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ADBE vs. AKAM: Adobe vs. Akamai Stock Comparison

How do Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM) 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 Akamai (AKAM) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but ADBE is classified in Software while AKAM is classified in IT Services.

Company profile comparison for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
Profile ItemADBEAKAM
NameAdobe Inc.Akamai Technologies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareIT Services
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareInternet Services & Infrastructure
Market Capitalization93.14 billion USD11.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 13, 1986October 29, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADBE
AKAM
GSPC
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
Total Return (1Y)-27.09%-2.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-25.55%-9.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-18.62%-5.72%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADBE
AKAM
GSPC
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Adobe (ADBE) has an aggressive beta of 1.38, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Akamai (AKAM) is defensive at 0.69 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.62%62.11%
Beta (5Y)1.380.69
Max Drawdown (5Y)-71.90%-51.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M4.75M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADBE and AKAM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.75-0.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.04-0.17

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) at 61.90% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Akamai (AKAM) at 7.85%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

7.85%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
AKAM
7.85%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) at 28.05% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Akamai (AKAM) at 8.84%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

8.84%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
AKAM
8.84%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) at 34.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Akamai (AKAM) at 9.88%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

9.88%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
AKAM
9.88%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
ROE (TTM)61.90%7.85%
ROA (TTM)20.08%2.18%
Net Margin (TTM)28.05%8.84%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.82%9.88%
Gross Margin (TTM)89.25%56.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Akamai (AKAM) at 5.44% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 35.11% and Akamai (AKAM) at -6.12% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.53%5.44%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.52%5.18%
EPS Growth (YoY)35.11%-6.12%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.25%-1.98%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.13 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Adobe (ADBE) at 0.77 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADBE.

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

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.13

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
AKAM
2.13
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Akamai (AKAM) at 1.84 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

1.84

Max
2.52
AKAM
1.84
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.772.13
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.581.84
Net Debt / EBITDA0.125.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Akamai (AKAM) 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%

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

AKAM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Akamai (AKAM) 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%

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

AKAM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
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 Akamai (AKAM) at 32.33 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

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

32.33

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
AKAM
32.33
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Adobe (ADBE) at 3.59 and Akamai (AKAM) at 2.72 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

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.72

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
AKAM
2.72
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Adobe (ADBE) at 7.95 and Akamai (AKAM) at 2.32 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.32

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
AKAM
2.32
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Akamai (AKAM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Akamai (AKAM)
MetricADBEAKAM
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.3632.33
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.592.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.952.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.03%1.51%