v3.25.1
Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended 24 Months Ended 36 Months Ended 48 Months Ended 60 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Dec. 31, 2021
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2021
Dec. 31, 2022
Dec. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2024
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table

Pay versus performance table

 

The following table provides certain summary information concerning the relationship between executive “compensation actually paid” to our principal executive officer (“PEO”) and other NEOs and certain financial performance of the Company. The “compensation actually paid” does not necessarily reflect the value received or realized by our NEOs or how the compensation committee evaluates compensation decisions in light of Company performance. Information on the compensation realized by our NEOs can be found on pages 61 to 67. For further information concerning the Company’s pay for performance philosophy and how the Company aligns executive compensation with the Company’s performance, see “Compensation -- Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 47. The Compensation Committee did not consider the pay versus performance disclosure below in making its pay decisions for any of the years shown.

 

                                                  
   Summary Compensation
Table Total for PEO		   Compensation Actually
Paid to PEO		           Value of Initial
Fixed
$100 Investment
Based On:		        
Year  Mr. Kumar   Mr. Humphries   Mr. Kumar   Mr. Humphries   Average
Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Non-PEO NEOs		   Average
Compensation
Actually Paid to
Non-PEO NEOs		   Total
Share-
holder
Return		   Peer
Group
Total
Share-
holder
Return		   Net
Income
(GAAP)
($M)		   Revenue
(GAAP)
($M)
2024  $16,801,707    —   $14,296,554    —   $5,832,357   $5,669,163   $133.62   $299.72   $2,240   $19,736
2023  $22,563,405   $4,216,416   $23,063,570   $(11,121,997)  $4,217,441   $3,122,360   $129.16   $219.40   $2,126   $19,353
2022   —   $17,943,894    —   $(949,565)   $4,263,584   $808,056   $96.12   $139.00   $2,290   $19,428
2021   —   $19,687,285    —   $22,375,791   $5,654,584   $6,736,685   $146.84   $193.58   $2,137   $18,507
2020   —   $13,807,940    —   $21,897,726   $7,511,754   $8,998,439   $133.93   $143.89   $1,392   $16,652
                
Company Selected Measure Name Revenue                
Named Executive Officers, Footnote

Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO. Mr. Kumar served as our CEO for all of 2024. During 2023, Mr. Kumar and Brian Humphries each served for a period of time as our CEO and Mr. Humphries was our CEO for 2020, 2021 and 2022. The dollar amounts shown in these two columns represent the “SEC Total” as set forth in the Summary compensation table.

For 2024, our non-PEO NEOs are Mr. Dalal, Mr. Kim, Mr. Gummadi and Mr. Ayyar. For 2023, our non-PEO NEOs were Mr. Dalal, Jan Siegmund, Mr. Gummadi, Mr. Kim, Mr. Ayyar and Becky Schmitt. For 2022, our non-PEO NEOs were Mr. Siegmund, Mr. Gummadi, Mr. Ayyar, Mr. Kim, Greg Hyttenrauch and Ursula Morgenstern. For 2021, our non-PEO NEOs were Mr. Siegmund, Mr. Hyttenrauch, Mr. Kim and Rajesh Nambiar. For 2020, our non-PEO NEOs were Mr. Siegmund, Karen McLoughlin, Ms. Schmitt, Malcolm Frank and Matthew Friedrich. 		               
Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block]

Peer Group Total Shareholder Return. The peer group used for this column is the S&P 500 Information Technology Sector Index (S51NFT). Beginning with this year’s proxy statement, we have updated our TSR values to align with the values reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has resulted in minor changes to the peer group TSR values from those provided in prior proxy statements.

                
Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote
Compensation actually paid to Mr. Kumar  2024
Summary Compensation Table Total  $16,801,707
Less, value of Stock Awards reported in Summary Compensation Table  $(13,012,147)
Plus, year-end fair value of outstanding and unvested equity awards granted in the year  $11,250,432
Plus, fair value as of vesting date of equity awards granted and vested in the year  $1,200,949
Plus (less), year over year change in fair value of outstanding and unvested equity awards granted in prior years  $(1,991,124)
Plus (less), year over year change in fair value of equity awards granted in prior years that vested in the year  $46,737
Less, prior year-end fair value for any equity awards forfeited in the year   —
Compensation actually paid to PEO  $14,296,554
                
Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount $ 5,832,357 $ 4,217,441 $ 4,263,584 $ 5,654,584 $ 7,511,754        
Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount $ 5,669,163 3,122,360 808,056 6,736,685 8,998,439        
Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block]
Average compensation actually paid to Non-PEO NEOs  2024
Average Summary Compensation Table Total  $5,832,357
Less, average value of Stock Awards reported in Summary Compensation Table  $(4,139,743)
Plus, average year-end fair value of outstanding and unvested equity awards granted in the year  $3,710,671
Plus, average fair value as of vesting date of equity awards granted and vested in the year  $435,288
Plus (less), average year over year change in fair value of outstanding and unvested equity awards granted in prior years  $(179,022)
Plus (less), average year over year change in fair value of equity awards granted in prior years that vested in the year  $9,612
Less, average prior year-end fair value for any equity awards forfeited in the year   —
Average compensation actually paid to non-PEO NEOs  $5,669,163
                
Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block]

Relationship between compensation actually paid and performance

 

The table below reflects the relationship between the PEO and the average Other NEO compensation actually paid and the performance measures shown in the Pay versus performance table annually from 2020 to 2024. For each column below, the amount shown represents the percentage increase or percentage decrease in such item annually from 2020 to 2024; amounts for the relevant years used in such calculations are shown in the Pay versus performance table on page 84.

