$CDNS vs $SNPS: Contrasting Paths for These EDA Leaders in the AI Era Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) delivered a beat-and-raise quarter with a record $8 billion backlog, but lowered its full-year earnings outlook as it integrates the Hexagon acquisition. Synopsys (SNPS) posted strong results and raised guidance, with its Ansys acquisition contributing roughly $2.98 billion in expected fiscal 2026 revenue. Both companies are dominant electronic design automation (EDA) vendors, yet they differ sharply in scale, growth trajectory, and near-term profitability drivers.