Cadence Design Systems Inc vs Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF — how do they compare? Cadence Design Systems Inc trades at $325.87 (market cap $90.20B), while Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF trades at $298.63. The key difference: Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Cadence Design Systems Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CDNS | QQQM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $90.20B | — |
Sector | Technology | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $416.39 | $307.23 |
52-Week Low | $265.66 | $229.87 |
Enterprise Value | $91.41B | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) trades at $326.75, down 1.55% amid a bearish technical signal, though strong fundamentals persist with Q2 2026 earnings beating estimates and AI-driven backlog hitting $8.1B. Revenue growth accelerated to 24% year-over-year, while profitability remains robust with 85.87% gross margins. The stock faces near-term pressure from technical indicators but maintains strong analyst support with an $415.11 consensus target.
The outlook remains positive given Cadence's leadership in semiconductor design software and exposure to AI growth, though high valuations (P/E 65.12) and technical bearishness pose risks. Investor sentiment is buoyed by record backlog and raised 2026 guidance, but competition and macroeconomic sensitivity could challenge further upside.
QQQM, tracking the Nasdaq-100, trades at $298.55, up 0.59% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The ETF benefits from lower fees compared to QQQ, attracting cost-conscious investors. Recent news highlights its inclusion in retirement portfolios and strong inflows into Nasdaq-focused ETFs, supported by tech sector performance.
Outlook remains positive due to tech-led growth, but risks include market volatility and concentration in mega-cap stocks. The ETF offers exposure to high-growth companies, with institutional activity showing mixed signals, such as Bank of America reducing its position in Q2 2026.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →QQQM is an ETF designed to track the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index. It provides exposure to the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ. Positioned as a lower-cost and more long-term-investor-friendly alternative to its peer QQQ, QQQM offers the same fundamental market exposure but typically has a lower share price and is structured to appeal to investors focused on accumulation rather than active trading.
Read more on QQQM →