Compare StocksADBE vs NSC

Adobe Inc. (ADBE) vs Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)

ADBE
Adobe Inc.
$250.71
VS
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
$315.90

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.
NSC
  • Norfolk Southern Corporation has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • Norfolk Southern Corporation scores 71/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

ADBE
    NSC
    • PEG ratio of 4.70 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.

    Key Valuation Metrics

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    ADBE
    NSC
    Valuation
    $9.32B
    Free Cash Flow
    $2.16B
    9.20%
    FCF Yield
    3.04%
    14.62
    Trailing P/E
    26.59
    9.48
    Forward P/E
    23.44
    Quality & Moat
    41.36%
    ROIC
    9.29%
    62.36%
    ROE
    18.18%
    89.40%
    Gross Margin
    45.85%
    1.32
    PEG Ratio
    4.70
    Balance Sheet Safety
    0.58
    Debt / Equity
    1.12
    N/A
    Interest Coverage
    N/A
    -0.02
    Net Debt / EBITDA
    2.92
    N/A
    Dividend Yield
    1.71%
    ADBE: 10Ties: 1NSC: 0
    ADBENSC

    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.

    NSC

    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
    NSC
    $2.35
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Exceptional Value Creator
    Σ Retained
    $3.66B
    Δ Market Cap
    +$8.59B
    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
    50.0% Margin of Safety
    Price is 50.0% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $250.71
    Fair Value: $501.89
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued
    NSC
    17.9% Overvalued
    Price is 17.9% above estimated fair value
    Current Price: $315.90
    Fair Value: $267.97
    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 $251?

    +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.

    NSC

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $316?

    +13.4%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +17.3%

    The market implies +13.4% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

    Standard FCF implies a demanding +17.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

    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.
    NSC
    71/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat driven primarily by roic consistency. Reinvestment Efficiency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

    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.
    NSC
    -2.63
    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 0.3%Institutions 87.7%Retail & Other 12.0%
    No. of Institutional Holders3,316
    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.
    NSC
    Insiders 0.1%Institutions 78.4%Retail & Other 21.5%
    No. of Institutional Holders2,237
    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
    NSC
    0
    Buys (3M)
    3
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $1.26M
    CLYBURN WILLIAM JR.
    Director
    $60,137
    @ $294.79 · 2025-12-05
    FAHMY, SAMEH
    Director
    $466,900
    @ $282.97 · 2025-11-05
    ANDERSON RICHARD H
    Director
    $732,823
    @ $281.86 · 2025-10-27
    LAMPHERE GILBERT H
    Director
    $157,735
    @ $259.86 · 2025-01-31
    ANDERSON RICHARD H
    Director
    $99,459
    @ $248.65 · 2024-12-13
    CLYBURN WILLIAM JR.
    Director
    $49,930
    @ $248.41 · 2024-12-13
    FAHMY, SAMEH
    Director
    $87,280
    @ $249.37 · 2024-12-12
    GEORGE MARK R.
    Chief Executive Officer
    $49,967
    @ $249.84 · 2024-12-11
    ANDERSON RICHARD H
    Director
    $257,850
    @ $257.85 · 2024-10-24
    FAHMY, SAMEH
    Director
    $255,000
    @ $255.00 · 2024-10-24
    FAHMY, SAMEH
    Director
    $244,097
    @ $244.10 · 2024-08-02
    ANDERSON RICHARD H
    Director
    $494,960
    @ $247.48 · 2024-07-29
    FAHMY, SAMEH
    Director
    $438,500
    @ $219.25 · 2024-06-14
    FAHMY, SAMEH
    Director
    $444,355
    @ $222.18 · 2024-06-03
    HUFFARD JOHN C JR
    Director
    $747,288
    @ $219.92 · 2024-05-30
    KELLEHER THOMAS COLM
    Director
    $501,958
    @ $219.96 · 2024-05-30
    LAMPHERE GILBERT H
    Director
    $149,446
    @ $219.77 · 2024-05-29
    ANDERSON RICHARD H
    Director
    $221,000
    @ $221.00 · 2024-05-29
    MONGEAU CLAUDE
    Director
    $1.25M
    @ $221.00 · 2024-05-29
    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): $867,022
    DURN DANIEL J
    Chief Financial Officer
    $331,355
    @ $248.02 · 2026-04-20
    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
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
    NSC
    0
    Sells (3M)
    1
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $253,442
    BHATT ANIL
    Chief Technology Officer
    $253,442
    @ $281.60 · 2025-11-19
    SHAW ALAN H
    Former
    $13.14M
    @ $255.98 · 2024-09-13
    NAG NABANITA C
    Officer
    $88,530
    @ $249.38 · 2024-07-29
    ELKINS CLAUDE E
    Officer
    $1.90M
    @ $228.43 · 2024-05-10
    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(37/100)

    "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.
    NSC
    FearGreed
    😏Greed(68/100)

    "Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

    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 (37)
    NSC
    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: Greed (68)
    View ADBE Full AnalysisView NSC Full Analysis
    ADBE vs NSC: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io