Design Software Stocks Q4 Teardown: Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) Vs The Rest

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Design Software Stocks Q4 Teardown: Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) Vs The Rest

Looking back on design software stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) and its peers.

The demand for rich, interactive 2D, 3D, VR and AR experiences is growing, and while the ubiquitous metaverse might still be more of a buzzword than a real thing, what is real is the demand for the tools to create these experiences, whether they are games, 3D tours or interactive movies.

The 6 design software stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.2% since the latest earnings results.

Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE)

One of the most well-known Silicon Valley software companies around, Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) is a leading provider of software as service in the digital design and document management space.

Adobe reported revenues of $5.61 billion, up 11.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a miss of analysts’ billings estimates and full-year EPS guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

“Adobe delivered record FY24 revenue, demonstrating strong demand and the mission-critical role Creative Cloud, Document Cloud and Experience Cloud play in fueling the AI economy,” said Shantanu Narayen, chair and CEO, Adobe.

Adobe Total Revenue
Adobe Total Revenue

The stock is down 20.3% since reporting and currently trades at $438.30.

Is now the time to buy Adobe? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK)

Founded in 1982 by John Walker and growing into one of the industry's behemoths, Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK) makes computer-aided design (CAD) software for engineering, construction, and architecture companies.

Autodesk reported revenues of $1.64 billion, up 11.6% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. The business had a very strong quarter with full-year guidance of accelerating revenue growth and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Autodesk Total Revenue
Autodesk Total Revenue

Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 2.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $274.50.

Is now the time to buy Autodesk? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: PTC (NASDAQ:PTC)

Used to design the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner commercial airplanes, PTC’s (NASDAQ:PTC) software-as-service platform helps engineers and designers create and test products before manufacturing.