PresentationJames SchneiderSenior Research Analyst Okay. Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference. My name is James Schneider, I'm the semiconductor analyst here at Goldman Sachs, and it's my pleasure to welcome Cadence and CEO, Anirudh Devgan, with us today. Thanks so much for being here. We appreciate it. ...

Cadence Design Systems (NasdaqGS:CDNS) 2025 Conference September 09, 2025 04:45 PM ET Company ParticipantsAnirudh Devgan - President, CEO & DirectorConference Call ParticipantsJim Schneider - Senior Equity AnalystAnirudh DevganYes, yes.Jim SchneiderOkay, very good.Anirudh DevganCan you hear me okay?Jim SchneiderYes.Anirudh DevganYeah.Jim SchneiderOkay. Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the Goldman Sachs Communication and Technology Conference. My name is Jim Schneider. I'm the Senior Director of Analyst ...

Core Insights - Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hexagon AB's Design & Engineering division, including MSC Software, for €2.7 billion, structured as 70% cash and 30% common stock, expected to close in Q1 2026 [1][9] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition will enhance Cadence's System Design & Analysis portfolio and expand its presence in the structural analysis market, building on the previous acquisition of Beta CAE in 2024 [2][3] - Hexagon's D&E division generated approximately $280 million in revenue in 2024 and employs over 1,100 experts globally [2][3] Group 2: Strategic Importance - This deal positions Cadence to offer a comprehensive platform for multiphysics simulations, which are increasingly critical in industries such as aerospace and automotive [3][4] - The acquisition will allow Cadence to serve top-tier clients like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Volkswagen, who depend on Hexagon's solutions for mission-critical workflows [4][5] Group 3: Broader Acquisition Strategy - Cadence's acquisition strategy has been pivotal in its growth, with previous acquisitions including Arm Holdings' Artisan foundation IP business and Secure-IC, aimed at strengthening its IP portfolio [6][7] - The acquisition of BETA CAE Systems in June 2024 is expected to further enhance Cadence's capabilities in multiphysics system analysis [7]

Core Viewpoint - Cadence has announced the acquisition of Hexagon AB's Design & Engineering (D&E) business, including its MSC software, to enhance its "Intelligent System Design™" strategy and expand its system design and analysis product portfolio [2][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves a payment of approximately €2.7 billion, with 70% in cash and 30% in Cadence common stock [2]. - The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions [5]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - The integration of Hexagon's D&E technology will strengthen Cadence's position in the multi-billion dollar structural analysis market, following its 2024 acquisition of Beta CAE [2][5]. - The acquisition will enable Cadence to provide a comprehensive, unified, end-to-end multiphysics platform, addressing the growing demand for early-stage multiphysics simulations in design cycles [3][4]. Group 3: Market Impact - The combined business is projected to generate approximately $280 million in revenue in 2024 and will employ over 1,100 staff globally [5]. - The acquisition will broaden Cadence's customer base, including major aerospace and automotive OEMs such as Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Lockheed Martin, BAE, and Boeing, who rely on Hexagon's D&E solutions for critical simulation workflows [4][5].

Core Viewpoint - Cadence has announced the acquisition of Hexagon's Design and Engineering (D&E) business, which will enhance its capabilities in simulation and analysis solutions, particularly in the aerospace and automotive sectors [3][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves a payment of approximately €2.7 billion, with 70% in cash and 30% through the issuance of Cadence common stock [3]. - The deal is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions [4]. - If the transaction does not close, Cadence may incur a reverse termination fee of up to €175 million [3]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - This acquisition is part of Cadence's strategy to expand its "Intelligent System Design™" and significantly enhance its system design and analysis product portfolio [3]. - The integration of Hexagon's D&E technology is anticipated to strengthen Cadence's position in the multi-billion euro structural analysis market [3]. - The combined business is projected to generate approximately $280 million in revenue in 2024, leveraging a workforce of over 1,100 employees globally [3]. Group 3: Market Position and Client Base - Cadence's client base will broaden to include major aerospace and automotive OEMs such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Lockheed Martin, who utilize Hexagon's D&E solutions for critical simulation workflows [3]. - Hexagon's D&E business is recognized for its flagship products MSC Nastran and Adams, which are industry standards in structural and multibody dynamics simulation [3]. - The acquisition is expected to address the increasing demand for multi-physics simulation in early design cycles, particularly in the context of electric vehicles and autonomous systems [3].

Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is experiencing a significant transformation driven by advancements in AI, particularly in chip design and system development [1][2][3] - Cadence's vision for the future of chip design involves the integration of Agentic AI to automate the design process, moving away from manual coding and layout [1][4] - The market forecast for the semiconductor industry has been revised upwards, with expectations to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2030, largely due to the growth in AI computing and data centers [2] Group 1: AI and Chip Design - The emergence of generative AI and Agentic AI will lead to automated chip design based on high-level functional descriptions, enhancing user experience [1][2] - Advanced packaging technologies, such as 3D integrated circuits, are essential for overcoming performance bottlenecks in complex semiconductor designs [1][2] - Cadence's "three layer cake" concept emphasizes the need for collaboration between design tools, IP development, and hardware solutions to meet dynamic customer requirements [2] Group 2: EDA and AI Integration - The traditional methods of simulation and AI in EDA are evolving, with AI now capable of addressing complex physical modeling and automated design challenges [3][4] - Cadence has integrated "Optimization AI" into over 50% of its tools, with plans to exceed 80% in the next two years, enhancing speed, quality, and error detection [4] - The introduction of the JedAI platform allows users to interact with tools using natural language, facilitating a shift towards a "dialogue-based interaction" era in EDA [3][4] Group 3: Future Vision - The long-term vision for design automation involves users simply inputting functional requirements, with Agentic AI generating netlists and executing design processes autonomously [4] - Cadence aims to be a partner in intelligent system design, extending capabilities from chips to packaging and circuit boards [4]

Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is experiencing a significant transformation driven by AI, particularly in chip design and system development, with a shift towards user experience-oriented designs [1][2] - The market forecast for the semiconductor industry has been revised upwards, with expectations to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2030, largely due to the explosive growth of AI computing in data centers and the migration to edge computing [2] - Cadence is pioneering the integration of AI into electronic design automation (EDA), moving towards a future where design processes are fully automated through the use of Agentic AI [3][4] Group 1: AI and Chip Design - The emergence of generative AI and Agentic AI is set to revolutionize chip design, eliminating the need for manual coding and layout, allowing for automatic generation of complete design solutions [1] - Advanced packaging technologies, particularly 3D integrated circuits, are becoming essential to overcome performance bottlenecks in semiconductor design [1][2] Group 2: Market Growth and Predictions - The semiconductor market is projected to grow significantly, with a revised estimate indicating it will reach over $1.2 trillion by 2030, driven by AI and data center demands [2] - The development of process nodes must be integrated with tool and IP development to push beyond Moore's Law, as indicated by the adoption of complex multi-chip packaging and stacking technologies [2] Group 3: EDA Transformation - Cadence is transitioning to a "dialogue interaction" era in EDA, allowing users to interact with tools through natural language, enhancing user experience and support [3][4] - The integration of "Optimization AI" in over 50% of Cadence tools is expected to rise to over 80% in the next two years, indicating a significant shift towards AI-driven automation in design processes [4] Group 4: Future Vision - The ultimate goal is to achieve complete automation in design, where users only need to input functional requirements, and Agentic AI will handle the entire design process [4] - Cadence aims to be a partner in intelligent system design, extending from chip design to packaging and system integration [4]

Company Performance - Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) closed at $342.81, reflecting a -2.17% change from the previous day, underperforming compared to the S&P 500's loss of 0.69% [1] - The stock has decreased by 3.96% over the past month, while the Computer and Technology sector gained 3.71% and the S&P 500 increased by 3.79% [1] Upcoming Earnings - The upcoming earnings release is anticipated, with projected EPS at $1.79, indicating a 9.15% increase year-over-year [2] - Revenue is expected to reach $1.32 billion, representing an 8.96% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] Full Year Projections - For the full year, earnings are projected at $6.91 per share and revenue at $5.25 billion, reflecting increases of +15.75% and +13.07% respectively from the prior year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates suggest a favorable outlook on the business health and profitability of Cadence Design Systems [4] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that changes in estimates correlate with stock price performance, with a current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) for CDNS [5][6] Valuation Metrics - Cadence Design Systems has a Forward P/E ratio of 50.74, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 26.35 [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 3.64, significantly higher than the industry average PEG ratio of 1.92 [8] Industry Context - The Computer - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 78, placing it in the top 32% of over 250 industries [8] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [9]

Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor industry is experiencing a transformative phase driven by AI and advanced chip design methodologies, with a shift towards "agent-based AI" that enhances collaboration in chip design [1][2][4]. Group 1: Industry Trends - The demand for AI-related industries has surged, with official forecasts increasing from $950 billion to $1.2 trillion in just one year, driven by data center AI computing and extending to edge computing [2]. - Companies traditionally not involved in chip manufacturing, such as Xiaomi and Alibaba, have emerged as significant players in the semiconductor space, indicating a shift towards "software-defined chips" [2]. Group 2: Technological Innovations - Paul Cunningham introduced the "3D dimensional" integration technology, emphasizing the need for comprehensive system simulation and optimization across various dimensions, including mechanical, thermal, and fluid simulations [4]. - The combination of principle-based methods, accelerated computing, and AI is seen as crucial for addressing the challenges in the semiconductor industry, referred to as the "three-layer cake" architecture [4]. Group 3: AI Evolution in EDA Tools - Cadence's journey in AI began in 2016, focusing on integrating machine learning into tools for faster and higher-quality results, evolving from "AI optimization" to "human-computer interaction transformation" [5][6]. - The introduction of conversational capabilities in Cadence tools allows users to interact using natural language, marking a significant shift towards "virtual engineers" rather than just tools [5][6]. Group 4: Future of Automation and Digital Twins - The vision for the future includes a gradual transition towards full automation in design processes, with digital twins and AI playing a pivotal role in accelerating simulations and providing new scientific breakthroughs [9][10]. - The integration of AI with digital twins is expected to enhance the efficiency of simulations across various fields, including physics and biology, significantly reducing computation time [9][10]. Group 5: Talent Demand and Industry Challenges - There is a growing demand for engineers in the semiconductor industry, with AI seen as a tool to enhance productivity rather than replace human jobs, especially in regions like China where the demand for talent is exceptionally high [11]. - The industry faces a talent shortage, and the integration of AI is viewed as essential for addressing this gap, allowing engineers to work more efficiently alongside AI [11].

Summary of Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) - **Event**: 2025 Conference Call - **Date**: August 27, 2025 Key Industry Insights - **EDA Landscape**: The current Electronic Design Automation (EDA) landscape is characterized by significant opportunities driven by advancements in AI and chip design technologies [2][4] - **AI Super Cycle**: The AI super cycle is a major focus, with customers pushing the boundaries in chip design, including 3D IC and advanced packaging [4][5] - **Customer Base**: Cadence has strong partnerships with leading companies such as NVIDIA, Intel, Samsung, and TSMC, which enhances its market position [5][6] Financial Performance - **Backlog**: Cadence finished the previous year with a record backlog of $6.8 billion, which decreased to $6.4 billion by mid-year. However, strong booking activity is expected to lead to a new record backlog by year-end [26][28] - **Revenue Model**: Approximately 80% of Cadence's revenue is ratable, primarily from subscription-based models, which allows for gradual revenue recognition as customer adoption increases [8][10] Product Development and Innovation - **cadence.ai Portfolio**: The cadence.ai portfolio is expanding, with significant adoption beyond the top five customers. The introduction of products like Cerberus AI Studio is expected to enhance productivity and reduce time to market by 5x to 10x [14][6] - **Integration of AI**: The integration of AI tools is leading to increased productivity and faster time to market for customers, which in turn is expected to result in earlier revenue recognition for Cadence [10][12] Competitive Landscape - **ANSYS Merger Impact**: The recent merger of ANSYS is viewed as neutral to positive for Cadence, as it may lead to increased competition but also provides opportunities for customers to explore alternatives [20][22] - **Market Position**: Cadence maintains a strong competitive position against Synopsys, with both companies benefiting from healthy competition that drives innovation [21][22] Customer Dynamics - **Intel Relationship**: There is potential for increased business with Intel, especially under new leadership. Cadence is well-positioned to support Intel's needs with silicon-ready IP and tools for advanced nodes [40][42] - **China Market**: The Chinese market is expected to remain volatile, but Cadence's revenue is based on consumption rather than geographical location, which mitigates risks associated with regional fluctuations [44][46] M&A Strategy - **Acquisition Philosophy**: Cadence prefers to develop internally rather than pursue large acquisitions. The company focuses on small, strategic tuck-in acquisitions that align with its long-term growth strategy [56][66] - **Talent Retention**: Cadence emphasizes retaining AI talent by providing opportunities to work on innovative projects, which is crucial given the competitive landscape for skilled professionals [59][60] Conclusion - Cadence Design Systems is well-positioned in the EDA market, leveraging its strong customer relationships and innovative product offerings to capitalize on the AI super cycle. The company is focused on sustainable growth through strategic partnerships, a diversified product portfolio, and a commitment to internal development over opportunistic acquisitions.