greeksoup/ stock research

Cadence Design Systems Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 July 2026: press release, CFO commentary. Guidance figures: 8 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose to $1.584 billion: Revenue was $1.584 billion, against $1.275 billion in Q2 2025, a rise of about 24%. Product and maintenance revenue was $1.431 billion and services $154 million. Source
  • Record backlog and next-12-month RPO: Quarter-end backlog was a record $8.1 billion. Revenue expected from remaining performance obligations in the next 12 months was $4.2 billion, against $4.0 billion at Q1 2026. Source
  • IP revenue grew over 40%: IP revenue grew more than 40% year over year on demand for the Star IP portfolio, with a significant agreement with Intel highlighted. Source
  • AI demand accelerating on both fronts: The CEO attributed the quarter to accelerating demand for AI-driven solutions across Design for AI and AI for Design. Source
  • GAAP margin rose to 28.4%: GAAP operating margin was 28.4%, against 19.0% in Q2 2025. The prior-year period included a $128.5 million loss related to resolving legal proceedings with the DOJ and BIS. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $635 million: Net cash from operating activities was $635 million, against $378 million in Q2 2025. Free cash flow was $582 million after $53 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Only full-flow agentic AI provider: Management said Cadence is the only provider with agentic solutions across the full electronic system design flow, and that it is uniquely positioned for a large market expansion. Source

“Cadence delivered an outstanding Q2 driven by broad-based strength and the accelerating demand for our AI-driven solutions across both Design for AI and AI for Design fronts,”

Anirudh Devgan, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFY2026$6.26 billion to $6.34 billionRaised from $6.125 billion to $6.225 billion
Revenue growth SourceFY202618% to 20%, about 19% at the midpointRaised from 16% to 18%
GAAP operating margin SourceFY202627.75% to 28.75%Raised from 27.5% to 28.5%
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFY202643.75% to 44.75%Raised from 43.5% to 44.5%
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFY2026$4.76 to $4.86Raised from $4.39 to $4.49
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFY2026$8.05 to $8.15Raised from $7.85 to $7.95
Cash flow from operations SourceFY2026~$2,000 million (about $2.0 billion)Raised from $1,875 million to $1,975 million
Capital expenditures SourceFY2026~$240 millionKept
Share repurchases as share of free cash flow SourceFY2026approximately 50% of free cash flow
Non-GAAP tax rate SourceFY202616.5%Kept
GAAP other income and expense SourceFY2026$(17) million to $3 millionRaised from $(101) million to $(81) million
Revenue from beginning backlog SourceFY2026about 65%Lowered from about 66%
Revenue SourceQ3 2026$1.595 billion to $1.625 billionNew
GAAP operating margin SourceQ3 202627.5% to 28.5%New
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceQ3 202643.5% to 44.5%New
GAAP diluted EPS SourceQ3 2026$1.11 to $1.17New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceQ3 2026$2.01 to $2.07New
Share repurchases SourceQ3 2026approximately $200 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue growth, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP EPS and operating cash flow ranges raised. Source
  • New: AuraStack AI Super Agent launched for advanced packaging and PCB design. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose to $1.584 billion: Revenue was $1.584 billion, against $1.275 billion in Q2 2025, a rise of about 24%. Product and maintenance revenue was $1.431 billion and services $154 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $2.11: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.11 against $1.65 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.33 against $0.59. Source
  • Growth broad across all businesses: Management described broad-based strength, with double-digit growth across all businesses, and linked it to demand for AI-driven solutions. Source
  • Record backlog and next-12-month RPO: Quarter-end backlog was a record $8.1 billion. Revenue expected from remaining performance obligations in the next 12 months was $4.2 billion, against $4.0 billion at Q1 2026. Source

