CDNS vs ADSK: which was the better investment?
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. against Autodesk, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 10, 1987 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did CDNS beat ADSK?
Yes — measured from Jun 10, 1987 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, CDNS came out ahead: $1,889,600 versus $804,414 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.3% annual return against 11.9%.
What would $10,000 in CDNS be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS) on Jun 10, 1987 would be worth about $1,889,600 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 18796.0% (14.3% per year). The same $10,000 in ADSK would be worth $804,414.
Which was riskier — CDNS or ADSK?
CDNS swung with an annualized volatility of 46.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -93.1%; ADSK ran at 45.0% volatility with a -76.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.27 for CDNS vs 0.22 for ADSK.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 10, 1987 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with CDNS vs ADSK. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.