Stock Analysis

Adobe Inc. Beat Analyst Estimates: See What The Consensus Is Forecasting For Next Year

Published
NasdaqGS:ADBE

Last week, you might have seen that Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) released its quarterly result to the market. The early response was not positive, with shares down 5.8% to US$537 in the past week. The result was positive overall - although revenues of US$5.4b were in line with what the analysts predicted, Adobe surprised by delivering a statutory profit of US$3.76 per share, modestly greater than expected. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for Adobe

NasdaqGS:ADBE Earnings and Revenue Growth September 16th 2024

After the latest results, the 37 analysts covering Adobe are now predicting revenues of US$23.8b in 2025. If met, this would reflect a notable 14% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to jump 34% to US$16.25. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$23.9b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$16.14 in 2025. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates.

The analysts reconfirmed their price target of US$612, showing that the business is executing well and in line with expectations. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. The most optimistic Adobe analyst has a price target of US$705 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$450. As you can see, analysts are not all in agreement on the stock's future, but the range of estimates is still reasonably narrow, which could suggest that the outcome is not totally unpredictable.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. The period to the end of 2025 brings more of the same, according to the analysts, with revenue forecast to display 11% growth on an annualised basis. That is in line with its 13% annual growth over the past five years. Compare this with the broader industry, which analyst estimates (in aggregate) suggest will see revenues grow 12% annually. It's clear that while Adobe's revenue growth is expected to continue on its current trajectory, it's only expected to grow in line with the industry itself.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. Happily, there were no real changes to revenue forecasts, with the business still expected to grow in line with the overall industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Adobe. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have estimates - from multiple Adobe analysts - going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Adobe that you should be aware of.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.