Head-to-head · Stock vs Stock
Synopsys vs Cadence Design Systems
vs
Stock·NASDAQ
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. CDNS
$331.70
▼ 1.44%
60 / 100 AI score
SNPS vs CDNS: the verdict
How SNPS and CDNS compare today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
The verdict
CleaRank Financial AI favours
SNPS
SNPS
CDNS
68/100
AI score
60/100
+14.8%
1-year change
+0.8%
50.7%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
51.6%
50.7
RSI (14-day)
51.8
81.0x
P/E ratio
62.7x
No dividend
Dividend yield
No dividend
The verdict
Synopsys Inc. (SNPS) leads on CleaRank's model with a score of 68/100 (Buy), while Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS) scores 60/100 (Buy). The biggest difference is revenue growth. SNPS grew revenue 41.87%, which is 17.7 percentage points faster than the sector median.
Outlook
SNPS's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $442.50 and its 200-day at $441.66. CDNS's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $319.61 and its 200-day at $327.87.
Price, side by side
Both prices start at 0% on the first day of the period you pick, so the moves compare directly.
Rebased price
-15%-10%-5%0%-6%-9.8%
Nov '26
-10%0%+10%+20%+12%+1.3%
Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-30%-20%-10%0%+10%-7.4%-10%
Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-20%0%+20%+15%+0.8%
Dec '25Feb '26Apr '26Jul '26Sep '26Nov '26
-20%0%+20%+40%+60%+29%-4.4%
Oct '24Mar '25Aug '25Jan '26Jun '26Nov '26
Over 1 year: SNPS gained 14.8% and CDNS gained 0.8%, a gap of 13.9 points in SNPS's favour.
Valuation and profitability
What each costs relative to its earnings and sales, and how much of its revenue it keeps.
Side by side
Valuation
Lower multiples mean you pay less for each dollar of earnings or sales.
SNPS
CDNS
$88.1B
Market cap
$91.0B
81.0x
P/E ratio
62.7x
9.3x
Price / sales
14.8x
2.8x
Price / book
13.4x
46.6x
EV / EBITDA
42.2x
Profitability
How much of each dollar of revenue becomes profit, and how hard the capital works.
SNPS
CDNS
+41.9%
Revenue growth (quarter, y/y)
+24.2%
11.4%
Net margin
22.5%
3.7%
Return on equity
22.9%
1.4%
Return on assets
10.5%
0.35
Debt / equity
0.41
On valuation
SNPS trades on the higher trailing P/E, 81.02 against 62.70 for CDNS. Both P/Es are at a premium to peers, against a Technology median of 35.1. On sales, CDNS is valued higher, at 14.84 times against 9.33. CDNS is the larger company, worth $91.0B against $88.1B.
On profitability
CDNS turns more of its sales into profit, with a net margin of 22.51% compared with 11.43% for SNPS. Its return on equity is also higher, at 22.87% against 3.66%. Year on year, in the latest quarter, revenue grew 41.87% at SNPS and 24.23% at CDNS. Our data reports no dividend for SNPS or for CDNS.
Earnings reality check
SNPS
SNPS beat the estimate in 7 of its last 8 reports (latest Aug '26); the shares fell in the first session after 5 of those beats.
Surprise
Next session
Feb '25Sep '25Feb '26Aug '26
CDNS
CDNS beat the estimate in 7 of its last 7 reports (latest Oct '26); the shares fell in the first session after 2 of those beats.
Surprise
Next session
Feb '25Jul '25Apr '26Oct '26
Momentum and sentiment
The indicators behind each AI score, side by side.
Indicators side by side
SNPS
CDNS
68/100
AI score
60/100
50.7
RSI (14-day)
51.8
+3.9%
Price against 50-day average
+3.8%
+4.1%
Price against 200-day average
+1.2%
Technicals
SNPS is in an uptrend, trading 3.94% above its 50-day average and 4.14% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 50.7, in the neutral zone, with the MACD line positive. CDNS is in an uptrend, trading 3.78% above its 50-day average and 1.17% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 51.8, in the neutral zone. SNPS sits higher in its 52-week range, at 55% against 45% for CDNS.
