Adobe Delivers Record Q1 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Adobe (ADBE) reported strong Q1 FY2025 results with record revenue of $5.71 billion, representing 10% year-over-year growth. The company achieved record operating cash flows of $2.48 billion and reaffirmed its FY2025 targets.

Key financial highlights include:

• GAAP diluted EPS of $4.14 and non-GAAP EPS of $5.08
• Digital Media segment revenue of $4.23 billion, up 11%
• Digital Experience segment revenue of $1.41 billion, up 10%
• Digital Media ARR reached $17.63 billion, growing 12.6% year-over-year

The company's AI-first innovations generated over $125 million in ending ARR. Adobe repurchased approximately 7.0 million shares during the quarter. The company introduced new revenue reporting categories: Business Professionals and Consumers Group ($1.53 billion, +15%) and Creative and Marketing Professionals Group ($3.92 billion, +10%).

Positive

• Record quarterly revenue of $5.71 billion, up 10% YoY
• Strong operating cash flows of $2.48 billion
• Digital Media ARR growth of 12.6% to $17.63 billion
• AI innovations generating $125 million in ending ARR
• Business Professionals segment showing 15% growth
• Continued share repurchase program with 7.0M shares bought

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Adobe's Q1 FY2025 results showcase exceptional performance with record revenue of $5.71 billion (10% YoY growth) and record operating cash flows of $2.48 billion. This cash generation reflects a conversion rate significantly above software industry averages, highlighting the company's highly efficient subscription model.

The Digital Media ARR growth of 12.6% to $17.63 billion demonstrates Adobe's ability to maintain impressive growth rates despite its size. Both major segments performed strongly, with Digital Media revenue up 11% to $4.23 billion and Digital Experience revenue growing 10% to $1.41 billion.

Particularly noteworthy is Adobe's successful AI monetization strategy, with AI-first products generating over $125 million in ending ARR. While many tech companies struggle to convert AI investments into revenue, Adobe is clearly executing effectively in this area.

The new reporting structure provides valuable transparency, revealing that the Business Professionals and Consumers group is growing faster (15% YoY to $1.53 billion) than the Creative and Marketing Professionals group (10% YoY to $3.92 billion). This suggests Adobe is successfully expanding beyond its creative core into broader business applications.

The repurchase of approximately 7 million shares during the quarter represents efficient capital allocation and signals management confidence. Adobe's reaffirmation of FY2025 targets further reinforces this positive outlook. For a mature software company to maintain double-digit growth across all major segments while generating record cash flow demonstrates exceptional operational execution.

Tech Industry Expert

Adobe's Q1 results reveal a textbook example of successful AI commercialization in an industry where many companies struggle to monetize their AI investments. The $125 million in ending ARR from AI-first standalone products and add-ons represents a critical growth vector that differentiates Adobe from competitors.

The consistent performance across both Digital Media (11% growth) and Digital Experience (10% growth) segments demonstrates Adobe's successful diversification beyond its creative tools foundation into enterprise marketing technology. This balanced growth profile provides resilience against segment-specific market fluctuations.

Adobe's new reporting structure offers valuable insights into customer adoption patterns. The 15% growth in the Business Professionals and Consumers segment versus 10% growth in Creative and Marketing Professionals indicates Adobe is effectively expanding its addressable market beyond creative professionals into broader business use cases.

The $2.48 billion in operating cash flows provides Adobe substantial resources to fuel continued innovation while maintaining shareholder returns through share repurchases. This financial flexibility allows Adobe to make strategic investments in emerging technologies while insulating it from short-term market pressures.

Adobe's subscription-based business model continues to demonstrate its value through predictable, recurring revenue streams and high customer retention. The 12.6% growth in Digital Media ARR to $17.63 billion reflects strong customer loyalty and expanding wallet share. With reaffirmed FY2025 targets and evidence of successful AI monetization, Adobe is executing a multi-year strategy that positions it for continued leadership in creative, document, and marketing technology markets.

