SAIA vs. CDNS
SAIA (Saia, Inc.) and CDNS (Cadence Design Systems, Inc.) are both stocks. SAIA operates in Trucking (Industrials), while CDNS operates in Software - Application (Technology). Over the past 10 years, SAIA returned 34.06%/yr vs 31.92%/yr for CDNS. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
SAIA vs. CDNS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SAIA achieves a 47.21% return, which is significantly higher than CDNS's 26.12% return. Over the past 10 years, SAIA has outperformed CDNS with an annualized return of 34.06%, while CDNS has yielded a comparatively lower 31.92% annualized return.
SAIA
- 1D
- 3.04%
- 1M
- 6.87%
- YTD
- 47.21%
- 6M
- 44.97%
- 1Y
- 91.18%
- 3Y*
- 17.70%
- 5Y*
- 18.78%
- 10Y*
- 34.06%
CDNS
- 1D
- 4.80%
- 1M
- 8.70%
- YTD
- 26.12%
- 6M
- 16.88%
- 1Y
- 32.76%
- 3Y*
- 19.80%
- 5Y*
- 25.79%
- 10Y*
- 31.92%
SAIA vs. CDNS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAIA Saia, Inc. | 47.21% | -28.35% | 4.00% | 108.99% | -37.79% | 86.41% | 94.16% | 66.82% | -21.10% | 60.25% |
CDNS Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | 26.12% | 4.03% | 10.31% | 69.55% | -13.80% | 36.59% | 96.70% | 59.52% | 3.97% | 65.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between SAIA and CDNS is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 13, 2002 | 0.36 |
The correlation between SAIA and CDNS shifts across timeframes, from 0.23 (1 year) to 0.41 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
SAIA:
$12.89B
CDNS:
$107.91B
SAIA:
$9.52
CDNS:
$4.28
SAIA:
50.49
CDNS:
92.03
SAIA:
18.20
CDNS:
7.02
SAIA:
3.96
CDNS:
19.49
SAIA:
4.91
CDNS:
12.37
SAIA:
$3.25B
CDNS:
$5.53B
SAIA:
$1.27B
CDNS:
$4.91B
SAIA:
$603.31M
CDNS:
$1.87B
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Return for Risk
SAIA vs. CDNS — Risk / Return Rank
SAIA
CDNS
SAIA vs. CDNS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Saia, Inc. (SAIA) and Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| SAIA | CDNS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.07 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.18 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.68 | 1.14 | +2.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.66 | 2.42 | +7.24 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SAIA | CDNS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.92 | 0.85 | +1.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | 0.72 | -0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.75 | 0.94 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | 0.24 | +0.14 |
Drawdowns
SAIA vs. CDNS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SAIA drawdown since its inception was -80.35%, smaller than the maximum CDNS drawdown of -93.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SAIA and CDNS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SAIA | CDNS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -80.35% | -93.13% | +12.78% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.92% | -28.85% | +3.93% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -60.94% | -29.05% | -31.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -60.94% | -29.59% | -31.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -60.94% | -32.12% | -28.82% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -20.67% | -5.32% | -15.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -28.75% | -39.64% | +10.89% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.47% | 13.60% | -4.13% |
Volatility
SAIA vs. CDNS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Saia, Inc. (SAIA) is 10.29%, while Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS) has a volatility of 16.58%. This indicates that SAIA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CDNS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SAIA | CDNS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.29% | 16.58% | -6.29% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 34.85% | 31.69% | +3.16% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 47.90% | 39.02% | +8.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 51.36% | 36.20% | +15.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 45.74% | 34.13% | +11.61% |
Dividends
SAIA vs. CDNS - Dividend Comparison
Neither SAIA nor CDNS has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
SAIA vs. CDNS - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Saia, Inc. and Cadence Design Systems, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
SAIA vs. CDNS - Profitability Comparison
SAIA - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Saia, Inc. reported a gross profit of 741.90M and revenue of 806.23M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 92.0%.
CDNS - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Cadence Design Systems, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.41B and revenue of 1.47B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 95.9%.
SAIA - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Saia, Inc. reported an operating income of 66.81M and revenue of 806.23M, resulting in an operating margin of 8.3%.
CDNS - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Cadence Design Systems, Inc. reported an operating income of 431.33M and revenue of 1.47B, resulting in an operating margin of 29.3%.
SAIA - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Saia, Inc. reported a net income of 49.87M and revenue of 806.23M, resulting in a net margin of 6.2%.
CDNS - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Cadence Design Systems, Inc. reported a net income of 335.66M and revenue of 1.47B, resulting in a net margin of 22.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions
SAIA and CDNS have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CDNS has higher volatility (16.58%) compared to SAIA (10.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SAIA dropped -80.35% vs CDNS's -93.13%.
SAIA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs 0.85), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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