ADBE vs. U: Adobe vs. Unity Software Stock Comparison
How do Adobe (ADBE) and Unity Software (U) 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 Unity Software (U) 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 Unity Software (U) listed on September 18, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Adobe Inc. | Unity Software Inc. |
| 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 | 22.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 13, 1986 | September 18, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -27.09% | 30.56% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -25.55% | 27.46% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -18.62% | -21.16% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.62% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.38 | 1.97 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -71.90% | -93.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.61M | 10.92M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.75 | 0.37 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.04 | 0.51 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Unity Software (U) reports a negative ROE of -9.66%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Adobe (ADBE) reports 61.90%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
U
Software & Services industry group
-9.66%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- U
- -9.66%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Unity Software (U) reports a negative net margin of -15.60%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Adobe (ADBE) reports 28.05%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
U
Software & Services industry group
-15.60%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- U
- -15.60%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Adobe (ADBE) at 34.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Unity Software (U) at 16.95%, 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
16.95%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- U
- 16.95%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 61.90% | -9.66% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.08% | -0.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.05% | -15.60% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.82% | 16.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 89.25% | 78.49% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Unity Software (U) at 2.01% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Adobe (ADBE) reports EPS growth of 35.11%, ranked against its industry; Unity Software (U) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.53% | 2.01% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.52% | 9.96% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 35.11% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.25% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Unity Software (U) at 2.17 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Adobe (ADBE) at 0.77 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADBE.
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
U
Software & Services industry group
2.17
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- U
- 2.17
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 and Unity Software (U) at 0.66 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
U
Software & Services industry group
0.66
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- U
- 0.66
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.77 | 2.17 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.58 | 0.66 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.12 | -0.86 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Unity Software (U) 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- U
- 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 Unity Software (U) 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- U
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Adobe (ADBE) trades at 13.36 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Unity Software (U) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
U
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
- U
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Adobe (ADBE) at 3.59 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Unity Software (U) at 10.48 sits in the pricier quartile — U 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
U
Software & Services industry group
10.48
- Max
- 17.91
- U
- 10.48
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Adobe (ADBE) at 7.95 and Unity Software (U) at 7.03 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
U
Software & Services industry group
7.03
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- U
- 7.03
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADBE | U |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.36 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.59 | 10.48 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.95 | 7.03 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.03% | 2.76% |