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CDNS or PDFS or SNPS
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. PDF Solutions (PDFS) vs. Synopsys (SNPS) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Cadence Design Systems (CDNS), PDF Solutions (PDFS), and Synopsys (SNPS) operate in the electronic design automation (EDA) sector, supplying software tools critical for semiconductor and chip development amid ongoing AI-driven demand.
- Recent market activity shows all three stocks posting gains, with CDNS and SNPS delivering strong single-day advances of over 4% in late May 2026 while PDFS demonstrated outsized year-to-date returns exceeding 55%.
- CDNS reported Q1 2026 revenue of $1.47 billion (up 18.7% year-over-year) and raised full-year growth guidance to 17%, reflecting robust backlog and AI-related momentum.
- PDFS posted Q1 2026 revenue of $60.1 million (up 26% year-over-year), reaffirmed 20% annual growth targets, and completed a public stock offering in May amid elevated volatility.
- SNPS delivered Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue of $2.409 billion at the high end of guidance, maintains a large-scale Ansys integration, and faces upcoming Q2 earnings on May 27, 2026.
- Valuation sensitivity remains elevated across the group due to premium price-to-earnings multiples, with contrasts in scale, profitability margins, and integration risks shaping relative positioning.
Introduction
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS), PDF Solutions (PDFS), and Synopsys (SNPS) represent leading providers of electronic design automation software and related services essential to the semiconductor industry. These stocks attract attention from institutional investors, growth-oriented traders, and sector specialists monitoring AI infrastructure buildout, supply-chain dynamics, and technology capital expenditure cycles. The comparison highlights differences in business scale, recent financial execution, and market positioning within a high-growth but valuation-sensitive environment.
CDNS Overview and Recent Performance
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) develops electronic design automation (EDA) software, intellectual property, and system analysis tools used in chip design. In recent weeks, the stock has benefited from positive analyst commentary and price target increases, including upgrades from firms such as Citi. Following its Q1 2026 earnings release, which showed revenue of $1.47 billion (up 18.7% year-over-year) and raised full-year revenue growth guidance to 17%, CDNS shares exhibited notable upward movement and approached new 52-week highs. Sentiment has been supported by strong demand visibility in AI-related design segments and recurring revenue characteristics, though the stock has also experienced typical post-earnings volatility.
PDFS Overview and Recent Performance
PDF Solutions (PDFS) provides data analytics software and services focused on yield improvement and process optimization for semiconductor manufacturers. Recent market activity reflects continued strength in year-to-date performance, with shares advancing more than 55% from the start of 2026. The company reported Q1 2026 revenue of $60.1 million (up 26% year-over-year), maintained its 20% annual revenue growth outlook, and completed an upsized public stock offering in mid-May. Performance has been influenced by operational execution and backlog expansion, offset at times by share-price pressure associated with the equity raise and broader market rotation.
SNPS Overview and Recent Performance
Synopsys (SNPS) supplies electronic design automation (EDA) software, intellectual property, and simulation tools, with significant exposure through its ongoing Ansys integration. In recent weeks, the stock has traded in a range influenced by positioning ahead of its Q2 2026 earnings release scheduled for May 27. Q1 fiscal 2026 results showed revenue of $2.409 billion at the upper end of prior guidance, accompanied by a $2 billion share repurchase authorization expansion. Sentiment remains tied to AI chip design tailwinds and integration progress, while analyst price targets have seen selective upward revisions amid the company’s larger revenue base.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The three companies share exposure to the electronic design automation (EDA) sector and benefit from semiconductor capital spending linked to artificial intelligence. Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Synopsys (SNPS) operate at larger scale with substantial recurring subscription revenue, while PDF Solutions (PDFS) focuses on specialized yield-management analytics. Recent momentum has favored CDNS and SNPS in single-session gains, whereas PDFS leads in year-to-date returns. Risk factors differ: SNPS carries integration complexity from the Ansys transaction and higher debt levels; CDNS maintains a comparatively debt-light balance sheet and stronger reported profit margins; PDFS has faced short-term dilution from its equity offering. Valuation multiples remain elevated across the group, reflecting growth expectations, with contrasts in market capitalization, earnings stability, and sensitivity to broader technology spending trends shaping investor trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including recent trend consistency, earnings execution, and relative stability in margins, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modestly higher probability of favorable near-term positioning to Cadence Design Systems (CDNS). The stock’s combination of raised guidance, analyst support, and balance-sheet characteristics provides a constructive profile within the peer group, though outcomes remain subject to broader market conditions and upcoming sector data points.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CDNS’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whilePDFS’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s), and SNPS’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- CDNS’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- PDFS’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- SNPS’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CDNS’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PDFS’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and SNPS’s TA Score reflects 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CDNS’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- PDFS’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- SNPS’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
CDNS (@Packaged Software) experienced а +1.16% price change this week, while PDFS (@Packaged Software) price change was +6.02% , and SNPS (@Computer Communications) price fluctuated -3.63% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Packaged Software industry was -2.61%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.86%, and the average quarterly price growth was +6.66%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Communications industry was +2.87%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.30%, and the average quarterly price growth was +29.32%.
