Cadence Design Systems Inc vs First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Idx Fd — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $325.87 (market cap $90.20B), while First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Idx Fd trades at $53.32. The key difference: First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Idx Fd is trading nearer its 52-week high, Cadence Design Systems Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | QCLN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $90.20B | — |
Sector | Technology | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $68.47 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $36.11 |
Enterprise Value | $91.41B | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at $331.91, down 2.16% amid a bearish technical signal, though it remains supported by strong fundamentals. The company reported Q2 2026 earnings that beat estimates, with revenue growth of 24.2% driven by AI demand, and raised its full-year outlook. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with an average price target of $415.11, representing 25% upside potential from current levels.
The stock offers compelling growth prospects from AI-driven semiconductor design demand, with record backlog of $8.1 billion supporting future revenue visibility. Key risks include high valuation multiples (P/E 65.12) and potential semiconductor cycle volatility. Institutional ownership remains strong with recent position increases by major funds like Amundi.
QCLN trades at $53.31, up 2.42% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages, though oscillators are neutral. The ETF focuses on clean energy, benefiting from long-term growth themes like rising data center power demand and global energy security investments. Recent news highlights sector momentum but notes regulatory and supply chain pressures.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic, supported by structural energy transition trends, but risks include U.S. permit delays, geopolitical tensions affecting Chinese suppliers, and cost inflation. The absence of key valuation ratios limits fundamental assessment, requiring reliance on sector trends and technical levels for near-term direction.
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 →QCLN invests in U.S.-listed companies engaged in clean energy technologies. It focuses on solar power, wind, electric vehicles, and energy storage, with major holdings in firms like Tesla, ON Semiconductor, and Rivian.
Read more on QCLN →