ADBE vs. APP: Adobe vs. AppLovin Stock Comparison
How do Adobe (ADBE) and AppLovin (APP) 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 AppLovin (APP) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Adobe (ADBE) has more than two decades of public-market history since August 13, 1986, whereas AppLovin (APP) listed on April 15, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Adobe Inc. | AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock |
| 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 | 129.62 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 13, 1986 | April 15, 2021 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -27.09% | -34.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -25.55% | 116.87% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -18.62% | 31.34% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.62% | 80.36% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.38 | 2.25 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -71.90% | -91.90% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.61M | 5.33M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.75 | -0.49 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.04 | -0.69 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 61.90% and AppLovin (APP) at 210.09% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.
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%
APP
Software & Services industry group
210.09%
- APP
- 210.09%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 65.89% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Adobe (ADBE) at 28.05% also retains a top-quartile 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%
APP
Software & Services industry group
65.89%
- APP
- 65.89%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 78.22% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Adobe (ADBE) at 34.82% also operates in the top quartile.
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%
APP
Software & Services industry group
78.22%
- APP
- 78.22%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 61.90% | 210.09% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.08% | 49.57% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.05% | 65.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.82% | 78.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 89.25% | 88.78% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
AppLovin (APP) at 115.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Adobe (ADBE) at 35.11% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for APP.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.53% | 69.99% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.52% | 24.84% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 35.11% | 115.23% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.25% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Adobe (ADBE) at 0.77 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
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
APP
Software & Services industry group
3.81
- Max
- 5.11
- APP
- 3.81
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 and AppLovin (APP) at 1.07 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
APP
Software & Services industry group
1.07
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- APP
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.77 | 3.81 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.58 | 1.07 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.12 | 0.06 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor AppLovin (APP) 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%
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 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 AppLovin (APP) 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%
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| 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 AppLovin (APP) at 26.34 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
APP
Software & Services industry group
26.34
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- APP
- 26.34
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Adobe (ADBE) at 3.59 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while AppLovin (APP) at 17.04 sits in the pricier quartile — APP costs more per dollar of sales.
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
APP
Software & Services industry group
17.04
- Max
- 17.91
- APP
- 17.04
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Adobe (ADBE) at 7.95 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while AppLovin (APP) at 39.29 prices above its benchmark range — APP looks rich relative to book.
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
APP
Software & Services industry group
39.29
- APP
- 39.29
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | APP |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.36 | 26.34 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.59 | 17.04 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.95 | 39.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.03% | 2.87% |