Advisory Resource Group Has $4.87 Million Position in Cognizant Technology Solutions Co. (NASDAQ:CTSH)

Advisory Resource Group increased its stake in shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions Co. (NASDAQ:CTSH) by 4.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 63,309 shares of the information technology service provider’s stock after buying an additional 2,698 shares during the quarter. Cognizant Technology Solutions comprises approximately 1.0% of Advisory Resource Group’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Advisory Resource Group’s holdings in Cognizant Technology Solutions were worth $4,868,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in CTSH. Atomi Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Cognizant Technology Solutions during the third quarter worth approximately $264,000. Brookstone Capital Management grew its position in Cognizant Technology Solutions by 26.3% during the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 4,576 shares of the information technology service provider’s stock worth $353,000 after buying an additional 952 shares in the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Cognizant Technology Solutions during the third quarter worth approximately $204,000. Wedmont Private Capital grew its position in Cognizant Technology Solutions by 60.5% during the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 4,731 shares of the information technology service provider’s stock worth $360,000 after buying an additional 1,783 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. grew its position in Cognizant Technology Solutions by 47.4% during the third quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 454 shares of the information technology service provider’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.44% of the company’s stock.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ:CTSH opened at $86.20 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $42.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. Cognizant Technology Solutions Co. has a 12-month low of $63.79 and a 12-month high of $87.61. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $79.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $77.59.

Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:CTSH) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The information technology service provider reported $1.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.12 by $0.09. Cognizant Technology Solutions had a return on equity of 16.78% and a net margin of 11.35%. Analysts predict that Cognizant Technology Solutions Co. will post 4.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.31 per share. This is an increase from Cognizant Technology Solutions’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. Cognizant Technology Solutions’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.61%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Cognizant Technology Solutions news, CAO John Sunshin Kim sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.11, for a total transaction of $400,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 39,022 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,126,052.42. This trade represents a 11.36 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CTSH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen upped their target price on Cognizant Technology Solutions from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions in a research note on Thursday. Mizuho upped their target price on Cognizant Technology Solutions from $83.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Cognizant Technology Solutions from $88.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Barclays upgraded Cognizant Technology Solutions from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $80.00 to $95.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $83.22.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Company Profile

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