Cadence Design Systems (NasdaqGS:CDNS) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 17, 2026 05:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsAnirudh Devgan - President and CEOJay Vleeschhouwer - Managing DirectorJohn Wall - SVP and CFORichard Gu - VP of Investor RelationsConference Call ParticipantsAndrew DeGasperi - Equity Research AnalystCharles Shi - Equity Research AnalystGary Mobley - Equity Research AnalystGianmarco Conti - Equity Research AnalystJason Cellino - Equity Research AnalystJim Schneider - Senior Equity AnalystJoe Quatr ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cadence reported a 14% revenue growth for the fourth quarter and a 45% operating margin for the year, finishing 2025 with a record backlog of $7.8 billion [5][16] - Total revenue for Q4 was $1.44 billion and $5.297 billion for the year, with GAAP operating margin at 32.2% for the quarter and 28.2% for the year [16][17] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 45.8% for the quarter and 44.6% for the year, with GAAP EPS at $1.42 for the quarter and $4.06 for the year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The core EDA business grew by 13% in 2025, with the recurring software business re-accelerating to double-digit growth in Q4 [10] - The IP business saw nearly 25% revenue growth in 2025, reflecting strong demand in AI, HPC, and automotive verticals [12][13] - The System Design and Analysis (SDA) business delivered 13% revenue growth in 2025, with a strategic shift towards annual subscription arrangements impacting year-over-year comparisons [51] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The semiconductor industry is projected to reach $1 trillion this year, indicating a healthier environment for Cadence's solutions [61] - China accounted for 12%-13% of revenue in 2024 and 2025, with expectations to maintain this range in 2026 [31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cadence is focusing on AI-driven solutions, with the launch of ChipStack AI Super Agent aimed at automating chip design and verification, providing up to 10x productivity improvements [7][8] - The company is expanding partnerships with leading foundries, including TSMC and Intel, to enhance AI flows and support next-generation designs [9] - The strategy includes a strong emphasis on agentic AI workflows, which are expected to increase the usage of Cadence's tools rather than displace them [25][27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing demand for Cadence's engineering software, emphasizing that AI tools are increasing the usage of their products [27] - The outlook for 2026 includes expected revenue in the range of $5.9 billion to $6 billion, with a GAAP operating margin of 31.75%-32.75% and non-GAAP EPS in the range of $8.05-$8.15 [19][20] Other Important Information - The company plans to use approximately 50% of its free cash flow for share repurchases in 2026 [19] - Cadence's AI-driven EDA, SDA, and IP portfolio positions the company well to capture significant opportunities in the evolving market landscape [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Disruption in AI affecting demand for EDA or IP tools - Management clarified that there has been no discussion from customers about reducing the usage of Cadence's tools; instead, AI tools are increasing the usage of their software [24][27] Question: Key contributors to recurring revenue improvements - Management noted that strong backlog and broad portfolio proliferation across EDA, IP, hardware, and SDA are driving recurring revenue growth [30][32] Question: Verification and emulation hardware cycle - Management indicated that demand for hardware systems remains strong, with expectations for continued growth in this segment [34][36] Question: Benefits from AI workflows - Management highlighted significant productivity improvements from AI, with customers reporting up to 10x productivity gains in certain areas [43][44] Question: Transition to one-year license terms for SDA - Management acknowledged that the shift to annual subscriptions impacted SDA revenue growth but remains optimistic about its strategic trajectory [51] Question: COT chip proliferation among hyperscalers - Management confirmed that the trend of hyperscalers designing their own chips is accelerating, with expectations for increased EDA consumption [56][59]

Cadence Design Systems (NasdaqGS:CDNS) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 17, 2026 05:00 PM ET Speaker14Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. My name is Abby, and I'll be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Cadence fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025 earnings conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question during that ...

Company Overview - Cadence Design Systems has transformed from a legacy software utility into a critical computational twin platform essential for the semiconductor industry [4] - The company operates as a key player in the semiconductor sector, where no advanced AI chip can proceed to production without utilizing Cadence's intellectual property and emulation platforms [4] Industry Dynamics - The AI revolution is not only constrained by manufacturing capacity but also by design complexity, creating a significant bottleneck for chipmakers [3] - As the semiconductor industry approaches 2nm architectures, the complexity of chip design has surpassed human capabilities, presenting both a crisis for chipmakers and an opportunity for Cadence [5] Technological Advancements - Cadence has integrated generative AI into its design suite, enhancing productivity and power efficiency for semiconductor engineers [6][7] - Tools like Cadence Cerebrus and Verisium automate layout and testing processes, making them essential for the economic viability of chip production [6] Market Position and Financials - The stock of Cadence is currently trading around $307, having experienced a 7% decline over the past three months, which may present a strategic entry point for long-term investors [4][5] - There is a record backlog of orders for Cadence's Palladium and Protium hardware emulation systems, driven by massive demand for custom silicon from major technology firms [7]