Cognizant Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Results
Cognizant (CTSH) reported strong Q4 2024 results with revenue of $5.1 billion, up 6.8% year-over-year, reaching the high end of guidance. Full-year 2024 revenue increased 2.0% to $19.7 billion.
Key highlights include: operating margin improvement to 14.7% (up 80 basis points), trailing 12-month bookings of $27.1 billion (up 3%), and record 29 large deals closed during the year. The company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.
Looking ahead to 2025, Cognizant projects revenue growth of 3.5% to 6.0% in constant currency, with Adjusted Operating Margin expected between 15.5% to 15.7%. The quarterly dividend was increased by 3% to $0.31 per share for Q1 2025.
Cognizant (CTSH) ha riportato risultati solidi per il Q4 2024 con un fatturato di 5,1 miliardi di dollari, con un aumento del 6,8% rispetto all'anno precedente, raggiungendo il limite superiore delle previsioni. Il fatturato dell'intero anno 2024 è aumentato del 2,0% fino a 19,7 miliardi di dollari.
Tra i punti salienti ci sono: un miglioramento del margine operativo al 14,7% (in aumento di 80 punti base), prenotazioni degli ultimi 12 mesi di 27,1 miliardi di dollari (in aumento del 3%) e un record di 29 grandi contratti chiusi durante l'anno. L'azienda ha restituito 1,2 miliardi di dollari agli azionisti attraverso riacquisti di azioni e dividendi.
Guardando al 2025, Cognizant prevede una crescita del fatturato tra il 3,5% e il 6,0% a cambi costanti, con un margine operativo rettificato previsto tra il 15,5% e il 15,7%. Il dividendo trimestrale è stato aumentato del 3% a 0,31 dollari per azione per il Q1 2025.
Cognizant (CTSH) reportó resultados sólidos para el Q4 2024 con ingresos de 5.1 mil millones de dólares, un aumento del 6.8% interanual, alcanzando el límite superior de la guía. Los ingresos del año completo 2024 aumentaron un 2.0% hasta 19.7 mil millones de dólares.
Los aspectos destacados incluyen: mejora del margen operativo al 14.7% (aumento de 80 puntos básicos), reservas de 12 meses de 27.1 mil millones de dólares (aumento del 3%) y un récord de 29 grandes acuerdos cerrados durante el año. La compañía retornó 1.2 mil millones de dólares a los accionistas a través de recompra de acciones y dividendos.
De cara al 2025, Cognizant proyecta un crecimiento de ingresos del 3.5% al 6.0% en moneda constante, con un margen operativo ajustado esperado entre 15.5% y 15.7%. El dividendo trimestral se incrementó en un 3% a 0.31 dólares por acción para el Q1 2025.
코그니전트 (CTSH)가 2024년 4분기 실적을 발표했습니다. 매출은 51억 달러로 전년 대비 6.8% 증가하며 가이던스의 상단에 도달했습니다. 2024년 전체 매출은 197억 달러로 2.0% 증가했습니다.
주요 사항으로는 운영 마진이 14.7%로 개선(80bps 증가), 지난 12개월 간의 예약 규모가 271억 달러로 3% 증가, 연중 29건의 대형 거래가 성사된 기록이 포함됩니다. 이 회사는 12억 달러를 자사주매입과 배당금을 통해 주주에게 반환했습니다.
2025년을 대비하여 코그니전트는 고정환율 기준으로 매출 성장률을 3.5%에서 6.0%로 예상하고 있으며, 조정된 운영 마진은 15.5%에서 15.7% 사이로 예상되고 있습니다. 분기 배당금은 3% 인상되어 2025년 1분기 주당 0.31달러로 증가했습니다.
Cognizant (CTSH) a annoncé des résultats solides pour le Q4 2024 avec un revenu de 5,1 milliards de dollars, en hausse de 6,8 % par rapport à l'année précédente, atteignant le haut de la fourchette des prévisions. Le chiffre d'affaires total pour 2024 a augmenté de 2,0 % pour atteindre 19,7 milliards de dollars.
Les points forts incluent : une amélioration de la marge opérationnelle à 14,7 % (en hausse de 80 points de base), des réservations sur 12 mois de 27,1 milliards de dollars (en hausse de 3 %) et un record de 29 grandes affaires conclues au cours de l'année. L'entreprise a restitué 1,2 milliard de dollars aux actionnaires par le biais de rachats d'actions et de dividendes.
