At US$63.65, Is It Time To Put Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (NASDAQ:CTSH) On Your Watch List?

Today we're going to take a look at the well-established Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (NASDAQ:CTSH). The company's stock saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of US$71.73 and falling to the lows of US$63.30. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Cognizant Technology Solutions' current trading price of US$63.65 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Cognizant Technology Solutions’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for Cognizant Technology Solutions

Is Cognizant Technology Solutions Still Cheap?

Good news, investors! Cognizant Technology Solutions is still a bargain right now according to my price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. In this instance, I’ve used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stock’s cash flows. I find that Cognizant Technology Solutions’s ratio of 15.27x is below its peer average of 20.63x, which indicates the stock is trading at a lower price compared to the IT industry. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Cognizant Technology Solutions’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company’s shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

Can we expect growth from Cognizant Technology Solutions?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that it’s the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Cognizant Technology Solutions' earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 43%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? Since CTSH is currently below the industry PE ratio, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current price multiple.

Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping an eye on CTSH for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its prosperous future profit outlook isn’t fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it’s not too late to buy CTSH. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision.

So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Cognizant Technology Solutions at this point in time. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Cognizant Technology Solutions you should be aware of.

If you are no longer interested in Cognizant Technology Solutions, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.