ADSK vs PTC vs CDNS

For growth investors, PTC Inc.

(PTC) is the stronger pick with 19. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 5% for Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK). PTC Inc. (PTC) offers the better valuation at 22. 5x trailing P/E (17. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK) a "Buy" — based on 51 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, PTC Inc.

(PTC) is the cheapest at 22. 5x versus Cadence Design Systems, Inc. at 87. 4x. On forward P/E, PTC Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PTC Inc. wins at 0. 44x versus Cadence Design Systems, Inc. 's 3. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

(CDNS) delivered a total return of +179. 7%, compared to -14. 5% for Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CDNS returned +1420% versus PTC's +284. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Autodesk, Inc.

(ADSK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 85β versus Cadence Design Systems, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning CDNS is approximately 74% more volatile than ADSK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PTC Inc. (PTC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 90% for Autodesk, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PTC Inc.

(PTC) is pulling ahead at 19. 2% versus 10. 5% for Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PTC Inc. grew EPS 94. 9% year-over-year, compared to 2. 1% for Autodesk, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CDNS leads at 14. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

PTC Inc.

(PTC) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 8% net margin versus 16. 6% for Autodesk, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PTC leads at 35. 9% versus 23. 3% for ADSK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADSK leads at 96. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, PTC Inc. (PTC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 44x versus Cadence Design Systems, Inc. 's 3. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, PTC Inc. (PTC) trades at 17. 8x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. — 26. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PTC: 42. 4% to $194. 80.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

(CDNS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1420% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CDNS: +1420%, PTC: +284. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ADSK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PTC is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CDNS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.