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 NVDA: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Cadence Design Systems, Inc. with NVIDIA 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
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-02-25
CDNS vs NVDA: quick comparison
| Company fact | CDNS | NVDA |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | NVIDIA Corporation |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Not recorded | Santa Clara, California |
| Founded | Not recorded | 1993 |
| SEC industry | Services-Prepackaged Software | Semiconductors & Related Devices |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | January 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-19 | 10-K · 2026-02-25 |
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
CDNS and NVDA have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Artificial intelligence research theme inside the Information Technology sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)
NVIDIA makes the graphics processors and data-center accelerators that train and run most modern AI models. Its chips have become the default hardware of the AI boom, making it a bellwether for the entire sector.
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 NVDA is classified as Semiconductors & Related Devices. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
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 NVDA 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 intelligence
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 NVDA's ends January 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for CDNSand 3 for NVDA. 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
NVDA 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 NVDA FAQs
Are CDNS and NVDA direct competitors?
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and NVIDIA Corporation sit in the same Information Technology sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, CDNS or NVDA?
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 NVDA 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 2026-08-12. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-12. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Go beyond CDNS vs NVDA.
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