How activist Mantle Ridge's presence at Cognizant can help lift the company's valuation

Company Overview - Cognizant Technology Solutions specializes in digital transformation, consulting, and outsourcing solutions, with services including AI and technology solutions, consulting, application development, systems integration, and quality engineering [1][3] - The company operates in four segments: Health Sciences, Financial Services, Products and Resources, and Communications, Media and Technology [1] Leadership Changes - In January 2023, Cognizant announced a major reorganization, replacing CEO Brian Humphries with former Infosys president Ravi Kumar and chairman Michael Patsalos-Fox with director Stephen Rohleder [5] - Humphries' leadership was characterized by a poor cultural fit and aggressive cost-cutting, leading to increased employee attrition and a decline in organic growth [4] Performance Metrics - Since the leadership change, Cognizant has achieved a total shareholder return of over 30%, surpassing peers Infosys and Accenture, which are in the low 20s [6] - Employee attrition has decreased, with 13,000 former employees returning to the company [6] - The organic growth gap with peers has narrowed from 900 basis points to just 30 basis points in Q4 2024 [6] Financial Indicators - EBIT margins have expanded from 15.1% in 2023 to 15.4% in 2024, not accounting for an additional 30 basis points of margin expansion due to a recent acquisition [6] - Cognizant's total enterprise value per employee is $119,000, significantly lower than peers, which trade at nearly double that [7] Market Perception - Despite improved performance and leadership changes, Cognizant continues to trade at a discount compared to peers, with consensus projections indicating a widening spread between Cognizant and its competitors [7] - Mantle Ridge, an activist investor, has taken a position in Cognizant, signaling potential future shareholder value without the need for aggressive actions [8]