• Record Q1 Operating Cash Flows of $2.48 billion
• Reaffirms FY2025 Targets
• Previews Customer-Focused Strategy Ahead of Its Investor Meeting at Adobe Summit

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today reported financial results for its first quarter fiscal year 2025 ended Feb. 28, 2025, reaffirming its FY2025 targets, and previewed its customer-focused strategy ahead of Adobe’s Investor Meeting next week at Adobe Summit.

“Adobe’s success over the next decade will be driven by customer-focused innovation and new offerings for creators, marketing professionals, business professionals and consumers,” said Shantanu Narayen, chair and CEO, Adobe. “Adobe is well-positioned to capitalize on the acceleration of the creative economy driven by AI and we are reaffirming our FY2025 financial targets.”

“Our continued innovation and diversified go-to-market strategy drove a record Q1, with new AI-first standalone and add-on innovations exiting the quarter with over $125 million ending ARR book of business,” said Dan Durn, executive vice president and CFO, Adobe. “Our customer- focused strategy, leading product portfolio and strong cash flow position us for sustainable long-term growth and increased market share.”

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Highlights

• Adobe achieved record revenue of $5.71 billion in its first quarter of fiscal year 2025, which represents 10 percent year-over-year growth, or 11 percent in constant currency. Diluted earnings per share was $4.14 on a GAAP basis and $5.08 on a non-GAAP basis.
• GAAP operating income in the first quarter was $2.16 billion and non-GAAP operating income was $2.72 billion. GAAP net income was $1.81 billion and non-GAAP net income was $2.22 billion.
• Cash flows from operations were $2.48 billion.
• Exiting the quarter, Remaining Performance Obligations (“RPO”) were $19.69 billion, and Current Remaining Performance Obligations (“cRPO”) were 67 percent.
• Adobe repurchased approximately 7.0 million shares during the quarter.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Business Segment Highlights

• Digital Media segment revenue was $4.23 billion, which represents 11 percent year-over-year growth, or 12 percent in constant currency. Digital Media Annualized Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) exiting the quarter was $17.63 billion, representing 12.6 percent year-over-year growth.
• Digital Experience segment revenue was $1.41 billion, representing 10 percent year-over-year growth as reported and in constant currency. Digital Experience subscription revenue was $1.30 billion, representing 11 percent year-over-year growth as reported and in constant currency.

Supplemental Disclosure for Customer Groups

Adobe will now disclose subscription revenue by both “Business Professionals and Consumers” and “Creative and Marketing Professionals” to provide additional insight. Business Professionals and Consumers Group will consist of all subscription revenue from Document Cloud, Acrobat subscription revenue in Creative Cloud, and Adobe Express subscription revenue in Creative Cloud, all of which are part of Digital Media. Creative and Marketing Professionals Group will consist of all subscription revenue from Digital Experience as well as all of the remaining subscription revenue from Creative Cloud in Digital Media.

• Business Professionals and Consumers Group subscription revenue was $1.53 billion, which represents 15 percent year-over-year growth.
• Creative and Marketing Professionals Group subscription revenue was $3.92 billion, which represents 10 percent year-over-year growth.

Financial Targets

The following table summarizes Adobe’s second quarter fiscal year 2025 targets¹:

Total revenue	$5.77 billion to $5.82 billion
Digital Media segment revenue	$4.27 billion to $4.30 billion
Digital Experience segment revenue	$1.43 billion to $1.45 billion
Digital Experience subscription revenue	$1.315 billion to $1.325 billion
Earnings per share	GAAP: $3.80 to $3.85	Non-GAAP: $4.95 to $5.00

1

Targets assume non-GAAP operating margin of ~45 percent, non-GAAP tax rate of ~18.5 percent and diluted share count of ~432 million for second quarter fiscal year 2025.

The following table summarizes Adobe’s fiscal year 2025 targets, which assumes current macroeconomic conditions²:

Total revenue	$23.30 billion to $23.55 billion
Digital Media segment revenue	$17.25 billion to $17.40 billion
Digital Media ending ARR growth	11.0% year over year
Digital Experience segment revenue	$5.80 billion to $5.90 billion
Digital Experience subscription revenue	$5.375 billion to $5.425 billion
Earnings per share	GAAP: $15.80 to $16.10	Non-GAAP: $20.20 to $20.50

2

Targets assume non-GAAP operating margin of ~46 percent, non-GAAP tax rate of ~18.5 percent and diluted share count of ~433 million for fiscal year 2025.

