Cadence Design Systems Inc vs First Solar, Inc. — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $323.6 (market cap $90.20B), while First Solar, Inc. trades at $227.8 (market cap $25.89B). The key difference: Cadence Design Systems Inc is far larger — about 3.5× First Solar, Inc.'s market cap. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | FSLR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $90.20B | $25.89B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $318.30 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $180.05 |
Enterprise Value | $91.41B | $24.36B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at $322.68, down 2.78% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The stock shows strong fundamentals, including a 24.2% revenue growth in Q2 2026, a net income margin of 23.61%, and consistent earnings beats. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $415.11 price target, supported by AI-driven demand boosting backlog to $8.1 billion.
Outlook remains positive due to robust AI adoption and raised 2026 guidance, but risks include high valuation multiples and market volatility. The stock offers growth potential, though investors should monitor competitive pressures and execution risks in the semiconductor design software sector.
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $228.27, down 4.62% on the day, amid mixed signals. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving averages, though RSI levels suggest potential overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company reported robust revenue growth to $5.22B in 2025, with a net income margin of 29.27%, while recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026. However, multiple class-action lawsuits filed in August 2026 create near-term legal overhang.
The outlook remains positive given analyst consensus favoring a buy rating with a $282.07 price target, implying significant upside. Key risks include legal proceedings and competitive pressures in the solar sector. Earnings growth and operational cash flow strength support long-term value, but investors should weigh legal uncertainties against fundamental strengths.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Cadence Design Systems is a provider of electronic design automation software, intellectual property, and system design and analysis products. EDA software automates the chip design process, enhancing design accuracy, productivity, and complexity in a full-flow end-to-end solution. Cadence offers a portfolio of design IP, as well as system design and analysis products, which enable system-level analysis and verification solutions. Cadence's comprehensive portfolio is benefiting from a mutual convergence of semiconductor companies moving up-stack toward systems-like companies, and systems companies moving down-stack toward in-house chip design. The resulting expansion in EDA customers, alongside secular digitalization of various end markets, benefits EDA vendors like Cadence.
Read more on CDNS →First Solar designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic panels, modules, and systems for use in utility-scale development projects. The company's solar modules use cadmium telluride to convert sunlight into electricity. This is commonly called thin-film technology. First Solar is the world's largest thin-film solar module manufacturer. It has production lines in Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and a new factory under construction in India.
Read more on FSLR →