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CDNS vs. CRCL: Cadence Design Systems vs. Circle Internet Stock Comparison

How do Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) carries decades of public-market history since June 10, 1987, while Circle Internet (CRCL) listed on June 5, 2025 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the CDNS side.

Company profile comparison for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
Profile ItemCDNSCRCL
NameCadence Design Systems, Inc.Circle Internet Group, Inc. Class A
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization87.78 billion USD17.41 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 10, 1987June 5, 2025
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CDNS
CRCL
GSPC
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
Total Return (1Y)3.07%-33.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)9.32%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.93%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CDNS
CRCL
GSPC
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.21%96.01%
Beta (5Y)1.090.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.21%-80.93%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.41M12.74M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CDNS and CRCL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.03-0.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.04-0.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 22.87% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 13.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CDNS.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

22.87%

Max
53.85%
CDNS
22.87%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

13.44%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
CRCL
13.44%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 22.52% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Circle Internet (CRCL) at 15.28%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

22.52%

Max
41.17%
CDNS
22.52%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

15.28%

Max
41.17%
CRCL
15.28%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 28.93% and Circle Internet (CRCL) at 24.09% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

28.93%

Max
46.89%
CDNS
28.93%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

24.09%

Max
46.89%
CRCL
24.09%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
ROE (TTM)22.87%13.44%
ROA (TTM)10.52%0.28%
Net Margin (TTM)22.52%15.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.93%24.09%
Gross Margin (TTM)85.68%26.58%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 63.86% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 14.12%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 5.45% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at -640.54% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)14.12%63.86%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.14%52.66%
EPS Growth (YoY)5.45%-640.54%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)9.53%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 1.36 and Circle Internet (CRCL) at 1.04 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

1.36

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
CDNS
1.36
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

1.04

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
CRCL
1.04
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 0.41 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

0.41

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
CDNS
0.41
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
CRCL
0.00
Min
0.00
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.361.04
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.410.00
Net Debt / EBITDA0.57-4.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) nor Circle Internet (CRCL) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CDNS
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) nor Circle Internet (CRCL) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CDNS
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 40.89 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 63.60 sits in the richer quartile — CDNS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

63.60

Max
112.94
CDNS
63.60
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

40.89

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
CRCL
40.89
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 5.75 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 14.31 sits in the pricier quartile — CDNS costs more per dollar of sales.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

14.31

Max
17.91
CDNS
14.31
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

5.75

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
CRCL
5.75
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 4.50 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 12.77 carries an above-peer premium to book — CDNS is pricier on assets.

CDNS

Software & Services industry group

12.77

Max
16.63
CDNS
12.77
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

4.50

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
CRCL
4.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricCDNSCRCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)63.6040.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)14.315.75
P/B Ratio (MRQ)12.774.50
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.99%1.43%