Cadence Design Systems Inc vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $327.47 (market cap $91.41B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $273.91 (market cap $193.70B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 2.1× Cadence Design Systems Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays a 2.72% dividend while Cadence Design Systems Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $193.70B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $262.80 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $247.47B |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.72% |
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).
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $274.48, down 0.64% for the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $3.41. Revenue grew to $26.89 billion in 2025, supported by a net income margin of 31.72%. Recent news highlights the launch of the 'McDonald's NEXT' strategy focusing on automation and customer experience improvements.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $322.45, implying significant upside. Strong fundamentals and analyst buy ratings (59.68%) support growth, though risks include inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and high long-term debt of $38.42 billion. The stock offers a solid dividend yield with recent payouts of $1.86 per share.
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 →McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates fast-food restaurants in the global restaurant industry. The Company's restaurants serves a variety of value-priced menu products in countries around the world.
Read more on MCD →