Cognizant (CTSH) Stock Buyback History
TTM buyback yield 5.51% · Shareholder yield (TTM) 5.51%.
CTSH
TTM buyback yield
5.51%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
5.51%
5Y share count change
-10.9%
TTM buyback spend
$1.61B
SBC coverage (TTM)
8.72x
YoY change in spend
+127.8%
5Y CAGR of spend
-3.2%
Peak year (2019)
$2.25B
Cumulative spend
$14.76B
TTM metrics calculated from the four most recent reported quarters, ending (reported ).
Key takeaways
- Cognizant (CTSH) repurchased about $1.61B of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is down 10.9% over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are net-shrinking the share base.
- TTM buyback ÷ stock-based-comp ratio of 8.72× — repurchases more than cover SBC dilution.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at -3.2% per year over the latest 5-year window.
- TTM repurchases used about 87% of free cash flow remaining after dividends.
Buyback context per fiscal year
Annual repurchases alongside stock-based compensation, diluted share count and the year-over-year change — useful for SBC-coverage and dilution-offset reading at a glance.
| Year | Buybacks | SBC | Net | Shares (dil.) | YoY shares | Buyback yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.38B | $181.00M | $1.20B | 0.48B | -3.0% | 3.45% |
| 2024 | $605.00M | $0.00 | $605.00M | 0.50B | -1.6% | 1.59% |
| 2023 | $1.06B | $0.00 | $1.06B | 0.51B | -2.7% | 2.82% |
| 2022 | $1.42B | $261.00M | $1.16B | 0.52B | -1.7% | 4.86% |
| 2021 | $771.00M | $246.00M | $525.00M | 0.53B | -2.4% | 1.66% |
| 2020 | $1.62B | $232.00M | $1.39B | 0.54B | -3.4% | 3.71% |
| 2019 | $2.25B | $217.00M | $2.03B | 0.56B | -4.1% | 6.62% |
| 2018 | $1.26B | $267.00M | $994.00M | 0.58B | -1.8% | 3.44% |
| 2017 | $1.89B | $221.00M | $1.67B | 0.59B | -2.5% | 4.52% |
| 2016 | $512.00M | $0.00 | $512.00M | 0.61B | -0.5% | 1.51% |
| 2015 | $460.00M | $0.00 | $460.00M | 0.61B | 0.1% | 1.26% |
| 2014 | $248.32M | $0.00 | $248.32M | 0.61B | 0.5% | 0.77% |
| 2013 | $179.00M | $0.00 | $179.00M | 0.61B | -0.3% | 0.59% |
| 2012 | $520.85M | $107.36M | $413.49M | 0.61B | -1.4% | 2.35% |
| 2011 | $374.15M | $90.23M | $283.92M | 0.62B | 0.4% | 1.92% |
| 2010 | $59.00M | $56.98M | $2.02M | 0.62B | 2.7% | 0.27% |
| 2009 | $16.26M | $13.26M | $3.00M | 0.60B | 0.7% | 0.12% |
| 2008 | $27.84M | $26.91M | $928.00K | 0.60B | -1.5% | 0.53% |
| 2007 | $105.36M | $0.00 | $105.36M | 0.61B | 0.8% | 1.08% |
| 2006 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.60B | 2.5% | — |
| 2005 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.59B | 3.0% | — |
| 2004 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.57B | 5.0% | — |
| 2003 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.54B | 6.6% | — |
| 2002 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.51B | 4.2% | — |
| 2001 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.49B | 0.6% | — |
| 2000 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.49B | 4.3% | — |
| 1999 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.47B | 2.4% | — |
| 1998 | $800.00K | $0.00 | $800.00K | 0.46B | — | — |
Cash buyback spend (USD) — annual & quarterly history
Trailing-twelve-month and per-period cash repurchases for Cognizant (CTSH) from the consolidated cash flow statement (line: common stock repurchased), in USD as filed.
Cash buyback spend over time for Cognizant (CTSH)
Per-period cash repurchases
Cash buyback spend annual + quarterly history for Cognizant (CTSH)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Buyback Spend | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.38B | +127.8% | +$773.00M | ||
| 2024 | $605.00M | -43.1% | -$459.00M | ||
| 2023 | $1.06B | -25.2% | -$358.00M | ||
| 2022 | $1.42B | +84.4% | +$651.00M | ||
| 2021 | $771.00M | -52.4% | -$850.00M | ||
| 2020 | $1.62B | -27.9% | -$626.00M | ||
| 2019 | $2.25B | +78.2% | +$986.00M | ||
| 2018 | $1.26B | -33.2% | -$628.00M | ||
| 2017 | $1.89B | +268.9% | +$1.38B | ||
| 2016 | $512.00M | +11.3% | +$52.00M | ||
| 2015 | $460.00M | +85.2% | +$211.68M | ||
| 2014 | $248.32M | +38.7% | +$69.31M | ||
| 2013 | $179.00M | -65.6% | -$341.84M | ||
| 2012 | $520.85M | +39.2% | +$146.70M | ||
| 2011 | $374.15M | +534.1% | +$315.15M | ||
| 2010 | $59.00M | +262.9% | +$42.74M | ||
| 2009 | $16.26M | -41.6% | -$11.58M | ||
| 2008 | $27.84M | -73.6% | -$77.53M | ||
| 2007 | $105.36M | — | +$105.36M | ||
| 2006 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2005 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2004 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2003 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2002 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2001 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2000 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1999 | $0 | -100.0% | -$800,000 | ||
| 1998 | $800,000 | — | — |
The 2025 reading of Cognizant (CTSH) buyback spend is $1.38B – surged 127.8% year-over-year.
