Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Duke Energy Corp — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $328.35 (market cap $91.41B), while Duke Energy Corp trades at $123.25 (market cap $94.49B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc and Duke Energy Corp are close in size by market cap, and Duke Energy Corp pays a 3.58% dividend while Cadence Design Systems Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | DUK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $94.49B |
Sector | Technology | Utilities |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $133.46 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $113.99 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $187.00B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.58% |
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).
Duke Energy (DUK) trades at $124.85, up 0.77% in the last session, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.43, exceeding the $1.30 estimate, and maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 15.78%. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $32.24B in 2025, while analyst consensus is a Buy with a $136.17 price target. Recent news highlights equity offerings and regulatory agreements impacting capital plans.
The outlook for DUK is cautiously optimistic, supported by consistent earnings performance and dividend payments, but weighed by high debt levels and bearish technical indicators. Investment appeal lies in its stable utility model and growth in power demand, though risks include regulatory scrutiny and interest rate sensitivity. The stock offers value near current levels with upside to analyst targets.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Duke Energy is one of the largest U.S. utilities, with regulated utilities in the Carolinas, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky that deliver electricity to nearly 8 million customers. Its natural gas utilities serve more than 1.5 million customers. Duke operates in three major segments: electric utilities and infrastructure
Read more on DUK →