Compare Stocks › CTSH vs MS
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
CTSH
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
$61.55
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
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.
MS
- ★Gross margin of 87.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.65 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
- ★PEG ratio of 0.75 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.
Risks
CTSH
- ⚠10 insider sales totaling $2.0M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
MS
- ⚠High leverage (4.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.29 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $25.2M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →CTSH
MS
Valuation
$2.60B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
8.74%
FCF Yield
N/A
13.50
Trailing P/E
15.53
10.02
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
16.48%
ROIC
3.43%
14.85%
ROE
14.42%
33.72%
Gross Margin
87.06%
0.61
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
0.08
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-0.19
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
2.14%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
CTSH: 5Ties: 2MS: 2
CTSHMS
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →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.
MS
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
Learn more →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
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MS
$6.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$20.84B
Δ Market Cap
+$138.59B
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
> $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
Learn more →CTSH
41.7% Margin of Safety
Price is 41.7% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $61.55
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $105.62
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MS
45.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 45.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $158.55
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $290.92
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →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.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →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.
MS
32/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.
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
Learn more →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.
MS
-2.09
Possible 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
Learn more →CTSH
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 104.6%
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.
MS
Insiders 24.0%Institutions 62.7%Retail & Other 13.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,182
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
Learn more →CTSH
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $5,630
PETERSON DOUGLAS L
Director
$5,630
@ $156.39 · 2025-10-17
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →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
MS
7
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $62.45M
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.44M
@ $183.45 · 2026-01-20
YESHAYA SHARON
Chief Financial Officer
$2.94M
@ $185.77 · 2026-01-20
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.55M
@ $182.08 · 2026-01-20
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$3.69M
@ $184.55 · 2026-01-20
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$5.57M
@ $183.62 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 2025-05-02
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.12M
@ $111.65 · 2025-04-15
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.15M
@ $138.06 · 2025-01-22
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.78M
@ $136.20 · 2025-01-21
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$5.00M
@ $136.61 · 2025-01-21
AKRAM RAJA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.38M
@ $136.01 · 2025-01-21
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
GORMAN JAMES P
Officer and Director
$9.02M
@ $90.21 · 2024-04-18
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.01M
@ $90.09 · 2024-04-17
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
Learn more →CTSH
😨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.
MS
😐Neutral(48/100)
"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
Learn more →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)
MS
⚪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 (48)