Pour 2025, Cognizant prévoit une croissance des revenus de 3,5 % à 6,0 % à taux de change constant, avec une marge opérationnelle ajustée prévue entre 15,5 % et 15,7 %. Le dividende trimestriel a été augmenté de 3 % à 0,31 dollar par action pour le Q1 2025.
Cognizant (CTSH) hat starke Ergebnisse für das Q4 2024 gemeldet, mit einem Umsatz von 5,1 Milliarden Dollar, was einem Anstieg von 6,8% im Jahresvergleich entspricht und das obere Ende der Prognose erreicht. Der Gesamtumsatz für 2024 stieg um 2,0% auf 19,7 Milliarden Dollar.
Zu den wichtigsten Highlights gehören: Verbesserung der Betriebsmarge auf 14,7% (ein Anstieg um 80 Basispunkte), gebuchte Aufträge der letzten 12 Monate in Höhe von 27,1 Milliarden Dollar (ein Anstieg um 3%) und ein Rekord von 29 großen abgeschlossenen Verträgen im Laufe des Jahres. Das Unternehmen hat 1,2 Milliarden Dollar an die Aktionäre durch Aktienrückkäufe und Dividenden zurückgegeben.
Für das Jahr 2025 prognostiziert Cognizant ein Umsatzwachstum von 3,5% bis 6,0% zu konstanten Wechselkursen, wobei die bereinigte Betriebsmarge zwischen 15,5% und 15,7% erwartet wird. Die vierteljährliche Dividende wurde um 3% auf 0,31 Dollar pro Aktie für das Q1 2025 erhöht.
- Q4 revenue growth of 6.8% to $5.1 billion, exceeding guidance
- Operating margin improved 80 basis points to 14.7%
- Record 29 large deals closed in 2024
- Bookings increased 11% in Q4, reaching $27.1 billion TTM
- Dividend increased 3% to $0.31 per share
- $1.2 billion returned to shareholders in 2024
- Voluntary attrition increased to 15.9% from 13.8% year-over-year
- Free cash flow declined to $1,827M from $2,013M in 2023
- Q4 GAAP Operating Margin decreased to 14.8% from 15.2% year-over-year
Insights
Cognizant's Q4 2024 results demonstrate a compelling turnaround story, with several key indicators pointing to sustainable growth momentum:
- The record 29 large deals in 2024, including 10 deals worth over
$100 million in Q4 alone, signals strong market competitiveness and improved sales execution. The book-to-bill ratio of 1.4x suggests robust future revenue visibility. - Operating margin expansion is particularly noteworthy - the full-year adjusted operating margin of
15.3% represents a 20 basis point improvement, with Q4 reaching15.7% . The NextGen program's completion provides a stronger cost structure foundation for 2025. - Free cash flow at over
150% of net income in Q4 demonstrates excellent working capital management and operational efficiency, marking the strongest performance since Q3 2021. - The 2025 guidance of
3.5% to6.0% constant currency growth, coupled with 20-40 basis points margin expansion, reflects management's confidence in maintaining growth momentum while improving profitability.
However, investors should monitor the rising voluntary attrition rate (
Cognizant's strategic evolution reveals a well-orchestrated transformation in the enterprise AI space:
- The emphasis on "hyper productivity" through AI-led platforms indicates a shift from traditional IT services to high-value, AI-augmented solutions. This positions Cognizant favorably in the enterprise AI market, where clients increasingly seek productivity gains through automation and AI integration.
- The Thirdera acquisition strengthens Cognizant's ServiceNow capabilities, while Belcan enhances its engineering and R&D services portfolio. These acquisitions contribute meaningfully to revenue (200 basis points) while diversifying service offerings in high-growth areas.
- The record number of large deals suggests successful integration of AI capabilities into core service offerings, demonstrating strong client acceptance of Cognizant's AI-driven transformation approach.
The strategic focus on enterprise-grade generative AI adoption is particularly timely, as organizations move beyond experimentation to implementation of AI at scale. This positions Cognizant well against competitors in capturing the next wave of digital transformation spending.
