Operating
Deferred Revenue
Cognizant Deferred Revenue decreased by 36.1% to $76.00M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 8.6%, from $70.00M to $76.00M. Over 2 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Deferred Revenue shows an upward trend with a 70.1% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementCash Flow Statement
SectionOperating
CategoryGrowth
SignalHigher is better
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ1 2013
Last reportedQ1 2026Apr 29, 2026
How to read this metric
An increase indicates strong future demand and cash collection, while a decrease indicates the fulfillment of previously paid obligations.
Detailed definition
Represents the net change in payments received from customers for goods or services that have not yet been delivered or...
Peer comparison
Common in long-term contract businesses like LNG; peers with long-term take-or-pay contracts often show significant deferred revenue.
Metric ID:
operating_increase_decrease_in_deferred_revenueHistorical Data
18 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | -$49.00M | -$41.00M | $94.00M | $36.00M | -$44.00M | -$69.00M | $71.00M | -$91.00M | -$73.00M | $50.00M | -$64.00M | -$42.00M | $100.00M | $70.00M | -$80.00M | -$54.00M | $119.00M | $76.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | +16.3% | +329.3% | -61.7% | -222.2% | -56.8% | +202.9% | -228.2% | +19.8% | +168.5% | -228.0% | +34.4% | +338.1% | -30.0% | -214.3% | +32.5% | +320.4% | -36.1% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +10.2% | -68.3% | +97.2% | -106.8% | -5.8% | -29.6% | +29.7% | +42.5% | — | +40.0% | -25.0% | -28.6% | +19.0% | +8.6% |
Range-$91.00M – $119.00M
CAGR+10.9%
Avg YoY Growth-1.3%
Median YoY Growth+8.6%
Deferred Revenue at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Cognizant's deferred revenue?
- Cognizant (CTSH) reported deferred revenue of $76.00M in Q1 2026.
- How has Cognizant's deferred revenue changed year-over-year?
- Cognizant's deferred revenue increased by 8.6% year-over-year, from $70.00M to $76.00M.
- What is the long-term trend for Cognizant's deferred revenue?
- Over 2 years (2021 to 2025), Cognizant's deferred revenue has grown at a 70.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $19.00M to $55.00M.
- What does deferred revenue mean?
- The net change in cash received from customers for work not yet completed.