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ADBE vs NVDA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
ADBE vs NVDA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $105.57B | $4.78T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $24.45B | $215.94B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $7.21B | $120.07B |
| Gross Margin | 89.2% | 71.1% |
| Operating Margin | 36.8% | 60.4% |
| Forward P/E | 10.9x | 23.7x |
| Total Debt | $6.65B | $11.41B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5.43B | $10.61B |
ADBE vs NVDA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Inc. (ADBE) | 100 | 64.7 | -35.3% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 100 | 2247.4 | +2147.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ADBE vs NVDA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ADBE is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.74
- Lower volatility, beta 0.74, Low D/E 57.2%, current ratio 1.00x
- Beta 0.74, current ratio 1.00x
NVDA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 65.5%, EPS growth 66.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 100.0%
- 224.0% 10Y total return vs ADBE's 173.4%
- PEG 0.25 vs ADBE's 1.20
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 65.5% revenue growth vs ADBE's 10.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.9x vs 23.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 55.6% margin vs ADBE's 29.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.74 vs NVDA's 1.73 | |
| Dividends | 0.0% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +72.7% vs ADBE's -32.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 58.1% ROA vs ADBE's 24.8%, ROIC 81.8% vs 51.4% |
ADBE vs NVDA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
ADBE vs NVDA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVDA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVDA is the larger business by revenue, generating $215.9B annually — 8.8x ADBE's $24.5B. NVDA is the more profitable business, keeping 55.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ADBE's 29.5%. On growth, NVDA holds the edge at +73.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $24.5B | $215.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $9.6B | $133.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7.2B | $120.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $10.3B | $96.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +89.2% | +71.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.8% | +60.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +29.5% | +55.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +42.2% | +44.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.0% | +73.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.4% | +97.8% |
Valuation Metrics
ADBE leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.3x trailing earnings, ADBE trades at a 62% valuation discount to NVDA's 40.1x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NVDA offers better value at 0.42x vs ADBE's 1.69x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $105.6B | $4.78T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $106.8B | $4.78T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.31x | 40.10x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.86x | 23.74x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.69x | 0.42x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.21x | 35.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.44x | 22.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.39x | 30.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.72x | 49.40x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NVDA leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NVDA delivers a 76.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $76 in annual profit, vs $62 for ADBE. NVDA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ADBE's 0.57x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ADBE scores 6/9 vs NVDA's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +62.3% | +76.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +24.8% | +58.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +51.4% | +81.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +44.6% | +97.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.57x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | $807M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.4B | $10.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.6B | $11.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 66.23x | 545.03x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NVDA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth $135,979 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,252 for ADBE. Over the past 12 months, NVDA leads with a +72.7% total return vs ADBE's -32.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVDA at 90.0% vs ADBE's -9.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.3% | +4.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -32.9% | +72.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -26.6% | +585.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -47.5% | +1259.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.4% | +22397.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -9.8% | +90.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ADBE and NVDA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ADBE is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVDA's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NVDA currently trades 90.6% from its 52-week high vs ADBE's 60.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 1.73x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $422.95 | $216.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $224.18 | $110.82 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.4% | +90.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.7 | 53.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.5M | 166.0M |
Analyst Outlook
NVDA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ADBE as "Buy" and NVDA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 41.9% upside for NVDA (target: $279) vs 35.2% for ADBE (target: $346).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $345.50 | $278.83 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 62 | 79 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.04 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +10.7% | +0.8% |
NVDA leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ADBE leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
ADBE vs NVDA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ADBE or NVDA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the stronger pick with 65.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 5% for Adobe Inc. (ADBE). Adobe Inc. (ADBE) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (10. 9x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ADBE or NVDA?
On trailing P/E, Adobe Inc.
(ADBE) is the cheapest at 15. 3x versus NVIDIA Corporation at 40. 1x. On forward P/E, Adobe Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0. 25x versus Adobe Inc. 's 1. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ADBE or NVDA?
Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1260%, compared to -47.
5% for Adobe Inc. (ADBE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +224. 0% versus ADBE's +173. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ADBE or NVDA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Adobe Inc.
(ADBE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 133% more volatile than ADBE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 57% for Adobe Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ADBE or NVDA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is pulling ahead at 65.
5% versus 10. 5% for Adobe Inc. (ADBE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NVIDIA Corporation grew EPS 66. 7% year-over-year, compared to 35. 1% for Adobe Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVDA leads at 100. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ADBE or NVDA?
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.
6% net margin versus 30. 0% for Adobe Inc. — meaning it keeps 55. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60. 4% versus 36. 6% for ADBE. 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.
07Is ADBE or NVDA more undervalued right now?
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, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 25x versus Adobe Inc. 's 1. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Adobe Inc. (ADBE) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 23. 7x for NVIDIA Corporation — 12. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVDA: 41. 9% to $278. 83.
08Which pays a better dividend — ADBE or NVDA?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is ADBE or NVDA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Adobe Inc.
(ADBE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), +173. 4% 10Y return). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADBE: +173. 4%, NVDA: +224. 0%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ADBE and NVDA?
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; NVDA is a mega-cap high-growth stock. 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.
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