Alcon AG vs Cadence Design Systems Inc — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $75 (market cap $35.19B), while Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $328.31 (market cap $91.41B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 2.6× Alcon AG's market cap, and Alcon AG pays a 0.49% dividend while Cadence Design Systems Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | CDNS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $35.19B | $91.41B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $90.12 | $416.39 |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $265.66 |
Enterprise Value | $39.03B | $92.62B |
Dividend Yield | 0.49% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $71.81, up 3.26% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages and ADX indicators. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.84, beating estimates, and raised its profit guidance on August 11, 2026, citing strong product launches. Revenue grew to $10.4B in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 9.42%. Valuation ratios include a P/E of 43 and P/S of 3.34, reflecting premium pricing.
Outlook is positive with analyst consensus at 54% buy ratings and a 27.8% upside target, but risks include margin pressure and high debt. The stock offers growth potential from innovation but faces competitive and macroeconomic headwinds.
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at $339.24, up 0.24% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.11 surpassing expectations. Revenue growth is robust, driven by AI demand, with 2025 revenue reaching $5.30 billion and a net income margin of 23.61%. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with 83.87% recommending Buy and a consensus price target of $415.11.
The outlook for CDNS is favorable, supported by strong AI-driven demand, record backlog of $8.1 billion as of Q2 2026 (Zacks Investment Research, 2026-07-30), and upwardly revised guidance. Risks include high valuation multiples, such as a P/E of 67.44, and potential market volatility amid semiconductor sector fluctuations. Institutional confidence remains high, with Amundi increasing its stake by 3.8% in Q1 2026 (Defense World, 2026-07-30).
Trailing returns across standard periods
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →Cadence Design Systems is a provider of electronic design automation software, intellectual property, and system design and analysis products. EDA software automates the chip design process, enhancing design accuracy, productivity, and complexity in a full-flow end-to-end solution. Cadence offers a portfolio of design IP, as well as system design and analysis products, which enable system-level analysis and verification solutions. Cadence's comprehensive portfolio is benefiting from a mutual convergence of semiconductor companies moving up-stack toward systems-like companies, and systems companies moving down-stack toward in-house chip design. The resulting expansion in EDA customers, alongside secular digitalization of various end markets, benefits EDA vendors like Cadence.
Read more on CDNS →