Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) 10-Q 2024 Q1 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒	Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
	For the quarterly period ended	March 31, 2024
☐	Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
	For the transition period from                      to

Commission File Number 0-24429

 COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	13-3728359
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

300 Frank W. Burr Blvd.

Teaneck, New Jersey 07666

(Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (201) 801-0233

N/A

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year,

if Changed Since Last Report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share	CTSH	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒   No:  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes  ☒    No:  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒ 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of April 26, 2024:

Class	Number of Shares
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	497,198,868

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
GLOSSARY		1
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS		2
PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	4
Item 1.	Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	4
	Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited) as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023	4
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023	5
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023	6
	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023	7
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023	8
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	9
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	25
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	34
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	34
PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION	35
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	35
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	35
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	35
Item 5.	Other Information	35
Item 6.	Exhibits	36
SIGNATURES		37

GLOSSARY

Defined Term	Definition
10b5-1 Plan	Trading plan adopted pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act
Adjusted Diluted EPS	Adjusted diluted earnings per share
AI	Artificial intelligence
ASC	Accounting Standards Codification
CC	Constant Currency
CE	Continental Europe
CITA	Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) in India
CMT	Communications, Media and Technology
CODM	Chief Operating Decision Maker
Credit Agreement	Credit agreement with a commercial bank syndicate dated October 6, 2022
CTS India	Our principal operating subsidiary in India
DOJ	United States Department of Justice
DSO	Days Sales Outstanding
DTSA	Defend Trade Secrets Act
EPS	Earnings per share
EU	European Union
Exchange Act	Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
FS	Financial Services
GAAP	Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America
GenAI	Generative artificial intelligence
HS	Health Sciences
High Court	Madras, India High Court
India Defined Contribution Obligation	Certain statutory defined contribution obligations of employees and employers in India
IRS	Internal Revenue Service
ITAT	Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in India
ITD	Indian Income Tax Department
NA	North America
OECD	Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
P&R	Products & Resources
RoW	Rest of World
SCI	Supreme Court of India
SEC	United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Second Circuit	United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
SG&A	Selling, general and administrative
Syntel	Syntel Sterling Best Shores Mauritius Ltd.
Tax Reform Act	Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Term Loan	Unsecured term loan under the Credit Agreement
TriZetto	The TriZetto Group, Inc., now known as Cognizant Technology Software Group, Inc.
UK	United Kingdom
USDC-NJ	United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
USDC-SDNY	United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Cognizant Technology Solutions 1 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Forward Looking Statements

The statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act) that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “should” or “anticipate” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. From time to time, we or our representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing.

Such forward-looking statements may be included in various filings made by us with the SEC, in press releases or in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our authorized executive officers. These forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding our anticipated future revenues, operating margin, earnings, capital expenditures, impacts to our business, financial results and financial condition as a result of the competitive marketplace for talent and future attrition trends, anticipated effective income tax rate and income tax expense, liquidity, financing strategy, access to capital, capital return strategy, investment strategies, cost management, plans and objectives, including those related to the NextGen program, investment in our business, potential acquisitions, industry trends, client behaviors and trends, the outcome of and costs associated with regulatory and litigation matters, the appropriateness of the accrual related to the India Defined Contribution Obligation and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Actual results, performance, achievements and outcomes could differ materially from the results expressed in, or anticipated or implied by, these forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including:

•economic and geopolitical conditions globally, in particular in the markets in which our clients and operations are concentrated;

•our ability to attract, train and retain skilled employees, including highly skilled technical personnel and personnel with experience in key digital areas and senior management to lead our business globally, at an acceptable cost;

•unexpected terminations of client contracts on short notice or reduced spending by clients for reasons beyond our control;

•challenges related to growing our business organically as well as inorganically through acquisitions, and our ability to achieve our targeted growth rates;

•our ability to successfully implement our NextGen program and the amount of costs, timing of incurring costs, and ultimate benefits of such plans;

•our ability to achieve our profitability goals and maintain our capital return strategy;

•fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, or the failure of our hedging strategies to mitigate such fluctuations;

•our ability to meet specified service levels or milestones required by certain of our contracts;

•intense and evolving competition and significant technological advances that our service offerings must keep pace with in the rapidly changing markets we compete in;

•our ability to successfully use AI-based technologies in our client offerings and our own internal operations;

•legal, reputation and financial risks if we fail to protect client and/or our data from security breaches and/or cyber attacks;

•the impact of future pandemics, epidemics or other outbreaks of disease, on our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition;

•the impact of climate change on our business;

•our ability to meet ESG expectations and commitments;

•the effectiveness of our risk management, business continuity and disaster recovery plans and the potential that our global delivery capabilities could be impacted;

•restrictions on visas, in particular in the United States, UK and EU, or immigration more generally or increased costs of such visas or the wages we are required to pay employees on visas, which may affect our ability to compete for and provide services to our clients;

•risks related to anti-outsourcing legislation, if adopted, and negative perceptions associated with offshore outsourcing, both of which could impair our ability to serve our clients;

•risks and costs related to complying with numerous and evolving legal and regulatory requirements and client expectations in the many jurisdictions in which we operate;

Cognizant Technology Solutions 2 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

•potential changes in tax laws, or in their interpretation or enforcement, failure by us to adapt our corporate structure and intercompany arrangements, or adverse outcomes of tax audits, investigations or proceedings;

•potential exposure to litigation and legal claims in the conduct of our business; and

•the factors set forth in "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in the reports we file with the SEC, including this report in the section titled “Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Part I, Item 1. Business” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 3 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.     Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(Unaudited)

(in millions, except par values)	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,231	$	2,621
Short-term investments	12		14
Trade accounts receivable, net	3,822		3,849
Other current assets	1,021		1,022
Total current assets	7,086		7,506
Property and equipment, net	1,036		1,048
Operating lease assets, net	589		611
Goodwill	6,393		6,085
Intangible assets, net	1,171		1,149
Deferred income tax assets, net	993		993
Long-term investments	83		435
Other noncurrent assets	1,057		656
Total assets	$	18,408	$	18,483
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	291	$	337
Deferred revenue	449		385
Short-term debt	33		33
Operating lease liabilities	143		153
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	2,096		2,425
Total current liabilities	3,012		3,333
Deferred revenue, noncurrent	36		42
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent	503		523
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	201		226
Long-term debt	598		606
Long-term income taxes payable	157		157
Other noncurrent liabilities	411		369
Total liabilities	4,918		5,256
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 12)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.10 par value, 15 shares authorized, none issued	—		—
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, 497 and 498 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively	5		5
Additional paid-in capital	20		15
Retained earnings	13,621		13,301
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(156)		(94)
Total stockholders’ equity	13,490		13,227
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	18,408	$	18,483

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 4 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

(in millions, except per share data)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024		2023
Revenues	$	4,760	$	4,812
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense shown separately below)	3,146		3,143
Selling, general and administrative expenses	765		835
Restructuring charges	23		—
Depreciation and amortization expense	131		132
Income from operations	695		702
Other income (expense), net:
Interest income	30		30
Interest expense	(11)		(9)
Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net	6		12
Other, net	2		3
Total other income (expense), net	27		36
Income before provision for income taxes	722		738
Provision for income taxes	(179)		(158)
Income (loss) from equity method investments	3		—
Net income	$	546	$	580
Basic earnings per share	$	1.10	$	1.14
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.10	$	1.14
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - Basic	497		509
Dilutive effect of shares issuable under stock-based compensation plans	1		—
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - Diluted	498		509

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 5 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

(in millions)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024		2023
Net income	$	546	$	580
Change in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(73)		43
Unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges	11		34
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(62)		77
Comprehensive income	$	484	$	657

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 6 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share data)	Class A Common Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Total Stockholders' Equity
	Shares	Amount
Balance, December 31, 2023	498	$	5	$	15	$	13,301	$	(94)	$	13,227
Net income	—	—		—		546		—		546
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—	—		—		—		(62)		(62)
Common stock issued, stock-based compensation plans	1	—		20		—		—		20
Stock-based compensation expense	—	—		42		—		—		42
Repurchases of common stock	(2)	—		(57)		(76)		—		(133)
Dividends declared, $0.30 per share	—	—		—		(150)		—		(150)
Balance, March 31, 2024	497	$	5	$	20	$	13,621	$	(156)	$	13,490

