Stock Analysis on Net

Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE)

$24.99

Return on Capital (ROC)

Microsoft Excel

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Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

Adobe Inc., ROIC calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Nov 29, 2024 Dec 1, 2023 Dec 2, 2022 Dec 3, 2021 Nov 27, 2020 Nov 29, 2019
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1
Invested capital2
Performance Ratio
ROIC3
Benchmarks
ROIC, Competitors4
Accenture PLC
Cadence Design Systems Inc.
CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.
Fair Isaac Corp.
International Business Machines Corp.
Intuit Inc.
Microsoft Corp.
Oracle Corp.
Palantir Technologies Inc.
Palo Alto Networks Inc.
Salesforce Inc.
ServiceNow Inc.
Synopsys Inc.
Workday Inc.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-11-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-01), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-02), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-03), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-11-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-11-29).

1 NOPAT. See details »

2 Invested capital. See details »

3 2024 Calculation
ROIC = 100 × NOPAT ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
Over the six-year period, NOPAT exhibited an overall upward trend from $3,448 million in 2019 to a peak of $6,201 million in 2021. Subsequently, it declined gradually to $5,235 million by 2024. The increase up to 2021 indicates a period of strong operating profitability, while the decline after 2021 suggests challenges that impacted net operating earnings.
Invested Capital
Invested capital showed a consistent increase from $17,466 million in 2019 to a notable $24,970 million in 2023, before a slight decrease to $24,709 million in 2024. This steady rise reflects ongoing investments in company resources and assets, with a marginal reduction in the last year analyzed.
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
The ROIC trend corresponds with changes in NOPAT and invested capital. It increased from 19.74% in 2019 to a high of 29.44% in 2021, indicating improved efficiency in generating returns from invested capital during this timeframe. After 2021, ROIC decreased to 21.19% by 2024, reflecting reduced profitability relative to the capital invested despite the growth in invested capital.
Overall Insights
The data reveal that peak financial performance occurred in 2021, characterized by maximum NOPAT and ROIC values. Investments in capital grew steadily, but the fall in ROIC after 2021 suggests that the incremental invested capital generated diminishing returns. The decline in NOPAT alongside growing capital investment points to potential operational or market challenges affecting profitability and capital efficiency in recent years.

Decomposition of ROIC

Adobe Inc., decomposition of ROIC

Microsoft Excel
ROIC = OPM1 × TO2 × 1 – CTR3
Nov 29, 2024 = × ×
Dec 1, 2023 = × ×
Dec 2, 2022 = × ×
Dec 3, 2021 = × ×
Nov 27, 2020 = × ×
Nov 29, 2019 = × ×

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-11-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-01), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-02), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-03), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-11-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-11-29).

1 Operating profit margin (OPM). See calculations »

2 Turnover of capital (TO). See calculations »

3 Effective cash tax rate (CTR). See calculations »


Operating Profit Margin (OPM)
The operating profit margin exhibits a general upward trend from 31.93% in 2019 to a peak of 40.89% in 2021. Following this peak, a gradual decline is observed, with the margin decreasing to 32.23% by 2024. This pattern suggests that while operational efficiency improved significantly up to 2021, there has been some erosion in profitability margins since then.
Turnover of Capital (TO)
The turnover of capital shows a consistent increase over the period, moving from 0.67 in 2019 to 0.88 by 2024. This indicates improving efficiency in the use of capital to generate revenue, with a notable acceleration between 2021 and 2024 despite a slight dip in 2023.
Effective Cash Tax Rate Inverse (1 – CTR)
There is a declining trend in the value of 1 – Effective Cash Tax Rate, from 92.94% in 2019 down to 74.46% in 2024. This suggests that the effective cash tax rate has increased over time, indicating a higher proportion of earnings being paid as taxes in more recent years.
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
Return on invested capital rose substantially from 19.74% in 2019 to a high of 29.44% in 2021, reflecting enhanced profitability and efficient use of invested capital during these years. However, the ROIC declined afterward, reaching 21.19% in 2024, pointing toward a reduction in return-generating capability in the latest period, albeit still higher than the 2019 baseline.

