ADBE vs. PLTR: Adobe vs. Palantir Stock Comparison
How do Adobe (ADBE) and Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Adobe Inc. | Palantir Technologies Inc. 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 | 386.44 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 13, 1986 | September 30, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -27.09% | -4.94% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -25.55% | 109.97% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -18.62% | 47.47% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.62% | 60.50% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.38 | 1.63 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -71.90% | -75.26% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.61M | 27.20M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.75 | -0.15 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.04 | -0.24 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Adobe (ADBE) at 61.90% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
40.91%
- Max
- 53.85%
- PLTR
- 40.91%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
50.34%
- PLTR
- 50.34%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 34.82% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
46.89%
- PLTR
- 46.89%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 61.90% | 40.91% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.08% | 19.31% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.05% | 50.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.82% | 46.89% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 89.25% | 84.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% 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
Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Adobe (ADBE) at 35.11%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.53% | 56.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.52% | 32.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 35.11% | 231.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.25% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
7.10
- PLTR
- 7.10
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.02
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- PLTR
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.77 | 7.10 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.58 | 0.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.12 | -3.08 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Palantir (PLTR) 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 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 Palantir (PLTR) 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
112.94
- PLTR
- 112.94
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Adobe (ADBE) at 3.59 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 clears its benchmark range — PLTR looks notably rich on 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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
53.02
- PLTR
- 53.02
- Max
- 17.91
- 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices above its benchmark range — PLTR 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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
34.41
- PLTR
- 34.41
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.36 | 112.94 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.59 | 53.02 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.95 | 34.41 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.03% | 0.69% |