Reported Earning Dates
CDNS is expected to report earnings on Jul 27, 2026.
PDFS is expected to report earnings on Aug 06, 2026.
SNPS is expected to report earnings on Aug 19, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Packaged Software (-2.61% weekly)Packaged software comprises multiple software programs bundled together and sold as a group. For example, Microsoft Office includes multiple applications such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. In some cases, buying a bundled product is cheaper than purchasing each item individually[s20] . Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corp. and Adobe are some major American packaged software makers.
@Computer Communications (+2.87% weekly)Computer communications industry develops technology that allows computing devices to exchange data with each other using connections/data links between nodes. Common types of computer network include Cloud (IAN), Internet, Wide (WAN, Local (LAN)/Wireless(WLAN) etc. The industry is an ever-more important part of technology, and is set to become even bigger as the Internet of Things (IoT) rapidly forays into the various aspects of our lives. Cisco Systems, Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Arista Networks, Inc., Fortinet, Inc. are some of the major computer communications companies.
| CDNS | PDFS | SNPS | |
| Capitalization | 107B | 2.56B | 88.4B |
| EBITDA | 1.98B | 30M | 2.91B |
| Gain YTD | 24.640 | 114.055 | -1.699 |
| P/E Ratio | 90.82 | 339.28 | 105.66 |
| Revenue | 5.53B | 231M | 8.68B |
| Total Cash | 1.41B | 31.2M | 2.48B |
| Total Debt | 3.08B | 72M | 10.8B |
CDNS | PDFS | SNPS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 79 | 19 | 60 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 89 Overvalued | 94 Overvalued | 69 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 35 | 56 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 45 | 90 | 89 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 12 | 35 | 60 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 93 | 12 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 85 | 85 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
SNPS's Valuation (69) in the Packaged Software industry is in the same range as CDNS (89) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as PDFS (94) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that SNPS's stock grew similarly to CDNS’s and similarly to PDFS’s over the last 12 months.
CDNS's Profit vs Risk Rating (17) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as PDFS (35) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for SNPS (56) in the Packaged Software industry. This means that CDNS's stock grew similarly to PDFS’s and somewhat faster than SNPS’s over the last 12 months.
CDNS's SMR Rating (45) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for SNPS (89) in the Packaged Software industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for PDFS (90) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that CDNS's stock grew somewhat faster than SNPS’s and somewhat faster than PDFS’s over the last 12 months.
CDNS's Price Growth Rating (12) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as PDFS (35) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for SNPS (60) in the Packaged Software industry. This means that CDNS's stock grew similarly to PDFS’s and somewhat faster than SNPS’s over the last 12 months.
SNPS's P/E Growth Rating (12) in the Packaged Software industry is in the same range as CDNS (35) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for PDFS (93) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that SNPS's stock grew similarly to CDNS’s and significantly faster than PDFS’s over the last 12 months.
| CDNS | PDFS | SNPS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 83% | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 85% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 83% | 2 days ago 67% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 57% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 61% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 58% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 74% | 16 days ago 75% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 62% | about 1 month ago 69% | 6 days ago 58% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 75% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 61% |
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SNPS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SNPS has been closely correlated with CDNS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 88% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SNPS jumps, then CDNS could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SNPS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNPS | 100% | +2.98% | ||
| CDNS - SNPS | 88% Closely correlated | +0.45% | ||
| PDFS - SNPS | 66% Closely correlated | -0.70% | ||
| ROP - SNPS | 57% Loosely correlated | -2.17% | ||
| BSY - SNPS | 55% Loosely correlated | -2.78% | ||
| CLSK - SNPS | 55% Loosely correlated | -2.78% | ||
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