Core Insights - Cognizant (CTSH) and Epam (EPAM) are two stocks in the Computers - IT Services sector, with a comparison being made to determine which offers better value for investors [1] Valuation Metrics - CTSH has a forward P/E ratio of 15.96, while EPAM has a forward P/E of 16.84 [5] - CTSH's PEG ratio is 1.85, compared to EPAM's PEG ratio of 1.89, indicating similar expected earnings growth rates [5] - CTSH's P/B ratio is 2.68, while EPAM's P/B ratio is 2.83, suggesting that CTSH is relatively more undervalued [6] Zacks Rank and Style Scores - CTSH has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while EPAM has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - CTSH has a Value grade of B, whereas EPAM has a Value grade of C, suggesting that CTSH is viewed more favorably by value investors [6]

Summary of Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) - **Date**: June 11, 2025 - **Key Speaker**: Jatin Dalal, Chief Financial Officer Key Points Recent Business Developments - Cognizant announced two mega deals valued at over $500 million each, adding to a previous mega deal signed in Q1, totaling three mega deals for the year [2][3] - The recent deals are primarily consolidation deals, increasing wallet share from existing customers, with a significant renewal component [4] Industry Focus - One mega deal is in the technology and communication sector, while the other is in the health sector [5] AI Integration - AI is a core component of the new mega deals, enhancing productivity and differentiating Cognizant from competitors [6] - The company has defined three vectors of AI impact, with the first vector focusing on productivity improvements [6] Competitive Factors - Successful execution of previous deals and compelling deal architecture were key factors in winning the recent mega deals [8][9] - Price considerations also played a role, with initial lower margins expected to recover over the life of the deals [9][10] Revenue and Margin Guidance - The recent mega deals were factored into revenue guidance, with expectations of 20 to 40 basis points margin expansion through 2025 [10][11] Pipeline and Deal Dynamics - Winning large deals reduces the pipeline temporarily, but Cognizant expects to replenish it with new opportunities [12][13] - Smaller deals (under $50 million) saw a decline in 2023, but stability was noted in 2024, with some momentum returning in Q4 [15][16] Client Spending Behavior - Discretionary spending is expected to rebound when economic stability returns, as clients have delayed IT investments [18][19] - The BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector is currently driving discretionary spending, particularly on compliance-related projects [24] Sector-Specific Insights - The BFSI sector is focusing on compliance changes and preparing for AI integration, while manufacturing and retail are cautious due to regulatory uncertainties [22][27] - Health sector clients are also impacted by policy uncertainties, affecting their IT spending decisions [26] AI as a Growth Driver - AI is viewed as the next significant growth driver for the IT services industry, with Cognizant positioning itself as a leader in this space [29] - The company is investing in AI solutions to enhance customer productivity and reimagine business operations [29][32] Future Revenue Model - The revenue model is expected to evolve, incorporating pricing for both human and virtual agents, indicating a shift towards non-linear revenue growth [42][43] M&A Strategy - Cognizant allocates 50% of its cash flow for M&A, with a focus on acquiring capabilities in AI, digital engineering, and analytics [50][51] - The company aims to leverage M&A to fill market gaps and enhance organic growth [51] Conclusion - Cognizant is optimistic about its future growth prospects, driven by successful mega deals, AI integration, and a strategic approach to M&A, while navigating current economic uncertainties and client spending behaviors [52]