- Fourth quarter revenue of
$5.1 billion 6.8% year-over-year or6.7% in constant currency1, at the high end of our guidance range - Full-year revenue of
$19.7 billion 2.0% year-over-year or1.9% in constant currency - Full-year operating margin of
14.7% increased 80 basis points year-over-year; Adjusted Operating Margin1 of15.3% increased 20 basis points year-over-year - Trailing 12-month bookings of
$27.1 billion 3% year-over-year, driven by11% year-over-year fourth quarter bookings growth $1.2 billion - Cash dividend increased
3% to$0.31 - 2025 revenue growth guidance of
3.5% to6.0% in constant currency - 2025 Adjusted Operating Margin guidance of
15.5% to15.7% , expansion of 20 to 40 basis points
"I am deeply grateful to our employees for their commitment to our strategic priorities and rigorous execution, which drove fourth quarter revenue growth to the high end of our guidance range. We exited the year with momentum — closing a record 29 large deals during the year — highlighting the effectiveness of our strategy," said Ravi Kumar S, Chief Executive Officer. "In 2024, we accelerated investments in our AI-led platforms and added new capabilities with the acquisitions of Thirdera and Belcan, further strengthening and diversifying our portfolio. Our focus on client centricity, agility, and innovation is helping clients unlock the next wave of hyper productivity and enterprise-grade generative AI adoption."
$ in millions, except per share data | Q4 2024 | Q4 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | ||||
Revenue | ||||||||
Y/Y Change | 6.8 % | (1.7 %) | 2.0 % | (0.4 %) | ||||
Y/Y Change CC1 | 6.7 % | (2.4 %) | 1.9 % | (0.3 %) | ||||
GAAP Operating Margin | 14.8 % | 15.2 % | 14.7 % | 13.9 % | ||||
Adjusted Operating Margin1 | 15.7 % | 16.1 % | 15.3 % | 15.1 % | ||||
GAAP Diluted EPS | ||||||||
Adjusted Diluted EPS1 | ||||||||
Operating cash flow | ||||||||
Free cash flow1 |
For the full year 2024, our recently completed acquisitions contributed approximately 200 basis points to the year-over-year change in revenue.
"We ended the year strong, delivering Adjusted Operating Margin of
Bookings
Bookings in the fourth quarter increased
Employee Metrics
Voluntary attrition - Tech Services on a trailing-twelve months basis was
Return of Capital to Shareholders
The Company repurchased 1.8 million shares for
First Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Guidance2
(all growth rates year-over-year)
- First quarter revenue is expected to be
$5.0 $5.1 billion 5.6% to7.1% , or6.5% to8.0% in constant currency. - Full-year 2025 revenue is expected to be
$20.3 $20.8 billion 2.6% to5.1% , or3.5% to6.0% in constant currency. - Full-year 2025 Adjusted Operating Margin3 is expected to be from
15.5% to15.7% , or 20 to 40 basis points of expansion. - Full-year 2025 Adjusted Diluted EPS3 is expected to be in the range of
$4.90 $5.06
1 Constant currency ("CC") revenue growth, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share ("Adjusted Diluted EPS") and free cash flow are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A full reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Margin guidance to the corresponding GAAP measure on a forward-looking basis cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Performance Metrics" for more information and a partial reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure at the end of this release. |
2 Guidance as of February 5, 2025 |
3 A full reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Diluted EPS guidance to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Performance Metrics" for more information and a partial reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this release. |
Select Company, Client and Partnership Announcements
Cognizant is building a portfolio of capabilities combined with deep domain expertise to harness and advance an AI-led future. Cognizant's progress has been accelerated through the following recent platform enhancements, partnerships and client wins:
Platform Enhancements and Partnerships
- Announced a new collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries Software to integrate Siemens' PAVE360™ into Cognizant's software-defined vehicle (SDV) solution accelerator. This enhanced accelerator, featuring Siemens' Simcenter™ Prescan for sensor modeling and scenario-based testing, aims to meet rising customer demands by accelerating the SDV development cycle.
- Launched Stores 360, a comprehensive retail solution designed to streamline store operations, enhance employee productivity and improve customer experiences. Developed in collaboration with ServiceNow, the solution leverages the Cognizant Neuro® AI platform and generative AI-powered Now Assist solution to support key touchpoints in the retail value chain, enabling frictionless and efficient operations. It is designed to elevate retail store operations and improve frontline employee productivity and customer experience with integrated, automated, predictive and gen AI capabilities.
- Announced Cognizant's Neuro® AI Multi-Agent Accelerator and Multi-Agent Service Suite. These new offerings accelerate the development and adoption of AI agents, helping empower businesses to transform their business processes using AI agents for adaptive operations, real-time decision-making, and personalized customer experiences to support all facets of business, from IT and finance to sales and marketing.
