Seek Returns

ADBE vs. CRM: Adobe vs. Salesforce Stock Comparison

How do Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM) 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 Salesforce (CRM) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM)
Profile ItemADBECRM
NameAdobe Inc.Salesforce, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization93.14 billion USD175.83 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 13, 1986June 23, 2004
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADBE
CRM
GSPC
Loading price history…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
Total Return (1Y)-27.09%-9.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-25.55%1.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-18.62%-6.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADBE
CRM
GSPC
Loading price history…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.62%47.53%
Beta (5Y)1.381.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)-71.90%-58.67%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M11.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ADBE and CRM 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 Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.75-0.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.04-0.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Adobe (ADBE) at 61.90% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Salesforce (CRM) at 19.38% 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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

19.38%

Max
53.85%
CRM
19.38%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM) at 21.99% 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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

21.99%

Max
41.17%
CRM
21.99%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 34.82% and Salesforce (CRM) at 21.38% 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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

21.38%

Max
46.89%
CRM
21.38%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
ROE (TTM)61.90%19.38%
ROA (TTM)20.08%5.70%
Net Margin (TTM)28.05%21.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.82%21.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)89.25%77.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53% and Salesforce (CRM) at 9.58% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 35.11% and Salesforce (CRM) at 22.64% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.53%9.58%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.52%9.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)35.11%22.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.25%233.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.77 and Salesforce (CRM) at 0.84 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

0.84

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
CRM
0.84
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 and Salesforce (CRM) 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

1.10

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
CRM
1.10
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.770.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.581.10
Net Debt / EBITDA0.122.40

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 Salesforce (CRM) reports a yield of 0.77%, 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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

0.77%

CRM
0.77%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM) reports a payout of 15.66%, 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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

15.66%

CRM
15.66%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%15.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) at 13.36 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Salesforce (CRM) at 19.55 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

19.55

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
CRM
19.55
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM) at 4.00 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

4.00

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
CRM
4.00
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM) at 4.58 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

4.58

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
CRM
4.58
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
Loading chart…
Adobe (ADBE) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADBECRM
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.3619.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.594.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.954.58
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.03%10.08%