(in millions, except per share data)	Class A Common Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Total Stockholders' Equity
	Shares	Amount
Balance, December 31, 2022	509	$	5	$	15	$	12,588	$	(299)	$	12,309
Net income	—	—		—		580		—		580
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—	—		—		—		77		77
Common stock issued, stock-based compensation plans	2	—		23		—		—		23
Stock-based compensation expense	—	—		44		—		—		44
Repurchases of common stock	(4)	—		(60)		(163)		—		(223)
Dividends declared, $0.29 per share	—	—		—		(149)		—		(149)
Balance, March 31, 2023	507	$	5	$	22	$	12,856	$	(222)	$	12,661

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 7 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in millions)	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024		2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	546	$	580
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	133		132
Deferred income taxes	(26)		(16)
Stock-based compensation expense	42		44
Other	32		27
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effect of business combinations:
Trade accounts receivable, current	39		89
Other current and noncurrent assets	(347)		(17)
Accounts payable	(47)		(26)
Deferred revenues, current and noncurrent	50		71
Other current and noncurrent liabilities	(327)		(155)
Net cash provided by operating activities	95		729
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(79)		(98)
Proceeds from maturity or sale of available-for-sale investment securities	—		225
Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities	—		(3)
Proceeds from maturity of held-to-maturity investment securities	3		15
Purchases of other investments	—		(26)
Proceeds from maturity or sale of other investments	259		81
Payments for business combinations, net of cash acquired	(421)		(409)
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(238)		(215)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans	20		23
Repurchases of common stock	(133)		(222)
Repayment of Term Loan borrowings and earnout and finance lease obligations	(40)		(1)
Dividends paid	(151)		(150)
Net cash (used in) financing activities	(304)		(350)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	(39)		—
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	(486)		164
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents beginning of year	2,717		2,294
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	2,231	$	2,458

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 8 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 1 — Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

The terms “Cognizant,” “we,” “our,” “us” and “the Company” refer to Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein in accordance with GAAP and the Exchange Act. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements (and notes thereto) included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. In our opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been included and all adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected to occur for the entire year.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Date Issued and Topic	Effective Date	Description	Impact
November 2023 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures	Annual period starting in 2024 and interim periods starting in 2025 Retrospective basis	The standard requires enhanced segment disclosures but does not change the definition of a segment or the guidance for determining a reportable segment. The amendments require disclosure of significant segment expenses regularly provided to the CODM included within segment operating profit or loss and a description of how the CODM utilizes segment operating profit or loss to assess segment performance and allocating resources. The new standard also allows companies to disclose multiple measures of segment profit or loss if those measures are used to allocate resources.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on its disclosures.
December 2023 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures	Annual period starting in 2025 Prospective basis although retrospective application is permitted	The standard requires enhanced income tax disclosures primarily related to the income tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on its disclosures.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 9 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Note 2 — Revenues and Trade Accounts Receivable

Disaggregation of Revenues

The tables below present disaggregated revenues from contracts with clients by client location, service line and contract type for each of our reportable business segments. We believe this disaggregation best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows are affected by industry, market and other economic factors. Our consulting and technology services include consulting, application development, systems integration, quality engineering and assurance services as well as software solutions and related services while our outsourcing services include application maintenance, infrastructure and security as well as business process services. Revenues are attributed to geographic regions based upon client location, which is the client's billing address. Substantially all revenues in the North America region relate to clients in the United States.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
(in millions)	Financial Services		Health Sciences		Products and Resources		Communications, Media and Technology		Total
Revenues
Geography:
North America	$	977	$	1,209	$	773	$	562	$	3,521
United Kingdom	143		44		131		138		456
Continental Europe	151		135		145		52		483
Europe - Total	294		179		276		190		939
Rest of World	114		28		84		74		300
Total	$	1,385	$	1,416	$	1,133	$	826	$	4,760
Service line:
Consulting and technology services	$	953	$	802	$	736	$	464	$	2,955
Outsourcing services	432		614		397		362		1,805
Total	$	1,385	$	1,416	$	1,133	$	826	$	4,760
Type of contract:
Time and materials	$	783	$	490	$	470	$	467	$	2,210
Fixed-price	556		670		582		328		2,136
Transaction or volume-based	46		256		81		31		414
Total	$	1,385	$	1,416	$	1,133	$	826	$	4,760

Cognizant Technology Solutions 10 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
(in millions)	Financial Services		Health Sciences		Products and Resources		Communications, Media and Technology		Total
Revenues
Geography:
North America	$	1,033	$	1,248	$	741	$	523	$	3,545
United Kingdom	162		37		132		147		478
Continental Europe	152		124		150		35		461
Europe - Total	314		161		282		182		939
Rest of World	129		24		95		80		328
Total	$	1,476	$	1,433	$	1,118	$	785	$	4,812
Service line:
Consulting and technology services	$	1,000	$	812	$	732	$	442	$	2,986
Outsourcing services	476		621		386		343		1,826
Total	$	1,476	$	1,433	$	1,118	$	785	$	4,812
Type of contract:
Time and materials	$	861	$	490	$	445	$	464	$	2,260
Fixed-price	545		650		585		293		2,073
Transaction or volume-based	70		293		88		28		479
Total	$	1,476	$	1,433	$	1,118	$	785	$	4,812

Costs to Fulfill

The following table shows significant movements in the capitalized costs to fulfill for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024		2023
Beginning balance	$	245	$	265
Costs capitalized	14		15
Amortization expense	(24)		(22)
Ending balance	$	235	$	258

Costs to obtain contracts were immaterial for the periods disclosed.

Contract Balances

The table below shows significant movements in contract assets (current and noncurrent) for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024		2023
Beginning balance	$	316	$	326
Revenues recognized during the period but not billed	248		248
Amounts reclassified to trade accounts receivable	(180)		(223)
Amounts acquired in business combinations	—		9
Ending balance	$	384	$	360

Cognizant Technology Solutions 11 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

The table below shows significant movements in the deferred revenue balances (current and noncurrent) for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024		2023
Beginning balance	$	427	$	417
Amounts billed but not recognized as revenues	311		322
Revenues recognized related to the beginning balance of deferred revenue	(262)		(251)
Amounts acquired in business combinations	9		13
Ending balance	$	485	$	501

Revenues recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2024 for performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in previous periods were immaterial.

Remaining Performance Obligations

As of March 31, 2024, the aggregate amount of transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was $4,263 million, of which approximately 55% is expected to be recognized as revenues within 2 years and approximately 85% is expected to be recognized as revenues within 5 years. Disclosure is not required for performance obligations that meet any of the following criteria:

(1)contracts with a duration of one year or less as determined under ASC Topic 606: "Revenue from Contracts with Customers",

(2)contracts for which we recognize revenues based on the right to invoice for services performed,

(3)variable consideration allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation or to a wholly unsatisfied promise to transfer a distinct good or service that forms part of a single performance obligation in accordance with ASC 606-10-25-14(b), for which the criteria in ASC 606-10-32-40 have been met, or

(4)variable consideration in the form of a sales-based or usage-based royalty promised in exchange for a license of intellectual property.

Many of our performance obligations meet one or more of these exemptions and therefore are not included in the remaining performance obligation amount disclosed above.

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

We calculate expected credit losses for trade accounts receivable based on historical credit loss rates for each aging category as adjusted for the current market conditions and forecasts about future economic conditions. The following table presents the activity in the allowance for credit losses for trade accounts receivable for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024		2023
Beginning balance	$	32	$	43
Credit loss expense (1)	1		4
Write-offs charged against the allowance	(3)		(11)
Ending balance	$	30	$	36

(1)Reported in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.

Note 3 — Business Combinations

On January 22, 2024, through the execution of a share purchase agreement, we acquired 100% ownership in Thirdera, an Elite ServiceNow Partner specializing in advisory, implementation and optimization solutions related to the ServiceNow platform.

