ADBE vs INTU

For growth investors, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is the stronger pick with 15. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 5% for Adobe Inc. (ADBE). Adobe Inc. (ADBE) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (10. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Adobe Inc. (ADBE) a "Buy" — based on 62 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Adobe Inc.

(ADBE) is the cheapest at 15. 0x versus Intuit Inc. at 28. 4x. On forward P/E, Adobe Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Intuit Inc. wins at 1. 15x versus Adobe Inc. 's 1. 17x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) delivered a total return of +3. 1%, compared to -48. 3% for Adobe Inc. (ADBE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTU returned +311. 1% versus ADBE's +165. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 61β versus Adobe Inc. 's 0. 74β — meaning ADBE is approximately 22% more volatile than INTU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Intuit Inc. (INTU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 57% for Adobe Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is pulling ahead at 15. 6% versus 10. 5% for Adobe Inc. (ADBE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Adobe Inc. grew EPS 35. 1% year-over-year, compared to 31. 1% for Intuit Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, INTU leads at 14. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Adobe Inc.

(ADBE) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 0% net margin versus 20. 5% for Intuit Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADBE leads at 36. 6% versus 26. 1% for INTU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADBE leads at 88. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Intuit Inc. (INTU) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 15x versus Adobe Inc. 's 1. 17x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Adobe Inc. (ADBE) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 16. 7x for Intuit Inc. — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for INTU: 71. 6% to $666. 75.

In this comparison, INTU (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. ADBE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 61), 1. 1% yield, +311. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (INTU: +311. 1%, ADBE: +165. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ADBE is a mid-cap deep-value stock; INTU is a mid-cap high-growth stock. INTU pays a dividend while ADBE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.