Summary of Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) - **Event**: 2025 Conference - **Date**: June 04, 2025 Key Points Historical Perspective and Organizational Changes - **Leadership Change**: Ravi took over as CEO two and a half years ago, leading to significant organizational changes [2][4] - **Core Values**: Cognizant is anchored on four key pillars: agility, entrepreneurial culture, empowerment, and these values have remained constant [5][6] - **Growth Adjustments**: The company overcorrected its processes between 2015 and 2020, leading to rigidity perceived by clients and associates [6][7] - **Current State**: The company is now recalibrating towards a balanced approach, regaining client and associate satisfaction [8] Macro Environment - **Current Macro Dynamics**: The current macro environment is characterized by uncertainty and change, particularly due to AI disruptions across enterprises [10][11] - **Comparison with Past Crises**: Each crisis has unique nuances, but the common factor is the uncertainty they induce [10] Market Segments and Customer Demand - **Financial Services**: This segment is showing signs of recovery with discretionary spending beginning to return, though not fully [12][13] - **Healthcare**: Characterized as cautious due to government spending discussions, particularly on Medicare and Medicaid [13][14] - **Life Sciences**: Facing anxiety due to tariff uncertainties, leading to caution in spending [14] - **Products and Resources**: This segment is dealing with tariff turbulence affecting IT projects [15] - **Communications, Media, and Technology (CMT)**: Currently neutral with no significant changes in spending patterns [15] Deal Activity - **Large Deals**: Cognizant closed 29 large deals (over $100 million) last year, up from 17 the previous year [20][21] - **Mega Deals**: The company has closed three mega deals (over $500 million) by the end of Q2, including a significant deal in health sciences worth approximately $1 billion [22][23] - **Deal Structure**: The approach involves unlocking trapped value in existing contracts to fund AI-driven transformations [23][28] AI Integration and Pricing Models - **AI Utilization**: Currently, 20% of code is generated by AI tools, with expectations to increase to 50% in the coming years [31][32] - **Pricing Environment**: The pricing environment is competitive but stable, with a shift towards outcome-based pricing expected as clients adapt to AI productivity gains [36][40] Financial Services Recovery - **Structural Changes**: Cognizant has focused on sub-segment levels within financial services, revamped its sales engine, and tailored solutions powered by AI [50][52] - **Market Share Recovery**: The company is regaining market share and winning discretionary spending as the market stabilizes [54] Vendor Consolidation Trends - **Client Behavior**: Clients are focusing on cost optimization rather than vendor consolidation, seeking to break silos and consolidate vendors for maximum value [55] Additional Insights - **Client Engagement**: Cognizant is proactively engaging clients with AI solutions to unlock productivity and drive transformation [26][27] - **Long-term Deal Duration**: The average tenure for mega deals is around five years [46] This summary encapsulates the key insights and developments discussed during the conference call, highlighting Cognizant's strategic direction, market dynamics, and operational adjustments in response to evolving client needs and macroeconomic conditions.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, the company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders and achieved revenue growth of 7.5% year over year in Q1 2025, or 8.2% in constant currency [7][8] - Adjusted earnings per share increased year over year for the sixth consecutive quarter in Q1 2025 [8] - The company expects to increase shareholder returns to $1.7 billion in 2025 [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company signed 29 large deals in 2024, up from 17 the previous year, indicating a strong demand for its services [7] - Client Net Promoter scores are near all-time highs, and employee engagement scores are well above global and IT industry benchmarks [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported that over 72% of its global employees are based in India, which may influence operational strategies [46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI-powered software-led engineering and has invested in platforms like NeuroSuite and FlowSource [12] - A dual transformation strategy is being pursued, emphasizing hyper productivity from AI and innovation from intelligent systems [12] - The company aims to broaden its portfolio and deepen its industry focus while fostering a culture that attracts and develops talent [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the near-term macro environment is uncertain but remains focused on building a long-term advantage [22] - The company is committed to investing in each geography based on growth needs and market conditions [48] Other Important Information - The company has launched a company-wide cost discipline initiative and modernized operations to better serve clients globally [9] - The Synapse program has trained over 400,000 individuals, with a goal of reaching 1 million [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Will tariffs have any impact on CTSH? What percent of CTSH employees are in India? - The CFO stated that tariffs do not directly impact the services business, but there may be secondary effects on certain industries [45] - Over 72% of the company's employees are based in India [46] Question: Why did Zane Abdallah and Leo McKay receive more than 50 million against votes each in 2024? - The company does not have visibility into why shareholders vote against certain directors but noted that all directors received over 85% support [47] Question: How much investment will be in the US, and will the employee raise be better than the 1% policy from last year? - The CFO mentioned that investment decisions will be based on growth needs and market conditions, and the 2025 compensation raise approach has not yet been finalized [48][49]

Company Overview - Cognizant (CTSH) shares have increased by approximately 7.2% over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500 [1] - The most recent earnings report is crucial for understanding the catalysts affecting the stock [1] Earnings Estimates - Estimates for Cognizant have been revised upward in the past month, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [2][4] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting expectations for above-average returns in the coming months [4] VGM Scores - Cognizant has an average Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of F, and a Value Score of B, resulting in an aggregate VGM Score of B [3] Industry Performance - Cognizant is part of the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, where Roper Technologies (ROP) has seen a 1.2% gain over the past month [5] - Roper Technologies reported revenues of $1.88 billion for the last quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 12% [5] - Roper Technologies is expected to post earnings of $4.82 per share for the current quarter, indicating a 7.6% increase from the previous year [6]

Core Viewpoint - Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) has experienced a 9% increase in shares over the past month, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 8.8% increase, driven by an expanding clientele and strong partner base [1] Group 1: Partner Base and Clientele Expansion - The expanding partner base, including companies like Pegasystems, Docusign, NVIDIA, and Amazon, is expected to enhance Cognizant's growth prospects in 2025 [2] - Cognizant secured several contracts in Q1 2025, including a significant deal valued at over $500 million, contributing positively to overall growth [2] - The collaboration with Pegasystems aims to enhance AI services and streamline cloud transformations for joint clients, addressing inefficiencies in legacy systems [3][4] Group 2: AI Capabilities and Portfolio Expansion - Cognizant has advanced its AI capabilities with innovations such as the Neuro AI Multi-Agent accelerator and has engaged in over 1,400 Generative AI projects across multiple clients in Q1 2025 [8] - The company announced the open-sourcing of its Neuro AI Multi-Agent Accelerator to foster collaboration and support scalable deployment of agent networks [9] Group 3: Financial Guidance and Growth Expectations - For Q2 2025, Cognizant expects revenues between $5.14 billion and $5.21 billion, indicating growth of 5.9%-7.4% [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 2025 revenues is $5.19 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 6.92% [11] - The consensus earnings estimate is $1.25 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 6.84% [11]

