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ADBE vs. DOCU: Adobe vs. DocuSign Stock Comparison

How do Adobe (ADBE) and DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU) 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 DocuSign (DOCU)
Profile ItemADBEDOCU
NameAdobe Inc.DocuSign 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 USD14.51 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 13, 1986April 27, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADBE
DOCU
GSPC
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU), 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 DocuSign (DOCU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
Total Return (1Y)-27.09%12.03%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-25.55%24.94%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-18.62%-22.27%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.62%48.32%
Beta (5Y)1.380.79
Max Drawdown (5Y)-71.90%-86.00%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M2.99M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADBE and DOCU 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 DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.750.16
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.040.23

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) at 61.90% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than DocuSign (DOCU) at 17.80%, 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%

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

17.80%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
DOCU
17.80%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU): 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 9.82%, 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%

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

9.82%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
DOCU
9.82%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU): 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 13.43%, 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%

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

13.43%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
DOCU
13.43%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
ROE (TTM)61.90%17.80%
ROA (TTM)20.08%6.35%
Net Margin (TTM)28.05%9.82%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.82%13.43%
Gross Margin (TTM)89.25%79.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53% and DocuSign (DOCU) at 8.16% 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. DocuSign (DOCU): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Adobe (ADBE) at 35.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while DocuSign (DOCU) at -70.87% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.53%8.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.52%8.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)35.11%-70.87%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.25%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.77 and DocuSign (DOCU) at 0.64 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

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.64

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
DOCU
0.64
Min
0.03
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 and DocuSign (DOCU) at 0.11 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

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.11

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
DOCU
0.11
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU): 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 DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.770.64
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.580.11
Net Debt / EBITDA0.12-1.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor DocuSign (DOCU) 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%

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor DocuSign (DOCU) 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%

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 47.32 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

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

47.32

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
DOCU
47.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU): 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 4.32 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

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

4.32

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
DOCU
4.32
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. DocuSign (DOCU): 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 DocuSign (DOCU) at 8.50 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

DOCU

Software & Services industry group

8.50

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and DocuSign (DOCU)
MetricADBEDOCU
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.3647.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.594.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.958.50
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.03%9.05%