👀 Ones to watch: The MOST undervalued stocks to buy right nowSee Undervalued Stocks

Adobe stock trades at 23x CY25E FCF with AI story showing limited impact, says UBS

EditorAhmed Abdulazez Abdulkadir
Published 12/12/2024, 05:30 PM
© Reuters.
ADBE
-

On Thursday, UBS adjusted its outlook on Adobe (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:ADBE), reducing the stock's price target from $550.00 to $525.00. The firm has decided to maintain a Neutral rating on the shares.

The adjustment follows Adobe's after-market movement, which saw a decline of approximately 9%. With a market capitalization of $241.82 billion and impressive gross profit margins of 88.66%, Adobe remains a prominent player in the software industry. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently trading near its Fair Value, with analyst targets ranging from $440 to $704.55.

The UBS analyst provided several reasons for the revised price target. The initial forecast for Adobe's fiscal year 2025 indicated a 10% growth in Digital Media revenues and an 11% increase in Annual Recurring Revenues (ARR), which did not clearly reflect any potential gains from artificial intelligence (AI). Adobe's current revenue growth of 10.91% aligns with these projections.

Additionally, Adobe's Creative net new ARR for the fourth quarter ending in November was reported at $405 million, a figure that failed to meet expectations and showed minimal growth. For deeper insights into Adobe's growth metrics and AI potential, InvestingPro subscribers can access comprehensive financial health scores and 14 additional ProTips.

The report also highlighted Adobe's strategy for monetizing AI in fiscal year 2025. The company plans to introduce specific AI tiers rather than implementing broad price increases, which was contrary to investor expectations. Given the current valuation at 23 times the estimated Free Cash Flow (FCF) for the calendar year 2025, alongside the anticipated revenue growth of 10-11% and an AI narrative that has not yet produced significant results, UBS has reiterated its Neutral stance on Adobe shares.

Adobe's approach to integrating and monetizing AI technology appears to be a key factor in the firm's assessment. The market's reaction to Adobe's strategies and growth projections will continue to be a point of interest for investors and analysts alike. UBS's revised price target reflects the firm's current analysis of Adobe's financial outlook and market position.

In other recent news, Adobe Inc. experienced a range of analyst adjustments. BMO Capital Markets reduced Adobe's price target from $600 to $570, citing less than satisfactory metrics in the recent quarterly report, while DA Davidson lowered the target from $685 to $625, despite Adobe's Q4 2024 performance surpassing expectations.

Stifel maintained a positive outlook with a $650 price target, noting growing adoption of Adobe's Firefly, and TD Cowen retained a Buy rating and $625 price target ahead of Adobe's Q4 earnings report. However, Citi cut the price target from $616 to $590 due to potential revenue challenges and competitive pressures.

These recent developments come after Adobe's FY25 revenue guidance showed a growth of approximately 9%, and its current remaining performance obligations (cRPO) growth picked up pace. The company's strategic moves and product offerings, including the potential of AI, are expected to drive growth and provide value to its enterprise clients.

Despite the downward revisions in price targets, several firms, including BMO Capital, DA Davidson, and Stifel, maintain a positive stance on Adobe, largely based on the company's valuation and growth potential.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.