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ADBE vs. ZS: Adobe vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

How do Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS) 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 Zscaler (ZS) both belong to the Software industry, though ADBE is classified under Application Software while ZS falls under Systems Software.

Company profile comparison for Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemADBEZS
NameAdobe Inc.Zscaler Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization93.14 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 13, 1986March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADBE
ZS
GSPC
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
Total Return (1Y)-27.09%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-25.55%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-18.62%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.62%68.66%
Beta (5Y)1.380.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-71.90%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADBE and ZS 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.75-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.04-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative ROE of -2.87%; 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-2.87%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
ZS
-2.87%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.89%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
ZS
-1.89%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative operating margin of -1.01%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Adobe (ADBE) reports 34.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.01%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
ZS
-1.01%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
ROE (TTM)61.90%-2.87%
ROA (TTM)20.08%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)28.05%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.82%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)89.25%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 10.53% and Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% 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. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Adobe (ADBE) reports EPS growth of 35.11%, ranked against its industry; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.53%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.52%27.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)35.11%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.25%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

1.70

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
ZS
1.70
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Adobe (ADBE) at 0.58 and Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ZS
0.72
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.771.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.580.72
Net Debt / EBITDA0.12-36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Adobe (ADBE) nor Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
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 Zscaler (ZS) 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
ZS
--
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): ZS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ADBE is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Adobe (ADBE) at 3.59 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 sits in the pricier quartile — ZS 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

9.61

Max
17.91
ZS
9.61
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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 Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZS 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

12.40

Max
16.63
ZS
12.40
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Adobe (ADBE) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Adobe (ADBE) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricADBEZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.36--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.599.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.9512.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.03%3.34%