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ADSK vs. WDAY: Autodesk vs. Workday Stock Comparison

How do Autodesk (ADSK) and Workday (WDAY) 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 Workday (WDAY) 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 Workday (WDAY)
Profile ItemADSKWDAY
NameAutodesk Inc.Workday Inc Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization54.70 billion USD46.49 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 28, 1985October 12, 2012
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADSK
WDAY
GSPC
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY), 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 Workday (WDAY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
Total Return (1Y)-11.86%-14.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.57%-5.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.48%-8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADSK
WDAY
GSPC
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY), 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 Workday (WDAY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)40.23%54.35%
Beta (5Y)1.221.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.75%-63.38%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.05M3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADSK and WDAY 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 Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.40-0.35
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.57-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) at 53.85% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Workday (WDAY) at 16.01% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ADSK.

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%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

16.01%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
WDAY
16.01%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) at 21.08% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Workday (WDAY) at 12.32%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

12.32%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
WDAY
12.32%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Autodesk (ADSK) at 29.23% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Workday (WDAY) at 11.82%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

11.82%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
WDAY
11.82%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
ROE (TTM)53.85%16.01%
ROA (TTM)11.47%4.51%
Net Margin (TTM)21.08%12.32%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.23%11.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)92.50%75.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 17.53% and Workday (WDAY) at 13.10% 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. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 2.15% and Workday (WDAY) at 32.82% 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. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
Revenue Growth (YoY)17.53%13.10%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.92%15.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.15%32.82%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.43%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 0.86 and Workday (WDAY) at 0.91 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

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.91

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
WDAY
0.91
Min
0.03
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 1.10 and Workday (WDAY) at 0.58 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

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.58

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
WDAY
0.58
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): 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 Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.860.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.100.58
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.200.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Autodesk (ADSK) nor Workday (WDAY) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

WDAY
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Autodesk (ADSK) nor Workday (WDAY) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

WDAY
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Autodesk (ADSK) at 33.95 and Workday (WDAY) at 39.29 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

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

39.29

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
WDAY
39.29
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): 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 Workday (WDAY) at 4.58 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

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

4.58

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
WDAY
4.58
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Workday (WDAY) at 7.20 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

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

7.20

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
WDAY
7.20
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Autodesk (ADSK) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Autodesk (ADSK) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricADSKWDAY
P/E Ratio (TTM)33.9539.29
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.024.58
P/B Ratio (MRQ)16.177.20
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.77%6.55%