Compare StocksCTSH vs MA

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)

CTSH
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
$61.55
VS
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$491.14

Rewards

CTSH
  • Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $2.22 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
MA
  • Mastercard Incorporated has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Mastercard Incorporated scores 99/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

CTSH
  • 10 insider sales totaling $2.0M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
MA
  • High leverage (2.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Insiders have sold $4.5M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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CTSH
MA
Valuation
$2.60B
Free Cash Flow
$16.27B
8.74%
FCF Yield
3.71%
13.50
Trailing P/E
29.77
10.02
Forward P/E
21.70
Quality & Moat
16.48%
ROIC
54.23%
14.85%
ROE
193.24%
33.72%
Gross Margin
100.00%
0.61
PEG Ratio
1.23
Balance Sheet Safety
0.08
Debt / Equity
2.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-0.19
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.43
2.14%
Dividend Yield
0.71%
CTSH: 7Ties: 1MA: 4
CTSHMA

Historical Fundamentals

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CTSH

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

MA

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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CTSH
$2.22
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.79B
Δ Market Cap
+$10.65B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MA
$5.62
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$31.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$177.96B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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CTSH
41.7% Margin of Safety
Price is 41.7% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $61.55
Fair Value: $105.62
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MA
12.0% Margin of Safety
Price is 12.0% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $491.14
Fair Value: $558.06
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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CTSH

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $62?

+1.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies -0.3%

The market implies +1.8% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies -0.3%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

MA

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $491?

+13.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.0%

The market implies +13.2% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +12.0%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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CTSH
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Margin Stability is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
MA
99/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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CTSH
-2.44
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MA
-2.53
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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CTSH
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 104.5%
No. of Institutional Holders1,543
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MA
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 91.1%Retail & Other 8.3%
No. of Institutional Holders4,863
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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CTSH
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MA
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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CTSH
10
Sells (3M)
27
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $7.01M
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$7,962
@ $60.78 · 2026-03-16
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$9,537
@ $63.16 · 2026-03-02
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$10,680
@ $66.75 · 2026-02-17
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$143,523
@ $83.06 · 2026-02-02
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$168,460
@ $84.23 · 2026-01-07
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$245,744
@ $81.91 · 2026-01-05
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$569,962
@ $81.42 · 2026-01-02
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$17,080
@ $84.14 · 2025-12-31
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$255,514
@ $85.17 · 2025-12-29
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$596,650
@ $85.24 · 2025-12-24
SINGISETTI RAVI KUMAR
Chief Executive Officer
$250,935
@ $85.06 · 2025-12-19
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$251,571
@ $83.86 · 2025-12-15
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$11,063
@ $84.45 · 2025-12-15
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$418,405
@ $83.68 · 2025-12-12
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$584,653
@ $83.52 · 2025-12-11
SINGISETTI RAVI KUMAR
Chief Executive Officer
$250,039
@ $80.01 · 2025-12-04
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$200,000
@ $80.00 · 2025-12-04
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$544,890
@ $77.84 · 2025-12-01
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$11,695
@ $77.45 · 2025-12-01
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$539,578
@ $77.08 · 2025-11-26
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$11,350
@ $70.94 · 2025-11-18
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$187,950
@ $75.18 · 2025-10-29
PATSALOS-FOX MICHAEL
Director
$504,823
@ $72.48 · 2025-08-28
KERDMAN ALINA
Officer
$30,897
@ $70.38 · 2025-08-19
SINGISETTI RAVI KUMAR
Chief Executive Officer
$383,675
@ $71.05 · 2025-08-04
GUMMADI SURYA KUMARI
Officer
$399,744
@ $71.38 · 2025-08-04
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$401,200
@ $80.24 · 2025-06-02
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$417,986
@ $83.60 · 2025-03-03
KIM JOHN SUNSHIN
Officer
$417,986
@ $83.60 · 2025-03-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MA
1
Sells (3M)
19
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $64.44M
LING HAI
Officer
$4.48M
@ $499.20 · 2026-02-24
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.20M
@ $591.00 · 2025-09-02
LING HAI
Officer
$2.69M
@ $600.00 · 2025-08-22
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.46M
@ $586.89 · 2025-08-19
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.83M
@ $566.46 · 2025-08-05
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$178,049
@ $570.67 · 2025-07-07
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-30
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$601,447
@ $546.77 · 2025-06-27
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$173,910
@ $561.00 · 2025-06-24
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-24
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$508,474
@ $535.80 · 2025-06-20
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.02M
@ $532.97 · 2025-06-20
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$1.76M
@ $561.78 · 2025-06-16
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$549,373
@ $572.86 · 2025-06-13
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.55M
@ $588.18 · 2025-06-12
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$8.22M
@ $585.05 · 2025-06-05
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$218,223
@ $577.31 · 2025-05-15
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$257,535
@ $572.30 · 2025-05-12
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$8.68M
@ $550.16 · 2025-03-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$3.81M
@ $534.68 · 2025-03-19
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.12M
@ $556.14 · 2025-03-05
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$9.78M
@ $553.76 · 2025-03-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.19M
@ $562.72 · 2025-02-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$6.18M
@ $564.99 · 2025-02-18
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$7.97M
@ $565.00 · 2025-02-18
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$10.17M
@ $564.95 · 2025-02-18
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.36M
@ $500.44 · 2024-11-01
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.30M
@ $491.03 · 2024-09-27
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.29M
@ $489.86 · 2024-09-20
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$550,000
@ $500.00 · 2024-09-17
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.31M
@ $493.10 · 2024-09-13
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$528,000
@ $480.00 · 2024-08-29
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.19M
@ $468.80 · 2024-08-22
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.03M
@ $467.02 · 2024-08-21
LING HAI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.16M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$6.11M
@ $455.00 · 2024-08-05
LING HAI
Officer
$1.35M
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$512,006
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.07M
@ $451.06 · 2024-06-20
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.34M
@ $446.24 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$47.72M
@ $445.98 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$49.51M
@ $442.03 · 2024-06-13
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.11M
@ $449.66 · 2024-06-12
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$50.61M
@ $447.85 · 2024-06-10
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.71M
@ $443.93 · 2024-06-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.04M
@ $447.28 · 2024-06-05
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.31M
@ $441.57 · 2024-06-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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CTSH
FearGreed
😨Fear(30/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MA
FearGreed
😐Neutral(42/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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CTSH
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (30)
MA
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (42)
View CTSH Full AnalysisView MA Full Analysis
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io