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BSY vs. CTSH: Bentley Systems vs. Cognizant Stock Comparison

How do Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but BSY is classified in Software while CTSH is classified in IT Services.

Cognizant (CTSH) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 19, 1998, whereas Bentley Systems (BSY) listed on September 23, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
Profile ItemBSYCTSH
NameBentley Systems, Incorporated Class B Common StockCognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareIT Services
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareIT Consulting & Other Services
Market Capitalization13.50 billion USD28.93 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateSeptember 23, 2020June 19, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BSY
CTSH
GSPC
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
Total Return (1Y)-2.57%-10.80%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.01%1.40%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.13%-2.88%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BSY
CTSH
GSPC
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.49%43.62%
Beta (5Y)0.920.83
Max Drawdown (5Y)-53.94%-56.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.67M6.65M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BSY and CTSH are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.17-0.35
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.25-0.50

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 26.03% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Cognizant (CTSH) at 17.37% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BSY.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

26.03%

Max
53.85%
BSY
26.03%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

17.37%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
CTSH
17.37%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 19.57% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.75%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

19.57%

Max
41.17%
BSY
19.57%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

11.75%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
CTSH
11.75%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 29.81% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Cognizant (CTSH) at 16.30%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

29.81%

Max
46.89%
BSY
29.81%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

16.30%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
CTSH
16.30%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
ROE (TTM)26.03%17.37%
ROA (TTM)7.73%10.78%
Net Margin (TTM)19.57%11.75%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.81%16.30%
Gross Margin (TTM)82.37%33.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.99% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Cognizant (CTSH) at 6.95% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 18.06% and Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.11% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.99%6.95%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.97%2.80%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.06%1.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.62%1.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 2.22 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.65 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BSY.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.65

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
BSY
0.65
Min
0.03

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

2.22

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
CTSH
2.22
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.94 and Cognizant (CTSH) at 0.14 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.94

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
BSY
0.94
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

0.14

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
CTSH
0.14
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.652.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.940.14
Net Debt / EBITDA2.120.14

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.62% and Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.98% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.62%

BSY
0.62%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

1.98%

CTSH
1.98%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 27.72% and Cognizant (CTSH) at 23.72% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

27.72%

BSY
27.72%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

23.72%

CTSH
23.72%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.62%1.98%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.72%23.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.81 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 44.21 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CTSH, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

44.21

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
BSY
44.21
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

11.81

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
CTSH
11.81
Min
6.69
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.32 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 8.19 prices around its industry’s middle — CTSH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

8.19

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
BSY
8.19
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

1.32

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
CTSH
1.32
Min
0.02
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.97 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.79 carries an above-peer premium to book — BSY is pricier on assets.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

10.79

Max
16.63
BSY
10.79
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

CTSH

Software & Services industry group

1.97

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
CTSH
1.97
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Cognizant (CTSH): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Cognizant (CTSH)
MetricBSYCTSH
P/E Ratio (TTM)44.2111.81
P/S Ratio (TTM)8.191.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.791.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.74%7.19%