ADBE vs. ADSK: Adobe vs. Autodesk Stock Comparison
How do Adobe (ADBE) and Autodesk (ADSK) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Adobe (ADBE) and Autodesk (ADSK) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Adobe Inc. | Autodesk Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Application Software | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 93.14 billion USD | 54.70 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 13, 1986 | June 28, 1985 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -27.09% | -11.86% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -25.55% | 8.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -18.62% | -4.48% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.62% | 40.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.38 | 1.22 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -71.90% | -50.75% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.61M | 2.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.75 | -0.40 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.04 | -0.57 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Adobe (ADBE) at 61.90% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Autodesk (ADSK) at 53.85% also sits in the top quartile.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
61.90%
- ADBE
- 61.90%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
53.85%
- ADSK
- 53.85%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Adobe (ADBE) at 28.05% and Autodesk (ADSK) at 21.08% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
28.05%
- Max
- 41.17%
- ADBE
- 28.05%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
21.08%
- Max
- 41.17%
- ADSK
- 21.08%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 34.82% and Autodesk (ADSK) at 29.23% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
34.82%
- Max
- 46.89%
- ADBE
- 34.82%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
29.23%
- Max
- 46.89%
- ADSK
- 29.23%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 61.90% | 53.85% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.08% | 11.47% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.05% | 21.08% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.82% | 29.23% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 89.25% | 92.50% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53% and Autodesk (ADSK) at 17.53% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 35.11% and Autodesk (ADSK) at 2.15% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.53% | 17.53% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.52% | 12.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 35.11% | 2.15% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.25% | 11.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.77 and Autodesk (ADSK) at 0.86 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
0.77
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- ADBE
- 0.77
- Min
- 0.03
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
0.86
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- ADSK
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 and Autodesk (ADSK) at 1.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
0.58
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- ADBE
- 0.58
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
1.10
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- ADSK
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.77 | 0.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.58 | 1.10 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.12 | -0.20 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Autodesk (ADSK) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- ADBE
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- ADSK
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Autodesk (ADSK) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- ADBE
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- ADSK
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Adobe (ADBE) at 13.36 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Autodesk (ADSK) at 33.95 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for ADBE, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
13.36
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- ADBE
- 13.36
- Min
- 6.69
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
33.95
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- ADSK
- 33.95
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Adobe (ADBE) at 3.59 and Autodesk (ADSK) at 7.02 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
3.59
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- ADBE
- 3.59
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
7.02
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- ADSK
- 7.02
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Adobe (ADBE) at 7.95 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Autodesk (ADSK) at 16.17 carries an above-peer premium to book — ADSK is pricier on assets.
ADBE
Software & Services industry group
7.95
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- ADBE
- 7.95
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
ADSK
Software & Services industry group
16.17
- Max
- 16.63
- ADSK
- 16.17
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | ADSK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.36 | 33.95 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.59 | 7.02 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.95 | 16.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.03% | 5.77% |