Operating Profit Margin (OPM)

Adobe Inc., OPM calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Nov 29, 2024 Dec 1, 2023 Dec 2, 2022 Dec 3, 2021 Nov 27, 2020 Nov 29, 2019
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1
Add: Cash operating taxes2
Net operating profit before taxes (NOPBT)
 
Revenue
Add: Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue
Adjusted revenue
Profitability Ratio
OPM3
Benchmarks
OPM, Competitors4
Accenture PLC
Cadence Design Systems Inc.
CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.
Fair Isaac Corp.
International Business Machines Corp.
Intuit Inc.
Microsoft Corp.
Oracle Corp.
Palantir Technologies Inc.
Palo Alto Networks Inc.
Salesforce Inc.
ServiceNow Inc.
Synopsys Inc.
Workday Inc.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-11-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-01), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-02), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-03), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-11-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-11-29).

1 NOPAT. See details »

2 Cash operating taxes. See details »

3 2024 Calculation
OPM = 100 × NOPBT ÷ Adjusted revenue
= 100 × ÷ =

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial data exhibits notable trends in profitability and revenue generation over the examined periods. Adjusted revenue shows a consistent upward trajectory with steady growth from 11,618 million US dollars in 2019 to 21,814 million US dollars in 2024, indicating successful expansion and increasing market demand. This represents nearly a doubling in revenue over the six-year span.

Net operating profit before taxes (NOPBT) also increases overall, rising from 3,709 million US dollars in 2019 to a peak of 7,174 million US dollars in 2023, before a slight decline to 7,031 million US dollars in 2024. The growth in operating profit closely tracks the expansion in revenue, reflecting effective cost management and operational efficiency. However, the decline in profit in the last period warrants monitoring as it may suggest emerging challenges or increased expenses.

Operating profit margin (OPM) percentages reveal fluctuations despite growing absolute profit figures. The margin climbs significantly from 31.93% in 2019 to a peak of 40.89% in 2021, suggesting improved profitability relative to revenue during this period. Subsequently, the margin trends downward, falling to 32.23% by 2024. This decline post-2021 implies that operating expenses have increased at a faster rate than revenues or that pricing pressures might be impacting profitability ratios.

Adjusted Revenue
Consistent and robust growth throughout the periods, nearly doubling over six years.
Net Operating Profit Before Taxes (NOPBT)
Strong growth until 2023 followed by a slight decrease in 2024, maintaining a level significantly higher than at the beginning of the period.
Operating Profit Margin (OPM)
Improved profitability margin notably in 2021; however, a declining trend from 2022 onwards indicates narrowing margins despite revenue growth.

Overall, the data displays growth in both revenue and profitability in absolute terms, but the recent downward trend in operating profit margin suggests that operational challenges or cost pressures may be impacting efficiency and require attention to sustain long-term profitability.


Turnover of Capital (TO)

Adobe Inc., TO calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Nov 29, 2024 Dec 1, 2023 Dec 2, 2022 Dec 3, 2021 Nov 27, 2020 Nov 29, 2019
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Revenue
Add: Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue
Adjusted revenue
 
Invested capital1
Efficiency Ratio
TO2
Benchmarks
TO, Competitors3
Accenture PLC
Cadence Design Systems Inc.
CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.
Fair Isaac Corp.
International Business Machines Corp.
Intuit Inc.
Microsoft Corp.
Oracle Corp.
Palantir Technologies Inc.
Palo Alto Networks Inc.
Salesforce Inc.
ServiceNow Inc.
Synopsys Inc.
Workday Inc.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-11-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-01), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-02), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-03), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-11-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-11-29).

1 Invested capital. See details »

2 2024 Calculation
TO = Adjusted revenue ÷ Invested capital
= ÷ =

3 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The analysis of the provided financial data reveals several notable trends over the six-year period from 2019 to 2024.