The acquisition completed during the three months ended March 31, 2024 was not material to our operations. Accordingly, pro forma results have not been presented. We have allocated the purchase price related to this transaction to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including goodwill, based on their estimated fair values.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 12 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

The allocations of preliminary purchase price to the fair value of the aggregate assets acquired and liabilities assumed were as follows:

(in millions)	Thirdera		Weighted Average Useful Life
Cash	$	8
Trade accounts receivable	22
Other current assets	10
Property and equipment and other noncurrent assets	2
Non-deductible goodwill	178
Tax-deductible goodwill	167
Customer relationship assets	73		8.0 years
Other intangible assets	1		1.0 year
Current liabilities	(29)
Noncurrent liabilities	(3)
Purchase price	$	429

Goodwill from our acquisition of Thirdera is expected to benefit all of our reportable segments and has been allocated as such. The primary items that generated goodwill are the acquired assembled workforce and synergies between the acquired companies and us, neither of which qualify as identifiable intangible assets. The above allocations are preliminary and will be finalized as soon as practicable within the measurement period, but in no event later than one year following the date of acquisition.

Note 4 — Restructuring Charges

In the second quarter of 2023, we initiated the NextGen program aimed at simplifying our operating model, optimizing corporate functions and consolidating and realigning office space to reflect the post-pandemic hybrid work environment. We expect the NextGen program to be completed by the end of 2024.

The total costs related to our NextGen program are reported in "Restructuring charges" in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. We do not allocate these charges to individual segments in internal management reports used by the CODM. Accordingly, such expenses are separately disclosed in our segment reporting as “unallocated costs”. See Note 13.

	Three Months Ended
(in millions)	March 31, 2024
Employee separation costs	$	8
Facility exit costs (1)	14
Third party and other costs (2)	1
Total restructuring charges	$	23

(1)Facility exit costs include lease restructuring of $12 million and related accelerated depreciation charges of $2 million.

(2)Third party and other costs include certain professional services fees directly related to the NextGen program.

We expect to record total costs of approximately $300 million in connection with the NextGen program. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred $229 million of costs in connection with the NextGen program. There were no restructuring charges during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Changes in our accrued employee separation costs included in "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" in our consolidated statements of financial position are presented in the table below for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024
Beginning balance	$	42
Employee separation costs accrued	8
Payments made	(21)
Ending balance	$	29

Cognizant Technology Solutions 13 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Note 5 — Investments

Our investments were as follows:

(in millions)	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Short-term investments:
Equity investment security	$	11	$	11
Held-to-maturity investment securities	—		3
Time deposits	1		—
Total short-term investments	$	12	$	14

Long-term investments:
Other investments	$	83	$	80
Restricted time deposits(1)	—		355
Total long-term investments	$	83	$	435

(1)As of December 31, 2023 the balance of restricted time deposits contains $96 million of restricted cash equivalents. See Note 8.

Equity Investment Security

Our equity investment security is a U.S. dollar denominated investment in a fixed income mutual fund. Realized and unrealized gains and losses were immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

Held-to-Maturity Investment Securities

As of March 31, 2024, we had no held-to-maturity securities. As of December 31, 2023, the amortized cost and fair value of the held-to-maturity investments were each $3 million. Our held-to-maturity investment securities consisted of an Indian rupee denominated investment in commercial paper, which was in an unrealized loss position but had not been in an unrealized loss position for longer than 12 months.

Other Investments

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had an equity method investment of $77 million and $74 million, respectively, in the technology sector. Additionally, as of each of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had equity securities without a readily determinable fair value of $6 million.

Note 6 — Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities were as follows:

(in millions)	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Compensation and benefits	$	1,158	$	1,511
Customer volume and other incentives	291		241
Income taxes	30		27
Professional fees	153		146
Other	464		500
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	2,096	$	2,425

Note 7 — Debt

In 2022, we entered into the Credit Agreement providing for the $650 million Term Loan and a $1,850 million unsecured revolving credit facility, which are each due to mature in October 2027. We are required under the Credit Agreement to make scheduled quarterly principal payments on the Term Loan.

The Credit Agreement requires interest to be paid, at our option, at either the Term Benchmark, Adjusted Daily Simple RFR or the ABR Rate (each as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus, in each case, an Applicable Margin (as defined in the

Cognizant Technology Solutions 14 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Credit Agreement). Initially, the Applicable Margin is 0.875% with respect to Term Benchmark loans and RFR loans and 0.00% with respect to ABR loans. Subsequently, the Applicable Margin with respect to Term Benchmark loans and RFR loans will be determined quarterly and may range from 0.75% to 1.125%, depending on our public debt ratings or, if we have not received public debt ratings, from 0.875% to 1.125%, depending on our Leverage Ratio, which is the ratio of indebtedness for borrowed money to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Credit Agreement. Since issuance of the Term Loan, the Term Loan has been a Term Benchmark loan. The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants as well as a financial covenant. We were in compliance with all debt covenants and representations of the Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2024.

As of December 31, 2023, our India subsidiary had a 15 billion India rupee ($180 million at the December 31, 2023 exchange rate) working capital facility. This facility expired in March 2024. We have never borrowed funds under this facility or any of its predecessor facilities.

Short-term Debt

As of each of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had $33 million of short-term debt related to current maturities of our Term Loan.

Long-term Debt

The following table summarizes the long-term debt balances as of:

(in millions)	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Term Loan	$	634	$	642
Less:
Current maturities	(33)		(33)
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(3)		(3)
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	$	598	$	606

The carrying value of our debt approximated its fair value as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Note 8 — Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rates were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024		2023
Effective income tax rate	24.8	%	21.4	%

In the first quarter of 2023, we reached an agreement with the IRS, which settled tax years 2017 and 2018, which decreased our effective tax rate in that period.

We are involved in two separate ongoing disputes with the ITD in connection with previously disclosed share repurchase transactions undertaken by CTS India in 2013 and 2016 to repurchase shares from its shareholders (non-Indian Cognizant entities) valued at $523 million and $2.8 billion, respectively.

The 2016 transaction was undertaken pursuant to a plan approved by the High Court in Chennai, India, and resulted in the payment of $135 million in Indian income taxes - an amount we believe includes all the applicable taxes owed for this transaction under Indian law. In March 2018, the ITD asserted that it is owed an additional 33 billion Indian rupees ($396 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate) on the 2016 transaction. We deposited 5 billion Indian rupees, representing 15% of the disputed tax amount related to the 2016 transaction, with the ITD. Additionally, certain time deposits of CTS India were placed under lien in favor of the ITD, representing the remainder of the disputed tax amount. As of December 31, 2023, the balance of deposits under lien was 30 billion Indian rupees, including previously earned interest, or $355 million, as presented in "Long-term investments".

In April 2020, we received a formal assessment from the ITD on the 2016 transaction, which is consistent with the ITD's previous assertions. Our appeal was ruled unfavorably by the CITA in March 2022 and by the ITAT in September 2023. We filed an appeal against the order of the ITAT with the High Court. On January 8, 2024, the SCI ruled that, in order to proceed

Cognizant Technology Solutions 15 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

with the appeal, we must deposit 30 billion Indian rupees ($355 million at the December 31, 2023 exchange rate), representing the time deposits of CTS India under lien, on the condition that, if CTS India prevails at the High Court, the amount deposited will be returned to CTS India, along with interest accrued, within four weeks of the judgment. We made the required deposit in January 2024, and in April 2024, the trial commenced before the High Court.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the deposit with the ITD was $414 million and $60 million, respectively at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 exchange rates, presented in "Other noncurrent assets". As of December 31, 2023, $96 million of the $355 million in deposits under lien were held in time deposits with a maturity of less than 30 days qualifying as cash equivalent instruments and thus were considered restricted cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023.

The dispute in relation to the 2013 share repurchase transaction is also in litigation. At this time, the ITD has not made specific demands with regards to the 2013 transaction.

We continue to believe we have paid all applicable taxes owed on both the 2016 and the 2013 transactions and we continue to defend our positions with respect to both matters. Accordingly, we have not recorded any reserves for these matters as of March 31, 2024.

Note 9 — Derivative Financial Instruments

In the normal course of business, we use foreign exchange forward and option contracts to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk. Derivatives may give rise to credit risk from the possible non-performance by counterparties. Credit risk is limited to the fair value of those contracts that are favorable to us. We have limited our credit risk by limiting the amount of credit exposure with any one financial institution and conducting ongoing evaluation of the creditworthiness of the financial institutions with which we do business. In addition, all the assets and liabilities related to the foreign exchange derivative contracts set forth in the below table are subject to master netting arrangements, such as the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement, with each individual counterparty. These master netting arrangements generally provide for net settlement of all outstanding contracts with the counterparty in the case of an event of default or a termination event. We have presented all the assets and liabilities related to the foreign exchange derivative contracts, as applicable, on a gross basis, with no offsets, in our unaudited consolidated statements of financial position. There is no financial collateral (including cash collateral) posted or received by us related to the foreign exchange derivative contracts.

