Cognizant (CTSH) stock
Information Technology · IT Consulting & Other Services
Cognizant (CTSH) is an IT Consulting & Other Services company in the Information Technology sector, headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey. As of October 23, 2026, CTSH closed at $70.54, a market capitalization of $31.77 billion, the 313th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $21.64 billion in revenue (+4% year over year) and $2.60 billion in free cash flow. The stock trades at 15.2x trailing earnings and 11.1x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: +6.0% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: -0.6% a year
- 52-week range: $37.08 – $87.03
- Gross margin 33.4%, operating margin 17.5%
- Dividend yield: 1.87%, 6 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: B- across 10 metrics
- 54th largest of 75 Information Technology stocks in the S&P 500
CTSH price chart
1Y price change: +3.7% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTSH | +19.3% | -13.5% | +6.0% | +4.6% | -0.6% | +5.0% | +23.4% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 1998.
CTSH key statistics
- Market cap
- $31.8B
- #313 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 15.2x
- Forward P/E
- 11.1x
- EPS (TTM)
- $4.65
- Revenue (TTM)
- $21.6B
- +5%
- Free cash flow
- $2.6B
- Gross margin
- 33.4%
- Operating margin
- 17.5%
- Return on equity
- 14.9%
- Dividend yield
- 1.87%
- 52-week range
- $37.08 – $87.03
- Beta
- 0.85
- Price / sales
- 1.5x
- EV / EBITDA
- 8.1x
- Debt / equity
- 0.14x
- Employees
- 356,700
CTSH report card
B-Ten fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth4.5%D
- Gross margin33.4%C
- Operating margin17.5%C
- FCF margin12.0%C
- Return on equity14.9%C
- Net debt / EBITDA0.3xB
- Forward P/E11.1xA
- PEG ratio0.9xA
- Shareholder yield6.2%A
- Share count change / yr-2.0%A
Cognizant Technology Solutions financials
Revenue went from $13.5B in fiscal 2016 to $21.1B in fiscal 2025, growing 5.1% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $13.5B | $14.8B | $16.1B | $16.8B | $16.7B | $18.5B | $19.4B | $19.4B | $19.7B | $21.1B |
| Operating income | $2.3B | $2.5B | $2.8B | $2.5B | $2.1B | $2.8B | $3.0B | $2.7B | $2.9B | $3.4B |
| Net income | $1.6B | $1.5B | $2.1B | $1.8B | $1.4B | $2.1B | $2.3B | $2.1B | $2.2B | $2.2B |
| EPS (diluted) | $2.55 | $2.53 | $3.60 | $3.29 | $2.57 | $4.05 | $4.41 | $4.21 | $4.51 | $4.56 |
| Free cash flow | $1.3B | $2.1B | $2.2B | $2.1B | $2.9B | $2.2B | $2.2B | $2.0B | $1.8B | $2.6B |
| Buybacks | $512.0M | $1.9B | $1.3B | $2.2B | $1.6B | $771.0M | $1.4B | $1.1B | $605.0M | $1.4B |
| Dividends paid | $0 | $265.0M | $468.0M | $453.0M | $480.0M | $509.0M | $564.0M | $591.0M | $600.0M | $610.0M |
| Diluted shares | 610.0M | 595.0M | 584.0M | 560.0M | 541.0M | 528.0M | 519.0M | 505.0M | 497.0M | 489.0M |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into CTSH?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $32.8B and $2.6B of trailing free cash flow, Cognizant Technology Solutions needs to grow free cash flow about -0.7% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return. For context, free cash flow grew -2.2% a year over the last five years.
P/E ratio history
Current 15.5x vs. median 23.3x (10th–90th percentile 15.5x–30.9x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
CTSH dividend
- Dividend yield
- 1.87%
- Annual dividend
- $1.32
- Years of increases
- 6
- 5-yr dividend growth
- 7.1%
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 28%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
CTSH analyst price targets
25 analysts' average 12-month target is $67.10 (-5% vs. $70.54). Targets range from $47.00 to $93.00. 45% rate it a buy.
CTSH earnings
Next report: October 29, 2026. Last quarter's revenue was $5.5B (+4% year over year).
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2026 | $1.38 | $1.37 | -0.7% |
| Apr 29, 2026 | $1.33 | $1.40 | +5.0% |
| Feb 4, 2026 | $1.32 | $1.35 | +2.0% |
| Oct 29, 2025 | $1.30 | $1.39 | +6.7% |
| Jul 30, 2025 | $1.26 | $1.31 | +4.0% |
| Apr 30, 2025 | $1.20 | $1.23 | +2.5% |
| Feb 5, 2025 | $1.13 | $1.21 | +7.5% |
| Oct 30, 2024 | $1.15 | $1.25 | +9.0% |
Stocks like CTSH
| Name | Today | 1Y | Mkt cap | P/E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 IBM International Business Machines | +0.58% | -9% | $239.6B | 21.6x | Compare |
 ACN Accenture | -3.62% | +3% | $152.6B | 18.4x | Compare |
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CTSH news
- Is Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) Worth More Than Its Price? · Oct 24, 2026
- Here's What to Expect From Cognizant Technology Solutions' Next Earnings Report · Oct 23, 2026
- Cognizant (CTSH) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release · Oct 22, 2026
- Introducing Cognizant AI Nexus: helping enterprises govern the cost, quality and results of AI · Oct 22, 2026
- Cognizant to Acquire DyFlex Solutions, Accelerating AI-Led Enterprise Transformation for SAP Clients in Australia and New Zealand · Oct 21, 2026
CTSH stock FAQ
What is CTSH's market cap?
Cognizant's market capitalization is $31.77 billion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 313th in the S&P 500.
What is CTSH's P/E ratio?
CTSH trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 15.2x and a forward P/E of 11.1x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 23.3x.
Does CTSH pay a dividend?
Yes. Cognizant pays $1.32 per share a year, a 1.87% yield. It has raised its dividend 6 years in a row. Dividends grew 7.1% a year over the last five years.
How much has CTSH stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, CTSH returned +6.0% over one year, -0.6% a year over five years, +5.0% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is CTSH stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Cognizant must grow free cash flow about -1% a year for the next decade. Its free cash flow fell 2% a year over the last five years. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
What is the CTSH price target?
25 analysts cover CTSH with an average 12-month price target of $67.10, -5% from the current price. 45% of them rate it a buy.
When does CTSH report earnings?
Cognizant is expected to report earnings on October 29, 2026.
How many employees does Cognizant have?
Cognizant has about 356,700 full-time employees, or $60,673 of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology