Dan Chung, chief executive of Fred Alger Management, contends that Cognizant (CTSH), a technology outsourcing outfit, is the best in its class, with the biggest growth opportunity. Software-application development, integration and maintenance are its primary services to corporate clients, while it pushes into the outsourcing of business processes, such as claims and payroll; the New Jersey-based offshorer also has offices in Europe and Asia, including India. Chung says American employee costs are two-thirds higher than the cost-per-employee in India. While politically unpopular as U.S. unemployment rises, outsourcing certain jobs overseas reduces overhead and saves money: major corporate priorities right now. The stock has been halved since late last year, trading last week near 17. Cognizant's exposure to financial companies is the main worry. But solid financial concerns, such as Met Life and Credit Suisse, remain clients. Chung thinks revenues and profits can grow 20% in 2009, pushing the shares back to the 27 to 35 range. Price also owns Cognizant because he likes anything that "saves people money."

Information-technology outsourcer Cognizant's shares are a bargain at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19. The upside could be more than 60% as the economy recovers.

modest future growth

good chart

.Upuaz jan 08 32.5 c

50

Solid fundamentals

Solid fundamentals

Great Indian Software Services Company listed in NAsdaq

TECH

growth

overextended

IT WAS RIDING HIGH WHEN i BOUGHT IT

I cannot tell why this company has any advantage over Infosys, Tata, Wipro, IBM or the hundreds of other outsourcers

pricey