Adobe to Host Conference Call

Adobe will webcast its first quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time from its investor relations website: http://www.adobe.com/ADBE. Earnings documents, including Adobe management’s prepared conference call remarks with slides and an investor datasheet are posted to Adobe’s Investor Relations Website in advance of the conference call for reference.

Adobe to Host Investor Meeting at Adobe Summit 2025

Adobe will host its Investor Meeting with financial analysts and investors on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time at Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada. Adobe’s executive team will provide updates on Adobe’s strategy, innovation roadmap, market opportunity and financials. The event will be streamed live on the Adobe Investor Relations Website. Following the event, a recording and related materials will be available on the site.

Forward-Looking Statements, Non-GAAP and Other Disclosures

In addition to historical information, this press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements related to our business, strategy, artificial intelligence and innovation momentum; our market opportunity and future growth; market trends; current macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; strategic investments; customer success and groups; revenue; operating margin; annualized recurring revenue; tax rate; earnings per share; and share count. Each of the forward-looking statements we make in this press release involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions based on information available to us as of the date of this press release. Such risks and uncertainties, many of which relate to matters beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: failure to innovate effectively and meet customer needs; issues relating to development and use of AI; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of investments or acquisitions; failure to compete effectively; damage to our reputation or brands; service interruptions or failures in information technology systems by us or third parties; security incidents; failure to effectively develop, manage and maintain critical third-party business relationships; risks associated with being a multinational corporation and adverse macroeconomic conditions; failure to recruit and retain key personnel; complex sales cycles; changes in, and compliance with, global laws and regulations, including those related to information security and privacy; failure to protect our intellectual property; litigation, regulatory inquiries and intellectual property infringement claims; changes in tax regulations; complex government procurement processes; risks related to fluctuations in or the timing of revenue recognition from our subscription offerings; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; impairment charges; our existing and future debt obligations; catastrophic events; and fluctuations in our stock price. Further information on these and other factors are discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Adobe’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Adobe's most recently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The risks described in this press release and in Adobe’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should be carefully reviewed.

Undue reliance should not be placed on the financial information set forth in this press release, which reflects estimates based on information available at this time. These amounts could differ from actual reported amounts stated in Adobe’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for our fiscal quarter ended Feb. 28, 2025, which Adobe expects to file in March 2025. Adobe assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.

A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP earnings results and financial targets and a statement regarding use of non-GAAP financial information are provided at the end of this press release and on Adobe’s investor relations website.

About Adobe

Adobe is changing the world through personalized digital experiences. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.

©2025 Adobe. All rights reserved. Adobe, Creative Cloud, Document Cloud and the Adobe logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe (or one of its subsidiaries) in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In millions, except per share data; unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	February 28, 2025				March 1, 2024
Revenue:
Subscription	$	5,483			$	4,916
Product		95				119
Services and other		136				147
Total revenue		5,714				5,182
Cost of revenue:
Subscription		490				455
Product		6				5
Services and other		126				130
Total cost of revenue		622				590
Gross profit		5,092				4,592
Operating expenses:
Research and development		1,026				939
Sales and marketing		1,495				1,352
General and administrative		367				352
Acquisition termination fee		—				1,000
Amortization of intangibles		41				42
Total operating expenses		2,929				3,685
Operating income		2,163				907
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest expense		(62	)			(27	)
Investment gains (losses), net		6				18
Other income (expense), net		75				70
Total non-operating income (expense), net		19				61
Income before income taxes		2,182				968
Provision for income taxes		371				348
Net income	$	1,811			$	620
Basic net income per share	$	4.15			$	1.37
Shares used to compute basic net income per share		436				453
Diluted net income per share	$	4.14			$	1.36
Shares used to compute diluted net income per share		438				456