Core Insights - Cognizant (CTSH) is currently rated 2 (Buy) by Zacks Rank, indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to Epam (EPAM), which is rated 3 (Hold) [3] - CTSH has a Value grade of B, while EPAM has a Value grade of C, suggesting that CTSH is the superior value option at this time [6][7] Valuation Metrics - CTSH has a forward P/E ratio of 15.58, while EPAM has a forward P/E ratio of 16.42, indicating that CTSH may be undervalued relative to EPAM [5] - The PEG ratio for CTSH is 1.81, compared to EPAM's PEG ratio of 1.84, suggesting that CTSH offers better value when considering expected earnings growth [5] - CTSH's P/B ratio is 2.62, while EPAM's P/B ratio is 2.76, further supporting the notion that CTSH is a more attractive investment based on market value versus book value [6]

Core Insights - Cognizant is expanding its collaboration with Pegasystems to enhance its modernization services with Pega Blueprint, aiming to facilitate cloud transformations for enterprises [1][4] - The partnership focuses on addressing the challenges faced by enterprises using legacy systems, which incur significant operational and hidden costs [2][4] - The integration of Cognizant's IP with Pega Blueprint will enable rapid development of Minimum Viable Products, enhancing innovation and efficiency in transformation projects [2][5] Group 1 - Cognizant aims to help customers optimize processes and build AI-powered systems on the Pega Infinity platform by leveraging AI-driven legacy code rewrite capabilities [3][4] - The collaboration is positioned to redefine enterprise modernization, moving away from traditional methods to AI-infused transformation journeys [4][5] - Cognizant will showcase Pega Blueprint-driven industry solutions at PegaWorld, highlighting the innovative potential of this collaboration [5] Group 2 - The partnership is expected to bring new levels of efficiency and innovation to technology modernization projects, addressing the challenges of legacy discovery [5] - The collaboration is seen as a response to the urgent need for enterprises to modernize their systems and unlock trapped value [4][5] - The initiative is part of a broader trend where enterprises are increasingly adopting adaptive, AI-native systems for improved customer experience and growth [4]

Core Insights - The mortgage industry is at a pivotal moment as technology, particularly AI, is set to redefine operations and value across the mortgage lifecycle, with 2025 identified as a turning point [1][2][3] Industry Challenges - Non-bank mortgage lenders are experiencing operational fatigue, regulatory pressures, and rapid technological disruptions, with many still playing defense rather than innovating [1][4] - Compliance issues are escalating, with one executive reporting over 1,700 regulatory alerts in the previous year, indicating a need for continuous compliance operations [5][7] Technological Innovations - The emergence of Agentic AI, which combines generative AI with automation, is seen as a significant driver of change in the industry, enabling more efficient and intelligent operations [6][7] - Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) is gaining traction among lenders for its quick returns, especially in environments still reliant on paper [7][8] Strategic Recommendations - A majority (74%) of non-bank lenders are focusing on innovation for differentiation, yet only 21% consider themselves true innovators, highlighting a gap in the market [7] - Lenders are encouraged to redefine outsourcing partnerships, moving beyond cost-cutting to leverage technology for platform modernization and AI deployment [14] - Automation is projected to encompass 68% of mortgage operations by 2026, indicating a shift towards integrating technology with human expertise for continuous improvement [7][8]

Core Insights - The rapid deployment of AI technology and significant investments in its development present substantial growth opportunities for investors [4] AI Technology and Market Trends - AI is solving real-world problems across various sectors, including customer service, medical diagnosis, fraud detection, and autonomous vehicles [1] - The rise of Generative AI and Agentic AI is enhancing AI capabilities, driving efficiency, automation, and innovation in industries such as robotics, healthcare, finance, and e-commerce [2] - Major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are leading advancements in AI technology, supported by powerful AI chips from NVIDIA [3] Company-Specific Developments - Microsoft has over 60,000 Azure AI customers and its Azure AI Foundry application has been adopted by more than 70,000 enterprises [5] - Microsoft Copilot has shown significant growth, with 15 million users and over 8 million requests handled by its code review agent [6] - Lam Research is well-positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for AI and datacenter chips, leveraging its advanced etch and deposition technologies [8][9] - Cognizant Technology Solutions is enhancing its AI capabilities with over 1,400 Generative AI engagements and is investing heavily in AI-powered software-led engineering [10][11] Strategic Partnerships and Innovations - Cognizant has a strong partner base, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, and has launched an AI-powered dispute management solution in collaboration with ServiceNow [12] - The integration of NVIDIA's AI technology into Cognizant's Neuro AI platform is expected to drive significant business transformation [13]