- Announced a strategic alliance with CrowdStrike, a global cybersecurity leader, to drive enterprise security transformation by delivering cybersecurity services, powered by the AI-native CrowdStrike Falcon® cybersecurity platform. Cognizant will work to enable organizations to streamline security operations and threat mitigation, consolidate fragmented legacy point products, reduce the complexity of managing cybersecurity programs, and strengthen cybersecurity posture, leveraging Falcon® Next-Gen SIEM and Falcon® Cloud Security.
- Announced an expanded partnership with Zscaler, a cloud security company, with the goal of helping enterprises across industries simplify and transform their security posture with an advanced, AI-enabled zero trust cloud security platform to address evolving cyber threats. Cognizant and Zscaler will offer coordinated solutions and services designed to reduce overall security complexity, maximize security posture, and deliver comprehensive, cost-effective outcomes rapidly and at scale.
- Announced a new FinOps1 Center of Excellence (CoE), built on IBM's leading FinOps software and Cognizant's cloud and developer platforms. Alongside the CoE announcement, Cognizant launched extensions of its Cognizant® Skygrade™ and Flowsource™ platforms that are designed to integrate with IBM Apptio, Turbonomic, watsonx.governance and watsonx Code Assistant for Z. The solutions bring together Cognizant's deep software engineering capabilities with IBM's powerful tools to help enterprise clients transition to modern architectures and streamline cloud management operations.
- Announced an expanded agreement with Medidata, a leader of clinical trial solutions to the life sciences industry, to provide support for Medidata's life sciences clients. As part of the multi-year renewal agreement, Cognizant is providing a dedicated team of Medidata Platform specialists to support their clients in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, contract research organizations, and patients using Medidata services.
Client Wins
- Renewed strategic partnership with McDonald's Corporation, the world's leading food service retailer. As part of the multi-year agreement, Cognizant will focus on leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance McDonald's staff enablement, customer experience, and operational efficiency. Cognizant plans to continue supporting McDonald's in various important enterprise areas, including Global Finance Systems and Human Capital Management. Cognizant will leverage its platforms, including Neuro® IT Operations and Skygrade™, to drive better observability, reliability and agility at McDonald's.
- Expanded its longstanding relationship with biopharmaceutical leader Gilead Sciences. Cognizant will provide AI-driven solutions to enhance customer service, employee engagement, and business value. Gilead is expected to enhance its efficiency through leveraging Cognizant's expertise in AI and advanced technology applications.
- Extended collaboration with Savvas Learning Company, a leading K-12 learning solutions provider, to help optimize its back-office IT operations. A trusted Savvas partner since 2019, Cognizant has entered into a multi-year agreement with the company through which Cognizant Flowsource™ will aim to enhance platform engineering capabilities, improve efficiencies, and drive automation for Savvas. The collaboration also plans to focus on efficient order management, in an effort to ensure timely delivery of services to the company's diverse customer base.
- Announced a collaboration with Beyond Bank Australia, one of
Australia's largest customer-owned banks, to help transform the digital banking experience. The collaboration aims to enhance operational resilience, streamline processes and improve customer experience through the implementation of innovative technology solutions. Additionally, this collaboration seeks to modernize the bank's IT infrastructure, establish a Security Operations Centre (SOC) and strengthen vendor assurance frameworks to help align with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) standards.
Select Analyst Ratings, Company Recognition and Announcements
- Unveiled a new joint study in collaboration with Oxford Economics which shows how AI is expected to transform the consumer purchasing journey by 2030 and drive significant economic impact. The study, New Minds, New Markets, predicts that as income and purchasing power increases among 18 to 44-year-old AI enthusiasts, this demographic could drive an estimated
$4.4 trillion U.S. by 2030. - Cognizant became the first global IT service company to receive the accredited ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its artificial intelligence management system. The certification recognizes Cognizant's leadership in developing, assessing, and deploying AI systems in a safe, trustworthy, and ethical way.
- Named to Newsweek and Statista's America's Most Responsible Companies 2025. In its sixth year, this list acknowledges 600 U.S.-based companies for their commitment to making a positive global impact. Selected from the 2,000 largest publicly traded companies headquartered in the
U.S. , each winner received scores based on a range of criteria including corporate governance. - Named to the Wall Street Journal's 250 Best-Managed Companies of 2024. The Management Top 250 ranking, developed by the Drucker Institute, measures corporate management effectiveness by examining performance in five areas: customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation and financial strength.
- Recognized as an Employer of Choice by the American Opportunity Index which measures how well America's largest companies drive economic mobility and positive career outcomes for their employees. Of the nine IT Services companies on the list of 100 top companies, Cognizant ranked first.
