Latest news with #Adobe
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Invest in Adobe (ADBE) Based on Bullish Wall Street Views?
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important? Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Adobe Systems (ADBE). Adobe currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.74, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 34 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.74 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy. Of the 34 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 21 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 61.8% and 5.9% of all recommendations. Check price target & stock forecast for Adobe here>>>While the ABR calls for buying Adobe, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential. Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation. In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement. Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision. Although both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1-5, they are different measures altogether. The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5. Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide. On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns. Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements. In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Adobe, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $20.36. Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Adobe. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Adobe. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Adobe Inc. (ADBE) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Time Business News
a day ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Top Magento 2 Enterprise Experts to Scale Your eCommerce in 2025
As the eCommerce landscape becomes more competitive and technologically demanding, merchants relying on Magento 2 Enterprise (Adobe Commerce) need more than just developers—they need transformation partners. In 2025, the real differentiator won't just be what platform you use, but who you trust to help you get the most out of it. From streamlining complex B2B operations to optimizing performance for high-growth DTC brands, the right Magento agency can be the catalyst for long-term scale. Here's our handpicked list of the best Magento 2 Enterprise experts for 2025—starting with the one leading the pack: Rave Digital. When it comes to Adobe Commerce (Magento 2 Enterprise), Rave Digital isn't just one of the top agencies—they set the benchmark. With over 600 successful Magento deployments, a dedicated Adobe Commerce Center of Excellence, and a client-first approach rooted in performance, Rave Digital has proven time and again that they don't just build stores—they build sustainable, scalable eCommerce ecosystems. ✅ Proven Expertise Rave Digital is an Adobe Gold Solution Partner with a team of certified Magento developers, architects, and performance engineers. Whether it's full-scale enterprise implementations, migrations, or headless commerce solutions, Rave consistently delivers world-class outcomes. ✅ Results-Driven Approach Every project is aligned with business KPIs. From improving page speed and conversion rates to reducing cart abandonment and boosting AOV, Rave's strategies are designed to drive measurable growth. ✅ Tailored Enterprise Solutions Whether you're a manufacturer launching a B2B portal or a luxury brand going omnichannel, Rave Digital tailors every implementation to your unique operational needs and market goals. ✅ Full-Spectrum Magento Services Magento 2 upgrades & migrations Adobe Commerce Cloud integrations Custom module development Headless PWA architecture AI-powered product discovery 24/7 support & managed services ✅ Global Trust Rave serves clients across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies and fast-scaling DTC startups. Their retention rate speaks volumes: they don't just deliver great projects—they build long-term partnerships. 'With Rave, we didn't just get a developer—we got a business ally who understood our goals, improved our customer experience, and helped us grow faster.' — eCommerce Director, Global Retail Brand Vaimo is known for its flexible builds and strong UX sensibilities. A great pick for international companies needing high-quality frontend and backend alignment. Corra merges enterprise Magento knowledge with digital strategy and customer experience design. They're ideal for brands focused on retention and lifetime value. Redstage thrives in environments with heavy backend complexity, from legacy systems to multi-warehouse supply chains. Ideal for manufacturers and distributors. With deep Adobe Commerce Cloud experience, Gorilla Group is built for large organizations that need cross-region scalability and complex infrastructure. Known for their extensions, Amasty also delivers end-to-end enterprise Magento services that ensure seamless module integration and platform stability. Adobe Certification and verifiable Magento expertise and verifiable Magento expertise Experience with composable architecture and API-first frameworks and API-first frameworks Strategic thinking , not just technical skills , not just technical skills DevOps, security, and support infrastructure for enterprise SLAs for enterprise SLAs Proven track record with real-world ROI results Magento 2 Enterprise is a powerful platform—but its power is only fully unlocked when partnered with the right team. In 2025, that team is Rave Digital. They offer more than technical execution. They bring strategic insight, enterprise-grade reliability, and a relentless focus on performance. If you're serious about scaling your Magento store and dominating your category, look no further than Rave. �� Start your journey with Rave Digital TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