Adjusted Revenue
The adjusted revenue shows a consistent upward trajectory throughout the period. Starting from 11,618 million US dollars in 2019, it increased annually to reach 21,814 million US dollars by 2024. This represents a substantial growth indicating strong sales and revenue generation capacity, with the most notable jumps occurring between 2020 to 2021 and continued sustained growth thereafter.
Invested Capital
The invested capital also shows an increasing trend over the years but with a more fluctuating pattern. It starts at 17,466 million US dollars in 2019 and grows to 24,709 million US dollars in 2024. The increase is relatively steady but slows between 2023 and 2024, with a slight decrease compared to the previous year. This suggests careful capital allocation or partial divestment during the latest period.
Turnover of Capital (TO)
The turnover of capital ratio, representing the efficiency with which the company uses invested capital to generate revenue, improved overall, rising from 0.67 in 2019 to 0.88 in 2024. There is a notable increase from 2019 to 2022, demonstrating enhanced capital utilization efficiency. However, there is a slight dip in 2023 before recovering again in 2024, indicating some variability but an overall positive trend in capital turnover efficiency.

In summary, the company has shown strong revenue growth accompanied by a steady increase in invested capital. The improvement in the turnover of capital ratio suggests enhanced operational efficiency in using the invested capital to generate revenue. Despite a minor capital efficiency dip in 2023, the overall trend reflects effective capital management and growth sustainability.


Effective Cash Tax Rate (CTR)

Adobe Inc., CTR calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Nov 29, 2024 Dec 1, 2023 Dec 2, 2022 Dec 3, 2021 Nov 27, 2020 Nov 29, 2019
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1
Add: Cash operating taxes2
Net operating profit before taxes (NOPBT)
Tax Rate
CTR3
Benchmarks
CTR, Competitors4
Accenture PLC
Cadence Design Systems Inc.
CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.
Fair Isaac Corp.
International Business Machines Corp.
Intuit Inc.
Microsoft Corp.
Oracle Corp.
Palantir Technologies Inc.
Palo Alto Networks Inc.
Salesforce Inc.
ServiceNow Inc.
Synopsys Inc.
Workday Inc.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-11-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-01), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-02), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-03), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-11-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-11-29).

1 NOPAT. See details »

2 Cash operating taxes. See details »

3 2024 Calculation
CTR = 100 × Cash operating taxes ÷ NOPBT
= 100 × ÷ =

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial data shows a clear pattern of growth in cash operating taxes over the span from 2019 to 2024. The amount has increased substantially from US$262 million in 2019 to US$1,795 million in 2024, indicating a rising tax burden or improving profitability leading to higher tax payments.

Net operating profit before taxes (NOPBT) presents an overall upward trend but with some fluctuations. Starting at US$3,709 million in 2019, it peaks at US$6,912 million in 2021, then slightly decreases in subsequent years, ending at US$7,031 million in 2024. The data suggests strong operational profitability with a slight contraction or stabilization in recent years.

The effective cash tax rate (CTR) has also risen notably from 7.06% in 2019 to 25.54% in 2024. This growth reflects an increasing proportion of operating profits paid as tax, which might be attributable to changes in tax legislation, reduced tax credits, or alterations in the geographical distribution of taxable income. The rise in the tax rate is particularly significant after 2021, suggesting a shift in tax expense relative to earnings.

Cash Operating Taxes
There is a steady and pronounced increase in cash operating taxes across the years, nearly sevenfold from 2019 to 2024.
Net Operating Profit Before Taxes (NOPBT)
Although the NOPBT increased significantly by 2021, there is a slight decline or stabilization afterward, indicating potential operational challenges or market conditions affecting profitability.
Effective Cash Tax Rate (CTR)
The CTR has increased more than threefold over the analyzed period, suggesting a heavier tax burden relative to operating profits or systemic changes in the tax environment impacting the company.

Overall, the data indicates increasing profitability until 2021, followed by a period of stabilization or minor decline, alongside a consistent rise in tax payments and effective tax rates, which could impact net income and cash flow going forward.