BMO cuts Cognizant price target to $85, keeps market perform rating

Published 01/05/2025, 13:36
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On Thursday, BMO Capital Markets maintained its Market Perform rating on Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:CTSH) but reduced the stock’s price target from $94.00 to $85.00. The adjustment follows Cognizant’s recent earnings release, which, according to BMO Capital, was strong considering the modest expectations set by the underwhelming performance of its industry peers.

The firm’s analysis highlighted that Cognizant’s success in the last quarter was driven by robust performance in the Financial Services and Healthcare sectors, contributing to its $19.74B in revenue. With a healthy current ratio of 2.09 and moderate debt levels, the company maintains a strong financial position. Despite the positive results, BMO Capital pointed out that the company’s guidance suggests a slowdown in organic growth throughout the remainder of the year when compared to the growth observed in the March quarter.

BMO Capital’s analyst noted that while Cognizant’s guidance was maintained, it indicates a deceleration at the midpoint for the year, which is a factor in the decision to lower the price target. The revised target reflects BMO Capital’s perspective on the potential challenges within the broader services environment that Cognizant operates in.

The report from BMO Capital concluded with an affirmation of the Market Perform rating for Cognizant. The new price target of $85 is based on the firm’s cautious outlook for the service sector’s landscape, which could impact Cognizant’s performance moving forward.

In other recent news, Cognizant Technology Solutions reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) of $1.23, surpassing the forecast of $1.20. The company achieved revenue of $5.1 billion, slightly exceeding the anticipated $5.06 billion, marking an 8.2% year-over-year growth in constant currency. Cognizant also increased its full-year 2025 guidance, reflecting favorable foreign exchange impacts. Susquehanna upgraded Cognizant’s stock rating from Neutral to Positive, raising the price target to $90.00, citing the company’s strong start to the year and improved revenue per utilized headcount. William Blair maintained a Market Perform rating on Cognizant, acknowledging its robust revenue growth but noting potential challenges in the current discretionary spending environment. Needham analysts held a Hold rating, expressing caution about near-term growth due to decreased bookings and macroeconomic uncertainties. Despite these varied analyst perspectives, Cognizant’s management remains optimistic about the company’s strategic focus on AI-driven productivity and cost optimization.

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