Stocks analysis

ADBE vs ADP Stock Comparison

Scores Breakdown

Metric ADBE ADP
📈 Growth 22/30 26/30
💰 Profitability 17/20 18/20
🏦 Financial Health 16/20 12/20
💵 Valuation 12/20 14/20
⚠️ Risk (lower is better) 4/10 6/10
Overall Score 73/100 74/100

Side-by-Side Summaries

ADBE Analysis ADP Analysis

📈 Growth & Financial Trajectory

Over 8 quarters, revenue rose from $5.714B (Q2 2024) to $6.618B (Q2 2026), up about 16%. Net income grew from $1.712B to $1.889B, with quarterly fluctuations but an overall positive trend.

💰 Margins & Cash Flow

Gross margin stays in the high 80s to low 90s% (examples: Q4 2025 around 92%, Q2 2026 around 89%). Operating income remains solid near $2.0–$2.3B per quarter. Net cash flow from operating activities is consistently positive, typically around $2.2B–$3.2B per quarter, with occasional stronger quarter (e.g., Q4 2025, $3.16B). Investing/financing flows are mixed but liquidity strong.

🛡️ Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Cash balances range roughly $5.6B–$7.0B; total assets around $28–$30B; current liabilities in the $9–12B range; long-term debt about $4–$6B; equity around $11.4–$11.8B. Leverage moderate; liquidity ample.

⚠️ Key Drivers & Risks

  • Drivers: AI-enabled product enhancements and sustained Creative Cloud/enterprise demand.
  • Risks: Valuation sensitivity to growth trajectory and potential macro swings in end-market demand.

📈 Growth & Financial Trajectory

Over the 8 quarters, revenues rose from about $4.77B (2024 Q4) to about $5.36B (2026 Q4). Net income progressed from roughly $0.83B to $1.06B, a 28% increase, signaling earnings leverage as the top line expanded. The quarterly path fluctuated—peaking near $5.55B in 2025 Q3/Q4 before settling in the $5.2–$5.36B range—yet the trend remains clearly positive. The Gross Margin held in the high-40s to mid-50s, while Operating Margin stayed in the low- to mid-20s, underpinning a solid profitability trajectory.

💰 Margins & Cash Flow

  • Gross Margin: roughly 46–56% across periods, with a peak around 56%.
  • Operating Margin: generally 20–24%, supporting meaningful operating leverage.
  • Net cash flow from operating activities was consistently positive in most quarters, while investing cash flow was mostly modestly negative and financing activity contributed steady liquidity.

🛡️ Balance Sheet & Liquidity

  • Current assets ($52B) vs current liabilities ($50B) yields a tight but adequate liquidity cushion.
  • Liabilities ($57B) exceed equity ($6B), indicating leverage, but assets and ongoing operating cash flows provide resilience. The balance sheet remains stable with a solid asset base.

⚠️ Key Drivers & Risks

  • Drivers: Recurring payroll/data-processing demand; large installed base and stable cash flows.
  • Risks: Valuation sensitivity to growth momentum; exposure to regulatory shifts or macro cycles.