Today’s news: Adobe Systems (ADBE) reports good fourth-quarter results.
Adobe Systems reported fourth-quarter and full-year results yesterday afternoon (November year end). The company achieved record quarterly and annual revenues of $2.99 billion and $11.17 billion, respectively. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share came in at $2.29 vs. the $2.26 consensus estimate. The company also reported record cash flow. Also, they repurchased 2.8 million shares of stock during the quarter and 9.9 million shares during full-year 2019.
Management now forecasts $13.15 billion 2020 revenue and $9.75 EPS, representing increases of 17.7% and 23.9% over 2019 numbers, respectively. The forecast does not materially differ from current consensus estimates.
CFO John Murphy stated, “We are bullish about our opportunities and our ability to continue to deliver strong top- and bottom-line growth.”
Here are additional results from the press release:
• Digital Media segment revenue was $2.08 billion, which represents 22% year-over-year growth. Creative revenue grew to $1.74 billion and Document Cloud revenue was $339 million. Digital Media Annualized Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) grew to $8.40 billion exiting the quarter, a quarter-over-quarter increase of $539 million. Creative ARR grew to $7.31 billion, and Document Cloud ARR grew to $1.09 billion.
• Digital Experience segment revenue was $859 million, representing 24% year-over-year growth.
Reuters reported the following comments from investment firms:
• RBC Capital Markets said Adobe’s fourth quarter was a “knock-out quarter” for their core digital media business
• Canaccord Genuity says it “continues to believe that cash flow generators that deliver growth at scale, such as Adobe, will deliver attractive risk adjusted returns in this market environment.”
• JP Morgan expects ADBE to settle into a phase of “solid compounding returns,” that they see an increasing portion of ADBE’s growth driven by the digital marketing/advertising segment.
• Jefferies says ADBE remains a top pick and its digital media segment is a “star performer;" adding “ADBE ended the full year with fireworks.”
ADBE is a large-cap aggressive growth stock, great for risk-tolerant growth investors and buy-and-hold equity portfolios. This morning, nine investment firms raised their price targets on ADBE to a range of 315-370. And earlier this week, BMO Capital Markets (the Bank of Montreal) and Morgan Stanley raised their price targets on ADBE to 350 and 410, respectively. The stock opened at about 314.5 this morning. I expect ADBE to perform well today, next week, and next year. Buy ADBE now. Buy.