2 Cheap Tech Stocks to Buy Right Now
The list of what I'd consider "cheap" tech stocks has shrunk as the market has recovered over the past few weeks, but there are still some out there that could certainly have that label applied. Two that I think deserve the moniker are Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE). Both of these companies are dominant in their respective industries. Yet investors have already assumed that artificial intelligence will permanently disrupt them, even though they're rolling out their own AI solutions. I think the market has gotten these two stocks wrong, and their current cheap stock prices look like a serious buying opportunity. How cheap are these two? Both companies are mature and producing profits, so we'll use the forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio to assess their affordability. Using this measure, both Alphabet and Adobe trade for around or under 20 times forward earnings: GOOGL PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts. This is significant because the broader market, as measured by the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), trades for 22.1 times forward earnings. This well-established benchmark gives me confidence in labeling these two companies as cheap, as they're still growing at a solid rate despite their price tags. Alphabet Alphabet's primary business is the Google search engine, although it has other successful brands under its umbrella like Google Cloud, YouTube, and the Android operating system. However, investors are most worried about the search business being disrupted. Their assumption is that an AI-powered search alternative will replace Google. Alphabet's executives aren't blind to this notion and have already integrated AI search overviews into Google results; they've become a popular feature. This may be enough to bridge the gap between traditional search and a full-on AI experience, but Wall Street assumes this won't be enough. Last quarter, Google Search revenue rose 10% year over year, so it hasn't lost its edge quite yet. Investors are also focusing on Alphabet's trouble with the federal government for operating two illegal monopolies (one in search and one on its advertising platform). This threat is real, as the Department of Justice has already considered forcing Alphabet to sell certain parts of its business. However, we're a long way away from learning the outcome of this case, as there are multiple appeals processes to go through. With that in mind, I'll set this threat aside, because there's nothing investors can currently do about it. I'd forgive anyone who doesn't want to invest in Alphabet because of the impending government action. However, there's still plenty of growth left in its search business (as demonstrated over the past few years). And despite the market's worst fears, AI hasn't come for Alphabet yet. Adobe Adobe is in a situation similar to Alphabet's, minus the potential for government intervention. Adobe's creative design suite of products is the industry standard in graphics design, and is widely taught at all levels of education. There's a fear that generative AI-created content could replace what Adobe's primary users create. However, this is a far stretch, as AI-generated content can be impressive, but lacks the exact control that a program like Photoshop can provide. Furthermore, Adobe has its own generative AI offerings that allow users to create or modify existing images rapidly. Time will tell if Firefly is enough to fend off some free generative AI alternatives. Still, eventually those free alternatives will need to start charging fees for the resources it takes to run them to create an image. I think Adobe can outlast this initial AI wave and will emerge stronger than ever on the other side of it. In the meantime, Adobe is putting off solid growth for a mature company, with revenue rising 10% year over year in the first quarter. Earnings per share also rose 16% because a one-time acquisition termination fee dampened last year's results. Adobe is still a solid business that delivers excellent results, but the fear that it will be toppled by AI is causing its stock to be beaten down. This is a mistake, as the company is still a dominant player in its industry. Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Alphabet wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $651,761!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $826,263!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to170%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
ATxSummit 2025: Meta V-P downplays fears over AI as critics raise alarm over online risks to youth
