NASDAQ$CTSH

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp · Q3 2023 earnings

Q3 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Announced third quarter 2023 financial results, demonstrating revenue within guidance and adjusted operating margin above expectations.

Cognizant's Q3 2023 revenue reached $4.9 billion, a 0.8% increase year-over-year, with a record trailing 12-month bookings of $26.9 billion, up 16% year-over-year. The company's fundamentals were strengthened with higher customer satisfaction scores, lower voluntary attrition and continued growth in bookings. Full-year revenue guidance narrowed to -0.7% to flat, and adjusted operating margin guidance is now ~14.7%.

  • Revenue of $4.9 billion increased 0.8% year-over-year, declined 0.2% in constant currency
  • Record trailing 12-month bookings of $26.9 billion, up 16% year-over-year
  • Operating cash flow of $828 million; free cash flow of $755 million was ~144% of net income
  • Share repurchase expectation for 2023 increased by $200 million to $1 billion

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$4.9B

Previous: $4.86B+0.8%
EPS (adj)

$1.16

Previous: $1.17-0.9%
Trailing 12-month Bookings

$26.9B

Previous: $23.1B+16.5%
Capital Expenditures

-$239M

Previous: -$242M+1.2%
Free Cash Flow

$286M

Previous: $387M-26.1%
Net Income

$525M

Previous: $629M-16.5%
Operating Income

$686M

Previous: $798M-14.0%
Gross Profit

$1.69B

Previous: $1.78B-5.0%
Cash & Equivalents

$2.2B

Previous: $2.04B+7.9%
Total Assets

$18.1B

Previous: $17.3B+4.2%
Stock-Based Comp

$47M

Previous: $58M-19.0%

Revenue & EPS history

Cognizant · Revenue · Quarterly

$4.9B

Q3 2023+0.8%vs Q3 2022
Beat estimate in 9 of 14 quarters(64%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Cognizant · $4.9B total across 4 segments · Q3 2023

  • Financial Services
    $1.48B-3.0%
  • Health Sciences
    $1.41B+0.0%
  • Products and Resources
    $1.17B+1.9%
  • Communications, Media and Technology
    $847M+8.2%

Forward guidance

Cognizant anticipates Q4 2023 revenue between $4.69 - $4.82 billion, a decline of 3.1% to 0.3%, or a decline of 4.0% to 1.2% in constant currency. Full-year 2023 revenue is expected to be $19.3 - $19.4 billion, a decline of 0.7% to flat. Full-year 2023 Adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $4.39 to $4.42 and Adjusted Operating Margin is expected to be approximately 14.7%.

Tailwinds

  • Full-year 2023 Adjusted Operating Margin is expected to be approximately 14.7%.
  • Expanded relationship with The FA will see Cognizant become the Digital Transformation Partner of The FA, Official Partner of the Emirates FA Cup, Official Partner of the Women’s FA Cup, Official Partner of The FA Community Shield, and Official Partner of England Football.
  • Announced launch of a global strategic go-to-market partnership with Vianai to accelerate human-centered generative AI offerings.
  • Announced a five-year renewal with ISS, a leading workplace experience and facility management company.
  • Opened AI Innovation Hub in London in partnership with Google

Headwinds

  • Fourth quarter revenue is expected to be $4.69 - $4.82 billion, a decline of 3.1% to 0.3%, or a decline of 4.0% to 1.2% in constant currency.
  • Full-year 2023 revenue is expected to be $19.3 - $19.4 billion, or a decline of 0.7% to flat, both as reported and in constant currency.
  • Recent discretionary spending pressure impacting near-term revenue expectations.
  • Ongoing economic uncertainty
  • Rebuilding its digital banking system on Google Cloud

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q3 2023

Historical avgQ3 2023

+0.0%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.3%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.2%

Avg return

30 days after

50%

36 / 72 earnings

Positive

+12.6%

Q4 2019

Best reaction

-17.9%

Q1 2019

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+1.3%-5.2%+1.8%
Q4 2025+2.5%+0.1%-11.1%
Q3 2025+5.6%+7.2%+14.6%
Q1 2025+2.3%+5.5%+10.1%
Q4 2024+4.2%+5.1%-0.4%
Q3 2024-1.2%-0.8%+6.6%
Q2 2024+0.6%-5.4%+2.6%
Q1 2024+0.9%+1.1%+0.7%
Q4 2023+0.5%-0.6%-0.2%
Q3 2023-1.3%+2.8%+9.8%
Q2 2023+7.0%+8.3%+8.9%
Q1 2023+5.9%+3.8%+7.4%
Q4 2022-0.9%-1.9%-9.2%
Q3 2022-16.9%-14.0%-0.2%
Q2 2022-1.8%-0.7%-5.0%
Q1 2022-9.7%-6.5%-9.8%
Q4 2021-0.4%+1.5%+2.8%
Q3 2021-1.8%-1.0%-0.4%
Q2 2021+6.9%+6.6%+11.7%
Q1 2021-7.5%-8.9%-12.0%
Q4 2020-6.7%-5.2%-7.9%
Q3 2020-3.2%-3.5%+6.8%
Q2 2020+10.4%+8.6%+8.1%
Q1 2020-0.7%-7.6%+0.4%
Q4 2019+12.6%+9.4%-8.2%
Q3 2019+0.8%+2.7%+6.1%
Q2 2019+1.7%-5.0%-6.0%
Q1 2019-17.9%-18.9%-14.2%
Q4 2018+2.5%+2.5%-0.1%
Q3 2018-0.3%+0.4%+1.6%
Q2 2018-5.2%-4.9%-4.5%
Q1 2018-8.1%-6.8%-4.9%
Q4 2017+1.7%+4.8%+14.6%
Q3 2017-1.7%-1.2%-5.7%
Q2 2017+3.9%+2.6%+3.4%
Q1 2017+5.8%+5.3%+11.1%
Q4 2016+7.8%+7.2%+9.2%
Q3 2016+5.4%+3.6%+9.6%
Q2 2016-0.8%-2.1%-0.7%
Q1 2016+5.6%
Q4 2015-10.6%
Q3 2015-1.4%
Q2 2015+6.0%
Q1 2015+3.1%
Q4 2014+4.6%
Q3 2014+8.6%
Q2 2014-11.2%
Q1 2014-2.4%
Q4 2013-1.6%
Q3 2013+4.4%
Q2 2013+0.5%
Q1 2013+5.5%
Q4 2012+3.2%
Q3 2012-3.1%
Q2 2012+0.3%
Q1 2012-13.4%
Q4 2011-0.9%
Q3 2011-1.1%
Q2 2011-6.6%
Q1 2011+1.0%
Q4 2010-0.8%
Q3 2010-2.0%
Q2 2010+0.5%
Q1 2009+6.2%
Q1 2010-1.2%
Q4 2009-0.1%
Q4 2007-0.1%
Q3 2009+3.3%
Q3 2008+3.3%
Q2 2009-0.1%
Q2 2008-0.1%
Q4 2008-0.1%

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