Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Illumina, Inc. — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $328.37 (market cap $91.41B), while Illumina, Inc. trades at $193.06 (market cap $28.96B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 3.2× Illumina, Inc.'s market cap, and Illumina, 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 | ILMN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $28.96B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $205.10 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $91.00 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $30.32B |
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).
Illumina (ILMN) trades at $187.96, down 2.97% on the day, but maintains strong fundamental momentum with three consecutive quarterly earnings beats. The stock shows robust profitability with 66.38% gross margins and 18.34% net income margins, though technical indicators suggest near-term bearish pressure. Recent institutional buying activity and positive analyst coverage (51% buy ratings) support the stock's long-term growth narrative in the genomics sector.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $201.58 representing 7% upside potential. Key catalysts include continued NovaSeq X adoption and AI partnerships, while risks involve competitive pressures and execution challenges in achieving projected revenue growth. The company's turnaround from net losses to $850M profit in 2025 demonstrates improved operational efficiency.
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 →Illumina provides tools and services to analyze genetic material with life science and clinical lab applications. The company generates over 90% of its revenue from sequencing instruments, consumables, and services. Illumina's high-throughput technology enables whole genome sequencing in humans and other large organisms. Its lower throughput tools enable applications that require smaller data outputs, such as viral and cancer tumor screening. Illumina also sells microarrays (less than 10% of sales) that enable lower-cost, focused genetic screening with primarily consumer and agricultural applications.
Read more on ILMN →