(From left) IMDA's Alamelu Subramaniam, Adobe's Andy Parsons, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Meta's Simon Milner and SMU's Lim Sun Sun during a discussion at ATxSummit 2025 on May 29. PHOTO: INFOCOMM MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ATxSummit 2025: Meta V-P downplays fears over AI as critics raise alarm over online risks to youth SINGAPORE – Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, downplayed fears over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), urging policymakers and the public to focus on actual outcomes rather than worst-case scenarios. The comments by its Asia-Pacific public policy vice-president Simon Milner drew sharp rebuttals at the ATxSummit 2025 on May 29, where fellow panellists said the rapid spread of AI has real-world consequences such as online harms affecting youth and children. During the panel at Capella Singapore, Mr Milner cited 2024 as the 'year of democracy', as more people across a bigger number of countries went to the polls than at any other time in history. While there were widespread concerns about deepfakes and generative AI (GenAI) disrupting elections, he said no significant evidence of such interference was found – not even in major democracies like the US, India or Indonesia. 'Although enormous amounts of GenAI were deployed across platforms, the impact has not been catastrophic,' he added. However, his views were not shared by fellow panellists discussing the topic of protecting society in an always-online world. Drawing from her work, Singapore Management University's professor of communication and technology Lim Sun Sun said many parents feel anxious and unsure about how to guide their children in navigating the rapid rise of GenAI. 'Even if the data doesn't paint a worrying picture overall, on the ground, people are struggling to understand this technology,' Prof Lim said. Teachers also face a dilemma: Encouraging experimentation with AI while warning about its risks. 'It is a difficult balance,' she added. Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Margaret Beryl Jones) , the UK's parliamentary under-secretary for the future digital economy and online safety, echoed similar concerns about online harms affecting youth and children. She pointed to an ongoing public debate in the UK about the damaging effects some online platforms have on young users. 'For example, children accessing online suicide forums and committing suicide. This is just heartbreaking, and we have some terrible stories about it,' she said. In May 2024, 17-year-old Vlad Nikolin-Caisley from Hampshire in south-east England died after allegedly being encouraged by members of an online pro-suicide group. His family believes these harmful online interactions played a significant role in his death, intensifying calls for stronger regulation of such platforms. Baroness Jones stressed the need for tech companies to work closely with the government to minimise such harms, but acknowledged that not all companies are fully on board, as the government is 'laying high expectations in a new territory'. But Mr Milner pushed back, arguing that the UK – or more broadly, Europe – rushed to be the first region to regulate AI, which he described as a mistake. He said this approach has led to a stand-off with companies. In contrast, he praised Singapore and other Asian governments for taking a different path: Fostering robust dialogue with tech firms, both publicly and privately, while asking tough questions without rushing into heavy-handed regulations. Mr Andy Parsons, senior director of content authenticity at Adobe, highlighted the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. It is becoming nearly impossible for the police to identify real victims if the materials were generated entirely by AI, he said. Mr Parsons warned that this not only hinders efforts to bring perpetrators to justice but also erases the real human suffering behind these crimes – a grave problem that requires urgent attention. Prof Lim agreed, noting that the issue of CSAM has been worsened by the rapid spread of GenAI. She is currently identifying key stakeholders across the industry, government and the community who are involved in tackling the problem . We need to understand 'where else can we coordinate our efforts better so that we can combat this really dreadful scourge', she said. Addressing the concerns raised by his fellow panellists, Mr Milner emphasised that Meta's top priority is developing products with features to mitigate online harms. He cited the introduction of teen-specific accounts on Instagram as a response to growing worries about young people's engagement with the platform. 'I think we should be more parent-focused in our approach to young people's safety,' he said, adding that teen accounts are not just about imposing bans. 'Parents want help, and we are here to help them.' Baroness Jones stressed that AI safety must be approached as safety by design – embedded into platforms from the outset, rather than relying on reactive measures like taking down the content afterwards. 'It should be an integral part of the system that children, in particular, are protected,' she said. But achieving that remains a major challenge. Citing reports from the UK, she highlighted that children as young as eight have encountered disturbing content online, often repeatedly surfaced to them by algorithms. She believed the algorithms are clearly reinforcing exposure to harmful material. If tech companies truly put their minds to it, they could rework the way these systems operate, she said, emphasising that keeping children safe must be the top priority. Prof Lim also called for safety by design, stressing that online spaces should be built with the most vulnerable users in mind – whether they are children, women, the elderly or marginalised communities. She said: 'Because once you've designed for the most vulnerable, it makes the whole platform safer for everyone.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Salesforce vs. Adobe: Which Cloud Software Stock Has an Edge?