- Recognized by the Business Intelligence Group (BIG) for our Synapse program, a skilling program designed to train workers across the globe on new technology advancements, like AI, so they're powered for change. This recognition was presented for addressing pressing challenges in workforce development amid technological disruption. Synapse was highlighted for its emphasis on inclusivity, global outreach, and measurable impact, and using innovation to address the global skills gap.
- Recognized as a Leader by Everest Group® in:
- Quality Engineering (QE) Services for AI Applications and Systems PEAK Matrix® Assessment, 2024
- Data & Analytics Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment, 2024
- AI and Generative AI Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment, 2024
- Healthcare Provider Digital Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment, 2024
- B2B Sales Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment, 2024
- Microsoft Azure Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment, 2024
- AWS Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment, 2024
- Market Leader in HFS Horizons:
- IOT Services, 2024
- Health Plans and Payers, 2024
- The Best Service Provider for Commercial Banking, 2024
- Salesforce Service Providers, 2024
- A Leader in IDC MarketScape:
- Worldwide Adobe Experience Cloud Professional Services 2024-2025 Vendor Assessment, doc # US51741024, December 2024
- Asia/Pacific Salesforce Implementation Services 2024-2025 Vendor Assessment, doc # AP51540024, November 2024
- Leadership in ISG Provider Lens™:
- Multi Public Cloud Services and Solutions, 2024
- Contact Center - Customer Experience Services, 2024
- Supply Chain Services, 2024
- Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem, 2024
- Telecom Media and Entertainment, 2024
- Healthcare Digital Services, 2024
- Insurance Services, 2024 – US, EU, & ANZ
- Advanced Analytics and AI Services, 2024 – US &
Europe
- Leadership in Avasant's:
- Generative AI Services
- Intelligent Automation Services, 2024
- Mexico Digital Services, 2024
- End-user Computing Services, 2024
- Hybrid Enterprise Cloud Services, 2024
- Intelligent ITOps Services, 2024
- Consumer Packaged Goods Digital Services, 2024
- Leadership in NelsonHall NEAT Reports:
- Quality Engineering Services, 2024
- Transforming Core Banking Services, 2025
Conference Call
Cognizant will host a conference call on February 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) to discuss the Company's fourth quarter 2024 results. To listen to the conference call, please dial (877) 810-9510 (domestic) or +1 (201) 493-6778 (international) and provide the following conference passcode: "Cognizant Call."
The conference call will also be available live on the Investor Relations section of the Cognizant website at http://investors.cognizant.com. An earnings supplement will also be available on the Cognizant website at the time of the conference call. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available. To listen to the replay, please dial (877) 660-6853 (domestically) or +1 (201) 612-7415 (internationally) and enter 13750333 beginning two hours after the end of the call until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. The replay will also be available at Cognizant's website www.cognizant.com for 60 days following the call.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we're improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied forward-looking statements relating to our strategy, strategic partnerships and collaborations, competitive position and opportunities in the marketplace, investment in and growth of our business, the pace and magnitude of change and client needs related to generative AI, the effectiveness of our recruiting and talent efforts and related costs, labor market trends, the anticipated amount of capital to be returned to shareholders and our anticipated financial performance, matters related to the Belcan acquisition and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions, the competitive and rapidly changing nature of the markets we compete in, our ability to successfully use AI-based technologies, the competitive marketplace for talent and its impact on employee recruitment and retention, risks related to our NextGen program and the ultimate benefits of such program, legal, reputational and financial risks resulting from cyberattacks, changes in the regulatory environment, including with respect to immigration, trade and taxes, and the other factors discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cognizant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Performance Metrics
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, this press release includes references to the following measures defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission as non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Diluted EPS, free cash flow, net cash and constant currency revenue growth. These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The reconciliations of our non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures should be carefully evaluated.
Our non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Income from Operations excludes unusual items, such as NextGen charges. Our non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted Diluted EPS excludes unusual items, such as NextGen charges, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and the tax impact of all the applicable adjustments. The income tax impact of each item excluded from Adjusted Diluted EPS is calculated by applying the statutory rate and local tax regulations in the jurisdiction in which the item was incurred. Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities net of purchases of property and equipment. Net cash is defined as cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments less short-term and long-term debt. Constant currency revenue growth is defined as revenues for a given period restated at the comparative period's foreign currency exchange rates measured against the comparative period's reported revenues.
