Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS)
Cadence makes electronic design automation tools and IP that engineers use to design integrated circuits and electronic systems.
Information Technology stock comparison
CDNS vs GEN: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Cadence Design Systems, Inc. with Gen Digital Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Information
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-05-21
CDNS vs GEN: quick comparison
| Company fact | CDNS | GEN |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Founded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| SEC industry | Services-Prepackaged Software | Services-Prepackaged Software |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | March 28 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-19 | 10-K · 2026-05-21 |
How the businesses differ
Gen Digital Inc. (GEN)
Gen Digital sells consumer cybersecurity and identity-protection software under brands including Norton, Avast, and LifeLock.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. CDNS is classified by the SEC as Services-Prepackaged Software, while GEN is classified as Services-Prepackaged Software. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
Which thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study CDNS when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Study GEN when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Shared research themes
US markets
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.CDNS's fiscal year ends December 31, while GEN's ends March 28. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for CDNSand 0 for GEN. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
CDNS primary filings
GEN primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
CDNS vs GEN FAQs
Are CDNS and GEN direct competitors?
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and Gen Digital Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Services-Prepackaged Software.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, CDNS or GEN?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this CDNS vs GEN comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Go beyond CDNS vs GEN.
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