Cognizant scripts turnaround with fastest growth in four years

Core Viewpoint - Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. achieved a 6.95% dollar revenue growth in 2025, reaching $21.12 billion, marking its best performance since 2021 and a significant recovery from a revenue decline in 2023 [1] Revenue Growth - Cognizant's growth was primarily driven by product and resource sales, contributing over a third of its revenue growth, which is higher than HCL Technologies' 5.1% growth [2] - The company outperformed major Indian IT firms, with Infosys reporting $19.85 billion (3.85% growth), Tata Consultancy Services at $29.86 billion (down 0.72%), and Wipro at $10.42 billion (down 1.41%) [3] Major Contracts - The company signed three contracts exceeding $1 billion in 2025, including a significant $1 billion IT modernization deal with Novartis AG [4] Future Outlook - Cognizant anticipates revenue between $22.14 billion and $22.66 billion for 2026, indicating a growth rate of 4.9-7.4%, with 1.5% expected from acquisitions [7] - The company is considering a share listing in India to enhance valuations, although specific details remain undisclosed [8] Profitability - Profitability improved, with a 140 basis point increase to 16.1%, although net profit slightly decreased by 0.45% to $2.23 billion [10] Employee Growth - The company increased its workforce to 351,600 employees, gaining 14,800 from the previous year, contrasting with TCS's reduction of nearly 20,000 employees [11] Market Reaction - Following the positive results, Cognizant's shares rose by 2.71% to $76.52 in pre-market trading, indicating strong shareholder confidence [12] Execution and Strategy - The growth is attributed to improved execution and deal conversion rather than a sudden demand rebound, with a focus on large client mining and cost discipline [13]