The following table provides information on the location and fair values of derivative financial instruments included in our unaudited consolidated statements of financial position as of:

(in millions)		March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
Designation of Derivatives	Location on Statement of Financial Position	Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities
Foreign exchange forward and option contracts – Designated as cash flow hedging instruments	Other current assets	$	21	$	—	$	14	$	—
	Other noncurrent assets	8		—		5		—
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	—		1		—		5
	Other noncurrent liabilities	—		—		—		1
	Total	29		1		19		6
Foreign exchange forward contracts – Not designated as hedging instruments	Other current assets	4		—		1		—
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	—		2		—		9
	Total	4		2		1		9
Total		$	33	$	3	$	20	$	15

Cognizant Technology Solutions 16 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Cash Flow Hedges

We have entered into a series of foreign exchange derivative contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges of Indian rupee denominated payments in India. These contracts are intended to partially offset the impact of movement of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar on future operating costs and are scheduled to mature each month during the remainder of 2024, 2025 and the first three months of 2026. The changes in fair value of these contracts are initially reported in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" in our unaudited consolidated statements of financial position and are subsequently reclassified to earnings within "Cost of revenues" and "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations in the same period that the forecasted Indian rupee denominated payments are recorded in earnings. As of March 31, 2024, we estimate that $15 million, net of tax, of net gains related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges reported in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" in our unaudited consolidated statements of financial position is expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

The notional value of the outstanding contracts by year of maturity was as follows:

(in millions)	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
2024	1,583		$	1,878
2025	1,165		1,020
2026	130		—
Total notional value of contracts outstanding (1)	$	2,878	$	2,898

(1)Includes $50 million and $45 million notional value of option contracts as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, with the remaining notional value related to forward contracts.

The following table provides information on the location and amounts of pre-tax gains and losses on our cash flow hedges for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	Change in Derivative Gains and Losses Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (effective portion)				Location of Net (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (effective portion)	Net (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (effective portion)
	2024		2023			2024		2023
Foreign exchange forward and option contracts – Designated as cash flow hedging instruments	$	15	$	33	Cost of revenues	$	—	$	(11)
					SG&A expenses	—		(1)
					Total	$	—	$	(12)

The activity related to the change in net unrealized gains and losses on the cash flow hedges included in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" in our unaudited consolidated statements of stockholders' equity is presented in Note 11.

Other Derivatives

We use foreign exchange forward contracts to provide an economic hedge against balance sheet exposures to certain monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of our foreign subsidiaries. We entered into foreign exchange forward contracts that are scheduled to mature in the second quarter of 2024. Realized gains or losses and changes in the estimated fair value of these derivative financial instruments are recorded in the caption "Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net" in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.

Additional information related to the outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments was as follows:

(in millions)	March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
	Notional		Fair Value		Notional		Fair Value
Contracts outstanding	$	1,119	$	2	$	1,317	$	(8)

Cognizant Technology Solutions 17 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

The following table provides information on the location and amounts of realized and unrealized pre-tax gains and losses on the other derivative financial instruments for the three months ended March 31:

	Location of Net Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments	Amount of Net Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments
(in millions)		2024		2023
Foreign exchange forward contracts – Not designated as hedging instruments	Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net	$	31	$	(10)

The related cash flow impacts of all the derivative activities are reflected as cash flows from operating activities.

Note 10 — Fair Value Measurements

We measure our cash equivalents, certain investments, contingent consideration liabilities and foreign exchange forward and option contracts at fair value. Fair value is the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon their own market assumptions.

The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:

•Level 1 – Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2 – Inputs are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

•Level 3 – Inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or value drivers are unobservable.

The following table summarizes the financial assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2024:

(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	411	$	—	$	—	$	411
Time deposits	—		470		—		470
Short-term investments:
Time deposits	—		1		—		1
Equity investment security	11		—		—		11
Other current assets:
Foreign exchange forward contracts	—		25		—		25
Other noncurrent assets
Foreign exchange forward contracts	—		8		—		8
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
Foreign exchange forward contracts	—		(3)		—		(3)

Cognizant Technology Solutions 18 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

The following table summarizes the financial assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023:

(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	327	$	—	$	—	$	327
Time deposits	—		834		—		834
Short-term investments:
Equity investment security	11		—		—		11
Other current assets:
Foreign exchange forward contracts	—		15		—		15
Long-term investments:
Restricted time deposits(1)	—		355		—		355
Other noncurrent assets:
Foreign exchange forward contracts	—		5		—		5
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
Foreign exchange forward contracts	—		(14)		—		(14)
Contingent consideration liabilities	—		—		(30)		(30)
Other noncurrent liabilities:
Foreign exchange forward contracts	—		(1)		—		(1)

(1)See Note 8.

The following table summarizes the changes in Level 3 contingent consideration liabilities for the three months ended:

(in millions)	March 31, 2024		March 31, 2023
Beginning balance	$	30	$	22
Change in fair value recognized in SG&A expenses	—		12
Payments	(30)		—
Ending balance	$	—	$	34

We measure the fair value of money market funds based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and measure the fair value of our equity investment security based on the published daily net asset value at which investors can freely subscribe to or redeem from the fund. The carrying value of the time deposits approximated fair value as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

We estimate the fair value of each foreign exchange forward contract by using a present value of expected cash flows model. This model calculates the difference between the current market forward price and the contracted forward price for each foreign exchange forward contract and applies the difference in the rates to each outstanding contract. The market forward rates include a discount and credit risk factor. We estimate the fair value of each foreign exchange option contract by using a variant of the Black-Scholes model. This model uses present value techniques and reflects the time value and intrinsic value based on observable market rates.

We estimate the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities associated with acquisitions using a variation of the income approach, which utilizes one or more significant inputs that are unobservable. This approach calculates the fair value of such liabilities based on the probability-weighted expected performance of the acquired entity against the target performance metric, discounted to present value when appropriate.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023, there were no transfers among Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 financial assets and liabilities.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 19 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Note 11 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" by component were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2024:

(in millions)	Before Tax Amount		Tax Effect		Net of Tax Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Beginning balance	$	(109)	$	5	$	(104)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustments	(74)		1		(73)
Ending balance	$	(183)	$	6	$	(177)
Unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Beginning balance	$	13	$	(3)	$	10
Unrealized gains arising during the period	15		(4)		11
Ending balance	$	28	$	(7)	$	21
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Beginning balance	$	(96)	$	2	$	(94)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(59)		(3)		(62)
Ending balance	$	(155)	$	(1)	$	(156)

Changes in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" by component were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2023:

(in millions)	Before Tax Amount		Tax Effect		Net of Tax Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Beginning balance	$	(256)	$	8	$	(248)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustments	41		2		43
Ending balance	$	(215)	$	10	$	(205)
Unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Beginning balance	$	(68)	$	17	$	(51)
Unrealized gains arising during the period	33		(8)		25
Reclassifications of net loss to:
Cost of revenues	11		(3)		8
SG&A expenses	1		—		1
Net change	45		(11)		34
Ending balance	$	(23)	$	6	$	(17)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Beginning balance	$	(324)	$	25	$	(299)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	86		(9)		77
Ending balance	$	(238)	$	16	$	(222)

Cognizant Technology Solutions 20 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Note 12— Commitments and Contingencies

We are involved in various claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We accrue a liability when a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. When a material loss contingency is reasonably possible but not probable, we do not record a liability, but instead disclose the nature and the amount of the claim, and an estimate of the loss or range of loss, if such an estimate can be made. Legal fees are expensed as incurred. While we do not expect that the ultimate resolution of any existing claims and proceedings (other than the specific matters described below, if decided adversely), individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, an unfavorable outcome in some or all of these proceedings could have a material adverse impact on results of operations or cash flows for a particular period. This assessment is based on our current understanding of relevant facts and circumstances. As such, our view of these matters is subject to inherent uncertainties and may change in the future.