Management believes providing investors with an operating view consistent with how we manage the Company provides enhanced transparency into our operating results. For our internal management reporting and budgeting purposes, we use various GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making, to evaluate period-to-period comparisons, to determine portions of the compensation for our executive officers and for making comparisons of our operating results to those of our competitors. Accordingly, we believe that the presentation of our non-GAAP measures, which exclude certain costs, when read in conjunction with our reported GAAP results, can provide useful supplemental information to our management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations.
A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures versus financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is that non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with GAAP and may exclude costs that are recurring such as our net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses. In addition, other companies may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than us, thereby limiting the usefulness of these non-GAAP financial measures as a comparative tool. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures to allow investors to evaluate such non-GAAP financial measures.
Performance Metrics
Bookings are defined as total contract value (or TCV) of new contracts, including new contract sales as well as renewals and expansions of existing contracts. Bookings can vary significantly quarter to quarter depending in part on the timing of the signing of a small number of large contracts. Our book-to-bill ratio is defined as bookings for the trailing twelve months divided by revenue for the same period. Measuring bookings involves the use of estimates and judgments and there are no independent standards or requirements governing the calculation of bookings. The extent and timing of conversion of bookings to revenues may be impacted by, among other factors, the types of services and solutions sold, contract duration, the pace of client spending, actual volumes of services delivered as compared to the volumes anticipated at the time of sale, and contract modifications, including terminations, over the lifetime of a contract. The majority of our contracts are terminable by the client on short notice often without penalty, and some without notice. We do not update our bookings for subsequent terminations, reductions or foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Information regarding our bookings is not comparable to, nor should it be substituted for, an analysis of our reported revenues. However, management believes that it is a key indicator of potential future revenues and provides a useful indicator of the volume of our business over time. Large deals are defined as deals with a total contract value of
Investor Relations Contact: | Media Contact: | |||
Tyler Scott | Jeff DeMarrais | |||
VP, Investor Relations | VP, Corporate Communications | |||
+1 551-220-8246 | +1 475-223-2298 | |||
Tyler.Scott@cognizant.com | Jeff.DeMarrais@cognizant.com |
- tables to follow -
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
| |||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Revenues | $ 5,082 | $ 4,758 | $ 19,736 | $ 19,353 | |||
Operating expenses: | |||||||
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense shown separately below) | 3,297 | 3,081 | 12,958 | 12,664 | |||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 844 | 786 | 3,223 | 3,252 | |||
Restructuring charges | 49 | 40 | 134 | 229 | |||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 141 | 127 | 529 | 519 | |||
Income from operations | 751 | 724 | 2,892 | 2,689 | |||
Other income (expense), net: | |||||||
Interest income | 28 | 34 | 119 | 126 | |||
Interest expense | (19) | (11) | (54) | (41) | |||
Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net | (18) | (1) | (19) | 2 | |||
Other, net | (2) | 3 | — | 11 | |||
Total other income (expense), net | (11) | 25 | 46 | 98 | |||
Income before provision for income taxes | 740 | 749 | 2,938 | 2,787 | |||
Provision for income taxes | (199) | (195) | (713) | (668) | |||
Income (loss) from equity method investment | 5 | 4 | 15 | 7 | |||
Net income | $ 546 | $ 558 | $ 2,240 | $ 2,126 | |||
Basic earnings per share | $ 1.10 | $ 1.12 | $ 4.52 | $ 4.21 | |||
Diluted earnings per share | $ 1.10 | $ 1.11 | $ 4.51 | $ 4.21 | |||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - Basic | 495 | 500 | 496 | 505 | |||
Dilutive effect of shares issuable under stock-based compensation plans | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - Diluted | 496 | 501 | 497 | 505 | |||
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Unaudited)
| |||
(in millions, except par values) | December 31, | December 31, | |
Assets | |||
Current assets: | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 2,231 | $ 2,621 | |
Short-term investments | 12 | 14 | |
Trade accounts receivable, net | 4,059 | 3,849 | |
Other current assets | 1,202 | 1,022 | |
Total current assets | 7,504 | 7,506 | |
Property and equipment, net | 994 | 1,048 | |
Operating lease assets, net | 552 | 611 | |
