Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:CTSH) Trading 4.5% Higher – Should You Buy?

Shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions Co. (NASDAQ:CTSH) rose 4.5% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $86.99 and last traded at $86.94. Approximately 4,080,575 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 13% from the average daily volume of 3,619,624 shares. The stock had previously closed at $83.23.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Cognizant Technology Solutions from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Cognizant Technology Solutions from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Cognizant Technology Solutions from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions from $95.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cognizant Technology Solutions currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $83.39.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Trading Down 3.6 %

The company has a current ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.63, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a 50 day moving average of $82.23 and a 200-day moving average of $79.38.

Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:CTSH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The information technology service provider reported $1.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.09. Cognizant Technology Solutions had a net margin of 11.35% and a return on equity of 16.78%. Analysts anticipate that Cognizant Technology Solutions Co. will post 4.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $0.31 per share. This is a boost from Cognizant Technology Solutions’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 18th. Cognizant Technology Solutions’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.49%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cognizant Technology Solutions

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CTSH. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions in the third quarter worth $1,433,000. CWA Asset Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in Cognizant Technology Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at $524,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Cognizant Technology Solutions during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Addison Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions by 127.7% in the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 337 shares of the information technology service provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versor Investments LP acquired a new stake in shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions in the third quarter valued at about $334,000. Institutional investors own 92.44% of the company’s stock.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Company Profile

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, a professional services company, provides consulting and technology, and outsourcing services in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Financial Services, Health Sciences, Products and Resources, and Communications, Media and Technology.