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CTSH vs. DDOG: Cognizant vs. Datadog Stock Comparison

How do Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
Profile ItemCTSHDDOG
NameCognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A Common StockDatadog Inc. Class A
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryIT Consulting & Other ServicesApplication Software
Market Capitalization28.93 billion USD64.64 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 19, 1998September 19, 2019
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CTSH
DDOG
GSPC
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG), 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 Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
Total Return (1Y)-10.80%-5.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.40%21.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.88%-1.69%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CTSH
DDOG
GSPC
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG), 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 Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.62%70.49%
Beta (5Y)0.831.57
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.08%-68.11%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.65M3.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CTSH and DDOG 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 Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.35-0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.50-0.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 17.37% and Datadog (DDOG) at 6.43% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

6.43%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
DDOG
6.43%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.75% and Datadog (DDOG) at 6.12% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

6.12%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
DDOG
6.12%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 16.30% and Datadog (DDOG) at 6.33% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

6.33%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
DDOG
6.33%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
ROE (TTM)17.37%6.43%
ROA (TTM)10.78%0.91%
Net Margin (TTM)11.75%6.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.30%6.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.42%79.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Datadog (DDOG) at 27.68% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Cognizant (CTSH) at 6.95% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Datadog (DDOG) at -40.38% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.95%27.68%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.80%26.95%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.11%-40.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)1.12%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 2.22 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Datadog (DDOG) at 3.51 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

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

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

3.51

Max
5.11
DDOG
3.51
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 0.14 and Datadog (DDOG) at 0.28 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

0.28

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
DDOG
0.28
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.223.51
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.140.28
Net Debt / EBITDA0.14-23.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Datadog (DDOG) 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.

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%

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Datadog (DDOG) 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.

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%

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.98%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)23.72%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.81 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Datadog (DDOG) at 248.67 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.

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

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

248.67

DDOG
248.67
Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.32 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Datadog (DDOG) at 15.11 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

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

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

15.11

Max
17.91
DDOG
15.11
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): 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 Datadog (DDOG) at 13.71 carries an above-peer premium to book — DDOG is pricier on assets.

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

DDOG

Software & Services industry group

13.71

Max
16.63
DDOG
13.71
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Datadog (DDOG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Datadog (DDOG)
MetricCTSHDDOG
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.81248.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.3215.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.9713.71
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.19%1.65%