Looking at the 2020–2025 (5 years) stretch, Cognizant buyback spend compounded at -3.2% per year, with a net decline across the window.
Between 2019 and 2025, Cognizant buyback spend plunged 38.7%, falling from $2.25B to $1.38B.
Across the available history, buyback spend reached its high of $2.25B in 2019 and its low of $0 in 1999.
Within Technology, Cognizant (CTSH) ranks 6th among 8 peers we track. The peer median for buyback spend is $6.01B.
Cognizant Buyback Spend 2025: $1.38B
Cognizant buyback spend in 2025 was $1.38B, surged 127.8% from 2024.
Cognizant Buyback Spend 2024: $605.00M
Cognizant buyback spend in 2024 was $605.00M, plunged 43.1% below 2023.
Cognizant Buyback Spend 2023: $1.06B
Cognizant buyback spend in 2023 was $1.06B, declined 25.2% below 2022.
Cognizant Buyback Spend 2022: $1.42B
Cognizant buyback spend in 2022 was $1.42B, surged 84.4% from 2021.
Cognizant Buyback Spend 2021: $771.00M
Cognizant buyback spend in 2021 was $771.00M.
See more financial history for Cognizant (CTSH).
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as Cognizant, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| Company | Buyback Spend | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Apple (AAPL) | $90.71B | Technology |
| NVIDIA (NVDA) | $40.09B | Technology |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | $18.42B | Technology |
| Broadcom (AVGO) | $6.31B | Technology |
| ASML (ASML) | $5.72B | Technology |
| AMD (AMD) | $1.32B | Technology |
| TSMC (TSM) | $0 | Technology |
| Micron Technology (MU) | $0 | Technology |
Share count history
Diluted weighted-average shares drive the EPS denominator and per-share capital-return maths. A falling diluted share count means buybacks are outpacing dilution from stock-based compensation and option exercises.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual)
Year-over-year change in diluted shares
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Dividend & buyback yield over time
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: 8.72×.
Capital allocation mix
How Cognizant splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks, plus the headroom on free cash flow that's still available for additional repurchases.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned)
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $1.86B (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Data & methodology
Where do buyback, dividend and compensation figures come from?
Cash buyback spend (common stock repurchased), dividends paid and stock-based compensation come from Cognizant's consolidated cash flow statements — quarterly 10-Q and annual 10-K SEC filings, in USD as reported.
How are diluted shares and yields calculated?
Diluted weighted-average share counts come from the income statement (EPS denominator). Trailing twelve-month (TTM) aggregates sum the four most recent reported quarters. Buyback and dividend yields divide TTM cash flows by market capitalisation at the latest quarter-end.
How is buyback capacity defined?
Capacity compares TTM repurchases to free cash flow after dividends: operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, minus dividends paid, versus actual buybacks over the same trailing window.
Is this investment advice?
No. Figures are for informational and educational use only. Past buybacks and dividends do not predict future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cognizant buy back its own stock?
Yes, Cognizant (CTSH) has repurchased shares in recent periods. See the history table and charts on this page for amounts and trends.
How much does Cognizant spend on share buybacks?
Trailing twelve months (TTM) buyback spend is about $1.61B (sum of the last four quarterly cash-flow periods in our data). Figures are illustrative; verify in filings.
What is Cognizant's buyback yield?
TTM buyback yield is about 5.51% (TTM buyback spend divided by market cap at the latest quarter-end in our data).
What is Cognizant's shareholder yield?
Shareholder yield combines dividend yield and buyback yield. For the latest period we show approximately 5.51% combined (TTM-based where available).
Is Cognizant diluting shareholders?
Compare stock-based compensation (SBC) to buybacks in the chart above. Net effect varies by year; see annual buyback vs SBC bars and the history table.
How has Cognizant's share count changed?
Diluted weighted average shares changed by about -10.9% over roughly five fiscal years (annual income statement data).
What is Cognizant's buyback spend?
Latest reported buyback spend for Cognizant (CTSH) is $1.61B (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has Cognizant buyback spend changed year-over-year?
Cognizant (CTSH) buyback spend changed +127.8% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of Cognizant buyback spend?
Cognizant (CTSH) buyback spend compound annual growth rate is -3.2% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did Cognizant buyback spend hit its highest annual value?
Cognizant buyback spend reached its highest annual value of $2.25B in 2019.
What was Cognizant buyback spend in 2024?
Cognizant (CTSH) buyback spend in 2024 was $605.00M.
What was Cognizant buyback spend in 2025?
Cognizant (CTSH) buyback spend in 2025 was $1.38B.
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