Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Rockwell Automation — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $328.37 (market cap $91.41B), while Rockwell Automation trades at $446.96 (market cap $48.33B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Rockwell Automation pays a 1.27% dividend while Cadence Design Systems Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | ROK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $48.33B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $495.08 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $329.76 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $51.46B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.27% |
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).
Rockwell Automation (ROK) trades at $441.04, down 0.17% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 49.09% gross margin and 13.38% net income margin, but elevated valuation ratios like a P/E of 41.3 suggest premium pricing. Q3 2026 results exceeded expectations, driven by organic sales growth and margin expansion, prompting raised full-year guidance.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus leans bullish with a $480.25 price target (30% buy ratings), but technical weakness and high valuation pose near-term risks. Key catalysts include sustained automation demand and cost management, while inflation and competitive pressures remain headwinds for shareholder returns.
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 →Rockwell Automation is a pure-play automation competitor that is the successor entity to Rockwell International, which spun off its former Rockwell Collins avionics segment in 2001. As of fiscal 2021, the firm operates through three segments--intelligent devices, software and control, and lifecycle services. Intelligent devices contains its drives, sensors, and industrial components, software and control contains its information and network and security software, while lifecycle services contains its consulting and maintenance services as well as its Sensia JV with Schlumberger.
Read more on ROK →