Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs SAP (SAP)
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 SAP (SAP) over the past year, gaining 3.1% versus a loss of 23.3%. Over five years, CDNS leads with a +128.6% price change compared with +43.9% for SAP. SAP is the larger company by market cap ($242.53 billion vs $98.07 billion), about 2.5 times the size.
On valuation, SAP trades at a lower forward P/E (21.7x vs 37.2x for Cadence Design Systems). SAP pays a dividend yielding 1.19%, while Cadence Design Systems does not currently pay one. Cadence Design Systems converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 20.9% versus 17.1%.
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 | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $356.12 | $210.13 |
| Market cap | $98.07B | $242.53B |
| 1-day change | -0.95% | -0.16% |
| YTD return | +13.93% | -13.49% |
| 1-year return | +3.08% | -23.26% |
| 5-year return | +128.60% | +43.90% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 71.51 | 27.01 |
| Forward P/E | 37.22 | 21.69 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.98 | $7.78 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.19% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.50 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.30B | $28.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +14.12% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.11B | $4.83B |
| Gross margin | — | 69.95% |
| Operating margin | 28.17% | 20.79% |
| Net margin | 20.94% | 17.12% |
| 52-week high | $416.69 | $281.37 |
| 52-week low | $262.75 | $144.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.54% | -25.32% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.07% | +20.16% |
| Average volume | 2.39M | 2.59M |
| Shares outstanding | 275.39M | 1.15B |
| Employees | 15,445 | 112,019 |
| 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
- SAP is about 2.5 times larger than Cadence Design Systems by market value ($242.53B vs $98.07B).
- CDNS has outperformed SAP by 26.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Cadence Design Systems trades at a higher earnings multiple (71.5x vs 27.0x trailing P/E).
- SAP offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.19% vs 0.00%).
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 SAP
SAP stock →SAP SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides enterprise application and business solutions worldwide. It offers SAP Business AI; SAP S/4HANA that provides software capabilities for finance, risk and project management, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain and asset management, and research and development; SAP SuccessFactors solutions for human resources, including HR, time, payroll, talent and employee experience management, and analytics and planning; and spend management solutions that covers direct and indirect spend, travel and expense, and external workforce management.
Technology · Computer Software: Prepackaged Software · 112,019 employees
CDNS vs SAP FAQ
Which is bigger, Cadence Design Systems or SAP?
SAP (SAP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $242.53B compared with $98.07B for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CDNS or SAP?
CDNS returned +3.08% over the past 12 months, compared with -23.26% for SAP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CDNS or SAP?
SAP has the lower trailing P/E at 27.0, versus 71.5 for CDNS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cadence Design Systems or SAP?
SAP pays a dividend yielding 1.19%, while Cadence Design Systems does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Cadence Design Systems and SAP 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 SAP.