Salesforce, Inc. CRM and Adobe Inc. ADBE are two well-established leaders in the cloud software space. Both companies help businesses improve customer engagement, boost productivity and support digital transformation. Adobe is better known for its tools for creatives and marketers, while Salesforce leads in customer relationship management. Recently, both firms have been betting big on artificial intelligence (AI) to drive future growth. This raises an important question for investors: Which of the two stocks has a better upside potential? To answer that, let's examine their latest results, business strategies, valuation levels and risks. Salesforce continues to dominate the customer relationship management market, outpacing rivals like Microsoft, Oracle and SAP. According to Gartner, it still holds the largest share in this segment. Over the years, Salesforce has built a strong and interconnected platform. The acquisition of Informatica, Zoomin, and Own Company shows its intent to move beyond its position as a customer relationship management software maker and become a broader enterprise software provider focused on AI, data and collaboration. AI is now central to Salesforce's growth plan. Since rolling out Einstein GPT in 2023, the company has embedded generative AI into its platform to help businesses automate processes, improve decisions and offer better customer experiences. As AI adoption rises across industries, Salesforce is well-placed to benefit from the same. Its latest innovation, Agentforce, reflects that momentum. Paired with its Data Cloud, Agentforce has already hit $100 million in annualized revenues just two quarters after launch. Over 4,000 customers are using it for various tasks in sales, service and marketing. Data Cloud is also expanding fast, with ARR growing over 120% year over year. Salesforce's broader strategy to bring apps, data and AI agents under one umbrella gives it a strong edge. However, revenue growth has slowed. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Salesforce's revenues increased 8% year over year, well below the double-digit pace in the previous years. This isn't due to company issues, but cautious enterprise spending amid an uncertain macroeconomic environment and rising tariffs. Still, adjusted EPS rose 6%, and Salesforce remained profitable and operationally sound. Adobe had a solid first-quarter fiscal 2025, with revenues rising 10% to $5.71 billion and non-GAAP EPS growing 13.4% to $5.08. It continues to generate strong margins with an operating margin of 47.5% in the first quarter and delivered a record $2.48 billion in operating cash flow. Adobe remains the leader in creative software, with a loyal customer base and a broad range of products. AI is also a growth driver here. Adobe's AI-related business added more than $125 million in ARR last quarter and is expected to double by the end of the year. The company is expanding its AI lineup through tools like GenStudio and Firefly Services, designed to help marketers and agencies create campaigns more efficiently. It recently introduced new Firefly-powered tools in Premiere Pro and After Effects, including video expansion and 3D motion design features. Adobe is also upgrading tools like and enhancing Acrobat, Reader, and Express with AI assistants. Adobe plans to monetize Firefly through tiered pricing inside Creative Cloud. It is also increasing sales efforts to target businesses, schools and government clients. These developments suggest that Adobe is serious about scaling its AI-driven business. Nonetheless, Adobe's second-quarter guidance raises some red flags. It expects non-GAAP EPS between $4.95 and $5.00, down from the first quarter despite projecting higher sequential revenues. This signals margin pressure, likely from higher research & development spending, expanding cloud infrastructure for AI, and updates to product bundles and sales strategy. Wall Street analysts seem more confident about Salesforce's earnings stability. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Salesforce's next two quarters' earnings has remained unchanged. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research On the other hand, Adobe's earnings estimates for the same period have been lowered. This suggests some concerns about near-term profitability. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In the long run, Salesforce's earnings are expected to witness a CAGR of 12.7%, slightly better than Adobe's 12.4%. While the gap is minor, it supports the idea that Salesforce has a better profitability outlook. Salesforce stock has performed much better over the past year, gaining 26.7%, while Adobe shares have lost 7.5%. This performance gap reflects stronger investor confidence in Salesforce's growth story. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation perspective, Salesforce also appears cheaper. It trades at 6.32 times forward sales, while Adobe trades at a higher 7.17 times. This suggests Salesforce has more room for upside, assuming its fundamentals hold steady. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Salesforce and Adobe are both strong players in cloud software, but Salesforce looks like the better option right now. Its focus on AI, unified platform strategy, and more favorable earnings outlook give it a clear advantage. Adobe is growing and profitable, but rising costs and higher valuation may limit short-term gains. Meanwhile, Salesforce is showing faster progress in building enterprise-scale AI capabilities. Currently, Salesforce holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which also puts it ahead of Adobe's Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Salesforce Inc. (CRM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Adobe Inc. (ADBE) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
