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Cadence Design Systems Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 April 2026: press release, CFO commentary. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 9 lowered, 7 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue reached $1.474 billion: Revenue was $1.474 billion, up from $1.242 billion in Q1 2025. Product and maintenance revenue was $1.349 billion and services revenue $125 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on both measures: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.23, against $1.00. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.96, against $1.57, on 273.7 million diluted shares. Source
  • Core EDA grew 18%: Core EDA revenue grew 18% year-over-year, driven by AI-related adoption at AI infrastructure and semiconductor customers. Core EDA was 71% of revenue. Source
  • Hardware recorded its best quarter: Hardware revenue set a record for the quarter, led by AI and high-performance computing customers, with growing use in automotive and robotics. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell to $356 million: Operating cash flow was $356 million, against $487 million. Free cash flow was $307 million, against $464 million, after $49 million of capital expenditure. Source
  • Cash fell after acquisition payments: Cash and equivalents were $1.407 billion, down from $3.001 billion at year-end, after $2.07 billion paid in business combinations, net of cash acquired. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles rose sharply: Goodwill was $4.93 billion, up from $2.75 billion, and acquired intangibles $1.93 billion, up from $718 million, after the business combinations. Source

“Cadence had a strong start to 2026, delivering a solid Q1 with accelerating AI demand and record backlog, reflecting strong customer commitment to our AI-driven portfolio”

Anirudh Devgan, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFY2026$6.125 billion to $6.225 billionRaised from $5.9 billion to $6.0 billion
Revenue growth SourceFY202616% - 18%, midpoint ~17%Raised from 11% - 13%
GAAP operating margin SourceFY202627.5% to 28.5%Lowered from 31.75% to 32.75%
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFY202643.5% to 44.5%Lowered from 44.75% to 45.75%
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFY2026$4.39 to $4.49Lowered from $4.95 to $5.05
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFY2026$7.85 to $7.95Lowered from $8.05 to $8.15
Operating cash flow SourceFY2026$1.875 billion to $1.975 billionLowered from ~$2,000 million
Capital expenditures SourceFY2026~$240 millionRaised from ~$210 million
Share repurchases SourceFY2026~50% of free cash flow
Weighted average diluted shares SourceFY2026275 - 277 millionRaised from 272.5 - 274.5 million
GAAP tax rate SourceFY2026~26%Lowered from ~27%
Non-GAAP tax rate SourceFY202616.5%Kept
Revenue from beginning backlog SourceFY2026~66%Lowered from ~67%
Recurring revenue share SourceFY2026~80%Kept
DSO SourceFY2026~65 daysRaised from ~55 days
GAAP other income and expense SourceFY2026$(101) million to $(81) millionLowered from $(43) million to $(33) million
Non-GAAP other income and expense SourceFY2026$(115) million to $(95) millionLowered from $(43) million to $(33) million
Amortization of acquired intangibles SourceFY2026$286 millionRaised from $125 million
Revenue SourceQ2 2026$1.555 billion to $1.595 billionNew
Revenue growth SourceQ2 2026Q/Q 5% - 8%; Y/Y 22% - 25%New
GAAP operating margin SourceQ2 202628.5% - 29.5%New
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceQ2 202644.5% - 45.5%New
GAAP diluted EPS SourceQ2 2026$1.07 - $1.13New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceQ2 2026$2.02 - $2.08New
Share repurchases SourceQ2 2026~$200 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue range raised to $6.125-6.225 billion from $5.9-6.0 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin and EPS ranges are lower than the prior ranges. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 revenue and margin guidance given; the prior release gave guidance only for the first quarter. Source
  • Guidance kept: Non-GAAP tax rate kept at 16.5% and recurring revenue share kept at about 80%. Source
  • New: Hexagon design and engineering acquisition has closed; the prior release described it as pending. Source
  • New: AgentStack orchestration framework launched, with ViraStack and InnoStack Super Agents also launched. Source
  • New: Revolving credit facility showed a $425 million balance at March 31, 2026, against none at year-end. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue reached $1.474 billion: Revenue was $1.474 billion, up from $1.242 billion in Q1 2025. Product and maintenance revenue was $1.349 billion and services revenue $125 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on both measures: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.23, against $1.00. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.96, against $1.57, on 273.7 million diluted shares. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin higher: Non-GAAP operating margin was 44.7%, against 41.7%. GAAP operating margin was 29.3%, against 29.1% a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Core EDA grew 18%: Core EDA revenue grew 18% year-over-year, driven by AI-related adoption at AI infrastructure and semiconductor customers. Core EDA was 71% of revenue. Source
  • IP grew 22%: The IP business grew 22% year-over-year. Semiconductor IP was 14% of revenue in the quarter. Source
  • System Design and Analysis up 18%: System Design and Analysis revenue rose 18% year-over-year and represented 15% of total revenue. Source
  • Hardware recorded its best quarter: Hardware revenue set a record for the quarter, led by AI and high-performance computing customers, with growing use in automotive and robotics. Source
  • Americas share lower, China higher: Q1 2026 revenue mix: Americas 45%, China 13%, Other Asia 20%, Europe, Middle East and Africa 16%, Japan 6%. Source

