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Compare Stocks › ADBE vs GPN

Adobe Inc. (ADBE) vs Global Payments Inc. (GPN)

ADBE
Adobe Inc.
$245.99
VS
GPN
Global Payments Inc.
$68.18

Rewards

ADBE
  • ★Adobe Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • ★Gross margin of 89.4% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Adobe Inc. scores 100/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
GPN
  • ★Gross margin of 72.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Share count has been reduced by 10% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
  • ★Management has timed buybacks well — 3 out of 4 years showed value-accretive repurchases.

Risks

ADBE
    GPN
    • ⚠Net debt/EBITDA of 4.0x indicates heavy leverage — it would take over 4 years of EBITDA to pay off net debt.
    • ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.88 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.

    Key Valuation Metrics

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    ADBE
    GPN
    Valuation
    $9.29B
    Free Cash Flow
    $1.75B
    9.20%
    FCF Yield
    9.16%
    14.33
    Trailing P/E
    15.39
    9.33
    Forward P/E
    4.20
    Quality & Moat
    40.36%
    ROIC
    3.69%
    62.36%
    ROE
    5.89%
    89.40%
    Gross Margin
    72.64%
    1.29
    PEG Ratio
    N/A
    Balance Sheet Safety
    0.58
    Debt / Equity
    0.93
    N/A
    Interest Coverage
    N/A
    -0.02
    Net Debt / EBITDA
    4.03
    N/A
    Dividend Yield
    1.47%
    ADBE: 7Ties: 2GPN: 1
    ADBEGPN

    Historical Fundamentals

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    ADBE

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    GPN

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    $1 Retained Earnings Test

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    ADBE
    $-0.60
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Market Cap Declined
    Σ Retained
    $18.12B
    Δ Market Cap
    $-10.93B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
    GPN
    $-2.44
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Market Cap Declined
    Σ Retained
    $3.20B
    Δ Market Cap
    $-7.81B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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    ADBE
    48.4% Margin of Safety
    Price is 48.4% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $245.99
    Fair Value: $477.11
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued
    GPN
    50.4% Margin of Safety
    Price is 50.4% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $68.18
    Fair Value: $137.40
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued

    Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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    ADBE

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $246?

    +3.0%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies -0.7%

    The market implies +3.0% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

    Standard FCF implies a more demanding -0.7%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

    GPN

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $68?

    +9.9%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +6.9%

    The market implies +9.9% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

    Standard FCF implies a more demanding +6.9%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

    Economic Moat Score

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    ADBE
    100/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
    GPN
    42/100
    Narrow Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Narrow moat with margin stability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

    Forensic Accounting

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    ADBE
    -2.85
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
    GPN
    -2.67
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Ownership Breakdown

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    ADBE
    Insiders 0.2%Institutions 87.8%Retail & Other 11.9%
    No. of Institutional Holders3,534
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
    GPN
    Insiders 0.9%Institutions 102.0%
    No. of Institutional Holders1,196
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    Insider Buying Activity

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    ADBE
    0
    Buys (3M)
    0
    Buys (12M)
    DURN DANIEL J
    Chief Financial Officer
    $507,758
    @ $390.58 · 2025-03-20
    RICKS DAVID A
    Director
    $998,946
    @ $443.98 · 2025-01-28
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
    GPN
    1
    Buys (3M)
    3
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $1.29M
    JOHNSON JOIA M
    Director
    $99,345
    @ $81.90 · 2026-02-20
    BALDWIN ROBERT H B JR
    Director
    $1.09M
    @ $81.16 · 2025-12-11
    WATSON PATRICIA A
    Director
    $99,905
    @ $75.06 · 2025-11-07
    BALDWIN ROBERT H B JR
    Director
    $672,800
    @ $116.00 · 2024-12-13
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

    Insider Selling Activity

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    ADBE
    1
    Sells (3M)
    3
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $711,495
    DURN DANIEL J
    Chief Financial Officer
    $485,323
    @ $294.85 · 2026-01-27
    FORUSZ JILLIAN
    Officer
    $50,344
    @ $337.88 · 2025-10-31
    FORUSZ JILLIAN
    Officer
    $175,828
    @ $380.58 · 2025-05-02
    FORUSZ JILLIAN
    Officer
    $145,567
    @ $435.83 · 2025-01-28
    BELSKY SCOTT K
    Officer
    $2.05M
    @ $431.61 · 2025-01-27
    BANSE AMY L
    Director
    $333,300
    @ $550.00 · 2024-12-06
    FORUSZ JILLIAN
    Officer
    $327,987
    @ $485.19 · 2024-10-29
    BELSKY SCOTT K
    Officer
    $232,525
    @ $483.42 · 2024-10-25
    BELSKY SCOTT K
    Officer
    $1.14M
    @ $511.48 · 2024-10-16
    DURN DANIEL J
    Chief Financial Officer
    $3.35M
    @ $515.44 · 2024-09-17
    GARFIELD MARK S.
    Officer
    $52,089
    @ $537.00 · 2024-07-25
    BELSKY SCOTT K
    Officer
    $258,297
    @ $537.00 · 2024-07-25
    GARFIELD MARK S.
    Officer
    $85,255
    @ $564.60 · 2024-07-16
    BELSKY SCOTT K
    Officer
    $1.25M
    @ $561.60 · 2024-07-16
    RAO DANA J.D.
    General Counsel
    $3.56M
    @ $525.51 · 2024-06-17
    GARFIELD MARK S.
    Officer
    $138,735
    @ $525.51 · 2024-06-17
    GARFIELD MARK S.
    Officer
    $265,644
    @ $447.97 · 2024-06-03
    GARFIELD MARK S.
    Officer
    $389,630
    @ $490.10 · 2024-05-06
    BELSKY SCOTT K
    Officer
    $1.29M
    @ $474.30 · 2024-05-02
    GARFIELD MARK S.
    Officer
    $45,436
    @ $468.41 · 2024-04-25
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
    GPN
    0
    Sells (3M)
    7
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $2.36M
    SHEFFIELD DAVID M
    Officer
    $164,123
    @ $81.41 · 2025-12-11
    GREEN DAVID LAWRENCE
    Officer
    $927,884
    @ $79.99 · 2025-12-03
    MCDANIEL CONNIE D
    Director
    $347,344
    @ $77.81 · 2025-11-12
    CORTOPASSI ROBERT M
    President
    $342,080
    @ $85.52 · 2025-08-21
    SHEFFIELD DAVID M
    Officer
    $207,575
    @ $83.03 · 2025-08-12
    STEELE-BELKIN DARA L.
    General Counsel
    $172,000
    @ $86.00 · 2025-08-07
    SHEFFIELD DAVID M
    Officer
    $201,975
    @ $80.79 · 2025-05-08
    CARTER ANDREA M
    Officer
    $250,015
    @ $105.67 · 2024-11-04
    GREEN DAVID LAWRENCE
    Officer
    $3.27M
    @ $104.55 · 2024-10-31
    SHEFFIELD DAVID M
    Officer
    $166,305
    @ $100.73 · 2024-08-08
    JOHNSTON SHANNON A
    Chief Technology Officer
    $169,816
    @ $98.33 · 2024-06-06
    CARTER ANDREA M
    Officer
    $367,422
    @ $111.34 · 2024-05-09
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

    🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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    ADBE
    FearGreed
    😨Fear(27/100)

    "Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
    GPN
    FearGreed
    😨Fear(29/100)

    "Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    ⚖️ Buffett Signal

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    ADBE
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (27)
    GPN
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (29)
    View ADBE Full AnalysisView GPN Full Analysis