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CDNS vs. ZM: Cadence Design Systems vs. Zoom Communications Stock Comparison

How do Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Zoom Communications (ZM) 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
Profile ItemCDNSZM
NameCadence Design Systems, Inc.Zoom Communications, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization87.78 billion USD26.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 10, 1987April 18, 2019
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CDNS
ZM
GSPC
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM), 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 Zoom Communications (ZM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Zoom Communications (ZM). 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
Total Return (1Y)3.07%12.58%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)9.32%14.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.93%-18.67%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CDNS
ZM
GSPC
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM), 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 Zoom Communications (ZM). 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.21%45.03%
Beta (5Y)1.090.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.21%-79.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.41M2.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CDNS and ZM 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.030.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.040.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 22.87% and Zoom Communications (ZM) at 32.14% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

32.14%

Max
53.85%
ZM
32.14%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 65.19% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 22.52% also retains a top-quartile 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

65.19%

ZM
65.19%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) at 24.61% 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

24.61%

Max
46.89%
ZM
24.61%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
ROE (TTM)22.87%32.14%
ROA (TTM)10.52%6.11%
Net Margin (TTM)22.52%65.19%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.93%24.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)85.68%77.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 14.12% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Zoom Communications (ZM) at 4.36% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 92.52% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 5.45% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ZM.

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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
Revenue Growth (YoY)14.12%4.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.14%3.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)5.45%92.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)9.53%162.93%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 1.36 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Zoom Communications (ZM) at 3.83 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

3.83

Max
5.11
ZM
3.83
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 0.01 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.01

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
ZM
0.01
Min
0.00
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.363.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.410.01
Net Debt / EBITDA0.57-5.39

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) nor Zoom Communications (ZM) 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZM
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. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) nor Zoom Communications (ZM) 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZM
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. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 8.34 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) at 63.60 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

8.34

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
ZM
8.34
Min
6.69
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 5.25 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

5.25

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
ZM
5.25
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 2.32 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

2.32

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
ZM
2.32
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
Loading chart…
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricCDNSZM
P/E Ratio (TTM)63.608.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)14.315.25
P/B Ratio (MRQ)12.772.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.99%7.53%