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CTSH vs. GWRE: Cognizant vs. Guidewire Software Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Cognizant (CTSH) and Guidewire Software (GWRE)
Profile ItemCTSHGWRE
NameCognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A Common StockGuidewire Software Inc.
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 USD13.34 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 19, 1998January 25, 2012
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CTSH
GWRE
GSPC
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE), 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
Total Return (1Y)-10.80%-25.97%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.40%21.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.88%4.78%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.62%62.03%
Beta (5Y)0.830.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.08%-60.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.65M1.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CTSH and GWRE 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.35-0.49
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.50-0.68

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 17.37% and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 10.51% 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%

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

10.51%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
GWRE
10.51%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.75% and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.44% 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%

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

9.44%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
GWRE
9.44%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 16.30% and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 15.16% 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%

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

15.16%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
GWRE
15.16%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
ROE (TTM)17.37%10.51%
ROA (TTM)10.78%3.54%
Net Margin (TTM)11.75%9.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.30%15.16%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.42%64.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 22.70% 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. Guidewire Software (GWRE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 101.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.11% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GWRE.

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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.95%22.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.80%17.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.11%101.23%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)1.12%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 2.22 and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 1.79 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

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

1.79

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
GWRE
1.79
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 0.14 and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 0.60 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

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

0.60

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
GWRE
0.60
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.221.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.140.60
Net Debt / EBITDA0.14-0.38

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Guidewire Software (GWRE) 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%

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Guidewire Software (GWRE) 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%

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 99.02 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

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

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

99.02

Max
112.94
GWRE
99.02
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.04 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

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

9.04

Max
17.91
GWRE
9.04
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 11.09 carries an above-peer premium to book — GWRE 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

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

11.09

Max
16.63
GWRE
11.09
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Guidewire Software (GWRE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Guidewire Software (GWRE)
MetricCTSHGWRE
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.8199.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.329.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.9711.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.19%2.57%