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CDNS Stock Gains 25% in a Year: Stay Invested or Book Profits?
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Key Takeaways
CDNS has surged 24.6% in a year, beating sector and index gains
AI-driven demand, strong customer R&D spend, and key partnerships are driving revenue gains.
Macro weakness, fierce EDA competition and premium valuation weigh on near-term upside potential.
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS - Free Report) stock has risen 24.6% over the past year, higher than the gains registered by the Computer-Software industry (up 23.1%), the broader Computer and Technology sector (up 24.2%) and the S&P 500 composite (up 17.5%).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company has gained 4.6% since July 28, when it reported better-than-expected second-quarter performance. The stock closed last trading session at $349.12, below its 52-week high of $376.45.
Does the pullback indicate a buying opportunity? Let us dive into CDNS’ pros and cons and determine the best course of action for your portfolio.
Cadence Has Multiple Tailwinds
AI is driving a major transformation in semiconductor and system design, and Cadence is deeply integrated into this shift. Secular growth drivers such as 5G, the rise of hyperscale computing and autonomous vehicles are further fueling design activity across the semiconductor and systems landscape.
The rapid adoption of Generative AI, Agentic AI and Physical AI is creating an exponential surge in computing needs and semiconductor innovation, an environment that plays to Cadence’s strengths. To seize this momentum, the company has been working closely with industry leaders like Qualcomm and NVIDIA on next-generation AI designs for both training and inference workloads. The company is also exploring new AI-driven markets, such as life sciences, through its OpenEye drug discovery software. In addition, Cadence is strengthening collaborations with foundry partners, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Intel and Arm Holdings.
Looking ahead, Cadence is poised to benefit from rising R&D spending by customers pursuing AI-driven automation. During the latest earnings call, management emphasized that unifying its capabilities across EDA, IP, 3D-IC, PCB and system analysis is positioning the company to capture opportunities from the ongoing AI supercycle. Customer R&D investments, especially in AI, remain strong.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cadence’s ratable software model, strong backlog and high mix of recurring revenues offer resilience amid macroeconomic volatility.
Demand for the new hardware systems, especially among AI and hyperscale clients, is the primary catalyst behind Core EDA’s business (which constitutes Custom IC, Digital IC and Functional Verification businesses) performance. Core EDA revenues grew 16% year over year in the second quarter. It also unveiled Cerebrus AI Studio, which is an agentic AI multi-block and multi-user SoC design platform. It offers up to 20% PPA improvement, while speeding up chip delivery time by five to 10 times. It was endorsed by Samsung and ST Microelectronics at launch.
The IP business benefited owing to a broadening silicon solutions portfolio and increasing demand for solutions in AI, HPC, foundry ecosystem buildout and chiplet use cases, with revenues from the segment up 25% year over year in the second quarter.
To strengthen IP business, the company announced the acquisition of Secure-IC, which will expand its IP portfolio, including interface, memory, AI and DSP solutions. In April 2025, Cadence signed a definitive agreement with Arm Holdings to acquire its Artisan foundation IP business. The acquisition includes a suite of standard cell libraries, memory compilers and general-purpose I/Os, all finely tuned for advanced process nodes at leading global foundries.
Driven by strong results and a strong pipeline, management upgraded its outlook for 2025. Revenues for 2025 are now estimated to be in the range of $5.21-$5.27 billion compared with $5.15-$5.23 billion guided earlier. Non-GAAP EPS for 2025 is expected to be between $6.85 and $6.95 compared with $6.73-$6.83 guided earlier.
Strong Cash Flow and Repurchases
As of June 30, 2025, Cadence had cash and cash equivalents of $2.823 billion and long-term debt was $2.478 billion. Operating cash flow was $378 million in the reported quarter, with free cash flow of $334 million. The company repurchased its shares worth $175 million in the second quarter. It expects to execute $200 million in repurchases in the third quarter. Management reaffirmed its commitment to return at least 50% of free cash flow via buybacks, enhancing shareholder returns.
Headwinds Remain a Concern for CDNS
Weakness prevailing over global macroeconomic conditions and substantial exposure to the semiconductor vertical are concerning. Any reduction in R&D spending for companies within the semiconductor sector could affect CDNS' top-line performance.
Higher operating costs and stiff competition in the EDA/AI space from the likes of Keysight Technologies and Synopsys (SNPS - Free Report) are additional headwinds. The acquisition of ANSYS by Synopsys is likely to intensify competition in the EDA space for all players. SNPS completed the acquisition of ANSS in July 2025, creating a combined leader in silicon design, IP, and simulation and analysis.
The company generates a significant portion of its revenues from the international market. Revenues from international operations as a percentage of overall revenues have historically exceeded 50%. In 2024, the company derived 47% of revenues from the United States, while the balance came from its international operations. Hence, we expect any adverse foreign currency exchange rates to impede revenue growth.
Cadence stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 46.83X compared with the industry’s 35.12X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Conclusion: Hold CDNS Stock for Now
Cadence, with its strong fundamentals, robust AI-driven demand and a resilient recurring revenue model, remains a compelling opportunity. The company’s prominent position in the EDA space and strategic partnerships with tech giants like NVIDIA and Qualcomm position it well for long-term growth. However, macro uncertainty, intense competition and stretched valuation remain valid concerns.
At present, CDNS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
For investors already holding shares, the story remains compelling, but for new entrants, it may be wise to wait for a better entry point.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for INTU’s fiscal 2025 earnings is pegged at $20.06, unchanged in the past seven days. Intuit’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 12.15%. Its shares have risen 9% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MSFT’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $15.32, unchanged in the past seven days. Microsoft’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 7.02%. The company’s long-term earnings growth rate is 14.9%. Its shares have advanced 23.6% in the past year.
