Cadence Design Systems Inc vs F5 Inc — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $370.68 (market cap $104.24B), while F5 Inc trades at $417.28 (market cap $24.33B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 4.3× F5 Inc's market cap, and F5 Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Cadence Design Systems Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | FFIV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $104.24B | $24.33B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $431.26 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $223.99 |
Enterprise Value | $105.91B | $23.15B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at $377.92, down 1.63% on the day, with strong analyst support (84% buy ratings) and a $400.25 consensus price target. The stock shows bullish technical signals with support at $373 and resistance at $385. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently beaten expectations, with Q2 2026 results expected on July 27, 2026. Revenue growth remains robust, climbing from $3.6B in 2022 to $5.3B in 2025, though profit margins have moderated slightly.
CDNS presents a compelling growth story driven by AI and semiconductor design demand, with upside to analyst targets. However, high valuation multiples (P/E 88.09, P/S 18.68) pose risks if growth slows. Key near-term catalyst is Q2 earnings; sustained execution is critical to justify premium valuation amid competitive pressures.
F5 Networks (FFIV) trades at $420.95, down 2.19% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong fundamental performance. The company has beaten earnings expectations for three consecutive quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $3.90 exceeding the $3.46 estimate. Revenue growth accelerated to $3.09 billion in 2025, while net income margins expanded to 22.42%. Recent strategic moves include expanding AI security capabilities through the SurePath AI acquisition and new executive appointments.
FFIV presents a mixed outlook with strong operational execution offset by premium valuations. The stock trades above analyst consensus target of $397, though institutional sentiment remains positive with 40% buy ratings. Key risks include competitive pressures in cybersecurity and execution challenges in AI integration. Earnings growth and margin expansion remain the primary catalysts for further upside potential.
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 →F5 is a market leader in the application delivery controller market. The company sells products for networking traffic, security, and policy management. Its products ensure applications are safely routed in efficient manners within on-premises data centers and across cloud environments. More than half of its revenue is based on providing services, and its three customer verticals are enterprises, service providers, and government entities. The Seattle-based firm was incorporated in 1996 and generates sales globally.
Read more on FFIV →