Arm Holdings plc vs Cadence Design Systems Inc — how do they compare? Arm Holdings plc trades at $302.05 (market cap $345.41B), while Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $387.15 (market cap $105.96B). The key difference: Arm Holdings plc is far larger — about 3.3× Cadence Design Systems Inc's market cap, and Cadence Design Systems Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Arm Holdings plc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ARM | CDNS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $345.41B | $105.96B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $439.46 | $416.39 |
52-Week Low | $104.55 | $265.66 |
Enterprise Value | $342.26B | $107.64B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ARM Holdings trades at $323.39, down 1.37% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong quarterly earnings beats. The company reported robust revenue growth to $4.01B in 2025, with net income of $792M, though valuation ratios like P/E of 380.46 reflect premium pricing. Recent news highlights ARM's role in AI infrastructure and data center expansion, driving investor optimism.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus favoring buy ratings (74.07%) and a $321.65 price target, but risks include high valuation sensitivity and competitive pressures in the semiconductor space. Upside potential hinges on continued AI-driven demand and execution of growth initiatives like the AGI CPU launch.
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at $384.17, down 0.46% on the day, with strong technical momentum indicated by bullish moving averages. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with consistent revenue growth from $3.6B in 2022 to $5.3B in 2025, and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Analyst sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive with 83.87% buy ratings and a $395.88 consensus price target, representing 3% upside potential.
The outlook for CDNS remains favorable given its strategic position in semiconductor design software and AI-driven demand, though elevated valuation ratios (P/E 89.55, P/S 18.99) warrant caution. Key risks include semiconductor cycle volatility and competitive pressures, but strong cash flow generation and institutional support provide stability for long-term investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Arm Holdings designs the architecture for high-performance, energy-efficient processors used in nearly all smartphones and millions of other devices. Its intellectual property powers global computing from mobile to AI.
Read more on ARM →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 →