Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs ServiceNow (NOW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) has outperformed ServiceNow (NOW) over the past year, gaining 3.1% versus a loss of 23.8%. Over five years, CDNS leads with a +128.6% price change compared with +3.9% for NOW. ServiceNow is the larger company by market cap ($142.54 billion vs $98.07 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, ServiceNow trades at a lower forward P/E (27.5x vs 37.2x for Cadence Design Systems). Cadence Design Systems converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 20.9% versus 13.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CDNS | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $356.12 | $137.87 |
| Market cap | $98.07B | $142.54B |
| 1-day change | -0.95% | -0.07% |
| YTD return | +13.93% | -10.00% |
| 1-year return | +3.08% | -23.76% |
| 5-year return | +128.60% | +3.95% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 71.51 | 86.17 |
| Forward P/E | 37.22 | 27.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.98 | $1.60 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.30B | $13.28B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +14.12% | +20.88% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.11B | $1.75B |
| Gross margin | — | 77.53% |
| Operating margin | 28.17% | 13.74% |
| Net margin | 20.94% | 13.16% |
| 52-week high | $416.69 | $192.97 |
| 52-week low | $262.75 | $81.24 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.54% | -28.55% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.07% | +6.43% |
| Average volume | 2.39M | 17.92M |
| Shares outstanding | 275.39M | 1.03B |
| Employees | 15,445 | 29,187 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Software - Application | Computer Software: Prepackaged Software |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CDNS has outperformed NOW by 26.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Cadence Design Systems is more profitable, keeping 20.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 13.2 cents for ServiceNow.
- ServiceNow grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+20.88% vs +14.12%).
About Cadence Design Systems
CDNS stock →Cadence Design Systems, Inc. develops computational, AI-driven software, hardware, and silicon intellectual property products and solutions.
Technology · Software - Application · 15,445 employees
About ServiceNow
NOW stock →ServiceNow, Inc. provides cloud-based solution for digital workflows in the North America, Brazil, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Technology · Computer Software: Prepackaged Software · 29,187 employees
CDNS vs NOW FAQ
Which is bigger, Cadence Design Systems or ServiceNow?
ServiceNow (NOW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $142.54B compared with $98.07B for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CDNS or NOW?
CDNS returned +3.08% over the past 12 months, compared with -23.76% for NOW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CDNS or NOW?
CDNS has the lower trailing P/E at 71.5, versus 86.2 for NOW. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Cadence Design Systems and ServiceNow in the same industry?
Both are in the Technology sector, but in different industries: Software - Application for Cadence Design Systems and Computer Software: Prepackaged Software for ServiceNow.