Cognizant Q2 Net up 24 pc, lowers full-year revenue guidance

Cognizant today reported a healthy 24 per cent jump in net profit at USD 371.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, but the IT services major struck a cautious note as it lowered full year revenue guidance to at least 14 per cent from 16.5 per cent earlier.
In the April-June quarter of 2013 fiscal, it had posted a net profit of USD 300.4 million.
The New Jersey-headquartered firm also expanded its stock repurchase programme by USD 500 million to USD 2 billion.
Revenue for the second quarter of 2014 rose by 16.5 per cent to USD 2.52 billion from USD 2.16 billion. The results are on GAAP basis. It follows January-December fiscal.

Commenting on the lowered revenue guidance, Cognizant CEO Francisco D'Souza said: "Due to weakness at certain clients and longer than anticipated sales cycles for certain large integrated deals, we are adopting a more conservative stance for the remainder of the year and revising our 2014 revenue guidance to growth of at least 14 per cent over the prior year."
The firm said that third quarter revenue is expected to be between USD 2.55-2.58 billion, while fiscal 2014 revenue expected to be up at least 14 per cent compared to 2013.

Earlier, Cognizant had projected fiscal 2014 revenue at USD 10.3 billion, up at least 16.5 per cent compared to 2013.

D'Souza added that the firm continues to believe that it has the right strategy and portfolio of services to deliver long-term industry leading growth and also meet the ever changing demands of the market.
On share repurchase, Cognizant said: "Our Board of Directors approved an increase of the company's stock repurchase program by USD 500 million, from USD 1.5 billion to USD 2 billion and extended the term of programme to December 31, 2015."
Since the inception of the programme, the company has repurchased over USD 1.1 billion of its shares, it added.
Cognizant CFO Karen McLoughlin said: "During the second quarter, we repurchased over USD 100 million of shares under our stock repurchase programme... Reflecting our ability to generate strong cash flows, confidence in our business, and our commitment to driving shareholder value."

The firm continues to generate healthy profitability during the first half of 2014, as its non-GAAP operating margins came in higher than the targeted range of 19 to 20 per cent, she added.
"We believe this positions us well to absorb our annual wage increases in the third quarter of 2014," McLoughlin said.