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions; unaudited)
	February 28, 2025				November 29, 2024
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,758			$	7,613
Short-term investments		677				273
Trade receivables, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $15 and $14, respectively		1,973				2,072
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,447				1,274
Total current assets		10,855				11,232
Property and equipment, net		1,893				1,936
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		266				281
Goodwill		12,777				12,788
Other intangibles, net		706				782
Deferred income taxes		1,820				1,657
Other assets		1,638				1,554
Total assets	$	29,955			$	30,230
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Trade payables	$	326			$	361
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		1,951				2,336
Debt		—				1,499
Deferred revenue		6,347				6,131
Income taxes payable		465				119
Operating lease liabilities		74				75
Total current liabilities		9,163				10,521
Long-term liabilities:
Debt		6,155				4,129
Deferred revenue		143				128
Income taxes payable		567				548
Operating lease liabilities		334				353
Other liabilities		498				446
Total liabilities		16,860				16,125
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock		—				—
Common stock		—				—
Additional paid-in capital		13,894				13,419
Retained earnings		40,186				38,470
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(158	)			(201	)
Treasury stock, at cost		(40,827	)			(37,583	)
Total stockholders’ equity		13,095				14,105
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	29,955			$	30,230

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In millions; unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	February 28, 2025				March 1, 2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	1,811			$	620
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		217				212
Stock-based compensation		475				451
Other non-cash adjustments		(152	)			(110	)
Changes in deferred revenue		231				160
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities		(100	)			(159	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		2,482				1,174
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments, net		(401	)			139
Purchases of property and equipment		(26	)			(37	)
Purchases and sales of long-term investments, intangibles and other assets, net		(57	)			(36	)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		(484	)			66
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchases of common stock		(3,250	)			(2,000	)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards, net of proceeds from treasury stock re-issuances		(63	)			(125	)
Proceeds from issuance of debt		1,997				—
Repayment of debt		(1,500	)			—
Other financing activities, net		(25	)			(3	)
Net cash used for financing activities		(2,841	)			(2,128	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(12	)			1
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(855	)			(887	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		7,613				7,141
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	6,758			$	6,254

Non-GAAP Results

The following table shows Adobe’s GAAP results reconciled to non-GAAP results included in this release.

(In millions, except per share data)	Three Months Ended
	February 28, 2025				March 1, 2024				November 29, 2024
Operating income:
GAAP operating income	$	2,163			$	907			$	1,957
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		469				469				455
Amortization of intangibles		83				83				84
Acquisition-related expenses (1)		—				1,007				—
Loss contingency (reversal) (2)		—				1				—
Lease-related asset impairments and other charges (3)		—				—				100
Non-GAAP operating income	$	2,715			$	2,467			$	2,596
Net income:
GAAP net income	$	1,811			$	620			$	1,683
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		469				469				455
Amortization of intangibles		83				83				84
Acquisition-related expenses (1)		—				1,007				—
Loss contingency (reversal) (2)		—				1				—
Lease-related asset impairments and other charges (3)		—				—				100
Investment (gains) losses, net		(6	)			(18	)			(14	)
Income tax adjustments		(133	)			(116	)			(176	)
Non-GAAP net income	$	2,224			$	2,046			$	2,132
Diluted net income per share:
GAAP diluted net income per share	$	4.14			$	1.36			$	3.79
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		1.07				1.03				1.03
Amortization of intangibles		0.19				0.18				0.19
Acquisition-related expenses (1)		—				2.21				—
Lease-related asset impairments and other charges (3)		—				—				0.23
Investment (gains) losses, net		(0.01	)			(0.04	)			(0.03	)
Income tax adjustments		(0.31	)			(0.26	)			(0.40	)
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share	$	5.08			$	4.48			$	4.81
Shares used to compute diluted net income per share		438				456				443

(1)		Associated with the Figma transaction, and includes deal costs, certain professional fees and the termination fee
(2)		Associated with an IP litigation matter
(3)		Associated with the optimization of our leased facilities, and primarily includes impairment charges related to certain operating lease right-of-use assets and leasehold improvements

Non-GAAP Results (continued)

The following table shows Adobe’s first quarter fiscal year 2025 GAAP tax rate reconciled to the non-GAAP tax rate included in this release.