Segments and regions

  • IP revenue grew over 40%: IP revenue grew more than 40% year over year on demand for the Star IP portfolio, with a significant agreement with Intel highlighted. Source
  • Core EDA grew 18% on AI portfolio: Core EDA revenue grew 18% year over year, driven by demand for the AI portfolio and wider adoption across hyperscalers, top semiconductor companies and startups. Source
  • System Design and Analysis grew 37%: System Design and Analysis revenue grew 37% year over year, driven by PCB and advanced packaging adoption and integration of Hexagon D&E. Source
  • China rose to 15% of revenue: China was 15% of Q2 2026 revenue, against 9% in Q2 2025 and 13% in Q1 2026. Americas was 43%, down from 49% a year earlier. Source

“Cadence delivered excellent results for the second quarter of 2026, with broad-based strength driving double-digit growth across all our businesses,”

John Wall, senior vice president and chief financial officer

Products, customers and demand

  • Hardware posted another record quarter: Hardware had another record quarter, with 12 new customers and larger deals with hyperscalers and leading AI innovators. Source
  • AI Super Agents show early traction: Management reported early traction for the AI Super Agents portfolio, with customer results across ChipStack, ViraStack and InnoStack. Source
  • AI demand accelerating on both fronts: The CEO attributed the quarter to accelerating demand for AI-driven solutions across Design for AI and AI for Design. Source
  • Recurring revenue flat at 78%: Recurring revenue was 78% of Q2 2026 revenue, the same share as Q2 2025, with up-front revenue at 22%. Source

Costs, margins and gross margin

  • GAAP margin rose to 28.4%: GAAP operating margin was 28.4%, against 19.0% in Q2 2025. The prior-year period included a $128.5 million loss related to resolving legal proceedings with the DOJ and BIS. Source
  • Non-GAAP margin rose to 45.5%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 45.5%, against 42.8% a year earlier. Amortization of acquired intangibles rose to 5.0% of revenue from 1.8%. Source
  • GAAP gross margin lower than last year: GAAP gross margin was 84.9%, down from 85.6% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 88.2%, up from 87.2%. Source
  • R&D and total costs rose: Research and development expense was $531.3 million, against $442.1 million in Q2 2025. Total GAAP costs and expenses were $1,134 million, against $1,034 million. Source

“we are now raising our 2026 outlook to 19% revenue growth, non-GAAP operating margin to 44.25%, non-GAAP EPS to $8.10, and operating cash flow to $2 billion at the midpoint.”

John Wall, senior vice president and chief financial officer

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow reached $635 million: Net cash from operating activities was $635 million, against $378 million in Q2 2025. Free cash flow was $582 million after $53 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Repurchases of $200 million in Q2: The company repurchased $200 million of shares in Q2 2026, against $175 million in Q2 2025. Six-month repurchases were $400.0 million. Source
  • Cash fell to $1.44 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $1.44 billion at June 30, 2026, against $3.00 billion at December 31, 2025. Principal debt was $2.5 billion. Source
  • Acquisitions used $2.1 billion of cash: Cash paid in business combinations, net of cash acquired, was $2.10 billion in the six months to June 30, 2026, against $122 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivable days rose to 65: DSO was 65 days in Q2 2026, against 51 days in Q2 2025, and management expects about 65 days for the year. Source

Strategy and people

  • Only full-flow agentic AI provider: Management said Cadence is the only provider with agentic solutions across the full electronic system design flow, and that it is uniquely positioned for a large market expansion. Source
  • Headcount rose to 15,445: Headcount was 15,445 at Q2 2026, against 13,152 a year earlier and 15,110 at Q1 2026. Source
  • Hexagon D&E integration continues: Management linked System Design and Analysis growth in part to continued integration of the Hexagon D&E business. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 July 2026

  • Q3 share repurchases of about $200 million: Management expects to use approximately $200 million to repurchase shares in the third quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Remaining performance obligations Source$4.2 billion to be recognized in the next 12 months
Recurring revenue Source78% of Q2 2026 revenue
Customer counts Source12 new hardware customers in Q2 2026
Large customers Sourcesignificant agreement with Intel

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said Q2 2026 results exceeded its revenue, non-GAAP operating margin and EPS guidance. 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.