Semiconductor Design Software Executives Sell Shares Worth Billions

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDNS) disclosed that several of its senior executives, including a Senior Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer, sold portions of their holdings in May under prearranged 10b5-1 trading plans. On May 1, Senior Vice President Paul Scanell sold more than 10,000 shares at approximately $339 per share, generating roughly $3.56 million (about KRW 5 billion). On May 5, CFO John M. Wall disposed of 5,000 shares, netting around $1.74 million (approximately KRW 2.2 billion). Then on May 22, Senior Vice President Chinchi Teng exercised part of his stock options and sold about 4,000 shares for roughly $1.68 million (around KRW 2.2 billion). Even after these transactions, each executive continues to hold tens of thousands of Cadence shares.

In its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, announced April 27, Cadence reported revenue of $1.474 billion—a 19 percent year-over-year increase—and a record backlog of $8 billion. Citing robust demand for AI applications, the company raised its full-year fiscal 2026 revenue growth outlook to approximately 17 percent. Recently, Cadence has broadened its technology partnerships in the AI and autonomous-vehicle ecosystem, expanding collaboration with TSMC to accelerate next-generation AI chip design and showcasing its Vision DSP IP in 4D LiDAR solutions developed by Aeva.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Cadence is a global leader in electronic-design-automation software and semiconductor IP, supplying essential tools for chip design, verification and system analysis to semiconductor designers, foundries and system companies worldwide. Following its 2025 acquisition of Hexagon’s design and engineering business and the rollout of Physical AI and multiphysics analysis solutions in 2026, Cadence is extending its reach beyond semiconductors into autonomous driving and industrial simulation.