CDNS vs. PS: Cadence Design Systems vs. Pershing Square Stock Comparison
How do Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Pershing Square (PS) 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 Pershing Square (PS) 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) has been public since June 10, 1987, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Pershing Square (PS) listed only on April 29, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
| Profile Item | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | Pluralsight Inc |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Application Software | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 87.78 billion USD | 20.58 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 10, 1987 | April 29, 2026 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 3.07% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.32% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.93% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Pershing Square (PS) carries a highly aggressive beta of 6.25, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) is closer to market-like at 1.09 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 42.21% | 100.16% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.09 | 6.25 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.21% | -43.14% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.41M | 428.47K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both CDNS and PS need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.03 | -- |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.04 | -- |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) earns 22.87% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no ROE this period.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
- PS
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative net margin of -20.98%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) reports 22.52%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-20.98%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- PS
- -20.98%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative operating margin of -35.45%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) reports 28.93%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-35.45%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
- PS
- -35.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 22.87% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.52% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 22.52% | -20.98% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.93% | -35.45% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 85.68% | 24.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Pershing Square (PS) at 64.66% 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.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) reports EPS growth of 5.45%, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.12% | 64.66% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.14% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.45% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.53% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) shows current ratio of 1.36 against its industry benchmark, while Pershing Square (PS) has no reading this period.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
- PS
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 0.41 and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.18 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
0.18
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- PS
- 0.18
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.36 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.41 | 0.18 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.57 | 4.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Pershing Square (PS) reports a yield of 0.24%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
0.24%
- PS
- 0.24%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative payout ratio of -10.99%, usually because earnings are negative; Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
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%
PS
Software & Services industry group
-10.99%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
- PS
- -10.99%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | -10.99% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at 63.60 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Pershing Square (PS) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
- PS
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 14.31 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Pershing Square (PS) at 27.11 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
27.11
- PS
- 27.11
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 12.77 and Pershing Square (PS) at 15.12 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
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
PS
Software & Services industry group
15.12
- Max
- 16.63
- PS
- 15.12
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | PS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 63.60 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 14.31 | 27.11 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 12.77 | 15.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.99% | -- |