Goodwill | 6,953 | 6,085 | |
Intangible assets, net | 1,599 | 1,149 | |
Deferred income tax assets, net | 1,248 | 993 | |
Long-term investments | 90 | 435 | |
Other noncurrent assets | 1,026 | 656 | |
Total assets | $ 19,966 | $ 18,483 | |
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | |||
Current liabilities: | |||
Accounts payable | $ 340 | $ 337 | |
Deferred revenue | 450 | 385 | |
Short-term debt | 33 | 33 | |
Operating lease liabilities | 152 | 153 | |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 2,610 | 2,425 | |
Total current liabilities | 3,585 | 3,333 | |
Deferred revenue, noncurrent | 30 | 42 | |
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent | 420 | 523 | |
Deferred income tax liabilities, net | 154 | 226 | |
Long-term debt | 875 | 606 | |
Long-term income taxes payable | — | 157 | |
Other noncurrent liabilities | 494 | 369 | |
Total liabilities | 5,558 | 5,256 | |
Stockholders' equity: | |||
Preferred stock, | — | — | |
Class A common stock, and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively | 5 | 5 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 13 | 15 | |
Retained earnings | 14,686 | 13,301 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (296) | (94) | |
Total stockholders' equity | 14,408 | 13,227 | |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ 19,966 | $ 18,483 | |
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
| |||||||||
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | Guidance | ||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | Full Year 2025 (1) | |||||
GAAP income from operations | $ 751 | $ 724 | |||||||
NextGen charges(a) | 49 | 40 | 134 | 229 | |||||
Adjusted Income From Operations | $ 800 | $ 764 | |||||||
GAAP operating margin | 14.8 % | 15.2 % | 14.7 % | 13.9 % | |||||
NextGen charges | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.2 | — % | ||||
Adjusted Operating Margin | 15.7 % | 16.1 % | 15.3 % | 15.1 % | |||||
GAAP diluted earnings per share | $ 1.10 | $ 1.11 | $ 4.51 | $ 4.21 | |||||
Effect of NextGen charges, pre-tax | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.27 | 0.45 | $— | ||||
Non-operating foreign currency exchange (gains) losses, pre-tax(b) | 0.04 | — | 0.04 | — | (b) | ||||
Tax effect of above adjustments(c) | (0.03) | (0.01) | (0.07) | (0.11) | (b) | ||||
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share | $ 1.21 | $ 1.18 | $ 4.75 | $ 4.55 | |||||
(1) A full reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share guidance to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts, as we are unable to provide reconciling information with respect to unusual items, net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and the tax effects of these adjustments, and such adjustments may be significant. |
Notes: |
(a) NextGen charges include: |
Three Months Ended | Twelve months ended | ||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
Employee separation costs | $ 30 | $ 22 | $ 85 | $ 115 | |||
Facility exit costs | 7 | 16 | 36 | 108 | |||
Third party and other costs | 12 | 2 | 13 | 6 | |||
Total NextGen charges | $ 49 | $ 40 | $ 134 | $ 229 | |||
The costs related to the NextGen program are reported in "Restructuring charges" in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. The program concluded on December 31, 2024. | |
(b) | Non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses, inclusive of gains and losses on related foreign exchange forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, are reported in "Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net" in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses are subject to high variability and low visibility and therefore cannot be provided on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable efforts. |
(c) | Presented below are the tax impacts of our non-GAAP adjustment to pre-tax income for the: |
(in millions) | Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Non-GAAP income tax benefit (expense) related to: | |||||||
NextGen charges | $ 13 | $ 10 | $ 34 | $ 59 | |||
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses | (1) | (4) | (4) | (6) | |||
The effective tax rate related to non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses varies depending on the jurisdictions in which such income and expenses are generated and the statutory rates applicable in those jurisdictions. As such, the income tax effect of non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses shown in the above table may not appear proportionate to the net pre-tax foreign currency exchange gains and losses reported in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. |
Reconciliations of Net Cash (Unaudited)
| ||||
(in millions) | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||
Cash and unrestricted cash equivalents | $ 2,231 | $ 2,621 | ||
Short-term investments | 12 | 14 | ||
Less: | ||||
Short-term debt | 33 | 33 | ||
Long-term debt | 875 | 606 | ||
Net cash | $ 1,335 | $ 1,996 | ||
The above tables serve to reconcile the Non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Refer to the "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Performance Metrics" section of our press release for further information on the use of these Non-GAAP measures.