On January 15, 2015, Syntel sued TriZetto and Cognizant in the USDC-SDNY. Syntel’s complaint alleged breach of contract against TriZetto, and tortious interference and misappropriation of trade secrets against Cognizant and TriZetto, stemming from Cognizant’s hiring of certain former Syntel employees. Cognizant and TriZetto countersued on March 23, 2015, for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets and tortious interference, based on Syntel’s misuse of TriZetto confidential information and abandonment of contractual obligations. Cognizant and TriZetto subsequently added federal DTSA and copyright infringement claims for Syntel’s misuse of TriZetto’s proprietary technology. The parties’ claims were narrowed by the court and the case was tried before a jury, which on October 27, 2020 returned a verdict in favor of Cognizant in the amount of $855 million, including $570 million in punitive damages. On April 20, 2021, the USDC-SDNY issued a post-trial order that, among other things, affirmed the jury’s award of $285 million in actual damages, but reduced the award of punitive damages from $570 million to $285 million, thereby reducing the overall damages award from $855 million to $570 million. The USDC-SDNY subsequently issued a final judgment consistent with the April 20th order. On May 26, 2021, Syntel filed a notice of appeal to the Second Circuit, and on June 3, 2021 the USDC-SDNY stayed execution of judgment pending appeal. On May 25, 2023, the Second Circuit issued an opinion affirming in part and vacating in part the judgment of the USDC-SDNY and remanding the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. The Second Circuit affirmed the judgment in all respects on liability but vacated the $570 million award that had been based on avoided development costs under the DTSA, and it remanded the case to the USDC-SDNY for further evaluation of damages. On June 23, 2023, the Second Circuit issued its mandate returning the case to the USDC-SDNY. On March 13, 2024, the USDC-SDNY issued a ruling that vacates the alternate compensatory damages awards that were within the scope of the Second Circuit’s remand and awards TriZetto and Cognizant approximately $15 million in attorney’s fees. The USDC-SDNY additionally stayed entry of final judgment to allow the parties time to file any follow-on motions. TriZetto and Cognizant will continue to vigorously pursue our claims against Syntel. We will not record any gain in our financial statements until it becomes realizable.

On February 28, 2019, a ruling of the SCI interpreting the India Defined Contribution Obligation altered historical understandings of the obligation, extending it to cover additional portions of the employee’s income. As a result, the ongoing contributions of our affected employees and the Company were required to be increased. In the first quarter of 2019, we accrued $117 million with respect to prior periods, assuming retroactive application of the SCI’s ruling, in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in our unaudited consolidated statement of operations. There is significant uncertainty as to how the liability should be calculated as it is impacted by multiple variables, including the period of assessment, the application with respect to certain current and former employees and whether interest and penalties may be assessed. Since the ruling, a variety of trade associations and industry groups have advocated to the Indian government, highlighting the harm to the information technology sector, other industries and job growth in India that would result from a retroactive application of the ruling. It is possible the Indian government will review the matter and there is a substantial question as to whether the Indian government will apply the SCI’s ruling on a retroactive basis. As such, the ultimate amount of our obligation may be materially different from the amount accrued.

On October 31, 2016, November 15, 2016 and November 18, 2016, three putative shareholder derivative complaints were filed in New Jersey Superior Court, Bergen County, naming us, all of our then current directors and certain of our current and former officers at that time as defendants. These actions were consolidated in an order dated January 24, 2017. The complaints assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, mismanagement, and/or insider selling by defendants. On April 26, 2017, the New Jersey Superior Court deferred further proceedings by dismissing the consolidated putative shareholder derivative litigation without prejudice but permitting the parties to file a motion to vacate the dismissal in the future.

On February 22, 2017, April 7, 2017, May 10, 2017 and March 11, 2019, four additional putative shareholder derivative complaints were filed in the USDC-NJ, naming us and certain of our current and former directors and officers at that time as defendants. These actions were consolidated in an order dated May 14, 2019. On August 3, 2020, lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint. The consolidated amended complaint asserts claims similar to those in the previously-filed

Cognizant Technology Solutions 21 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

putative shareholder derivative actions. On February 14, 2022, we and certain of our current and former directors and officers moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On September 27, 2022, the USDC-NJ granted those motions and dismissed the consolidated amended complaint in its entirety with prejudice. Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal on October 27, 2022.

On June 1, 2021, an eighth putative shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the USDC-NJ, naming us and certain of our current and former directors and officers at that time as defendants. The complaint asserts claims similar to those in the previously-filed putative shareholder derivative actions. On March 31, 2022, we and certain of our current and former directors and officers moved to dismiss the complaint. On November 30, 2022, the USDC-NJ denied without prejudice those motions. The USDC-NJ ordered the parties to conduct limited discovery related to the issue of whether our board of directors wrongfully refused the plaintiff’s earlier litigation demand and, after the conclusion of such limited discovery, to file targeted motions for summary judgment on the issue of wrongful refusal.

We are presently unable to predict the duration, scope or result of the putative shareholder derivative actions. Although the Company continues to defend the putative shareholder derivative actions vigorously, these lawsuits are subject to inherent uncertainties, the actual cost of such litigation will depend upon many unknown factors and the outcome of the litigation is necessarily uncertain.

We have indemnification and expense advancement obligations pursuant to our bylaws and indemnification agreements with respect to certain current and former members of senior management and the Company’s board of directors. In connection with the matters that were the subject of our previously disclosed internal investigation, the DOJ and SEC investigations and the related litigation, we have received and expect to continue to receive requests under such indemnification agreements and our bylaws to provide funds for legal fees and other expenses. There are no amounts remaining available to us under applicable insurance policies for our ongoing indemnification and advancement obligations with respect to certain of our current and former officers and directors or incremental legal fees and other expenses related to the above matters.

See Note 8 for information relating to the ITD Dispute.

Many of our engagements involve projects that are critical to the operations of our clients’ business and provide benefits that are difficult to quantify. Any failure in a client’s systems or our failure to meet our contractual obligations to our clients, including any breach involving a client’s confidential information or sensitive data, or our obligations under applicable laws or regulations could result in a claim for substantial damages against us, regardless of our responsibility for such failure. Although we attempt to contractually limit our liability for damages arising from negligent acts, errors, mistakes, or omissions in rendering our services, there can be no assurance that the limitations of liability set forth in our contracts will be enforceable in all instances or will otherwise protect us from liability for damages. Although we have general liability insurance coverage, including coverage for errors or omissions, we retain a significant portion of risk through our insurance deductibles and there can be no assurance that such coverage will cover all types of claims, continue to be available on reasonable terms or will be available in sufficient amounts to cover one or more large claims, or that the insurer will not disclaim coverage as to any future claim. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed or are not covered by our insurance coverage or changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows for a particular period.

In the normal course of business and in conjunction with certain client engagements, we have entered into contractual arrangements through which we may be obligated to indemnify clients or other parties with whom we conduct business with respect to certain matters. These arrangements can include provisions whereby we agree to hold the indemnified party and certain of their affiliated entities harmless with respect to third-party claims related to such matters as our breach of certain representations or covenants, our intellectual property infringement, our gross negligence or willful misconduct or certain other claims made against certain parties. Payments by us under any of these arrangements are generally conditioned on the client making a claim and providing us with full control over the defense and settlement of such claim. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential liability under these indemnification agreements due to the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Historically, we have not made material payments under these indemnification agreements and therefore they have not had a material impact on our operating results, financial position, or cash flows. However, if events arise requiring us to make payment for indemnification claims under our indemnification obligations in contracts we have entered, such payments could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows for a particular period.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 22 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Note 13 — Segment Information

We have seven industry-based operating segments, which are aggregated into four reportable business segments:

•Financial Services, which consists of the banking and insurance operating segments;

•Health Sciences, which consists of a single operating segment of the same name;

•Products and Resources, which consists of the retail and consumer goods; manufacturing, logistics, energy, and utilities; and travel and hospitality operating segments; and

•Communications, Media and Technology, which consists of a single operating segment of the same name.

Our segments are industry-based, and as such, we report revenue from clients in the segment with which our clients are most closely aligned. Our client partners, account executives and client relationship managers are aligned in accordance with the specific industries they serve. Our CODM evaluates the Company's performance and allocates resources based on segment revenues and operating profit. Segment operating profit is defined as income from operations before unallocated costs. Generally, operating expenses for each operating segment have similar characteristics and are subject to the same factors, pressures and challenges. However, the economic environment and its effects on industries served by the operating segments may affect revenues and operating expenses to differing degrees.

