Adobe Management
Management criteria checks 3/4
Adobe's CEO is Shantanu Narayen, appointed in Dec 2007, has a tenure of 18.75 years. total yearly compensation is $51.17M, comprised of 2.9% salary and 97.1% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.092% of the company’s shares, worth $90.63M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 4.6 years and 8 years respectively.
Key information
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive officer
US$51.2m
Total compensation
| CEO salary percentage | 2.93% |
| CEO tenure | 18.8yrs |
| CEO ownership | 0.09% |
| Management average tenure | 4.6yrs |
| Board average tenure | 8yrs |
Recent management updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • Sep 17
ADBE: Freemium AI Focus And CEO Shift Will Restrain ARR Monetization
Adobe's analyst price target has been nudged up from $190 to $195 as analysts weigh generally in-line quarterly results against slower projected revenue growth, steady profit margins, and ongoing questions about how the freemium focus and AI features can convert strong user engagement into sustained monetization. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Adobe shows a split view.Seeking Alpha • Sep 14
Adobe Gave Away Its Growth On Purpose
Summary Adobe reported record third quarter revenue of $6.76 billion, up 13%, with non-GAAP earnings of $6.13 up 15%, a 44% operating margin, record quarterly operating cash flow of $2.52 billion,. Adobe stock fell anyway, on two figures: net new annual recurring revenue declined 36-37% year over year, and remaining performance obligations grew 8%, the first single-digit reading since early fiscal. Management attributes both to a deliberate freemium pivot that has taken creative freemium users past 100 million, up 70%, and total monthly active users beyond a billion. At $252.23, ADBE stock trades at 10.3 times forward earnings against a sector median of 22.46. I am initiating at Buy. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
Narrative Update • Sep 03
ADBE: Freemium And AI Shifts Will Test Leadership And Earnings Durability
Analysts have nudged their Adobe fair value estimate higher to $275.25 from $269.61 as recent price target increases and research notes highlight a mix of improved sentiment around SaaS, freemium-driven user growth, and ongoing debate over AI disruption and leadership transition risks. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe shows a wide range of views as analysts reassess the stock after the Q2 results, the freemium pivot, and ongoing leadership changes.Narrative Update • Aug 12
ADBE: Freemium Reset And AI Competition Will Shape Future Earnings Power
Analysts have reduced the implied fair value estimate for Adobe from about $332 to roughly $270. This largely reflects a broad reset in price targets as they weigh slower organic ARR guidance, execution risk around the company’s freemium and AI transitions, and differing views on how resilient Adobe’s competitive position will be against AI-driven design tools.Narrative Update • Jul 29
ADBE: Freemium AI Pivot And Leadership Turnover Will Pressure Future ARR
Adobe's updated analyst fair value estimate has moved down from $220 to $190 as analysts weigh lower Street price targets and execution risks tied to freemium, AI monetization, and leadership transitions against still solid revenue growth and margins in their models. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe highlights a clear split in opinion.
Narrative Update • Jul 15
ADBE: Freemium AI Pivot Will Convert User Scale Into Future Cash Flows
Adobe's analyst fair value estimate has been revised from $415.56 to $380.00 as analysts weigh slower organic ARR guidance, a broader shift toward freemium models, and rising competitive pressure from AI driven design tools against the company's still solid growth profile and embedded user base. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe highlights a sharp split in opinion, with many firms trimming targets or ratings while a smaller group of bullish analysts argue that the stock's reset and product positioning create an opportunity.Narrative Update • Jul 01
ADBE: Freemium AI Pivot And Buybacks Will Support Long-Term Cash Flows
Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Adobe to $415.56 from $438.81, reflecting a broad reset in price targets as they factor in slower organic ARR guidance, a heavier push into freemium offerings, and leadership transitions that introduce more execution risk around AI and monetization plans. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe highlights a clear shift in sentiment, with many firms cutting price targets and resetting expectations around organic ARR, leadership changes, and the company’s heavier focus on freemium.Analysis Article • Jun 17
Adobe (ADBE) Stock Could Be 35.2% Undervalued After Earnings And Leadership Changes
Adobe (ADBE) is back in focus after a sharp market reaction to its latest earnings, leadership changes involving both the CEO and CFO, and a clear shift toward a freemium, AI-centric growth model. See our latest analysis for Adobe. Over the past year, momentum in Adobe stock has clearly faded, with the share price down 37.8% year to date and the 1-year total shareholder return declining 45.16%, as investors react to leadership changes and the shift to a freemium, AI-led model despite solid...Narrative Update • Jun 17
ADBE: Freemium AI Shift And Buybacks Will Reshape Future Cash Flows
Adobe's updated analyst price target has moved lower to reflect reduced revenue growth expectations, a softer long term ARR outlook under a larger freemium push, leadership transitions, and a more conservative future P/E assumption, even as margins are modeled slightly higher. Analyst Commentary Street research around Adobe is mixed, but there is a clear pocket of bullish analysts who see the recent reset as an entry point rather than a sign to step aside.
