Cadence Design Systems Inc vs F5 Inc — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $328.37 (market cap $91.41B), while F5 Inc trades at $415.62 (market cap $23.22B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 3.9× 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 | $91.41B | $23.22B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $431.26 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $223.99 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $21.86B |
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).
F5 (FFIV) trades at $400.23, down 3.11% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q3 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $4.73 versus $4.00 expected, and raised its fiscal outlook, driven by 19% product revenue growth. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a net income margin of 21.95% and consistent revenue growth, though valuation ratios like a P/E of 31.89 appear elevated. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a 40% buy rating.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic given earnings momentum and raised guidance, but risks include high valuation and competitive pressures. The consensus price target of $430.43 suggests modest upside potential from current levels, contingent on sustained execution in application security and hybrid cloud demand.
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 →