CTSH vs ACN

For growth investors, Accenture plc (ACN) is the stronger pick with 7.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 0% for Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH). Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E (9. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Accenture plc (ACN) a "Buy" — based on 53 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) is the cheapest at 11.

4x versus Accenture plc at 14. 8x. On forward P/E, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation wins at 0. 75x versus Accenture plc's 1. 44x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) delivered a total return of -22.

9%, compared to -29. 5% for Accenture plc (ACN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACN returned +89. 9% versus CTSH's +0. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

75β versus Accenture plc's 0. 85β — meaning ACN is approximately 13% more volatile than CTSH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 25% for Accenture plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Accenture plc (ACN) is pulling ahead at 7.

4% versus 7. 0% for Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Accenture plc grew EPS 6. 2% year-over-year, compared to 0. 9% for Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACN leads at 4. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Accenture plc (ACN) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

0% net margin versus 10. 6% for Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTSH leads at 16. 7% versus 14. 7% for ACN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTSH leads at 33. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 75x versus Accenture plc's 1. 44x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) trades at 9. 1x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Accenture plc — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACN: 66. 4% to $299. 92.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Accenture plc (ACN) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 2. 4% for Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

75), 2. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTSH: +0. 0%, ACN: +89. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.