Cognizant Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results

About this update from Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

12% year-over-year revenue growth in Financial Services; $1.1 billion deployed on share repurchases TEANECK, N.J., July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a leading AI builder and technology services provider, today announced its second quarter 2026 financial results. "Our organic revenue growth momentum continued in the second quarter and was at the high end of our expectations," said Ravi Kumar S, Chief Executive Officer. "We are helping our clients close the AI velocity gap by pairing deep industry expertise with engineering, infrastructure and data modernization capabilities while safeguarding their data and IP. We are doing this by scaling our Frontier workforce and reskilling for the future. We are confident our strategy is resonating with clients, as reflected in a second consecutive quarter of double-digit year-over-year growth in Financial Services, our largest and most mature segment. As organizations shift from AI experimentation to enterprise-scale execution, we believe the market opportunity ahead is larger than ever, and we're positioning Cognizant to lead in this next era." See "Revenue by Business Segment and Geography" section for additional revenue details and drivers of growth. "Our second quarter results reflect disciplined execution and the resilience of our operating model. We delivered 4.1% constant currency revenue growth and 40 basis points of adjusted operating margin expansion year-over-year, despite a complex environment," said Jatin Dalal, Chief Financial Officer. "In the first half of 2026, we deployed $1.6 billion on share repurchases and $1.3 billion on acquisitions aligned with our AI builder strategy. We remain focused on operational rigor and consistent margin expansion while funding growth investments and deploying capital strategically." Bookings On a trailing-twelve-month basis, bookings increased 5% year-over-year to $29.1 billion, which represented a book-to-bill of approximately 1.3x. Bookings in the second quarter declined 6% year-over-year. Second quarter bookings included seven large deals, which are deals with total contract value of $100 million or greater. Employee Metrics On a trailing-twelve months basis, Voluntary Attrition - Tech Services was 13.0% for the period ended June 30, 2026, as compared to 12.3% and 12.6% for the periods ended March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2025, respectively. Total headcount as of June 30, 2026 was 356,700, a decrease of 900 from March 31, 2026 and an increase of 12,900 from June 30, 2025.  Capital Allocation The Company repurchased 22.5 million shares for $1,153 million during the second quarter under its share repurchase program, including 9.7 million shares through its previously announced $500 million accelerated share repurchase (ASR) as well as another 12.8 million shares for $653 million through open market transactions. As of June 30, 2026, there was $2.3 billion remaining under the share repurchase authorization. In July 2026, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per share for shareholders of record on August 18, 2026. This dividend will be payable on August 25, 2026.  During the second quarter of 2026, the company completed its acquisition of Astreya for a purchase price of $634 million, including contingent consideration of $25 million, net of cash acquired, while borrowing $1.0 billion under its revolving credit facility. Third Quarter and Full-Year 2026 Guidance 2   (all growth rates year-over-year) 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 client agreements, platform enhancements, and partnerships. Recent announcements include: Client Announcements Platform Enhancements and Partnerships Select Company Announcements and Recognition Conference Call Cognizant will host a conference call on July 29, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss the Company's second quarter  2026 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 13760925 beginning two hours after the end of the call until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The replay will also be available at Cognizant's website www.cognizant.com  for 60 days following the call. About Cognizant Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization's unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.ai 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 AI, the effectiveness of and plans related to our recruiting and talent efforts and related costs, labor market trends, the anticipated amount of capital to be returned to shareholders, our anticipated financial performance, matters related to Project Leap, expected benefits resulting from our acquisition of Astreya 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 and the impact those technologies may have on the demand and terms for our services, the competitive marketplace for talent and its impact on employee recruitment and retention, 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 Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS (or Adjusted 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 exclude unusual items, such as Project Leap charges and the partial reversal of the India Defined Contribution Obligation in 2026 and the gain on sale of property and equipment in 2025. Our non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS   exclude unusual items, such as Project Leap charges, the partial reversal of the India Defined Contribution Obligation and the gain on sale of property and equipment, 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 Net Income and 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 plus proceeds from sale of property and equipment, 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 and mega deals are defined as deals with a total contract value of $100 million or greater and $500 million or greater, respectively. - tables to follow - 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. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cognizant-reports-second-quarter-2026-results-302837120.html

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