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In a confident declaration at the Goldman Sachs Technology Conference, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar announced that the company has re-entered the top four global IT services firms—well ahead of its original 2027 goal. This marks a major turnaround for the Nasdaq-listed company, which had been lagging behind competitors in recent years. Kumar credits the resurgence to strategic investments in generative AI, talent transformation, and platform-led growth.
Strategic Comeback: The Road to the Top
Cognizant’s return to the top tier is the result of a focused four-point strategy laid out earlier this year during its annual investor meeting.
- Revenue growth and EPS expansion: Cognizant is now seeing earnings per share growth between 7 to 10 percent for the current fiscal year. The company has returned to relative growth, with EPS growth outpacing revenue—a sign of improved operational efficiency.
- Large deal momentum: Kumar emphasized the importance of securing large-scale deals, especially in a volatile economic climate. These deals are helping Cognizant expand its market share and gradually improve operating margins.
- Margin recovery and operational discipline: CFO Jatin Dalal shared that Cognizant expects to improve margins by 10 to 30 basis points annually until FY27. The adjusted operating margin stood at 15.3 percent in 2024, with guidance of 15.5 to 15.7 percent for 2025—its most optimistic forecast in five years.
AI-Led Transformation: The Game Changer
Cognizant’s resurgence is closely tied to its aggressive push into generative AI and platform-based innovation.
- Over 230,000 employees have been upskilled in AI technologies, while 12,000 roles have been automated.
- The company is industrializing AI to boost productivity, using machine-generated code and AI agents to enhance client efficiency.
- Cognizant is also sharing productivity gains with clients in vendor consolidation deals, retaining a portion of the benefits to strengthen its bottom line.
Talent and Culture: Building for the Future
Under Kumar’s leadership, Cognizant has focused on future-proofing its workforce and rebuilding morale.
- The company has invested heavily in talent transformation, aiming to foster a culture of innovation and agility.
- Employee and client sentiment has reportedly improved, with analysts noting a more energized and forward-looking organization.
Challenges and Cautions
Despite the celebratory tone, Cognizant still faces hurdles.
- Organic growth remains flat, excluding contributions from acquisitions like Belcan and Thirdera.
- Operating margins, while improving, still trail pre-pandemic levels of 18 percent.
- Attrition and sluggish market share growth in India, where the company has its largest workforce, remain areas of concern.
Looking Ahead: The Winner’s Circle Vision
Kumar’s vision for Cognizant is to be in the winner’s circle by 2027. With the company already claiming a top-four spot, the focus now shifts to sustaining momentum.
- Cognizant aims to scale innovation, deepen platform-led models, and continue its AI-first approach.
- The company is positioning itself not just as a service provider, but as a strategic partner driving digital transformation across industries.
Key Takeaways
- Cognizant has re-entered the top four global IT services firms, ahead of its 2027 goal.
- Strategic focus areas include AI integration, talent upskilling, large deal wins, and margin expansion.
- Challenges persist in organic growth and margin recovery, but leadership remains optimistic.
- The company’s transformation is being closely watched by analysts and competitors alike.
Sources: Business Standard, LiveMint, SightsIn Plus
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