Methods and apparatus for analyzing and processing loops within an integrated circuit design are described. According to one embodiment, the processing comprises unrolling loops. In another embodiment, the processing comprises pipelining loops. In yet another embodiment, the processing comprises merging loops. In any of the disclosed embodiments, loops comprise independent loops, dependent loops or some combination thereof. Other embodiments for processing loops are disclosed, as well as integrated circuits and circuit design databases resulting from the disclosed methods. Computer-executable media storing instructions for performing the disclosed methods are also disclosed.