Cognizant Q3 Net up 11.2%; raises 2014 revenue forecast

IT services major Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation today said its net profit has grown 11.2 per cent to USD 355.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, on the back of growth in financial services and emerging countries.
This is against a net profit of USD 319.6 million in the corresponding quarter last year, Cognizant said in a statement.
The US-based firm saw its revenues rising 12 per cent to USD 2.58 billion in the quarter under review from USD 2.3 billion in the same period last year.
Cognizant expects its revenues in the October-December 2014 quarter to be between USD 2.61 billion and USD 2.64 billion.

The firm has also revised its revenues forecast for the year to be between USD 10.13 billion and USD 10.16 billion (higher by 14.5-14.9 per cent), excluding any impact from the acquisition of TriZetto.
While announcing its first quarter results, Cognizant had forecast its 2014 revenue to be at least USD 10.3 billion, higher by 16.5 per cent from 2013. However, at the end of June quarter, it lowered its outlook to at least 14 per cent.

In fiscal 2013, Cognizant's revenue stood at USD 8.843 billion, up 20.4 per cent from 2012.
"Our overall demand environment remains strong and our results this quarter highlight that we are competing, winning and executing transformational engagements for clients in various industry segments globally," Cognizant President Gordon Coburn said.

Cognizant added about 12,300 people during the quarter.
"There is a tremendous opportunity in the marketplace as the advent of new digital technologies, global economic pressures, and an evolving regulatory environment force businesses across all industries to change and adapt faster than ever before," Cognizant Chief Executive Officer Francisco D'Souza said.
Cognizant is ideally positioned to help clients worldwide address these competitive challenges with end-to-end solutions that address their dual mandate of improved efficiency and of innovation using the latest social, mobile, analytics, cloud and sensor technologies, he added.
"Our balance sheet remains strong as cash and short term investments increased during the quarter by almost USD 500 million to USD 4.6 billion," Cognizant Chief Financial Officer Karen McLoughlin said.

Later this quarter, Cognizant anticipates utilising USD 1.7 billion of this cash, in addition to USD 1 billion of floating rate debt through a syndicated term loan, to fund the previously announced acquisition of TriZetto, McLoughlin added.