CRCL vs. CTSH: Circle Internet vs. Cognizant Stock Comparison
How do Circle Internet (CRCL) 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
Circle Internet (CRCL) and Cognizant (CTSH) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but CRCL is classified in Software while CTSH is classified in IT Services.
Cognizant (CTSH) carries decades of public-market history since June 19, 1998, while Circle Internet (CRCL) listed on June 5, 2025 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the CTSH side.
| Profile Item | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Circle Internet Group, Inc. Class A | Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | IT Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Application Software | IT Consulting & Other Services |
| Market Capitalization | 17.41 billion USD | 28.93 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 5, 2025 | June 19, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -33.88% | -10.80% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -- | 1.40% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | -2.88% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 96.01% | 43.62% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.84 | 0.83 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -80.93% | -56.08% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 12.74M | 6.65M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.40 | -0.35 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.61 | -0.50 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 13.44% and Cognizant (CTSH) at 17.37% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
13.44%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- CRCL
- 13.44%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 15.28% and Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.75% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
15.28%
- Max
- 41.17%
- CRCL
- 15.28%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Circle Internet (CRCL) at 24.09% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Cognizant (CTSH) at 16.30%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
24.09%
- Max
- 46.89%
- CRCL
- 24.09%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 13.44% | 17.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.28% | 10.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.28% | 11.75% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.09% | 16.30% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 26.58% | 33.42% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Circle Internet (CRCL) at 63.86% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Cognizant (CTSH) at 6.95% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at -640.54% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 63.86% | 6.95% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 52.66% | 2.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -640.54% | 1.11% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 1.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 1.04 and Cognizant (CTSH) at 2.22 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
1.04
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- CRCL
- 1.04
- Q1
- 1.01
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Circle Internet (CRCL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Cognizant (CTSH) at 0.14 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
0.00
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- CRCL
- 0.00
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 2.22 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.00 | 0.14 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -4.68 | 0.14 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Circle Internet (CRCL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cognizant (CTSH) reports a yield of 1.98%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- CRCL
- 0.00%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Circle Internet (CRCL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cognizant (CTSH) reports a payout of 23.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- CRCL
- 0.00%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.98% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 23.72% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.81 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 40.89 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CTSH, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
40.89
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- CRCL
- 40.89
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.32 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 5.75 prices around its industry’s middle — CTSH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
5.75
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- CRCL
- 5.75
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 4.50 and Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.97 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
4.50
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- CRCL
- 4.50
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CRCL | CTSH |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.89 | 11.81 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.75 | 1.32 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.50 | 1.97 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.43% | 7.19% |