Narrative Update • Jun 12
Musings after the earnings
Thesis Update: Upward Revision on Adobe (ADBE) Post-Q2 CY2026 Earnings I am raising my fair value estimate for Adobe following this morning's strong earnings print and updated outlook. The Core Catalyst: The revision hinges on two key updates: raised FY2026 revenue guidance and a ~2% point drop in unadjusted operating margin.Analysis Article • Jun 12
Software stocks just gave investors a masterclass
Software stocks crashed on fears AI would make them obsolete, then they came roaring back. This edition of Market Insights aims to hand investors a repeatable playbook for separating real risk from market panic.Analysis Article • Jun 12
Software stocks just gave investors a masterclass
Software stocks crashed on fears AI would make them obsolete, then they came roaring back. This edition of Market Insights aims to hand investors a repeatable playbook for separating real risk from market panic.Narrative Update • Jun 03
ADBE: AI Product Adoption And Buyback Program Will Reshape Future Cash Flows
Adobe's updated analyst fair value edges up by about $0.10 per share to roughly $456.35. This reflects models that now factor in slightly higher projected revenue growth and profit margins, alongside recent Street research that has generally reduced official price targets on concerns around AI competition, CEO transition risk, and near term pressure on annual recurring revenue.New Narrative • May 31
Adobe: A Probabilistic Case for Undervaluation
As a self-described "Quantitative Fundamental Hobby Investor," my valuation philosophy is straightforward: I prioritize high-quality cash flow generation and the durability of a company’s economic moat. Adobe (ADBE) is currently at the center of a heated debate regarding AI disruption.Narrative Update • May 18
ADBE: CEO Transition Will Increase Risk Around AI Subscription Monetization
Analysts have reduced their average price target on Adobe by $70 to $220 per share, citing CEO transition uncertainty, slower annual recurring revenue trends, and rising competitive pressures from AI driven offerings as key reasons for the reset. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe highlights a shift toward more cautious views as multiple bearish analysts reduce price targets and, in some cases, downgrade ratings.
New Narrative • May 04
Classic Value Trap
Adobe was an amazing company. I'm an end user since 1991.Narrative Update • Apr 30
ADBE: AI Competition And CEO Transition Will Reshape Future Cash Flows
Adobe's updated analyst price target has shifted from about $580 to roughly $456 as analysts factor in rising AI competition, a series of target cuts across major firms, and added uncertainty around the CEO transition and annual recurring revenue trends. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe clusters around a few key themes that matter for you as an investor: how the market is pricing AI competition, what the CEO transition means for execution, and how annual recurring revenue trends feed into valuation.Narrative Update • Apr 16
ADBE: Generative AI And Freemium Adoption Will Shape Future Earnings Power
Adobe's analyst price target has been adjusted slightly higher, with analysts pointing to updated expectations for revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E in light of recent Q1 results, CEO transition news, and ongoing discussion around AI related opportunities and headwinds. Analyst Commentary Wall Street views on Adobe are mixed, with many firms trimming price targets and recalibrating ratings after the Q1 print and the CEO transition update.Narrative Update • Apr 01
ADBE: Generative AI Monetization And Freemium User Growth Will Drive Future Revenue
Adobe's updated fair value estimate has been reduced from about $408 to roughly $328 as analysts factor in a lower future P/E, softer growth assumptions, and fresh uncertainty tied to the CEO transition and AI-driven shifts in its core businesses. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe reflects a clear reset in expectations, with many firms cutting price targets and adjusting ratings to reflect CEO transition risk, AI related disruption, and softer growth metrics such as net new annual recurring revenue.Analysis Article • Apr 01
Why Adobe's (NASDAQ:ADBE) Earnings Are Better Than They Seem
The market seemed underwhelmed by the solid earnings posted by Adobe Inc. ( NASDAQ:ADBE ) recently. Along with the...Narrative Update • Mar 18
ADBE: CEO Transition Will Intensify AI Monetization Uncertainty And Multiple Compression
