Software - Application · NASDAQ
Current Price
$275.30
Intrinsic Value
$394.13
+30.2% margin of safety
As of 2026-08-21, the base-case DCF model estimates the intrinsic value of Adobe Inc. (ADBE) at $394.13 per share, compared with a market price of $275.3, a margin of safety of +30.2%. The base case assumes 9.1% annual free cash flow growth and a 10.0% discount rate.
Across the sensitivity grid the estimate spans $293.8 to $510.69. Intrinsic value is an estimate built on assumptions, not a fact. A higher discount rate or slower growth pushes the estimate down, while stronger cash flow growth lifts it.
How the DCF works · Recalculate with your own assumptions · What is intrinsic value?
At the current price of $275.3, ADBE trades well below the base-case intrinsic value estimate, a margin of safety above 30%. By this model the stock looks undervalued, but verify the growth assumptions match your own view before acting.
COMPETITIVE MOAT
↑Dominant Creative Software Ecosystem
Adobe's Creative Cloud suite, including Photoshop and Illustrator, has established deep switching costs for creative professionals. Its integrated workflow and extensive feature set make it difficult for users to transition to alternatives.
↑Network Effects in Digital Marketing
Adobe Experience Cloud benefits from network effects as more businesses adopt its platform for marketing and analytics. This creates a richer data set and more valuable insights, reinforcing its position.
↑High Profitability and Scale
Adobe consistently demonstrates high profitability, evidenced by its strong net margins. This financial strength allows for continued investment in R&D and acquisitions, further solidifying its market position.
INVESTMENT RISKS
↓Valuation and Market Sentiment
Adobe's stock trading at 10 times next year's earnings suggests a potentially high valuation. Shifts in market sentiment or a failure to meet growth expectations could lead to significant price declines.
↓Potential for Disruption by AI
While AI presents an opportunity, it also poses a significant risk if competitors leverage it more effectively to create disruptive products. Adobe must continuously innovate to stay ahead.
↓Customer Concentration in Creative Market
A heavy reliance on the creative professional market, while a strength, also presents a risk if this segment experiences a downturn or shifts its preferences significantly.
Base case
Intrinsic Value
$394.13
Margin of safety
+30.2%
Expected annual return
+7.4%
Base case assumptions: 9.1% annual growth, 10.0% discount rate, 10.3x exit multiple, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-08-21.
This base case uses default assumptions and is not financial advice. The intrinsic value changes significantly when the growth rate or discount rate changes. Open the calculator to set your own assumptions and see the full sensitivity range.
Adjust the growth rate, discount rate, and exit multiple to see how the intrinsic value and margin of safety for Adobe Inc. respond.
Open DCF Calculator for ADBEAdobe Inc. stands as a prominent global software provider, delivering a diverse range of solutions. Its operations are structured into three primary business divisions: Digital Media, Digital Experience, and Publishing and Advertising. The Digital Media segment empowers individuals, teams, and enterprises to generate, disseminate, and amplify various forms of content through its array of products and services, including the cloud-native Document Cloud platform. Central to this segment is Creative Cloud, its subscription-based flagship, granting access to a comprehensive suite of creative tools. This division caters to a diverse range of users, from professional content creators and marketers to educators, communicators, and general consumers. Adobe's Digital Experience division offers an integrated suite of applications and services designed to empower brands and businesses to craft, orchestrate, assess, and enhance customer journeys, from initial analytical insights to final commercial transactions. It serves a broad professional base including marketing teams, advertisers, agencies, data scientists, and senior executives. The Publishing and Advertising segment provides specialized offerings such as e-learning tools, technical documentation services, web conferencing solutions, advanced printing technologies, and its Advertising Cloud suite. Adobe engages directly with enterprise clients through its dedicated sales teams and regional offices. Individual end-users can access its offerings via app stores or its official website, adobe.com. Additionally, an extensive indirect channel supports distribution, encompassing partners such as distributors, value-added resellers, system integrators, software vendors, retailers, and original equipment manufacturers. Established in 1982, the company, initially named Adobe Systems Incorporated, rebranded as Adobe Inc. in October 2018. Its corporate headquarters are situated in San Jose, California.
Revenue/Share (TTM)
$62.68
FCF/Share (TTM)
$26.44
ROIC (TTM)
36.4%
ROE (TTM)
62.4%
P/FCF
10.3x
EV/EBITDA
11.2x
FCF Yield
9.71%
Debt/Equity
0.61x
Based on trailing twelve-month data, ADBE shows a free cash flow per share of $26.44 and a ROIC of 36.4%, key inputs for stock valuation using the DCF method. The P/FCF ratio of 10.3x and FCF yield of 9.71% are important context metrics when evaluating ADBE's stock valuation relative to peers.
Adobe Inc. currently generates $26.44 in free cash flow per share. At the current price of $275.30, a DCF model would discount these cash flows at an appropriate WACC and apply a terminal growth rate to arrive at an intrinsic value. The result depends heavily on your growth and discount rate assumptions — a 1% change in WACC typically shifts the fair value estimate by 10-15%. In MiniValuator the model uses a single discount rate that you can edit directly, 10% by default, rather than a computed WACC.
ADBE trades at a P/FCF ratio of 10.3x with a free cash flow yield of 9.71%. A low P/FCF means investors are paying less per dollar of free cash flow; whether that is cheap depends on the company's growth, cyclicality, and capital intensity. However, whether ADBE is truly undervalued requires comparing the DCF intrinsic value to the current market price and evaluating whether the margin of safety is sufficient for your risk tolerance.
To perform a DCF valuation on Adobe Inc.: (1) Start with the trailing free cash flow per share ($26.44) as the base, (2) project future FCF growth over 5-10 years based on Software - Application industry trends and company fundamentals, (3) apply a discount rate (WACC) reflecting ADBE's risk profile — with a debt-to-equity of 0.61x, capital structure is an important factor, and (4) add a terminal value for cash flows beyond the projection period.
DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) estimates what a company is worth today based on its future cash generation. For Adobe Inc., this means projecting how much free cash flow the company will produce over the next 5-10 years, shaped by Software - Application trends, then discounting those amounts to today's dollars. ADBE's ROIC of 36.4% reflects how efficiently the company converts invested capital into profit.
WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital) is the discount rate in a DCF model — it reflects the minimum return investors require. For ADBE, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61x, the capital structure directly influences WACC. A 1% increase in WACC typically reduces the intrinsic value by 10-15%. At an EV/EBITDA of 11.2x, the market's implied discount rate can be reverse-engineered for comparison. In MiniValuator you set this discount rate yourself as a single editable number, 10% by default, instead of computing a formal WACC.
DCF and P/E value ADBE with different methods and assumptions, so the two conclusions can differ. Compare the P/E fair value.
Price as of 2026-08-21. Financial data from Financial Modeling Prep (trailing twelve months) · Valuation methodology by Charlie Wang.
This is an estimate, not investment advice.