Corporate expenses, expenses related to our NextGen program, a portion of depreciation and amortization and the impact of the settlements of the cash flow hedges are not allocated to individual segments in internal management reports used by the CODM. Accordingly, such expenses are excluded from segment operating profit and are included below as “unallocated costs” and adjusted against our total income from operations. Additionally, we do not disclose assets by segment as a significant portion of the assets is used interchangeably among the segments and the CODM does not review such information.

For revenues by reportable segment and geographic area, see Note 2.

Segment operating profits by reportable segment were as follows for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024		2023
Financial Services	$	279	$	306
Health Sciences	311		327
Products and Resources	228		215
Communications, Media and Technology	137		158
Total segment operating profit	955		1,006
Less: unallocated costs	260		304
Income from operations	$	695	$	702

Geographic Area Information

Long-lived assets by geographic area are as follows:

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Long-lived Assets: (1)
North America(2)	$	329	$	335
Europe	85		90
Rest of World (3)	622		623
Total	$	1,036	$	1,048

(1)Long-lived assets include property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization.

(2)Substantially all relates to the United States.

(3)Substantially all relates to India.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 23 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Note 14 — Subsequent Events

Dividend

On April 30, 2024, the Board of Directors approved the Company's declaration of a $0.30 per share dividend with a record date of May 20, 2024 and a payment date of May 29, 2024.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 24 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Executive Summary

Cognizant is one of the world’s leading professional services companies, engineering modern businesses and delivering strategic outcomes for our clients. We help clients modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in a fast-changing world. We provide industry expertise and close client collaboration, combining critical perspective with a flexible engagement style. We tailor our services and solutions to specific industries with an integrated global delivery model that employs client service and delivery teams based at client locations and dedicated global and regional delivery centers. Our collaborative services include digital services and solutions, consulting, application development, systems integration, quality engineering and assurance, application maintenance, infrastructure and security as well as business process services and automation. Digital services continue to be an important part of our portfolio, aligning with our clients' focus on becoming data-enabled, customer-centric and differentiated businesses.

In the second quarter of 2023, we initiated the NextGen program aimed at simplifying our operating model, optimizing corporate functions and consolidating and realigning office space to reflect the post-pandemic hybrid work environment. Our drive for simplification includes operating with fewer layers in an effort to enhance agility and enable faster decision making. We expect the savings generated by the program to help fund continued investments in our people, revenue growth opportunities and the modernization of our office space.

In connection with the NextGen program, in the first quarter of 2024 we incurred $23 million of employee separation, facility exit and other costs. Since the inception of the program, we incurred $252 million in total costs. See Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements. We currently expect to incur costs of approximately $70 million for the full year 2024, which is expected to bring the total charges under the program to approximately $300 million. The estimates of the charges and expenditures that we expect to incur in connection with the NextGen program, and the timing thereof, are subject to a number of assumptions, including local law requirements in various jurisdictions, and actual amounts may differ materially from estimates. In addition, we may incur other charges or cash expenditures not currently contemplated due to unanticipated events that may occur in connection with the NextGen program.

Q1 2024 Financial Results1

Revenue

Income from Operations

Operating Margin

Diluted EPS

GAAP Adjusted1

GAAP Adjusted1

    GAAP Adjusted1

Revenue down $52 million or 1.1% from Q1 2023; a decline of 1.2% in constant currency1 Income from Operations down $7 million or 1.0% from Q1 2023
Adjusted Income from Operations1 up $16 million or 2.3% from Q1 2023 Operating margin remained flat from Q1 2023
Adjusted Operating Margin1 up 50 bps from Q1 2023 Diluted EPS down $0.04 or 3.5% from Q1 2023
Adjusted Diluted EPS1 up $0.01 or 0.9% from Q1 2023

1 Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Diluted EPS and constant currency revenue growth are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as applicable.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 25 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, revenues decreased by $52 million as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, representing a decrease of 1.1%, or a decrease of 1.2% on a constant currency basis2. Revenues were negatively impacted by weakness in our Financial Services and Health Sciences segments, partially offset by revenue growth in Communications, Media and Technology and Products and Resources segments. Our recently completed acquisitions contributed 70 basis points to revenue growth, primarily benefiting our Communications, Media and Technology and Products and Resources segments.

Our operating margin remained flat at 14.6% and Adjusted Operating Margin2 increased to 15.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 from operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin of 14.6% each for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Our 2024 GAAP and Adjusted Operating Margins were positively impacted by savings generated from our NextGen program and the benefit of the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar, partially offset by increased compensation costs and the impact of the resale of third-party products in connection with our integrated offerings strategy. In addition, our 2024 GAAP operating margin was negatively impacted by the NextGen charges, as discussed in Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements, which were excluded from our Adjusted Operating Margin.

As a global professional services company, we compete on the basis of the knowledge, experience, insights, skills and talent of our employees and the value they can provide to our clients. We closely monitor attrition trends focusing on the metric that we believe is most relevant to our business. This metric, which we refer to as Voluntary Attrition - Tech Services, includes all voluntary separations with the exception of employees in our Intuitive Operations and Automation practice. For the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2024 our Voluntary Attrition - Tech Services was 13.1% as compared to 23.1% for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023. We finished the first quarter of 2024 with approximately 344,400 employees as compared to 351,500 employees at the end of the first quarter of 2023.

Business Outlook

We continue to expect the long-term focus of our clients to be on their digital transformation into software-driven, data-enabled, customer-centric and differentiated businesses. We believe clients will continue to contend with industry-specific changes driven by evolving digital technologies, uncertainty in the regulatory environment, industry consolidation and convergence as well as international trade policies and other macroeconomic and geopolitical factors, including the uncertainty related to the global economy, which has affected and may continue to affect their demand for our services.

We increasingly use AI-based technologies, including GenAI, in our client offerings and our own internal operations. AI technologies and services are part of a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market. We plan to make significant investments in our AI capabilities to meet the needs of our clients and harness its value in a flexible, secure, scalable and responsible way. As AI-based technologies evolve, we expect that some services that we currently perform for our clients will be replaced by AI or forms of automation. This may lead to reduced demand for certain services or harm our ability to obtain favorable pricing or other terms for our services.

We currently expect to incur total costs of approximately $300 million in connection with the NextGen program, which started in the second quarter of 2023, with approximately $70 million of such costs anticipated in 2024. See "Executive Summary." In addition to the NextGen program, potential tax law and other regulatory changes, including possible U.S. corporate income tax reform and the Code on Social Security, 2020 in India, among other items, may impact our future results. We expect that the Code on Social Security, 2020, if enacted as currently written, could result in a material one-time increase to our post-employment liability for past service and would also modestly increase our costs for employment and post-employment benefits prospectively. In addition, in March 2024, India and Mauritius signed a Protocol to amend the India-Mauritius Income Tax Treaty. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the amendment, which, depending on its final terms when entered into force, could increase our effective income tax rate, as CTS India is a subsidiary of our wholly-owned Mauritius entity.

2 Adjusted Operating Margin and constant currency revenue growth are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as applicable.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 26 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain financial data for the three months ended March 31:

			% of			% of	Increase / Decrease
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)	2024		Revenues	2023		Revenues	$		%
Revenues	$	4,760	100.0	$	4,812	100.0	$	(52)	(1.1)
Cost of revenues(a)	3,146		66.1	3,143		65.3	3		0.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses(a)	765		16.1	835		17.4	(70)		(8.4)
Restructuring charges	23		0.5	—		—	23		N/A
Depreciation and amortization expense	131		2.8	132		2.7	(1)		(0.8)
Income from operations	695		14.6	702		14.6	(7)		(1.0)
Other income (expense), net	27			36			(9)		(25.0)
Income before provision for income taxes	722		15.2	738		15.3	(16)		(2.2)
Provision for income taxes	(179)			(158)			(21)		13.3
Income (loss) from equity method investments	3			—			3		N/A
Net income	$	546	11.5	$	580	12.1	$	(34)	(5.9)
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.10		$	1.14		$	(0.04)	(3.5)
Other Financial Information3
Adjusted Income from Operations and Adjusted Operating Margin	$	718	15.1	$	702	14.6	$	16	2.3
Adjusted Diluted EPS	$	1.12		$	1.11		$	0.01	0.9

(a)Exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense.

