Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Li Auto Inc — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $327.47 (market cap $91.41B), while Li Auto Inc trades at $12.68 (market cap $12.54B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 7.3× Li Auto Inc's market cap, and Cadence Design Systems Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Li Auto Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | LI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $12.54B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $26.69 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $11.74 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $1.37B |
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).
Li Auto (LI) trades at $12.95, up 2.05% today, amid mixed technical signals with a bearish overall trend. The company reported declining revenue from $144.5B in 2024 to $112.3B in 2025, with net income dropping to $1.12B. Recent vehicle deliveries show modest growth, with 30,468 vehicles delivered in July 2026. Analyst consensus remains divided with a $14.80 price target, suggesting potential upside from current levels despite near-term challenges.
The outlook for LI is cautious with revenue contraction and profitability pressures, though the EV market in China offers long-term growth potential. Key risks include intense domestic competition and execution challenges with new vehicle launches. Investment opportunity exists if the company can stabilize margins and regain growth momentum, supported by analyst optimism for recovery from 2027 onwards.
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 →Li Auto is a leading Chinese NEV manufacturer that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart NEVs. The company started volume production of its first model Li One in November 2019. The model is a six-seater, large, premium plug-in electric SUV equipped with a range extension system and advanced smart vehicle solutions. It sold over 90,000 EVs in 2021, accounting for about 2.7% of China's passenger new energy vehicle market. Beyond Li One, the company will expand its product line, including both BEVs and PHEVs, to target a broader consumer base.
Read more on LI →