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.
| Profile Item | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | Zoom Communications, Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| 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 | 26.23 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 10, 1987 | April 18, 2019 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 42.21% | 45.03% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.09 | 0.99 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.21% | -79.08% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.41M | 2.88M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.03 | 0.18 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.04 | 0.28 |
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%
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.36 | 3.83 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.41 | 0.01 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.57 | -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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CDNS | ZM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 63.60 | 8.34 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 14.31 | 5.25 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 12.77 | 2.32 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.99% | 7.53% |