VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. vs Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

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

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

LYV · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$33.7B
Gross margin (TTM)46.2%
Operating margin (TTM)4.7%
Net margin (TTM)3.7%
SectorCommunication Services
IndustryEntertainment
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
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 Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LYV analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 84 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 3 segments (71% in Core EDA); Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has 3 segments (82.2% in Concerts).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has 6 across 3.

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%

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

Concerts

Market

Live music concert promotion, festival production, and music venue operations

Geography

Global

Customer

Artists/agents (supply) and fans (end-users); venues and festivals; corporate partners

Role

Promoter + venue operator

Revenue share

82.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
CDNS - NASDAQ
LYV - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$82B
$33.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
87.8%
46.2%
Operating margin (TTM)
28.5%
4.7%
Net margin (TTM)
20.4%
3.7%
Sector
Technology
Communication Services
Industry
Software - Application
Entertainment
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Core EDA
Concerts
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
29%-31% (estimated)
55%-65% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
3,600
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
84 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal, Supply
Supply, Demand, Network
Last update
2025-12-29
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow LockinLong Term ContractsService Field Network

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. strengths

Suite BundlingDesign In QualificationInstalled Base ConsumablesIP Choke PointCapex Knowhow Scale

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityTwo Sided NetworkScope Economies

Segment mix

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Core EDA

Oligopoly

71%

Semiconductor IP

Oligopoly

13%

System Design and Analysis

Competitive

16%

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Concerts

Oligopoly

82.2%

Ticketing

Quasi-Monopoly

12.9%

Sponsorship & Advertising

Competitive

5.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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

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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.