 

Period  Compensation
Actually Paid
to Mr. Kumar		  Compensation
Actually Paid to
Mr. Humphries		  Average
Compensation
Actually Paid
to Other
NEOs		  Company
TSR		  Peer Group
TSR 		  Net Income  Revenue
2023 to 2024  (38.0%)  —  81.6%  3.5%  36.6%  5.4%  2.0%
2022 to 2023  —  (1,071.3%)  286.4%  34.4%  57.8%  (7.2%)  (0.4%)
2021 to 2022  —  (104.2%)  (88.0%)  (34.5%)  (28.2%)  7.2%  5.0%
2020 to 2021  —  2.2%  (25.1%)  9.6%  34.5%  53.5%  11.1%
                
Tabular List [Table Text Block]

Financial performance measures

 

As required, we disclose below the most important measures used by the Company to link compensation actually paid to our NEOs for 2024 to Company performance. For further information regarding these performance metrics and their function in our executive compensation program, please see “Compensation -- Compensation discussion and analysis.” These measures are unranked.

 

• Revenue, which is utilized in our ACI and certain PSUs as Revenue adjusted for Currency Fluctuations and Acquisitions (as described on pages 53 to 57)
• Adjusted Operating Margin (as described on pages 53 and 56)
• Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share (as described on pages 54, 56 and 57)
• Relative Total Shareholder Return (as described on pages 54, 55 and 57)
                
Total Shareholder Return Amount         133.93 $ 146.84 $ 96.12 $ 129.16 $ 133.62
Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount         143.89 $ 193.58 $ 139.00 $ 219.40 $ 299.72
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent $ 2,240,000,000 $ 2,126,000,000 $ 2,290,000,000 $ 2,137,000,000 $ 1,392,000,000        
Company Selected Measure Amount 19,736,000,000 19,353,000,000 19,428,000,000 18,507,000,000 16,652,000,000        
Measure [Axis]: 1                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Measure Name Revenue                
Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block]

Cognizant Reported Revenue per US GAAP. We have presented revenue, calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, since revenue, as adjusted for currency fluctuations and acquisitions, is the most significant performance metric in the Company’s ACI and annual PSU awards granted prior to 2024 (annual PSU awards granted in 2024 and 2025 tie performance to relative constant currency revenue growth compared to a set of peer companies). In the presentation, we have not adjusted the revenue amounts for acquisitions because there are differences in acquisitions required to be adjusted for ACI and each of the applicable annual PSU awards due to the timing of the target-setting process for each of the awards. Additionally, we have not adjusted the presented revenue amounts for impacts of currency as currency adjustments are relative to the applicable base year of measurement.

                
Measure [Axis]: 2                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Measure Name Adjusted Operating Margin                
Measure [Axis]: 3                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Measure Name Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share                
Measure [Axis]: 4                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Measure Name Relative Total Shareholder Return                
Less Average Value Of Stock Awards Reported In Summary Compensation Table [Member] | Non-PEO NEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount $ (4,139,743)                
Plus Average Year End Fair Value Of Outstanding And Unvested Equity Awards Granted In The Year [Member] | Non-PEO NEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 3,710,671                
Plus Average Fair Value As Of Vesting Date Of Equity Awards Granted And Vested In The Year [Member] | Non-PEO NEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 435,288                
Plus Less Average Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Outstanding And Unvested Equity Awards Granted In Prior Years [Member] | Non-PEO NEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount (179,022)                
Plus Less Average Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Equity Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested In The Year [Member] | Non-PEO NEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 9,612                
Less Average Prior Year End Fair Value For Any Equity Awards Forfeited In The Year [Member] | Non-PEO NEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 0                
Kumar [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
PEO Total Compensation Amount 16,801,707 $ 22,563,405 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0        
PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount $ 14,296,554 $ 23,063,570 0 0 0        
PEO Name Kumar Kumar              
Kumar [Member] | Less Value Of Stock Awards Reported In Summary Compensation Table [Member] | PEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount $ (13,012,147)                
Kumar [Member] | Plus Year End Fair Value Of Outstanding And Unvested Equity Awards Granted In The Year [Member] | PEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 11,250,432                
Kumar [Member] | Plus Fair Value As Of Vesting Date Of Equity Awards Granted And Vested In The Year [Member] | PEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 1,200,949                
Kumar [Member] | Plus Less Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Outstanding And Unvested Equity Awards Granted In Prior Years [Member] | PEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount (1,991,124)                
Kumar [Member] | Plus Less Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Equity Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested In The Year [Member] | PEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 46,737                
Kumar [Member] | Less Prior Year End Fair Value For Any Equity Awards Forfeited In The Year [Member] | PEO [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
Adjustment to Compensation Amount 0                
Humphries [Member]                  
Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table]                  
PEO Total Compensation Amount 0 $ 4,216,416 17,943,894 19,687,285 13,807,940        
PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount $ 0 $ (11,121,997) $ (949,565) $ 22,375,791 $ 21,897,726        
PEO Name   Humphries Humphries Humphries Humphries