CTSH vs. DOCU: Cognizant vs. DocuSign Stock Comparison
How do Cognizant (CTSH) and DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but CTSH is classified in IT Services while DOCU is classified in Software.
| Profile Item | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A Common Stock | DocuSign Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | IT Services | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | IT Consulting & Other Services | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 28.93 billion USD | 14.51 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 19, 1998 | April 27, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | 12.03% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 1.40% | 24.94% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -2.88% | -22.27% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 43.62% | 48.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.83 | 0.79 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.08% | -86.00% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.65M | 2.99M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.35 | 0.16 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.50 | 0.23 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 17.37% and DocuSign (DOCU) at 17.80% 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%
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
17.80%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- DOCU
- 17.80%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.75% and DocuSign (DOCU) at 9.82% 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%
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
9.82%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- DOCU
- 9.82%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 16.30% and DocuSign (DOCU) at 13.43% 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%
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
13.43%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- DOCU
- 13.43%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.37% | 17.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.78% | 6.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.75% | 9.82% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.30% | 13.43% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 33.42% | 79.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
DocuSign (DOCU) at 8.16% 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.
EPS Growth
Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while DocuSign (DOCU) at -70.87% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.95% | 8.16% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.80% | 8.57% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 1.11% | -70.87% |
| 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 0.64 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for DOCU.
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
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
0.64
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- DOCU
- 0.64
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 0.14 and DocuSign (DOCU) at 0.11 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
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
0.11
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- DOCU
- 0.11
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.22 | 0.64 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.14 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.14 | -1.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
DocuSign (DOCU) 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%
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- DOCU
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
DocuSign (DOCU) 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%
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- DOCU
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 47.32 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CTSH, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
47.32
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- DOCU
- 47.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.32 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while DocuSign (DOCU) at 4.32 prices around its industry’s middle — CTSH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
4.32
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- DOCU
- 4.32
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.97 and DocuSign (DOCU) at 8.50 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
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
DOCU
Software & Services industry group
8.50
- Max
- 16.63
- DOCU
- 8.50
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CTSH | DOCU |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.81 | 47.32 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.32 | 4.32 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.97 | 8.50 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 7.19% | 9.05% |