VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. vs Lifco AB (publ)

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

CDNS · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$82B
Gross margin (TTM)87.8%
Operating margin (TTM)28.5%
Net margin (TTM)20.4%
SectorTechnology
IndustrySoftware - Application
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
84/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Cadence Design Systems, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CDNS analysis

Lifco AB (publ)

LIFCO-B · Nasdaq Stockholm

Market cap (USD)$152.8B
Gross margin (TTM)43.9%
Operating margin (TTM)18.4%
Net margin (TTM)12.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryConglomerates
CountrySE
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
58/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Lifco AB (publ)'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LIFCO-B analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Lifco AB (publ)).
  • Segment focus: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 3 segments (71% in Core EDA); Lifco AB (publ) has 3 segments (51.2% in Systems Solutions).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Lifco AB (publ) has 8 across 2.

Primary market context

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

Core EDA

Market

Electronic design automation tools for semiconductor IC design and verification (digital, custom/analog, signoff, functional verification)

Geography

Global

Customer

Semiconductor designers (fabless and IDMs) and system companies with in-house silicon teams

Role

Tool vendor / workflow platform

Revenue share

71%

Lifco AB (publ)

Systems Solutions

Market

Niche B2B systems solutions (contract manufacturing, environmental technology, infrastructure products, special products, transportation products)

Geography

Primarily Europe; global customers where applicable

Customer

B2B OEMs and industrial customers

Role

Niche manufacturer and systems solution provider

Revenue share

51.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Lifco AB (publ)
Ticker / Exchange
CDNS - NASDAQ
LIFCO-B - Nasdaq Stockholm
Market cap (USD)
$82B
$152.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
87.8%
43.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
28.5%
18.4%
Net margin (TTM)
20.4%
12.8%
Sector
Technology
Industrials
Industry
Software - Application
Conglomerates
HQ country
US
SE
Primary segment
Core EDA
Systems Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
29%-31% (estimated)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
84 / 100
58 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal, Supply
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-29
2026-01-06

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow LockinDesign In QualificationInstalled Base ConsumablesCapex Knowhow ScaleService Field Network

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. strengths

Suite BundlingLong Term ContractsIP Choke Point

Lifco AB (publ) strengths

Distribution ControlBrand TrustOperational Excellence

Segment mix

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Core EDA

Oligopoly

71%

Semiconductor IP

Oligopoly

13%

System Design and Analysis

Competitive

16%

Lifco AB (publ) segments

Full profile >

Dental

Oligopoly

24.1%

Demolition & Tools

Oligopoly

24.7%

Systems Solutions

Competitive

51.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.