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 MSFT: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Cadence Design Systems, Inc. with Microsoft Corporation 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
- 2
- Updated
- 2026-07-29
CDNS vs MSFT: quick comparison
| Company fact | CDNS | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | Microsoft Corporation |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Not recorded | Redmond, Washington |
| Founded | Not recorded | 1975 |
| SEC industry | Services-Prepackaged Software | Services-Prepackaged Software |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | June 30 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-19 | 10-K · 2026-07-29 |
How the businesses differ
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
Microsoft sells productivity software, the Windows operating system, and the Azure cloud platform, and has become a leading distributor of generative AI through its partnership with OpenAI. Its enterprise footprint spans nearly every large organization in the world.
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 MSFT 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 MSFT 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
Artificial intelligenceUS 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 MSFT's ends June 30. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for CDNSand 7 for MSFT. 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
MSFT 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 MSFT FAQs
Are CDNS and MSFT direct competitors?
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation 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 MSFT?
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 MSFT 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 MSFT.
Yield Theory connects filings, capital flows, catalysts, and risks into an investable research process.
$15/mo or $150/yr · cancel future renewals anytime · sources included