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ADBE vs. BSY: Adobe vs. Bentley Systems Stock Comparison

How do Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY) 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) listed on September 23, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY)
Profile ItemADBEBSY
NameAdobe Inc.Bentley Systems, Incorporated Class B Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization93.14 billion USD13.50 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 13, 1986September 23, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADBE
BSY
GSPC
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY), 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 Bentley Systems (BSY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
Total Return (1Y)-27.09%-2.57%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-25.55%-3.01%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-18.62%-5.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADBE
BSY
GSPC
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY), 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 Bentley Systems (BSY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.62%41.49%
Beta (5Y)1.380.92
Max Drawdown (5Y)-71.90%-53.94%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M2.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADBE and BSY 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 Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.75-0.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.04-0.25

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Adobe (ADBE) at 61.90% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Bentley Systems (BSY) at 26.03% 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%

BSY

Software & Services industry group

26.03%

Max
53.85%
BSY
26.03%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Adobe (ADBE) at 28.05% and Bentley Systems (BSY) at 19.57% 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%

BSY

Software & Services industry group

19.57%

Max
41.17%
BSY
19.57%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 34.82% and Bentley Systems (BSY) at 29.81% 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%

BSY

Software & Services industry group

29.81%

Max
46.89%
BSY
29.81%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
ROE (TTM)61.90%26.03%
ROA (TTM)20.08%7.73%
Net Margin (TTM)28.05%19.57%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.82%29.81%
Gross Margin (TTM)89.25%82.37%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53% and Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.99% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 35.11% and Bentley Systems (BSY) at 18.06% 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. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.53%10.99%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.52%10.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)35.11%18.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.25%15.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.77 and Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.65 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

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.65

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
BSY
0.65
Min
0.03
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 and Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.94 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

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.94

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
BSY
0.94
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): 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 Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.770.65
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.580.94
Net Debt / EBITDA0.122.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Bentley Systems (BSY) reports a yield of 0.62%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.62%

BSY
0.62%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Bentley Systems (BSY) reports a payout of 27.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

BSY

Software & Services industry group

27.72%

BSY
27.72%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.62%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%27.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) at 13.36 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 44.21 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

BSY

Software & Services industry group

44.21

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
BSY
44.21
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): 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 Bentley Systems (BSY) at 8.19 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

BSY

Software & Services industry group

8.19

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
BSY
8.19
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Adobe (ADBE) at 7.95 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.79 carries an above-peer premium to book — BSY 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

BSY

Software & Services industry group

10.79

Max
16.63
BSY
10.79
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Bentley Systems (BSY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Bentley Systems (BSY)
MetricADBEBSY
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.3644.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.598.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.9510.79
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.03%2.74%