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CTSH vs. FTNT: Cognizant vs. Fortinet Stock Comparison

How do Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT) 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 Fortinet (FTNT) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but CTSH is classified in IT Services while FTNT is classified in Software.

Company profile comparison for Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT)
Profile ItemCTSHFTNT
NameCognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A Common StockFortinet, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryIT Consulting & Other ServicesSystems Software
Market Capitalization28.93 billion USD87.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 19, 1998November 18, 2009
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CTSH
FTNT
GSPC
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT), 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 Fortinet (FTNT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
Total Return (1Y)-10.80%49.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.40%35.15%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.88%11.92%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.62%49.03%
Beta (5Y)0.831.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.08%-38.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.65M4.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CTSH and FTNT 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 Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.350.93
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.501.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 153.08% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Cognizant (CTSH) at 17.37%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

153.08%

FTNT
153.08%
Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 28.96% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.75%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

28.96%

Max
41.17%
FTNT
28.96%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 33.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Cognizant (CTSH) at 16.30%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

33.82%

Max
46.89%
FTNT
33.82%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
ROE (TTM)17.37%153.08%
ROA (TTM)10.78%15.22%
Net Margin (TTM)11.75%28.96%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.30%33.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.42%79.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Fortinet (FTNT) at 14.17% 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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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.11% and Fortinet (FTNT) at 7.08% 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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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.95%14.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.80%15.46%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.11%7.08%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)1.12%31.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 2.22 and Fortinet (FTNT) at 1.40 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

1.40

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
FTNT
1.40
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 0.14 and Fortinet (FTNT) at 0.25 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

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.25

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
FTNT
0.25
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): 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 Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.221.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.140.25
Net Debt / EBITDA0.14-1.54

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) 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%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) 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%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
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 Fortinet (FTNT) at 38.84 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

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

38.84

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
FTNT
38.84
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): 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 Fortinet (FTNT) at 11.08 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

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

11.08

Max
17.91
FTNT
11.08
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.97 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Fortinet (FTNT) at 38.85 prices above its benchmark range — FTNT looks rich relative to book.

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

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

38.85

FTNT
38.85
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCTSHFTNT
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.8138.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.3211.08
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.9738.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.19%2.85%