Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Dolby Laboratories, Inc. — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $328.2 (market cap $91.41B), while Dolby Laboratories, Inc. trades at $61.2 (market cap $5.82B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 15.7× Dolby Laboratories, Inc.'s market cap, and Dolby Laboratories, Inc. pays a 2.32% dividend while Cadence Design Systems Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | DLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $5.82B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $75.62 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $48.51 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $5.19B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.32% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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).
Dolby Laboratories (DLB) trades at $61.77, up 1.4% today, with a bullish technical trend and strong analyst consensus. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, including Q2 2026 EPS of $0.69 versus $0.67 expected. Revenue remains stable around $1.3 billion annually, with robust gross margins of 87.61%. Recent news highlights growth in Dolby Atmos and automotive licensing, though near-term revenue volatility persists.
DLB offers a compelling valuation with a P/E of 26.29 below the analyst target of $87.50, implying significant upside. Key risks include licensing deal timing and competitive pressures in audio-video tech. Institutional sentiment is positive, with 47% of analysts rating it a Buy, but investors should monitor execution on Q4 growth guidance.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Dolby Laboratories Inc develops audio and surround sound for cinema, broadcast, home audio systems, in-car entertainment systems, DVD players, games, televisions, and personal computers. The company generates three fourths of its revenue from licensing its technology to consumer electronics manufacturers around the world. The rest of revenue comes from equipment sales to professional producers and audio engineering services.
Read more on DLB →