Sentiment
Of the 25 analysts covering SNPS, 23 rate it buy, 2 hold and 0 sell; their median target is $600.00, 30.4% above the price. Of the 24 analysts covering CDNS, 22 rate it buy, 2 hold and 0 sell; their median target is $420.00, 26.6% above the price.
Risk and practical tips
How much each moves, how much return each has paid for that risk, and what to watch if you hold either.
Risk measures
SNPS
CDNS
50.7%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
51.6%
1.18
Beta against the S&P 500
1.10
0.14
Sharpe ratio
0.38
Risk
SNPS typically moves more in a day, 3.61% against 2.95% for CDNS. Against the S&P 500, SNPS has a beta of 1.18 and CDNS 1.10. Their worst falls in the price history were 43.0% for SNPS (July 2025 to September 2026) and 34.2% for CDNS (June 2026 to September 2026). On these measures together, SNPS is the riskier of the two.
ProTips
- For SNPS, watch the 52-week high at $539.48 above the price and the 50-day SMA at $442.50 below it.
- For CDNS, watch the 52-week high at $416.69 above the price and the 20-day EMA at $328.24 below it.
SNPS vs CDNS: long-term scenarios
Simulated paths from each price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Simulated growth of $10,000
$20K$40K$60K$80K$100K$104K$99.9K$26.2K$24.8K
202620282030203220342035
SNPS
CDNS
$5,942
Downside, 2035 (10th)
$6,888
$24,832
Base case, 2035 (median)
$26,233
$103,783
Upside, 2035 (90th)
$99,908
In the median simulated path, $10,000 in SNPS grows to about $24,800 and $10,000 in CDNS grows to about $26,200 by 2035. The paths come from each asset's own volatility and capped historical trend; they are statistical outcomes, not forecasts. SNPS and CDNS's upside columns reach an extreme multiple of the starting amount; treat them as a statistical tail, not a likely outcome.
SNPS vs CDNS: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SNPS or CDNS?+
CleaRank's model gives SNPS the higher score, 68/100, while CDNS scores 60/100. Both carry a Buy rating. The figures describe this page's data and are not a personal recommendation.
Which has performed better over the past year, SNPS or CDNS?+
Over the past year SNPS has performed better. Its price rose 14.77%, while CDNS rose 0.84%.
Which is cheaper on earnings, SNPS or CDNS?+
CDNS trades on the lower trailing P/E, 62.70 against 81.02 for SNPS.
Which is riskier, SNPS or CDNS?+
SNPS is the riskier of the two on the measures we track. Average daily move: 3.61% for SNPS, 2.95% for CDNS. Beta against the S&P 500: 1.18 for SNPS, 1.10 for CDNS. Worst fall in the price history: 43.0% for SNPS, 34.2% for CDNS.
Which has stronger momentum right now, SNPS or CDNS?+
CDNS's 14-day RSI is higher, at 51.8 against 50.7 for SNPS, and both sit in the neutral zone. Readings above 70 or below 30 are the levels that mark stretched momentum.
Which is the bigger company, SNPS or CDNS?+
CDNS is the larger company by market value, at $91.0B against $88.1B for SNPS.
What do analysts say about SNPS and CDNS?+
SNPS has 23 buy ratings out of 25, and its median target is 30.4% above the price. CDNS has 22 buy ratings out of 24, with a median target 26.6% above the price.
How would $10,000 have grown in SNPS or CDNS?+
Invested in December 2016, $10,000 would be worth $80,920 today in SNPS and $133,650 in CDNS.
Which is closer to its 52-week high, SNPS or CDNS?+
SNPS sits closer to its 52-week high. Its price is 14.74% below the high of $539.48, while CDNS is 20.40% below its high of $416.69.