“Cadence delivered excellent results for the first quarter of 2026, with broad-based strength across all our businesses”

John Wall, senior vice president and chief financial officer

Products and customers

  • AgentStack orchestration framework launched: AgentStack coordinates Cadence's AI Super Agents, enabling knowledge sharing and extensibility from chips to 3D-IC and systems. Source
  • ViraStack and InnoStack Super Agents launched: ViraStack covers analog and custom design; InnoStack covers digital implementation and signoff. Source
  • Star IP adoption continued: Adoption continued across the Star IP portfolio, which includes HBM, LPDDR, PCIe, SerDes and foundation IP. Source
  • Agentic AI spans chip design: With ChipStack, Cadence says its agentic AI solutions now span the entire chip design spectrum. Source

Costs, margins and headcount

  • Gross margin was lower: GAAP gross margin was 85.4%, against 86.5% in Q1 2025. Non-GAAP gross margin was 88.0%, against 88.4%. Source
  • R&D and G&A expense increased: R&D expense was $508.4 million, against $439.1 million. General and administrative expense was $88.2 million, against $63.1 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP add-backs rose: Acquisition-related items are a larger share of revenue. Stock-based compensation was 9.4% of revenue, against 8.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Headcount rose to 15,110: Headcount was 15,110 in Q1 2026, against 13,800 at the end of 2025 and 12,837 in Q1 2025. Source

“With robust design activity and solid execution, we are raising our 2026 revenue outlook to 17% year-over-year growth”

John Wall, senior vice president and chief financial officer

Demand and receivables

  • DSO rose to 67 days: DSO was 67 days, against 44 in Q1 2025 and 64 at year-end. Net receivables were $1.034 billion, up from $945 million at year-end. Source
  • Over-time revenue share lower: Revenue recognized over time was 73% of Q1 2026 revenue, against 77% in Q1 2025. Source
  • Deferred revenue increased: Current deferred revenue was $873.6 million, up from $778.4 million at year-end. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell to $356 million: Operating cash flow was $356 million, against $487 million. Free cash flow was $307 million, against $464 million, after $49 million of capital expenditure. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Capital expenditure was $48.8 million, against $23.1 million in Q1 2025. Source
  • Cash fell after acquisition payments: Cash and equivalents were $1.407 billion, down from $3.001 billion at year-end, after $2.07 billion paid in business combinations, net of cash acquired. Source
  • Debt principal increased: Debt principal was $2.925 billion, against $2.500 billion at year-end. Source
  • Share repurchases of $200 million: The company repurchased $200 million of stock in Q1 2026, against $350 million a year earlier, for 0.671 million shares. Source
  • About 21% of cash held in US: Cash held in the U.S. was about 21% of cash and cash equivalents at quarter-end. Source

Strategy and acquisitions

  • Goodwill and intangibles rose sharply: Goodwill was $4.93 billion, up from $2.75 billion, and acquired intangibles $1.93 billion, up from $718 million, after the business combinations. Source
  • Physical AI positioning: Management says the company is well positioned for the emerging Physical AI market, drawing on the added D&E technologies. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 April 2026

  • Second-quarter share repurchase planned: Management expects about $200 million of share repurchases in the second quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Remaining performance obligations, next 12 months Source$4.0 billion
Quarter-end backlog Source$8.0 billion
Recurring revenue share, first quarter 2026 Source77%
Recurring revenue share, trailing twelve months Source79%

Risks management discussed

  • External: The non-GAAP tax rate may change with the global tax environment and shifts in geographic earnings mix or strategy. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: The CFO commentary says first-quarter revenue and EPS exceeded the guidance given for the quarter. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.