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CDNS Stock Gains 25% in a Year: Stay Invested or Book Profits?
Key Takeaways
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS - Free Report) stock has risen 24.6% over the past year, higher than the gains registered by the Computer-Software industry (up 23.1%), the broader Computer and Technology sector (up 24.2%) and the S&P 500 composite (up 17.5%).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company has gained 4.6% since July 28, when it reported better-than-expected second-quarter performance. The stock closed last trading session at $349.12, below its 52-week high of $376.45.
Does the pullback indicate a buying opportunity? Let us dive into CDNS’ pros and cons and determine the best course of action for your portfolio.
Cadence Has Multiple Tailwinds
AI is driving a major transformation in semiconductor and system design, and Cadence is deeply integrated into this shift. Secular growth drivers such as 5G, the rise of hyperscale computing and autonomous vehicles are further fueling design activity across the semiconductor and systems landscape.
The rapid adoption of Generative AI, Agentic AI and Physical AI is creating an exponential surge in computing needs and semiconductor innovation, an environment that plays to Cadence’s strengths. To seize this momentum, the company has been working closely with industry leaders like Qualcomm and NVIDIA on next-generation AI designs for both training and inference workloads. The company is also exploring new AI-driven markets, such as life sciences, through its OpenEye drug discovery software. In addition, Cadence is strengthening collaborations with foundry partners, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Intel and Arm Holdings.
Looking ahead, Cadence is poised to benefit from rising R&D spending by customers pursuing AI-driven automation. During the latest earnings call, management emphasized that unifying its capabilities across EDA, IP, 3D-IC, PCB and system analysis is positioning the company to capture opportunities from the ongoing AI supercycle. Customer R&D investments, especially in AI, remain strong.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Quote
Cadence’s ratable software model, strong backlog and high mix of recurring revenues offer resilience amid macroeconomic volatility.
Demand for the new hardware systems, especially among AI and hyperscale clients, is the primary catalyst behind Core EDA’s business (which constitutes Custom IC, Digital IC and Functional Verification businesses) performance. Core EDA revenues grew 16% year over year in the second quarter. It also unveiled Cerebrus AI Studio, which is an agentic AI multi-block and multi-user SoC design platform. It offers up to 20% PPA improvement, while speeding up chip delivery time by five to 10 times. It was endorsed by Samsung and ST Microelectronics at launch.
The IP business benefited owing to a broadening silicon solutions portfolio and increasing demand for solutions in AI, HPC, foundry ecosystem buildout and chiplet use cases, with revenues from the segment up 25% year over year in the second quarter.
To strengthen IP business, the company announced the acquisition of Secure-IC, which will expand its IP portfolio, including interface, memory, AI and DSP solutions. In April 2025, Cadence signed a definitive agreement with Arm Holdings to acquire its Artisan foundation IP business. The acquisition includes a suite of standard cell libraries, memory compilers and general-purpose I/Os, all finely tuned for advanced process nodes at leading global foundries.
Driven by strong results and a strong pipeline, management upgraded its outlook for 2025. Revenues for 2025 are now estimated to be in the range of $5.21-$5.27 billion compared with $5.15-$5.23 billion guided earlier. Non-GAAP EPS for 2025 is expected to be between $6.85 and $6.95 compared with $6.73-$6.83 guided earlier.
Strong Cash Flow and Repurchases
As of June 30, 2025, Cadence had cash and cash equivalents of $2.823 billion and long-term debt was $2.478 billion. Operating cash flow was $378 million in the reported quarter, with free cash flow of $334 million. The company repurchased its shares worth $175 million in the second quarter. It expects to execute $200 million in repurchases in the third quarter. Management reaffirmed its commitment to return at least 50% of free cash flow via buybacks, enhancing shareholder returns.
Headwinds Remain a Concern for CDNS
Weakness prevailing over global macroeconomic conditions and substantial exposure to the semiconductor vertical are concerning. Any reduction in R&D spending for companies within the semiconductor sector could affect CDNS' top-line performance.
Higher operating costs and stiff competition in the EDA/AI space from the likes of Keysight Technologies and Synopsys (SNPS - Free Report) are additional headwinds. The acquisition of ANSYS by Synopsys is likely to intensify competition in the EDA space for all players. SNPS completed the acquisition of ANSS in July 2025, creating a combined leader in silicon design, IP, and simulation and analysis.
The company generates a significant portion of its revenues from the international market. Revenues from international operations as a percentage of overall revenues have historically exceeded 50%. In 2024, the company derived 47% of revenues from the United States, while the balance came from its international operations. Hence, we expect any adverse foreign currency exchange rates to impede revenue growth.
Cadence stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 46.83X compared with the industry’s 35.12X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Conclusion: Hold CDNS Stock for Now
Cadence, with its strong fundamentals, robust AI-driven demand and a resilient recurring revenue model, remains a compelling opportunity. The company’s prominent position in the EDA space and strategic partnerships with tech giants like NVIDIA and Qualcomm position it well for long-term growth. However, macro uncertainty, intense competition and stretched valuation remain valid concerns.
At present, CDNS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
For investors already holding shares, the story remains compelling, but for new entrants, it may be wise to wait for a better entry point.
Stocks to Consider
Better-ranked stocks worth consideration in the same industry space are Intuit Inc. (INTU - Free Report) and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for INTU’s fiscal 2025 earnings is pegged at $20.06, unchanged in the past seven days. Intuit’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 12.15%. Its shares have risen 9% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MSFT’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $15.32, unchanged in the past seven days. Microsoft’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 7.02%. The company’s long-term earnings growth rate is 14.9%. Its shares have advanced 23.6% in the past year.