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ADSK vs. CRM: Autodesk vs. Salesforce Stock Comparison

How do Autodesk (ADSK) 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

Autodesk (ADSK) 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 Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
Profile ItemADSKCRM
NameAutodesk Inc.Salesforce, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization54.70 billion USD175.83 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 28, 1985June 23, 2004
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADSK
CRM
GSPC
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Autodesk (ADSK) 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

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Trailing total returns for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
Total Return (1Y)-11.86%-9.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.57%1.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.48%-6.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADSK
CRM
GSPC
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Autodesk (ADSK) 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)40.23%47.53%
Beta (5Y)1.221.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.75%-58.67%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.05M11.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADSK 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 Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.40-0.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.57-0.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 53.85% and Salesforce (CRM) at 19.38% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

53.85%

ADSK
53.85%
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%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Autodesk (ADSK) at 21.08% and Salesforce (CRM) at 21.99% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

21.08%

Max
41.17%
ADSK
21.08%
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%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 29.23% 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.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

29.23%

Max
46.89%
ADSK
29.23%
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%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
ROE (TTM)53.85%19.38%
ROA (TTM)11.47%5.70%
Net Margin (TTM)21.08%21.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.23%21.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)92.50%77.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 17.53% 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.

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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 2.15% 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.

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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
Revenue Growth (YoY)17.53%9.58%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.92%9.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.15%22.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.43%233.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 0.86 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.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

0.86

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
ADSK
0.86
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
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 1.10 and Salesforce (CRM) at 1.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

1.10

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ADSK
1.10
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
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Autodesk (ADSK) 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 Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.860.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.101.10
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.202.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) 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.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ADSK
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%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) 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.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ADSK
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%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%15.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 33.95 and Salesforce (CRM) at 19.55 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

33.95

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
ADSK
33.95
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
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
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Autodesk (ADSK) 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 Autodesk (ADSK) at 7.02 and Salesforce (CRM) at 4.00 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

7.02

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
ADSK
7.02
Median
4.25
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
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Salesforce (CRM) at 4.58 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Autodesk (ADSK) at 16.17 carries an above-peer premium to book — ADSK is pricier on assets.

ADSK

Software & Services industry group

16.17

Max
16.63
ADSK
16.17
Q3
8.50
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
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Salesforce (CRM)
MetricADSKCRM
P/E Ratio (TTM)33.9519.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.024.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)16.174.58
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.77%10.08%