Cognizant (CTSH) Dividend Capture: 0.51% per event (2.5% annualized)
CTSH
Cognizant (CTSH) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 90% of the last 20 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 0.16), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, CTSH sits roughly in line with 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 confirmed ex-dividend date is May 18, 2026, with an expected dividend of $0.33.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 90%-5pp vs sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.16in line with sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 20 events.
- 30-day touch rate
- 90%-5pp vs sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise (div / ATR)
- 0.16in line with sector
- Avg gap on ex-date
- -0.77%-0.44pp vs sector
- Win rate at MOC exit
- 55%
- Median drawdown during hold
- -2.33%+2.36pp vs sector
- Best / worst touch (days)
- 1 / 10
Next ex-dividend
Confirmed by company declaration.
- Dividend
- $0.33
- Per-event yield
- 0.51%
- Annualized yield
- 2.47%
- Previously paid
- Feb 18, 2026 ($0.33)
- Last record date
- Feb 18, 2026
- Last payment date
- Feb 26, 2026
How CTSH ranks in Technology
Compared with other stocks in this sector that pass our capture-quality filter (48 tickers). Lower rank number is better on every metric below.
- 30-day touch rate#40of 48
Beats ~17% of peers on this metric
- Median days to touch#1of 48
Beats ~98% of peers on this metric
- Signal-to-noise#25of 48
Beats ~48% of peers on this metric
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% |
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.33
- Gap %
- -0.35%
- Pre-ex close
- $65.18
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -7.89%
- P&L 5d %
- -5.40%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -0.32%
- Pre-ex close
- $71.17
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.01%
- P&L 5d %
- +7.85%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -0.63%
- Pre-ex close
- $70.00
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.79%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.53%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -0.69%
- Pre-ex close
- $81.44
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.63%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.60%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -0.94%
- Pre-ex close
- $90.70
- High touch (td)
- >30
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- no
- Drawdown
- -9.22%
- P&L 5d %
- -6.12%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.30
- Gap %
- -1.26%
- Pre-ex close
- $76.87
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.22%
- P&L 5d %
- +5.84%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.30
- Gap %
- -0.38%
- Pre-ex close
- $75.99
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.84%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.92%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.30
- Gap %
- -0.50%
- Pre-ex close
- $70.33
- High touch (td)
- >30
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- no
- Drawdown
- -8.49%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.43%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.30
- Gap %
- -0.64%
- Pre-ex close
- $78.02
- High touch (td)
- 4
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.44%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.29%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -0.55%
- Pre-ex close
- $69.53
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.82%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.96%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -1.13%
- Pre-ex close
- $69.08
- High touch (td)
- 3
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.33%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.84%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -0.46%
- Pre-ex close
- $62.76
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.59%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.49%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -1.59%
- Pre-ex close
- $67.13
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -7.87%
- P&L 5d %
- -4.48%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -2.31%
- Pre-ex close
- $59.41
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.44%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.00%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -0.39%
- Pre-ex close
- $68.90
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -8.35%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.32%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -0.17%
- Pre-ex close
- $70.23
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.25%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.96%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -1.14%
- Pre-ex close
- $89.42
- High touch (td)
- 10
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -7.90%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.24%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.24
- Gap %
- 0.63%
- Pre-ex close
- $80.99
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -5.19%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.90%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.24
- Gap %
- -0.74%
- Pre-ex close
- $76.67
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.73%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.72%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.24
- Gap %
- -1.86%
- Pre-ex close
- $70.97
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.87%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.38%
CTSH Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
- ≤ 1 day1260%
- 2–3 days420%
- 4–5 days15%
- 6–10 days15%
- 11–30 days00%
- 30+210%
60% within 1d · 85% within 5d · 90% within 30d
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.
Holding shorter than the IRS 61-day rule disqualifies the dividend from “qualified” status — it is taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate. Adjust Tax % accordingly.
- 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 (limit-order P&L on first intraday touch), or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan and see realized P&L per event.
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% |
Looking for full price seasonality? See CTSH seasonality →
Frequently asked questions
What is the dividend capture success rate for CTSH?
Across the last 20 ex-dividend events for Cognizant (CTSH), the post-ex intraday high reached the pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 90% of cases, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day. We measure recovery via intraday high because that is when a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close would actually fill, ending the trade at break-even with the dividend pocketed.
How long does it take CTSH to recover its dividend gap?
Historically, CTSH touches its pre-ex close in a median of 1 trading day, with the best case at 1 and the worst case at 10 trading days within our 30-day measurement window. A stricter close-based recovery (mark-to-MOC) is also computed in the database; explore it with the per-ticker simulator’s “Hold N days, exit MOC” mode rather than in the event table.
Is the dividend on CTSH large enough to capture?
CTSH has a signal-to-noise ratio of 0.16 (dividend / 14-day ATR). Values above 1.0 indicate the dividend is larger than the typical daily price swing, making capture trades more viable; below 0.5 means typical daily noise can easily wipe out the gain.
When is the next ex-dividend date for CTSH?
The next ex-dividend date for Cognizant (CTSH) is May 18, 2026, confirmed (declared by the company).
How does CTSH compare to its sector for dividend capture?
Within Technology, the median 30-day pre-ex touch rate is 95%. CTSH sits at 90% — at or below the sector benchmark.
Why does CTSH dividend capture measure recovery via intraday high, not close?
A realistic capture trade exits via a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close: the moment the post-ex intraday high touches that level, the order fills and the trader pockets the dividend at break-even. Measuring recovery via close is stricter (mark-to-MOC); we expose that path in the per-ticker simulator as the "Hold N days, exit MOC" mode. The high-based primary metric directly answers the trader-facing question "would my limit have filled?" — close-based answers "would I have been flat at the bell?".
How are dividend capture trades taxed in the US?
Holding period matters. Dividends are "qualified" (taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, 0/15/20%) only when the underlying shares are held for more than 60 days during the 121-day window centered on the ex-dividend date. Dividend capture trades typically hold less than 61 days, so the dividend is taxed at your ordinary income bracket. Always consult a qualified tax advisor.
What are the main risks of a dividend capture strategy?
Three structural risks: (1) the share price may not recover the gap within your holding window; (2) ordinary-income tax can consume the after-tax yield; (3) transaction costs and bid/ask slippage can wipe out small dividends. Historical statistics measure base rates; they do not guarantee any single trade will work.