N/A    Not applicable

Revenues

During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, revenues decreased by $52 million as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, representing a decrease of 1.1%, or a decrease of 1.2% on a constant currency basis3. Our recently completed acquisitions contributed 70 basis points to the change in revenue.

3Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Diluted EPS and constant currency revenue growth are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as applicable.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 27 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Revenues - Reportable Business Segments and Geographic Markets

Revenues of $4,760 million across our business segments and geographies were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2024:

Q1 2024 as compared to Q1 2023			Increase / (Decrease)
(Dollars in millions)	$	%			CC %4
Financial Services			$	(91)		(6.2)	(6.5)
Health Sciences			(17)			(1.2)	(1.3)
Products and Resources			15			1.3	0.9
CMT			41			5.2	5.7
Total revenues			$	(52)		(1.1)	(1.2)

Q1 2024 as compared to Q1 2023			Increase / (Decrease)
(Dollars in millions)	$	%			CC %4
North America			$	(24)		(0.7)	(0.7)
United Kingdom			(22)			(4.6)	(7.7)
Continental Europe			22			4.8	3.1
Europe - Total			—			—	(2.4)
Rest of World			(28)			(8.5)	(3.7)
Total revenues			$	(52)		(1.1)	(1.2)

Change in revenues was driven by the following factors:4

•Reduced demand for discretionary work negatively impacted revenues across all segments. Clients in our Financial Services segment were particularly affected;

•Recently completed acquisitions contributed 70 basis points of growth to the overall change in revenues, including 240 basis points of growth to our Communications, Media and Technology segment (primarily in Continental Europe) and 80 basis points of growth to our Products and Resources segment (primarily in North America);

•The resale of third-party products in the Health Sciences segment in North America, and the Communications, Media and Technology segment in Continental Europe, in connection with our integrated offerings strategy, contributed 110 basis points of growth to the overall change in revenue;

•Health Sciences revenues were negatively impacted by the renegotiation of a large contract with a payer client in 2023, which reduced the scope of services but improved the profitability of the contract;

•North America revenues in the Communications, Media and Technology segment were positively impacted by the ramp up of several recently won large deals;

•Revenues in the Continental Europe region were additionally driven by increased demand from pharmaceutical clients within the Health Sciences segment; and

•Revenue declines in our United Kingdom and Rest of World regions were primarily driven by weakness in the Financial Services segment.

4 Constant currency revenue growth is not a measure of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as applicable.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 28 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Cost of Revenues (Exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization Expense)

é	$3M
é	0.8% as a % of revenues
¡	% of Revenues

Our cost of revenues consists primarily of salaries, incentive-based compensation, stock-based compensation expense, employee benefits, project-related immigration and travel for technical personnel, subcontracting and costs of third-party products and services relating to revenues. The increase, as a percentage of revenues, was due to higher compensation costs for delivery personnel and the impact of the resale of third-party products in connection with our integrated offerings strategy, partially offset by the benefit of the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar.

SG&A Expenses (Exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization Expense)

SG&A expenses consist primarily of salaries, incentive-based compensation, stock-based compensation expense, employee benefits, immigration, travel, marketing, communications, management, finance, administrative and occupancy costs. The decrease, as a percentage of revenues, was primarily driven by savings generated from our NextGen program.

ê	$70M
ê	1.3% as a % of revenues
¡	% of Revenues

Restructuring Charges

Restructuring charges consist of costs related to the NextGen program. Restructuring charges were $23 million or 0.5%, as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024. For further detail on our restructuring charges see Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by 0.8% and increased by 0.1% as a percentage of revenues, during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the first quarter of 2023.

Operating Margin and Adjusted Operating Margin5 - Overall

Our 2024 first quarter GAAP operating margin and Adjusted Operating Margin5 were positively impacted by savings generated from our NextGen program and the benefit of the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar, partially offset by increased compensation costs and the impact of the resale of third-party products in connection with our integrated offerings strategy. In addition, our 2024 GAAP operating margin was negatively impacted by the NextGen charges, as discussed in Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements, which were excluded from our Adjusted Operating Margin.

A predominant portion of our costs in India are denominated in the Indian rupee, representing approximately 24% of our global operating costs during the three months ended March 31, 2024. These costs are subject to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which have an impact on our results of operations. We enter into foreign exchange derivative contracts to hedge certain Indian rupee denominated payments in India. These hedges are intended to mitigate the volatility of the changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Indian rupee. Net of the impact of the hedges, the depreciation of the Indian rupee positively impacted our operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2024 by 45 basis points as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.

5 Adjusted Income from Operations and Adjusted Operating Margin are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as applicable.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 29 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Excluding the impact of applicable designated cash flow hedges, the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar positively impacted our operating margin by 20 basis points during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Each additional 1.0% change in exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the U.S. dollar will have the effect of moving our operating margin by 19 basis points (excluding the impact of the hedges). The settlement of our cash flow hedges had no impact on our operating margin during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to a negative impact of 25 basis points during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Segment Operating Profit

Segment operating profit and operating margin percentage were as follows:

Segment operating profit % Segment operating margin

In 2024, segment operating margins across all our segments were negatively impacted by increased compensation costs, partially offset by the benefit of the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar and savings generated from our NextGen program. Segment operating profit in Health Sciences and Communications, Media and Technology segments was negatively impacted by resales of third-party products in connection with our integrated offerings strategy. Segment operating profit in the Communications, Media and Technology segment was further negatively impacted by higher costs typical to the initial phases of several recently won large deals in this segment.

Total segment operating profit and operating margin were as follows for the three months ended March 31:

(Dollars in millions)	2024		% of Revenues	2023		% of Revenues	Increase/(Decrease)
Total segment operating profit	$	955	20.1	$	1,006	20.9	$	(51)
Less: unallocated costs	260		5.5	304		6.3	(44)
Income from operations	$	695	14.6	$	702	14.6	$	(7)

Other Income (Expense), Net

The following table sets forth total other income (expense), net for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024		2023		Increase/ Decrease
Foreign currency exchange (losses) gains	$	(25)	$	22	$	(47)
Gains (losses) on foreign exchange forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments	31		(10)		41
Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net	6		12		(6)
Interest income	30		30		—
Interest expense	(11)		(9)		(2)
Other, net	2		3		(1)
Total other income (expense), net	$	27	$	36	$	(9)

The foreign currency exchange losses were attributed to the remeasurement of net monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of our subsidiaries. The gains and losses on foreign exchange forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments related to the realized and unrealized gains and losses on contracts entered into to offset our foreign currency exposures. As of March 31, 2024, the notional value of our undesignated hedges was $1,119 million. Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 remained flat as compared to the same period in 2023. While our invested balances decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 due to the required payment related to the ITD dispute in January 2024 (see Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements), we benefited from higher interest rates compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 30 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Provision for Income Taxes

é	$21M
¡ Effective Income Tax Rate é 3.4%

The effective income tax rate in 2023 benefited from the effective settlement of the IRS examination for tax years 2017 and 2018.

In December 2021, the OECD adopted model rules for a global framework to impose a 15% global minimum tax referred to as Pillar Two with an effective date of January 1, 2024. Although Management continues to monitor additional guidance from the OECD and countries’ implementation of Pillar Two, based on current guidance, there was no material impact for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and we believe that our net income, cash flows, or financial condition will not be materially impacted in the future by Pillar Two.

Net Income

The decrease in net income was primarily driven by a higher effective tax rate.

ê	$34M
¡ ê 0.6% of Revenues

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Portions of our disclosure include non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures set forth below should be carefully evaluated.

Our non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Income from Operations excludes unusual items, such as NextGen charges. Our non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted Diluted EPS excludes unusual items, such as NextGen charges, and net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses and the tax impact of all the applicable adjustments. For further detail on the NextGen charges, see Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements. The income tax impact of each item excluded from Adjusted Diluted EPS is calculated by applying the statutory rate and local tax regulations in the jurisdiction in which the item was incurred. Constant currency revenue growth is defined as revenues for a given period restated at the comparative period’s foreign currency exchange rates measured against the comparative period's reported revenues.

We believe providing investors with an operating view consistent with how we manage the Company provides enhanced transparency into our operating results. For internal management reporting and budgeting purposes, we use various GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making, to evaluate period-to-period comparisons, to determine portions of the compensation for executive officers and for making comparisons of our operating results to those of our competitors. We believe that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude certain costs, read in conjunction with our reported GAAP results and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measure, as applicable, can provide useful supplemental information to our management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations.

