CDNS vs NVDA

For growth investors, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the stronger pick with 65.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 1% for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) offers the better valuation at 40. 1x trailing P/E (23. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS) a "Buy" — based on 31 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, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the cheapest at 40.

1x versus Cadence Design Systems, Inc. at 87. 1x. On forward P/E, NVIDIA Corporation is actually cheaper at 23. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0. 25x versus Cadence Design Systems, Inc. 's 3. 19x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1260%, compared to +178.

7% for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +224. 0% versus CDNS's +1434%. 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), Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

(CDNS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 48β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 16% more volatile than CDNS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 45% for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is pulling ahead at 65.

5% versus 14. 1% for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NVIDIA Corporation grew EPS 66. 7% year-over-year, compared to 5. 5% for Cadence Design Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVDA leads at 100. 0% 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.

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.

6% net margin versus 20. 9% for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps 55. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60. 4% versus 31. 1% for CDNS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CDNS leads at 86. 4%, 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, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 25x versus Cadence Design Systems, Inc. 's 3. 19x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) trades at 23. 7x forward P/E versus 44. 5x for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. — 20. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVDA: 41. 9% to $278. 83.

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 (+1434% 10Y return). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CDNS: +1434%, NVDA: +224. 0%), 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: CDNS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NVDA is a mega-cap high-growth 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.