Cadence Design Systems Inc vs SAP SE — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $328.27 (market cap $91.41B), while SAP SE trades at $209 (market cap $239.15B). The key difference: SAP SE is far larger — about 2.6× Cadence Design Systems Inc's market cap, and SAP SE pays a 1.4% dividend while Cadence Design Systems Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | SAP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $91.41B | $239.15B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $280.46 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $146.38 |
Enterprise Value | $92.62B | $237.86B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.4% |
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).
SAP trades at $206.16, up 3.36% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support at $204. The company reported Q2 2026 revenue growth driven by cloud demand but missed EPS estimates, with net income margin at 20.41% and a P/E of 26.71. Recent news highlights AI and cloud strategy advancements, though profit guidance was trimmed.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $209.67, offering modest upside. Risks include execution challenges in AI integration and competitive pressures. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with 53% buy ratings, but high RSI levels suggest potential near-term consolidation.
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 →Founded in 1972 by former IBM employees, SAP provides database technology and enterprise resource planning software to enterprises around the world. Across more than 180 countries, the company serves 440,000 customers, approximately 80% of which are small to medium-size enterprises.
Read more on SAP →