Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Quantumscape Corp — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $327.47 (market cap $91.41B), while Quantumscape Corp trades at $6.33 (market cap $3.81B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 24× Quantumscape Corp's market cap, and Cadence Design Systems Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Quantumscape Corp nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | QS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $3.81B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $18.44 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $4.89 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $3.02B |
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).
QuantumScape (QS) trades at $6.075, up 9.86% in the last session, with a bullish technical signal overall despite mixed moving averages and oscillators. The company reported a net loss of $435.05 million in 2025, with negative ROE and ROA, and has no revenue as it develops solid-state battery technology. Recent news highlights partnerships with Volkswagen and Honda, but the stock fell 31% in July 2026 amid commercialization delays.
The outlook remains speculative, with potential upside tied to successful battery commercialization by 2029, but high execution risks and persistent losses warrant caution. Analyst sentiment is neutral to bearish, with 73% hold ratings, reflecting uncertainty over timelines and funding needs.
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 →QuantumScape Corp is engaged in the development of next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries for use in electric vehicles. It developed anode-less cell design, which delivers high energy density while lowering material costs and simplifying manufacturing.
Read more on QS →