Analysts have reduced the Adobe price target to $220 from $271.93, reflecting softer revenue growth assumptions, a lower future P/E outlook, and heightened uncertainty around the CEO transition and the pace of AI driven monetization. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Adobe shows a clear tilt toward caution, with multiple price target cuts and rating downgrades clustering around the latest fiscal Q1 report and the CEO transition announcement.Narrative Update • Mar 04
ADBE: AI Adoption And Generative Credits Will Drive Future Revenue Milestones
Our updated view trims Adobe's fair value estimate from $447.56 to $408.47, reflecting a lower assumed future P/E of about 21.2x. This is in line with a wave of reduced Street price targets around $290 to $375 and analyst concerns about competitive pressure, AI related execution risks, and more muted near term upside for the shares.Narrative Update • Feb 18
ADBE: AI Transition And Creative Ecosystem Partnerships Will Reshape Future Cash Flows
Our fair value estimate for Adobe has edged higher to $580.27 from $575.83 as analysts broadly reduce price targets and ratings in response to softer Digital Media growth expectations, questions about the durability of the competitive moat, and concerns that AI benefits may be slower to show up in revenue and margins than previously hoped. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Adobe has tilted more cautious, with several firms cutting ratings and price targets as they reassess Digital Media growth expectations, competition, and the timing of AI monetization.Narrative Update • Feb 04
ADBE: AI Transition And Semrush Deal Will Reshape Future Cash Flows
Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Adobe slightly, to about $576 per share. They cite a wave of recent downgrades and reduced price targets that reflect concerns about limited near term upside, competitive pressure in creative tools, and uncertainty over how much the current AI transition will benefit the business.Narrative Update • Jan 21
ADBE: Future AI And Semrush Deal Will Reshape Cash Flow Profile
Analysts have reduced their Adobe fair value estimate by about US$7 to roughly US$578, citing a lower future P/E assumption and recent price target cuts that reflect concerns about near term growth momentum and competitive pressures. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Adobe has tilted more cautious, with several firms cutting ratings and price targets as they reassess expectations around AI driven growth, competitive intensity and near term execution.Narrative Update • Jan 07
ADBE: Future AI And Marketing Deals Will Reshape Cash Flow Profile
Narrative Update on Adobe Analysts have revised their Adobe fair value estimate from $605.00 to about $585.69. This reflects slightly lower revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, a somewhat higher discount rate, and a partially offsetting increase in the future P/E input in their models.Narrative Update • Dec 23
ADBE: Rising AI Costs Will Pressure Margins And Drive Multiple Compression
Analysts have reduced their fair value estimate for Adobe from $380.00 to about $271.93 per share, citing expectations for slightly slower revenue growth, lower long term profit margins, and a more conservative valuation multiple. Analyst Commentary Bearish analysts have become more vocal on Adobe, pointing to a combination of moderating growth expectations and tighter competitive dynamics across creative, document, and marketing workflows.Narrative Update • Dec 20
Adobe Stock: When Creativity Software Becomes an AI-Native Platform
Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) has spent decades defining how digital creativity is produced, edited, and distributed. From Photoshop to Premiere to Acrobat, its tools are embedded deeply into professional and consumer workflows.Narrative Update • Dec 09
ADBE: AI Adoption And Acquisitions Will Drive Future Revenue Milestones
Analysts have nudged their average price target on Adobe slightly lower, trimming fair value by about $3 to approximately $448 as they factor in modestly slower revenue growth, slightly softer long term margins, and a marginally higher discount rate, despite continued momentum in AI driven products. Analyst Commentary Analysts remain divided on Adobe's outlook, with most acknowledging solid execution in the near term but reassessing the pace and durability of growth as the company leans further into AI infused offerings.Narrative Update • Nov 24
ADBE: Ongoing AI Product Adoption Will Drive Early Revenue Milestones And Overcome Doubts
Adobe's analyst price target has been revised downward by approximately $6 to $450. Analysts are trimming future growth and profit expectations in light of continued AI-driven uncertainty and evolving competitive dynamics.
