Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS) AI Stock Analysis
CDNS AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchCadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS) provides electronic design automation software, hardware, and IP essential for semiconductor and integrated circuit development. For FY2025, annual revenue reached $5.30B with an operating margin of 31.1%, while trailing twelve months revenue expanded to $5.84B. The company closed at $319.51 on October 16, 2026, with analysts setting a mean price target of $406.24.
- Market cap
- $88.13B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $5.84B
- P/E
- 63.5x fwd 31.5x
- 1Y return
- -1.5% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $406.24 27.1% vs last close
Bull case
- Cadence achieved a 5-year revenue CAGR of 14.6% through FY2025, supported by steady expansion in software and verification demand.
- Free cash flow expanded to $1.59B in FY2025, providing capital to fund $925.0M in share repurchases.
- Wall Street sentiment remains constructive, with 18 Strong Buy ratings and a mean price target of $406.24, implying 27.1% upside from the recent close.
Bear case
- The stock trades at an elevated trailing P/E of 63.5x, well above the median of its Nasdaq-100 Technology peers at 42.1x.
- Cadence shares declined 1.5% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
- The company's quarterly revenue growth of 24.2% trails behind the peer median quarterly growth rate of 31.9%.
What Cadence does
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. is a global provider of solutions for integrated circuit (IC) design, offering software, hardware, and services for the semiconductor industry. The company specializes in functional verification through platforms such as JasperGold, Xcelium, Palladium, and Protium to test designs before manufacturing. It also delivers digital IC design and sign-off tools including Genus and Joules, alongside physical implementation solutions for place and route and multiple patterning preparation. Additionally, Cadence offers custom IC design, system design for printed circuit boards, pre-verified intellectual property functional blocks, and comprehensive design support services.
Growth and profitability
Cadence grew annual revenue from $2.99B in FY2021 to $5.30B in FY2025, representing a 5-year revenue CAGR of 14.6%. Annual net income increased from $696.0M in FY2021 to $1.11B in FY2025, with diluted EPS rising from $3.31 to $7.14 over the same period. Operating margin improved from 26.1% in FY2021 to 31.1% in FY2025, while gross margin stood at 86.4% in FY2025. In the trailing twelve months ending June 30, 2026, revenue reached $5.84B with a profit margin of 23.6%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue growth was 24.2% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 125.4%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Cadence held $1.44B in cash and short-term investments against $2.48B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $1.04B. The company maintained shareholders' equity of $6.86B, a current ratio of 1.74, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $1.73B and free cash flow was $1.59B. Capital allocation during FY2025 included $141.9M directed toward capital expenditures and $925.0M allocated to share buybacks, contributing to a 5-year share count change of -0.8%.
Valuation and performance
Cadence carries a market capitalization of $88.13B and an enterprise value of $86.33B. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 63.5x and a forward P/E of 31.5x, both above the median of its Nasdaq-100 Technology peers of 42.1x and 25.1x, respectively. Its price-to-sales multiple is 15.1x versus the peer median of 11.9x, and its EV/EBITDA of 37.2x exceeds the peer median of 30.6x. Over the past year, the stock returned -1.5% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500 (SPY), while its 5-year return of 105.1% outperformed the SPY 5-year return of 83.0%.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage consists of 18 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, and 2 Hold ratings, with zero Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $406.24 represents a 27.1% premium over the last close of $319.51. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $6.32B and EPS of $4.81. Cadence beat EPS expectations in 3 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is scheduled for October 26, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Total debt stands at $2.48B with net debt of $1.04B, which requires sustained cash generation to service.
- The consensus EPS estimate for the current fiscal year of $4.81 represents a decrease from the FY2025 reported EPS of $7.14.
- Trading 2.3% below its 200-day moving average and down from its 52-week high of $416.69, the stock faces near-term market momentum resistance.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this CDNS AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: CDNS income statement, CDNS balance sheet, CDNS key metrics, CDNS analyst forecast, CDNS chart. See the CDNS stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CDNS AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Cadence Design Systems' core business?
Cadence provides software, hardware, and IP solutions for designing integrated circuits and complex electronic systems. Its major platforms include JasperGold, Xcelium, Palladium, and Protium for functional verification and emulation.
Does Cadence Design Systems pay a dividend?
Cadence does not pay a regular dividend based on the provided data. The company returned capital to shareholders through $925.0M in share repurchases in FY2025.
What are analysts' price targets for CDNS?
The mean analyst price target is $406.24, which is 27.1% above the last closing price of $319.51. Among 25 analysts covering the firm, 18 rate it a Strong Buy, 5 rate it a Buy, and 2 rate it a Hold.
When does Cadence report its next quarterly earnings?
Cadence is scheduled to report its next earnings on October 26, 2026. The company has beaten EPS expectations in 3 of the last 4 quarters.