Cadence Design Systems Inc vs CarMax, Inc — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $376.46 (market cap $104.24B), while CarMax, Inc trades at $55.8 (market cap $7.91B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 13.2× CarMax, Inc's market cap. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | KMX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $104.24B | $7.91B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $63.53 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $30.88 |
Enterprise Value | $105.91B | $26.42B |
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.
CarMax (KMX) trades at $54.87, up 2.58% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a neutral oscillator stance. The company reported Q1 2026 earnings that beat expectations, with EPS of $0.34 versus $0.23 expected, driven by cost controls and strategic execution. Revenue for 2025 was $26.35 billion, with net income of $500.56 million, though margins remain thin. Recent news highlights a four-pillar turnaround strategy under new CEO Keith Barr, with insider buying and positive analyst updates supporting sentiment.
The outlook for KMX hinges on successful execution of its growth strategy amid competitive pressures and margin challenges. While technical indicators suggest near-term strength, fundamental risks include high debt levels and fluctuating profitability. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, but the stock offers potential for recovery if operational improvements sustain. Investors should weigh the bullish technical setup against fundamental headwinds and ongoing investigations.
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 →CarMax sells, finances, and services used and new cars through a chain of over 230 used retail stores. It was formed in 1993 as a unit of Circuit City and spun off into an independent company in late 2002. Used-vehicle sales typically account for about 83% of revenue and wholesale about 13%, with the remaining portion composed of extended service plans and repair. In fiscal 2022, the company retailed and wholesaled 924,338 and 706,212 used vehicles, respectively. CarMax is the largest used-vehicle retailer in the U.S. but still estimates that it has only about 4% U.S. market share of vehicles 0-10 years old in 2021. It seeks over 5% share by the end of calendar 2025 and revenue between $33 billion to $45 billion by fiscal 2026. CarMax is based in Richmond, Virginia.
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