	First Quarter Fiscal 2025
Effective income tax rate:
GAAP effective income tax rate		17.0		%
Income tax adjustments		3.5
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		(1.7	)
Amortization of intangibles		(0.3	)
Non-GAAP effective income tax rate (4)		18.5		%

(4)

Represents Adobe’s fixed long-term non-GAAP tax rate based on projections and currently available information through fiscal 2025

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Targets and Assumptions

The following tables show Adobe's second quarter fiscal year 2025 financial targets and assumptions reconciled to non-GAAP financial targets and assumptions included in this release.

(Shares in millions)	Second Quarter Fiscal 2025
	Low					High
Diluted net income per share:
GAAP diluted net income per share	$	3.80				$	3.85
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		1.16					1.16
Amortization of intangibles		0.19					0.19
Income tax adjustments		(0.20	)				(0.20	)
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share	$	4.95				$	5.00
Shares used to compute diluted net income per share	432					432

	Second Quarter Fiscal 2025
Operating margin:
GAAP operating margin		35.0	%
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		8.6
Amortization of intangibles		1.4
Non-GAAP operating margin		45.0	%

	Second Quarter Fiscal 2025
Effective income tax rate:
GAAP effective income tax rate		19.5		%
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		(1.7	)
Amortization of intangibles		(0.3	)
Income tax adjustments		1.0
Non-GAAP effective income tax rate (4)		18.5		%

(4)

Represents Adobe’s fixed long-term non-GAAP tax rate based on projections and currently available information through fiscal 2025

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Targets and Assumptions (continued)

The following tables show Adobe's annual fiscal year 2025 financial targets and assumptions reconciled to non-GAAP financial targets and assumptions included in this release.

(Shares in millions)	Fiscal Year 2025
	Low					High
Diluted net income per share:
GAAP diluted net income per share	$	15.80				$	16.10
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		4.69					4.69
Amortization of intangibles		0.71					0.71
Income tax adjustments		(1.00	)				(1.00	)
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share	$	20.20				$	20.50
Shares used to compute diluted net income per share	433					433

	Fiscal Year 2025
Operating margin:
GAAP operating margin		36.0	%
Stock-based and deferred compensation expense		8.7
Amortization of intangibles		1.3
Non-GAAP operating margin		46.0	%

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

Adobe continues to provide all information required in accordance with GAAP, but believes evaluating its ongoing operating results may not be as useful if an investor is limited to reviewing only GAAP financial measures. Adobe uses non-GAAP financial information to evaluate its ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. Adobe's management does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adobe presents such non-GAAP financial measures in reporting its financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate Adobe's operating results. Adobe believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful because they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. This allows institutional investors, the analyst community and others to better understand and evaluate Adobe’s operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management.

Adobe's management believes it is useful for itself and investors to review, as applicable, both GAAP information as well as non-GAAP measures, which may exclude items such as stock-based and deferred compensation expenses, amortization of intangibles, investment gains and losses, income tax adjustments and other items that are not considered part of Adobe’s ongoing operations, and the income tax effect of the non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments from the provision for income taxes. Adobe uses these non-GAAP measures in order to assess the performance of Adobe's business and for planning and forecasting in subsequent periods. Whenever such a non-GAAP measure is used, Adobe provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure as detailed above.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250312836456/en/

Investor Relations Contact

Steve Day

Adobe

ir@adobe.com

Public Relations Contact

Ashley Levine

Adobe

adobepr@adobe.com

Source: Adobe

FAQ

What was Adobe's (ADBE) revenue growth in Q1 2025?

Adobe achieved revenue of $5.71 billion in Q1 2025, representing 10% year-over-year growth, or 11% in constant currency.

How much did Adobe (ADBE) generate from AI-related innovations in Q1 2025?

Adobe's AI-first standalone and add-on innovations exited Q1 2025 with over $125 million in ending ARR book of business.

What was Adobe's (ADBE) Digital Media ARR in Q1 2025?

Adobe's Digital Media ARR reached $17.63 billion, showing 12.6% year-over-year growth.

How many shares did Adobe (ADBE) repurchase in Q1 2025?

Adobe repurchased approximately 7.0 million shares during Q1 2025.

What was Adobe's (ADBE) operating cash flow in Q1 2025?

Adobe achieved record Q1 operating cash flows of $2.48 billion.