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION Revenue by Business Segment and Geography (Unaudited)
| |||||||
(dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
Year over Year | |||||||
$ | % of total | % Change | Constant | ||||
Revenues by Segment: | |||||||
Health Sciences | $ 1,541 | 30.3 % | 10.4 % | 10.4 % | |||
Financial Services | 1,435 | 28.2 % | 2.9 % | 2.8 % | |||
Products and Resources (b) | 1,295 | 25.5 % | 11.3 % | 11.3 % | |||
Communications, Media and Technology | 811 | 16.0 % | 0.9 % | 0.4 % | |||
Total Revenues (b) | $ 5,082 | 6.8 % | 6.7 % | ||||
Revenues by Geography: | |||||||
$ 3,822 | 75.2 % | 8.3 % | 8.4 % | ||||
445 | 8.8 % | (0.7) % | (3.1) % | ||||
Continental | 494 | 9.7 % | 5.1 % | 5.6 % | |||
Europe - Total | 939 | 18.5 % | 2.3 % | 1.3 % | |||
Rest of World | 321 | 6.3 % | 3.5 % | 3.9 % | |||
Total Revenues (b) | $ 5,082 | 6.8 % | 6.7 % | ||||
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||
Year over Year | |||||||
$ | % of total | % Change | Constant | ||||
Revenues by Segment: | |||||||
Health Sciences | $ 5,932 | 30.1 % | 4.5 % | 4.5 % | |||
Financial Services | 5,753 | 29.1 % | (1.0) % | (1.1) % | |||
Products and Resources (c) | 4,782 | 24.2 % | 3.3 % | 3.2 % | |||
Communications, Media and Technology | 3,269 | 16.6 % | 0.8 % | 0.5 % | |||
Total Revenues (c) | $ 19,736 | 2.0 % | 1.9 % | ||||
Revenues by Geography: | |||||||
$ 14,698 | 74.5 % | 3.0 % | 3.1 % | ||||
1,827 | 9.2 % | (3.1) % | (5.1) % | ||||
Continental | 1,932 | 9.8 % | 1.2 % | 0.9 % | |||
3,759 | 19.0 % | (0.9) % | (2.1) % | ||||
Rest of World | 1,279 | 6.5 % | (1.3) % | — % | |||
Total Revenues (c) | $ 19,736 | 2.0 % | 1.9 % | ||||
Notes: | |
(a) | Constant currency revenue growth is not a measure of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Performance Metrics" section of our press release for further information. |
(b) | For the three months ended December 31, 2024, recently completed acquisitions contributed approximately 450 basis points to overall revenue growth, including approximately 1,600 basis points of growth to our Products and Resources segment, primarily in |
(c) | For the year ended December 31, 2024, recently completed acquisitions contributed approximately 200 basis points to overall revenue growth, including approximately 600 basis points of growth to our Products and Resources segment, primarily in |
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
| |||||||
(in millions) | Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ 546 | $ 558 | $ 2,240 | $ 2,126 | |||
Adjustments for non-cash income and expenses | 40 | 71 | 394 | 393 | |||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired | 334 | 108 | (510) | (189) | |||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 920 | 737 | 2,124 | 2,330 | |||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (83) | (78) | (297) | (317) | |||
Net maturities of investments | 4 | 246 | 266 | 395 | |||
Payments for business combinations, net of cash acquired | — | — | (1,615) | (409) | |||
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | (79) | 168 | (1,646) | (331) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans | 14 | 14 | 63 | 71 | |||
Repurchases of common stock | (154) | (313) | (605) | (1,064) | |||
Net change in term loan borrowings and earnout obligations and and finance leases | (12) | (10) | (73) | (25) | |||
Proceeds from borrowing under the revolving credit facility | — | — | 600 | — | |||
Repayment of notes outstanding under the revolving credit facility | (300) | — | (300) | — | |||
Dividends paid | (150) | (146) | (600) | (591) | |||
Net cash (used in) financing activities | (602) | (455) | (915) | (1,609) | |||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | (21) | 63 | (49) | 33 | |||
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | 218 | 513 | (486) | 423 | |||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 2,013 | 2,204 | 2,717 | 2,294 | |||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ 2,231 | $ 2,717 | $ 2,231 | $ 2,717 | |||
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION | |||
(in millions) | Three Months Ended December 31, | ||
Stock Repurchases under Board of Directors' authorized stock repurchase program: | 2024 | 2023 | |
Number of shares repurchased | 1.8 | 4.2 | |
Remaining authorized balance as of December 31, 2024 | $ 1,237 | ||
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow Non-GAAP Financial Measure | |||||||
(in millions) | Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ 920 | $ 737 | $ 2,124 | $ 2,330 | |||
Purchases of property and equipment | (83) | (78) | (297) | (317) | |||
Free cash flow | $ 837 | $ 659 | $ 1,827 | $ 2,013 | |||
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SOURCE Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
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