Core Insights - Synopsys (SNPS) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are key players in the AI Cluster and Data Center interconnect market, with the market projected to grow from $15.38 billion in 2025 to $25.89 billion in 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 11% [1][2]. Synopsys (SNPS) Overview - Synopsys is actively capturing the AI cluster interconnect market through product launches such as Ultra Accelerator Link and Ultra Ethernet IP solutions, with UALink offering a throughput of 200 Gbps per lane [3][4]. - The Ultra Ethernet IP is designed to help customers build AI scale-out networks, maximizing bandwidth at data rates up to 1.6 terabytes per second [4][5]. - Despite its strong product offerings, SNPS faces competitive pressure from companies like Broadcom and Marvell Technology, which can vertically integrate their chips and networks [6]. - SNPS' Design IP business experienced an 8% year-over-year decline, impacting both revenue and earnings, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings at $12.8 billion, a decline of 2.8% year-over-year [6][7]. Marvell Technology (MRVL) Overview - Marvell Technology is well-established in the data center connectivity market, with products like Active Copper Cable Linear Equalizers and COLORZ 800G ZR/ZR+ for Multi-Site AI Training, which supports scalable transmission up to 2,000 km [9][11]. - The enterprise networking segment saw a 28% year-over-year revenue increase to $194 million, while carrier infrastructure grew 71% to $130 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 [12]. - MRVL expects third-quarter revenues to be around $2.06 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 35.9%, with fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings expected to grow by 78.3% and 19.2%, respectively [13]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, Marvell Technology shares have decreased by 25.1%, while Synopsys stock has lost 6% [14]. - MRVL is trading at a forward sales multiple of 7.88X, above its median of 7.40X, while SNPS' forward sales multiple is at 8.76X, below its median of 11.04X [16]. Conclusion - While both companies are positioned to benefit from the data center interconnect market, SNPS faces challenges such as a decline in its Design IP business and increased competition, making MRVL a more attractive investment option at present [17][18].

Core Viewpoint - Synopsys (SNPS) stock has experienced a significant decline of 25.3% over the past three months, underperforming the Zacks Computer - Software industry, which returned 1.4% during the same period. This raises questions about whether investors should hold or exit the stock [1][8]. Group 1: Growth Prospects - Synopsys is focusing on AI-driven electronic design automation (EDA) tools, such as Synopsys.ai and Fusion Compiler, which are being rapidly adopted by customers, leading to substantial productivity gains [4]. - The company is expanding into the AI cluster interconnect market with new products like Ultra Accelerator Link and Ultra Ethernet IP solutions, benefiting from the projected growth of the Data Center Interconnect market, expected to reach $25.89 billion by 2030, with an 11% CAGR from 2025 to 2030 [5]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Synopsys' fiscal 2025 revenues is $7.05 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 12.5% [9]. Group 2: Market Challenges - Synopsys faces significant competition from companies like Broadcom and Marvell Technology, as well as EDA vendors such as Cadence Design Systems and Siemens, which are challenging its market position [10][12][13]. - The Design IP business of Synopsys has declined by 8% year-over-year due to delays from foundry customers and internal resource allocation issues, leading to a muted outlook for fiscal 2026 [17]. - Operating margins are under pressure due to weakness in the Design IP business and geopolitical risks, particularly in China, which are affecting the business outlook [18]. Group 3: Valuation Concerns - Synopsys is currently trading at a premium valuation, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 8.83X, higher than the industry average of 8.54X, contributing to a Zacks Value Score of F [20]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings is $12.8 billion, indicating a year-over-year decline of 2.8% [14]. Group 4: Conclusion - Given the combination of high valuation, declining margins, increasing competition, and challenges in the Design IP business, it is suggested that investors consider selling SNPS stock [21].

Core Insights - The article discusses the competitive landscape of AI networking, highlighting the advantages of InfiniBand over Ethernet in large data centers, particularly in the context of NVIDIA's dominance in the GPU market [1][6][13]. Broadcom Tomahawk 6 - Broadcom announced the shipment of the Tomahawk 6 (TH6) switch chip, which utilizes 3nm technology and supports up to 102.4Tbps switching capacity, doubling the capacity of current mainstream Ethernet switch chips [2][4]. - The TH6 chip is priced at under $20,000, nearly double that of its predecessor, but offers significant performance improvements that justify the cost [2][4]. AI Network Optimization - TH6 excels in both scale-out and scale-up architectures, allowing connections to up to 100,000 XPUs and supporting 512 XPU single-hop connections, significantly reducing latency and power consumption [3][9]. - The chip features Cognitive Routing 2.0 technology, optimized for modern AI workloads, enhancing global load balancing and dynamic congestion control [3][9]. Market Trends - The introduction of TH6 is expected to drive rapid growth in the demand for 1.6T optical modules and data center interconnects, marking a new technology upgrade cycle in the global AI infrastructure market [4][10]. - The global optical circuit switch hardware sales are projected to grow at a CAGR of 32% from 2023 to 2028, outpacing Ethernet and InfiniBand switches [10]. Ethernet vs InfiniBand - Approximately 78% of top supercomputers use Ethernet solutions based on RoCE, while 65% utilize InfiniBand, indicating a competitive dynamic between the two technologies [13][16]. - InfiniBand has gained traction in the early stages of generative AI infrastructure deployment due to NVIDIA's market position, although Ethernet is expected to regain momentum as cloud service providers invest in self-developed ASIC projects [16]