Cognizant (CTSH) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 89% of the last 19 ex-dividend events, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day (limit-order recovery basis). The dividend is below the typical daily price swing (signal-to-noise 0.17), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, CTSH sits noticeably below the Technology sector benchmark of 95%. The sector median time-to-touch is 1 trading day, matching the peer pace.
Historical base rates are not predictions; transaction costs, slippage, and ordinary-income tax on short holding periods can materially reduce realized profit. The next ex-dividend date is estimated at Aug 17, 2026 (±2 days), based on the historical pattern; the company has not yet declared a dividend.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 89%-6pp vs sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.17in line with sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 19 events.
| Metric | Value | vs sector |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day touch rate | 89% | -6pp vs sector |
| Median days-to-touch | 1d | in line with sector |
| Signal-to-noise (div / ATR) | 0.17 | in line with sector |
| Avg gap on ex-date | -0.71% | -0.38pp vs sector |
| Win rate at MOC exit | 55% | — |
| Median drawdown during hold | -2.33% | +2.29pp vs sector |
| Best / worst touch (days) | 1 / 10 | — |
Next ex-dividend
Estimated from historical pattern ±2 days.
| Dividend | $0.33 |
| Per-event yield | 0.51% |
| Annualized yield | 2.49% |
| Previously paid | Feb 18, 2026 ($0.33) |
| Last record date | Feb 18, 2026 |
| Last payment date | Feb 26, 2026 |
CTSH Dividend Capture History — Last 20 Ex-Dividend Events
Per-event gap on ex-date, the pre-ex close used as the touch target, trading days to first intraday high at or above that level, plus 5/30-day touch flags, drawdown and 5-day P&L for Cognizant (CTSH). For a stricter close-at-bell exit timeline, use the simulator below (MOC mode). td = trading days from ex-date.
| Recovered 5d | Recovered 30d | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $0.33 | -0.35% | $65.18 | 1 | yes | yes | -7.89% | -5.40% | |
| Q4 | $0.31 | -0.32% | $71.17 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.01% | +7.85% | |
| Q3 | $0.31 | -0.63% | $70.00 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.79% | +3.53% | |
| Q2 | $0.31 | -0.69% | $81.44 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.63% | -0.60% | |
| Q1 | $0.31 | -0.94% | $90.70 | >30 | no | no | -9.22% | -6.12% | |
| Q4 | $0.30 | -1.26% | $76.87 | 2 | yes | yes | -2.22% | +5.84% | |
| Q3 | $0.30 | -0.38% | $75.99 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.84% | +1.92% | |
| Q2 | $0.30 | -0.50% | $70.33 | >30 | no | no | -8.49% | -2.43% | |
| Q1 | $0.30 | -0.64% | $78.02 | 4 | yes | yes | -2.44% | +2.29% | |
| Q4 | $0.29 | -0.55% | $69.53 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.82% | +2.96% | |
| Q3 | $0.29 | -1.13% | $69.08 | 3 | yes | yes | -1.33% | +1.84% | |
| Q2 | $0.29 | -0.46% | $62.76 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.59% | -0.49% | |
| Q1 | $0.29 | -1.59% | $67.13 | 1 | yes | yes | -7.87% | -4.48% | |
| Q4 | $0.27 | -2.31% | $59.41 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.44% | +3.00% | |
| Q3 | $0.27 | -0.39% | $68.90 | 1 | yes | yes | -8.35% | -2.32% | |
| Q2 | $0.27 | -0.17% | $70.23 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.25% | +3.96% | |
| Q1 | $0.27 | -1.14% | $89.42 | 10 | no | yes | -7.90% | -1.24% | |
| Q4 | $0.24 | 0.63% | $80.99 | 1 | yes | yes | -5.19% | -2.90% | |
| Q3 | $0.24 | -0.74% | $76.67 | 2 | yes | yes | -1.73% | +0.72% | |
| Q2 | $0.24 | -1.86% | $70.97 | 2 | yes | yes | -1.87% | +0.38% |
- -5.40%
- +7.85%
- +3.53%
- -0.60%
- -6.12%
- +5.84%
- +1.92%
- -2.43%
- +2.29%
- +2.96%
- +1.84%
- -0.49%
- -4.48%
- +3.00%
- -2.32%
- +3.96%
- -1.24%
- -2.90%
- +0.72%
- +0.38%
CTSH Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
First trading session whose intraday high reached the pre-ex close within the 30-day measurement window. td = trading days from ex-date.
| Touch window | Distribution | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1 day | 12 | 60% | |
| 2–3 days | 4 | 20% | |
| 4–5 days | 1 | 5% | |
| 6–10 days | 1 | 5% | |
| 11–30 days | 0 | 0% | |
| 30+ | 2 | 10% |
CTSH Dividend Capture Calculator — After-Tax Yield
Pre-filled with CTSH's next expected dividend and recent close. Adjust tax rate, holding period and slippage to estimate after-tax capture yield.
U.S. ordinary-income rate (22-37%) applies on holds shorter than 61 days. Hold longer to qualify for the 0/15/20% qualified-dividend rate.
- Gross dividend
- $66.00
- After-tax dividend
- $42.90
- Slippage round-trip
- -$13.04
- Net if price returns to pre-ex
- +$29.86
- Required recovery to break even
- 0.00%
- Per-event after-tax yield
- +0.23%
- Annual if all succeed
- ~11.5%
CTSH Dividend Capture Backtest Simulator
Replay every historical CTSH ex-dividend with two exit strategies: a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close, or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan.
Sell back at the pre-ex close on the first intraday touch within the window. If it never touches, exit at MOC after the window expires (stop-loss).
Figures are gross — before tax, commissions, and slippage. Percents are per-event return on capital at entry (pre-ex close).
Cumulative P&L (equity curve)
Vertical axis: cumulative sum of per-event % (same units as the headline cumulative). Hover dots for exact values.
Per-event P&L distribution
20 trades in this sample · bar height ∝ count in each bucket (gross % per event).
Scenario P&L by event · CTSH (20)
Scenario P&L — updates with exit mode, window, and quarter. History adds gap, touch, drawdown, and a fixed P&L 5d % (MOC). Same per-row % as that column only for MOC + 5d on the same rows. Oldest → newest, gross pre-ex close basis.
| Ex-date | P&L |
|---|---|
| +0.34% | |
| +0.31% | |
| +0.30% | |
| -1.24% | |
| +0.38% | |
| +0.39% | |
| +0.45% | |
| +0.43% | |
| +0.46% | |
| +0.42% | |
| +0.42% | |
| +0.38% | |
| -2.43% | |
| +0.39% | |
| +0.39% | |
| -6.12% | |
| +0.38% | |
| +0.44% | |
| +0.44% | |
| +0.51% |
Results are illustrative only and are not financial advice. Capture simulations use historical prices and simplified costs and tax assumptions. Actual fills, borrow fees, and market rules vary. Consult a qualified advisor before trading.