Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $374.19 (market cap $104.24B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $288.48 (market cap $171.17B). The key difference: Union Pacific Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Union Pacific Corporation pays a 1.91% dividend while Cadence Design Systems Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $104.24B | $171.17B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $289.13 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $214.91 |
Enterprise Value | $105.91B | $201.64B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.91% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at $377.92, down 1.63% on the day, with strong analyst support (84% buy ratings) and a $400.25 consensus price target. The stock shows bullish technical signals with support at $373 and resistance at $385. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently beaten expectations, with Q2 2026 results expected on July 27, 2026. Revenue growth remains robust, climbing from $3.6B in 2022 to $5.3B in 2025, though profit margins have moderated slightly.
CDNS presents a compelling growth story driven by AI and semiconductor design demand, with upside to analyst targets. However, high valuation multiples (P/E 88.09, P/S 18.68) pose risks if growth slows. Key near-term catalyst is Q2 earnings; sustained execution is critical to justify premium valuation amid competitive pressures.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $289.13, up 0.76% with a bullish technical signal. The company shows strong profitability with 29.2% net margins and 40.69% ROE, though valuation multiples remain elevated. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, and the proposed Norfolk Southern merger represents a significant growth catalyst. Cash flow generation remains robust at $9.29B from operations in 2025.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at Buy and $304.23 price target, though regulatory hurdles for the merger and elevated RSI levels pose near-term risks. The stock offers dividend growth potential with stable operational performance, but faces headwinds from industry consolidation concerns and potential legal liabilities from ongoing class action litigation.
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 →Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific is the largest public railroad in North America. Operating on more than 30,000 miles of track in the western two thirds of the U.S., UP generated roughly $22 billion of revenue in 2021 by hauling coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, and automotive goods. UP owns about one fourth of Mexican railroad Ferromex and derives about 10% of its revenue hauling freight to and from Mexico.
Read more on UNP →