Cadence Surpasses Earnings, Yet Shares Tumble 7.5%

Terry Bingman
Photo: Finoracle.net

Cadence Design Systems Beats Analyst Expectations with Q4 Earnings

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNS) has reported its fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2023 financial results, surprising analysts with higher-than-expected earnings. The company’s fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.38, $0.04 higher than the consensus of $1.34. Additionally, Cadence’s quarterly revenue exceeded estimates, reaching $1.07 billion compared to the anticipated $1.06 billion. However, despite the positive earnings beat, the company’s shares fell by 7.5%.

The fourth-quarter revenue demonstrated strong year-over-year growth, marking an 18.8% increase from the same quarter last year, which reported $900 million. Adjusted operating margins also expanded significantly, rising from 36% in Q4 2022 to 43% in the current quarter.

Cadence’s President and CEO, Anirudh Devgan, credited the company’s success to its innovative solutions and execution of their Intelligent System Design strategy, with a particular emphasis on AI and 3D-IC opportunities.

For the fiscal year 2023, Cadence achieved a 15% increase in total revenue, reaching $4.090 billion compared to $3.562 billion in 2022. Adjusted EPS for the year also saw growth of over 20% at $5.15, up from $4.27 in the previous year. The company reported a record backlog of $6.0 billion and current remaining performance obligations (cRPO) of $3.2 billion.

Looking ahead, Cadence provided guidance for the fiscal year 2024, projecting an EPS range of $5.87 to $5.97, which brackets the analyst consensus of $5.89. Revenue forecasts for the year are set between $4.55 billion and $4.61 billion, with the midpoint slightly below the consensus of $4.583 billion.

However, for the first quarter of 2024, the company expects revenue to range between $990 million and $1.01 billion, falling short of the $1.08 billion consensus. The projected first-quarter adjusted EPS range of $1.10 to $1.14 is also below the analyst estimate of $1.37.

CFO John Wall expressed satisfaction with Cadence’s growth and record backlog, highlighting the company’s well-positioned status for 2024. The company’s System Design and Analysis segment experienced a 22% year-over-year growth, while strategic collaborations with industry leaders like NVIDIA, Arm, and Intel were expanded.

Analyst comment

Positive news. The market is likely to have a slightly negative reaction to the lower-than-expected revenue and EPS projections for the first quarter of 2024, but overall, Cadence Design Systems’ strong fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2023 results suggest continued growth and success in the future.

Share This Article
Terry Bingman is a financial analyst and writer with over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Terry specializes in market analysis, investment strategies, and economic trends. His work has been featured in leading financial publications such as The Financial Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC. Terry’s articles are celebrated for their rigorous research, clear presentation, and actionable insights, providing readers with reliable financial advice. He keeps abreast of the latest developments in finance by regularly attending industry conferences and participating in professional workshops. With a reputation for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, Terry Bingman continues to deliver high-quality content that aids individuals and businesses in making informed financial decisions.