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.68 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 47.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 42.61 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for CTSH.

Cognizant Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
INFY	80 Outperform	$77.20B	24.14	29.00%	2.80%	3.85%	-0.38%
IT	80 Outperform	$31.17B	25.19	113.19%	―	5.99%	59.74%
ACN	78 Outperform	$195.14B	25.72	27.26%	1.90%	4.10%	9.78%
CTSH	76 Outperform	$38.92B	16.62	16.61%	1.57%	4.09%	14.05%
EPAM	75 Outperform	$9.96B	23.87	11.57%	―	4.72%	-3.06%
WIT	67 Neutral	$31.52B	19.99	16.62%	1.04%	-2.83%	106.18%
Sector *	62 Neutral	$11.80B	10.08	-7.46%	2.99%	7.37%	-8.21%

Cognizant Corporate Events

Cognizant Shareholders Re-elect Directors, Approve Proposals

On June 3, 2025, Cognizant held its annual meeting of shareholders, where all directors were re-elected, and proposals on executive compensation and the appointment of an independent accounting firm were approved. However, a shareholder proposal regarding the improvement of special shareholder meetings was not approved, indicating a mixed reception to governance changes among stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (CTSH) stock is a Buy with a $90.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cognizant stock, see the CTSH Stock Forecast page.

Cognizant Announces Leadership Transition with New CAO

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation announced that Robert Telesmanic will retire from his role as SVP, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer effective July 1, 2025. Alina Kerdman, who has been with the company since 2010, will succeed him in this role. Kerdman will receive a comprehensive compensation package, including a base salary, cash incentives, and stock units, as she transitions into her new position. Telesmanic will remain with the company as a special advisor until the end of 2025 to ensure a smooth transition.

The most recent analyst rating on (CTSH) stock is a Buy with a $90.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cognizant stock, see the CTSH Stock Forecast page.

Cognizant Reports Strong Q1 2025 Financial Results

Cognizant reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2025, with revenue reaching $5.1 billion, a 7.5% increase year-over-year, and an operating margin of 16.7%. The company also announced a 22% increase in GAAP EPS and a 10% rise in adjusted EPS. Cognizant’s strategic focus on AI-led transformation and operational efficiency has positioned it well in the market, as evidenced by significant client agreements and platform enhancements. The company plans to return $1.7 billion to shareholders in 2025 through buybacks and dividends, while maintaining flexibility for growth investments.