Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp Class A logo

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp Class A(CTSH)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 2 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+1.15% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$66.79
10/19/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CTSH

10/19/2026: CTSH (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Cognizant Technology Solutions is a global leader in IT consulting and digital transformation, known for deep expertise in industries like healthcare and finance. The company is currently successfully navigating a transition toward high-growth areas such as generative AI, cloud, and digital engineering. While it benefits from a strong balance sheet and stable, recurring revenue, the primary risks include intense competition from global peers and potential slowdowns in enterprise IT spending. Cognizant is well-suited for long-term investors seeking moderate growth with a reliable dividend. Investors should closely monitor the company's progress in successfully scaling its AI service offerings and maintaining margins against labor cost pressures.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitCognizant is a mature company seeking to pivot toward faster-growing digital markets rather than high-growth explosive expansion.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often tracks broader industry trends rather than displaying high-beta momentum characteristics.
Value investorStrong fitThe stock frequently trades at moderate multiples relative to its stable cash flow and established market presence.
Dividend investorStrong fitConsistent profitability and a commitment to regular dividend payments make it suitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorStrong fitIts strong balance sheet and diversified client base provide a degree of stability compared to more speculative technology stocks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumMarket sentiment toward IT services can fluctuate based on enterprise spending outlooks.
Valuation riskLowThe stock is generally priced reasonably relative to its earnings stability.
Competition risk (AI-led transformation)Medium / highFierce competition in the AI and digital consulting space requires constant innovation to maintain margins.
Business qualityStrongCognizant maintains long-term relationships with many Fortune 500 companies.
Dividend incomeStrongThe company has a reliable track record of returning capital to shareholders.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully integrating AI offerings into legacy client systems is a complex, high-stakes operational task.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 3.72%
Avg. Invested days 41
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/19/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CTSH receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CTSH has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid cash generation (FCF margin 12.3%) and solid profitability (net margin 10.6%) are partially offset by slightly negative earnings growth (-0.4%), moderate revenue growth (+7.0%), very low insider ownership of 0.14%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CTSH's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $2.6B (12.3% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CTSH's strongest growth driver at +42.0% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (+7.0%, moderate) and earnings growth (-0.4%, slightly negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 116.0% and approximately 99.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.14%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 10.25%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.87%
Pzena Investment Management, LLC 5.89%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 5.81%
State Street Corp 5.62%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CTSH generates approximately $337 of gross profit, $167 of operating income, and $123 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins and solid cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is moderate.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 39.94%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CTSH has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 29.74B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 14.2
1Y Target Price 66.34
Price to earnings Ratio 14.2
1Y Target Price 66.34
Volume (30-day avg) 6.6M shares
Beta 0.85
52 Weeks Range 36.86 - 85.48
Updated Date 10/18/2026
52 Weeks Range 36.86 - 85.48
Updated Date 10/18/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.98%
Basic EPS (TTM) 4.65

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Digital Business & TechnologySoftware engineering, AI, and cloud migration services.The primary growth engine for the company.
Digital Business OperationsManaged services and outsourced business processes.Provides stable, recurring revenue for the business.
Geography: North AmericaRevenue generated from US and Canadian clients.The largest and most critical geographic market for the company.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 14.2
Forward PE 9.41
Enterprise Value 27.69B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.44
Enterprise Value 27.69B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.44
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.28
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 6.75
Shares Outstanding 450.44M
Shares Floating 449.14M
Shares Outstanding 450.44M
Shares Floating 449.14M
Percent Insiders 0.14
Percent Institutions 116.01

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.