A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures versus financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is that non-GAAP financial measures may exclude costs that are recurring such as net non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses. In addition, other companies may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than us, thereby limiting the usefulness of these non-GAAP financial measures as a comparative tool. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP financial measures to allow investors to evaluate such non-GAAP financial measures.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 31 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

The following table presents a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP measure for the three months ended March 31:

	2024		% of Revenues	2023		% of Revenues
GAAP income from operations and operating margin	$	695	14.6	$	702	14.6
NextGen charges(1)	23		0.5	—		—
Adjusted Income from Operations and Adjusted Operating Margin	$	718	15.1	$	702	14.6
GAAP diluted EPS	$	1.10		$	1.14
Effect of NextGen charges, pre-tax	0.05			—
Non-operating foreign currency exchange (gains) losses, pre-tax (2)	(0.01)			(0.02)
Tax effect of above adjustments(3)	(0.02)			(0.01)
Adjusted Diluted EPS	$	1.12		$	1.11

(1)Consists of employee separation, facility exit and other costs incurred in connection with the NextGen program. See Note 4 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information.

(2)Non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses, inclusive of gains and losses on related foreign exchange forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, are reported in "Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net" in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.

(3)Presented below are the tax impacts of our non-GAAP adjustment to pre-tax income:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2024		2023
Non-GAAP income tax benefit (expense) related to:
NextGen charges	$	5	$	—
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses	(1)		5

The effective tax rate related to non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses varies depending on the jurisdictions in which such income and expenses are generated and the statutory rates applicable in those jurisdictions. As such, the income tax effect of non-operating foreign currency exchange gains and losses shown in the above table may not appear proportionate to the net pre-tax foreign currency exchange gains and losses reported in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our cash generated from operations has historically been the primary source of liquidity to fund operations and investments to grow our business. As of March 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2,243 million and available capacity under our credit facilities of approximately $1.9 billion.

The following table provides a summary of cash flows for the three months ended March 31:

(in millions)	2024		2023		Increase / Decrease
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	95	$	729	$	(634)
Investing activities	(238)		(215)		(23)
Financing activities	(304)		(350)		46

Operating activities

The decrease in cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily driven by the $360 million payment made in relation to our dispute with the ITD in January 2024 (see Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements), lower collections of our trade accounts receivable and higher tax payments.

We monitor turnover, aging and the collection of accounts receivable by client. Our DSO calculation includes receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, and contract assets, reduced by the uncollected portion of deferred revenue. Our DSO was 78 days as of March 31, 2024, an increase of 1 day from 77 days as of December 31, 2023. Our DSO was 73 days as of March 31, 2023, a decrease of 1 day from 74 days as of December 31, 2022.

Cognizant Technology Solutions 32 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

Investing activities

The increase in cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily driven by lower net maturities of investments in 2024 as compared to 2023.

Financing activities

The decrease in cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily driven by lower repurchases of common stock.

We have a Credit Agreement providing for a $650 million Term Loan and a $1,850 million unsecured revolving credit facility, which are each due to mature in October 2027. We are required under the Credit Agreement to make scheduled quarterly principal payments on the Term Loan. We believe that we currently meet all conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement to borrow thereunder, and we are not aware of any conditions that would prevent us from borrowing part or all of the remaining available capacity under the revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2024 and through the date of this filing. As of March 31, 2024, we had no outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility. See Note 7 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2023, our India subsidiary had a 15 billion India rupee ($180 million at the December 31, 2023 exchange rate) working capital facility. This facility expired in March 2024. We have never borrowed funds under this facility or any of its predecessor facilities.

Capital Allocation

Acquisitions

Share Repurchases

Dividend payments

We review our capital allocation on an ongoing basis, considering our financial performance and liquidity position, investments required to execute our strategic plans and initiatives, acquisition opportunities, the economic outlook, regulatory changes and other relevant factors. As these factors may change over time, the actual amounts expended on stock repurchase activity, dividends, and acquisitions, if any, during any particular period cannot be predicted and may fluctuate from time to time.

Other Liquidity and Capital Resources Information

We seek to ensure that our worldwide cash is available in the locations in which it is needed. As part of our ongoing liquidity assessments, we regularly monitor the mix of our domestic and international cash flows and cash balances. We evaluate on an ongoing basis what portion of the non-U.S. cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments is needed locally to execute our strategic plans and what amount is available for repatriation back to the United States.

We expect operating cash flows, cash and short-term investment balances, together with the available capacity under our revolving credit facilities, to be sufficient to meet our operating requirements, including purchase commitments, tax payments, including Tax Reform Act transition tax payments, and servicing our debt for the next twelve months. The ability to expand and grow our business in accordance with current plans, make acquisitions, meet long-term capital requirements beyond a twelve-month period and execute our capital return plan will depend on many factors, including the rate, if any, at which cash flow increases, our ability and willingness to pay for acquisitions with capital stock and the availability of public and private debt, including the ability to extend the maturity of or refinance our existing debt, and equity financing. We cannot be certain that additional financing, if required, will be available on terms and conditions acceptable to us, if at all.

Commitments and Contingencies

See Note 12 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our unaudited consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities, including the recoverability of tangible and intangible assets, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. On an ongoing basis, we

Cognizant Technology Solutions 33 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

evaluate our estimates. The most significant estimates relate to the recognition of revenue and profits, including the application of the cost-to-cost method of measuring progress to completion for certain fixed-price contracts, income taxes, business combinations and valuation of goodwill and other long-lived assets. We base our estimates on historical experience, current trends and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual amounts may differ from the estimates used in the preparation of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements. For a discussion of our critical accounting estimates, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Recently Adopted and New Accounting Pronouncements

There have been no changes in the information provided regarding recently adopted and new accounting pronouncements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

There have been no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk from those disclosed in Part II, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024.

Item 4.     Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, evaluated the design and operating effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of March 31, 2024. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See Note 12 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024.

Item 2.     Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our stock repurchase program allows for the repurchase of up to $11.5 billion, excluding fees and expenses, of our Class A common stock through open market purchases, including under a 10b5-1 Plan in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date and had a remaining balance of $1,667 million as of March 31, 2024. The timing of repurchases and the exact number of shares to be purchased are determined by management, in its discretion, or pursuant to a 10b5-1 Plan, and depend upon market conditions and other factors.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we repurchased $110 million of our Class A common stock under our stock repurchase program as follows:

Month	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased under the Plans or Programs (in millions)
January 1, 2024 - January 31, 2024	—	$	—	—	$	1,777
February 1, 2024 - February 29, 2024	780,000	77.81		780,000	1,717
March 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024	636,396	77.48		636,396	1,667
Total	1,416,396	$	77.66	1,416,396

The aggregate purchase price and weighted average price per share does not include the excise tax on net stock repurchases incurred as part of the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act. The excise tax was immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we also purchased shares in connection with our stock-based compensation plans, whereby shares of our common stock were tendered by employees for payment of applicable statutory tax withholdings. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, such repurchases totaled 0.3 million shares at an aggregate cost of $23 million.

Item 5.     Other Information

(c) Trading Plans

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, no director or Section 16 officer adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements (in each case, as defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K).

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Item 6.     Exhibit Index

EXHIBIT INDEX

		Incorporated by Reference
Number	Exhibit Description	Form	File No.	Exhibit	Date	Filed or Furnished  Herewith
3.1	Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated June 5, 2018	8-K	000-24429	3.1	6/7/2018
3.2	Amended and Restated Bylaws, as adopted on September 14, 2018	8-K	000-24429	3.1	9/20/2018
31.1	Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002					Filed
31.2	Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002					Filed
32.1	Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350					Furnished
32.2	Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350					Furnished
101.INS	Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.					Filed
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document					Filed
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document					Filed
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document					Filed
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document					Filed
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document					Filed
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)					Filed

Cognizant Technology Solutions 36 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q

                        

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
Date:	May 1, 2024		By:	/s/ RAVI KUMAR S
				Ravi Kumar S,
				Chief Executive Officer
				(Principal Executive Officer)

Date:	May 1, 2024	By:	/s/ JATIN DALAL
			Jatin Dalal,
			Chief Financial Officer
			(Principal Financial Officer)

Cognizant Technology Solutions 37 March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q