Adobe or Salesforce: Which Stock Has More Upside?
Even as Salesforce fell -5.3% during the past Day, its peer Adobe may be a better choice. Consistently evaluating alternatives is core to sound investment approach. Adobe (ADBE) stock offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs Salesforce (CRM) stock, suggesting you may be better off investing in ADBE
- ADBE’s quarterly revenue growth was 10.7%, vs. CRM’s 9.8%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 10.7%, ahead of CRM’s 8.3%.
- ADBE leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 36.2% and 3-year average of 35.4%.
A single stock can be risky, but there is a huge value to a broader, diversified approach. Strategic asset allocation and diversification help you stay invested. Did you know investors who panicked out of the S&P in 2020 lost significant upside that followed? Trefis High Quality Portfolio and Empirical Asset Management’s asset allocation approach are designed to reduce volatility so you can stay the course.
CRM provides CRM technology and the Customer 360 platform to deliver connected experiences across financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries worldwide. ADBE a global software company offering Creative Cloud subscription and products in Digital Media, Experience, Publishing, and Advertising, serving enterprise customers through direct sales and local offices.
Valuation & Performance Overview
- Better Value & Growth: CRM, ORCL Lead Synopsys Stock
- Buy or Sell Salesforce Stock?
- Salesforce’s Pivot: Why “Agentforce” Matters More Than the Earnings Beat
- Salesforce Stock Hits Key Support – Buying Opportunity?
- ORCL, CRM Top Synopsys Stock on Price & Potential
- Could Cash Machine Salesforce Stock Be Your Next Buy?
| CRM | ADBE | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 27.3 | 16.5 | ADBE |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 9.8% | 10.7% | ADBE |
| Last 12 Months | 8.3% | 10.7% | ADBE |
| Last 3 Year Average | 10.5% | 10.5% | ADBE |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 21.2% | 36.2% | ADBE |
| Last 3 Year Average | 17.8% | 35.4% | ADBE |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | 73.0% | 14.6% | CRM |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See more revenue details: CRM Revenue Comparison | ADBE Revenue Comparison
See more margin details: CRM Operating Income Comparison | ADBE Operating Income Comparison
But do these numbers tell the full story? Read Buy or Sell ADBE Stock to see if Adobe’s edge holds up under the hood or if Salesforce still has cards to play (see Buy or Sell CRM Stock).
Historical Market Performance
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| CRM Return | 37% | 14% | -48% | 98% | 28% | -28% | 49% | ||
| ADBE Return | 52% | 13% | -41% | 77% | -25% | -26% | -1% | ||
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 14% | 108% | <=== | |
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| CRM Win Rate | 58% | 58% | 33% | 50% | 67% | 40% | 51% | ||
| ADBE Win Rate | 67% | 67% | 33% | 67% | 33% | 20% | 48% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 70% | 64% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| CRM Max Drawdown | -24% | -8% | -50% | 0% | -17% | -30% | -21% | ||
| ADBE Max Drawdown | -14% | -16% | -51% | -5% | -27% | -26% | -23% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | -12% | <=== | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] 2025 data is for the year up to 11/6/2025 (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read ADBE Dip Buyer Analyses and CRM Dip Buyer Analyses to see how these stocks have fallen and recovered in the past.
Whatever your view on either of these stocks, investing in one or two stocks remains a risky proposition. Instead, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 — the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.