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CTSH vs. ORCL: Cognizant vs. Oracle Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Cognizant (CTSH) and Oracle (ORCL)
Profile ItemCTSHORCL
NameCognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A Common StockOracle Corporation
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 USD361.97 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 19, 1998March 12, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CTSH
ORCL
GSPC
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL), 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 Oracle (ORCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
Total Return (1Y)-10.80%-49.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.40%3.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.88%6.07%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.62%59.45%
Beta (5Y)0.831.80
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.08%-64.58%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.65M33.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CTSH and ORCL 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 Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.35-0.91
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.50-1.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 41.19% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Cognizant (CTSH) at 17.37% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ORCL.

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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

41.19%

Max
53.85%
ORCL
41.19%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 26.36% 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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

26.36%

Max
41.17%
ORCL
26.36%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 35.63% 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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

35.63%

Max
46.89%
ORCL
35.63%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
ROE (TTM)17.37%41.19%
ROA (TTM)10.78%6.36%
Net Margin (TTM)11.75%26.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.30%35.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.42%63.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Oracle (ORCL) at 17.35% 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. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.11% and Oracle (ORCL) at 34.33% 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. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.95%17.35%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.80%10.48%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.11%34.33%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)1.12%23.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 2.22 and Oracle (ORCL) at 1.17 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.17

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
ORCL
1.17
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 0.14 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Oracle (ORCL) at 2.52 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

2.52

ORCL
2.52
Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): 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 Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.221.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.142.52
Net Debt / EBITDA0.143.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.98% and Oracle (ORCL) at 1.74% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.74%

ORCL
1.74%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 23.72% and Oracle (ORCL) at 31.35% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

31.35%

ORCL
31.35%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.98%1.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)23.72%31.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Cognizant (CTSH) at 11.81 and Oracle (ORCL) at 18.20 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

18.20

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
ORCL
18.20
Min
6.69
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.32 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Oracle (ORCL) at 5.04 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

5.04

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
ORCL
5.04
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Cognizant (CTSH) at 1.97 and Oracle (ORCL) at 5.68 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

5.68

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
ORCL
5.68
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Cognizant (CTSH) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cognizant (CTSH) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCTSHORCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.8118.20
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.325.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.975.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.19%-12.67%