New Narrative • Oct 09
A Fair Price for a Great Business Facing Real Threats
TLDR; "HOLD" The story of Adobe today is that of a wide-moat champion that has been knocked from its pedestal. After a deep-dive analysis, our conclusion is that Adobe remains a world-class business, but the competitive landscape has fundamentally changed.Narrative Update • Sep 23
Firefly And GenStudio Will Transform Marketing And Boost Future Engagement
Analysts have reduced Adobe’s price target to $456.18 due to persistent AI-related uncertainty, slowing revenue growth, and intensified competition, despite continued strong execution and early AI monetization progress. Analyst Commentary Ongoing AI uncertainty and heightened competitive pressures are weighing on long-term growth assumptions and sector valuation multiples, leading to widespread target cuts, despite continued Outperform/Overweight ratings from many bullish analysts.CEO Compensation Analysis
| Date | Total Compensation | Salary | Company Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$7b |
| May 29 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$7b |
| Feb 27 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$7b |
| Nov 28 2025 | US$51m | US$2m | US$7b |
| Aug 29 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$7b |
| May 30 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$7b |
| Feb 28 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$7b |
| Nov 29 2024 | US$52m | US$2m | US$6b |
| Aug 30 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| May 31 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Mar 01 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Dec 01 2023 | US$45m | US$2m | US$5b |
| Sep 01 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Jun 02 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Mar 03 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Dec 02 2022 | US$32m | US$1m | US$5b |
| Sep 02 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Jun 03 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Mar 04 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$5b |
| Dec 03 2021 | US$36m | US$1m | US$5b |
| Sep 03 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$6b |
| Jun 04 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$6b |
| Mar 05 2021 | n/a | n/a | US$6b |
| Nov 27 2020 | US$46m | US$1m | US$5b |
| Aug 28 2020 | n/a | n/a | US$4b |
| May 29 2020 | n/a | n/a | US$4b |
| Feb 28 2020 | n/a | n/a | US$3b |
| Nov 29 2019 | US$39m | US$1m | US$3b |
Compensation vs Market: Shantanu's total compensation ($USD51.17M) is above average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD14.74M).
Compensation vs Earnings: Shantanu's compensation has been consistent with company performance over the past year.
CEO
Shantanu Narayen (62 yo)
18.8yrs
Tenure
US$51,173,935
Compensation
Mr. Shantanu Narayen serves as Lead Independent Director at Pfizer Venture Investments LLC. He has been Chairman of Adobe Inc. since January 2017 and has been its Chief Executive Officer since December 01,...
Leadership Team
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman & CEO | 18.8yrs | US$51.17m | 0.092% $ 90.6m | |
| EVP of Legal & Government Relations | 1.3yrs | US$15.59m | 0.0018% $ 1.8m | |
| President of Creativity & Productivity Business | 5.3yrs | US$17.79m | 0.011% $ 10.8m | |
| President of Customer Experience Orchestration Business | 6.7yrs | US$17.79m | 0.016% $ 15.4m | |
| Interim CFO and Senior VP of Finance | less than a year | no data | 0.0016% $ 1.6m | |
| Senior VP | 2.1yrs | no data | 0.0014% $ 1.3m | |
| Vice President of Investor Relations | no data | no data | no data | |
| Chief Marketing Officer & Executive Vice President of Global Marketing | 1.8yrs | no data | 0.0014% $ 1.4m | |
| Chief People Officer & Executive VP of Employee Experience | 6.7yrs | no data | 0.013% $ 12.7m | |
| MD of India & VP of Products | no data | no data | no data | |
| Senior Vice President of Document Cloud | 5.1yrs | no data | no data | |
| Head of Digital Experience Business for India | 4.2yrs | no data | no data |
4.6yrs
Average Tenure
57yo
Average Age
Experienced Management: ADBE's management team is considered experienced (4.6 years average tenure).
Board Members
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman & CEO | 18.8yrs | US$51.17m | 0.092% $ 90.6m | |
| Independent Lead Director | 14.3yrs | US$459.92k | 0.0082% $ 8.1m | |
| Independent Director | 17.7yrs | US$384.92k | 0.0050% $ 5.0m | |
| Independent Director | 4.7yrs | US$394.92k | 0.00083% $ 821.2k | |
| Independent Director | 14.3yrs | US$419.92k | 0.0087% $ 8.6m | |
| Member of International Advisory Board | 5.5yrs | no data | no data | |
| Independent Director | 14.3yrs | US$392.96k | 0.0082% $ 8.1m | |
| Independent Director | 8.4yrs | US$389.92k | 0.0051% $ 5.1m | |
| Independent Director | 2.9yrs | US$389.92k | 0.00046% $ 455.2k | |
| Independent Director | 7.7yrs | US$394.92k | 0.0015% $ 1.5m | |
| Independent Director | 7.7yrs | US$429.92k | 0.0013% $ 1.3m | |
| Independent Director | 5.9yrs | US$389.92k | 0.0010% $ 989.5k |
8.0yrs
Average Tenure
61.5yo
Average Age
Experienced Board: ADBE's board of directors are considered experienced (8 years average tenure).
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/09/20 00:57 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/09/18 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/08/28 |
| Annual Earnings | 2025/11/28 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
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| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
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| Ownership | 10 years |
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| Management | 10 years |
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| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
Details of the analysis model used to generate this report is available on our Github page, we also have guides on how to use our reports and tutorials on Youtube.
Learn about the who designed and built the Simply Wall St analysis model.
Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
Adobe Inc. is covered by 67 analysts. 35 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Joseph Bonner | Argus Research Company |
| Robert Oliver | Baird |
| "Saket Kalia | Barclays |