Topic: Growth Stocks

ADOBE SYSTEMS $44.90 – Nasdaq symbol ADBE

ADOBE SYSTEMS $44.90 (Nasdaq symbol ADBE; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (408-536-6000; www.adobe.com; Shares outstanding: 495.1 million; Market cap: $22.2 billion; No dividends paid) reports that its earnings excluding one-time items fell 37.5% in its fiscal 2013 first quarter, which ended March 1, 2013, to $177.9 million, or $0.35 a share. A year earlier, it earned $284.5 million, or $0.57 a share. Revenue declined 3.6%, to $1.01 billion from $1.05 billion.

Adobe is doing a good job of selling its Creative Cloud package of photo-editing and desktoppublishing programs as a subscription service instead of a one-time purchase. The company added 153,000 Creative Cloud subscribers during the quarter, to bring its total to 479,000.

As a result, its subscription revenue jumped 53.4% from a year earlier and now accounts for 22% of its overall revenue. Adobe still gets 67% of its revenue from direct software sales. Services and support supply the remaining 11%.

Moving to a subscription model will slow Adobe’s short-term revenue and earnings growth, but it should give the company steadier revenue streams. Moreover, Adobe spends over 20% of its revenue on research, so it’s more profitable than it seems. However, the uncertain economy could prompt businesses to delay upgrading their software.

Adobe is still a hold.

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