Adobe Reports Record Revenue

Q3 Results Include $1.44 Billion in Operating Cash Flows and RPO Surpassing $10 Billion

SAN JOSE, Calif.--()--Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today reported financial results for its third quarter fiscal year 2020 ended Aug. 28, 2020.

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Highlights

  • Adobe achieved record quarterly revenue of $3.23 billion in its third quarter of fiscal year 2020, which represents 14 percent year-over-year growth. Diluted earnings per share was $1.97 on a GAAP basis, representing 22 percent year-over-year growth, and $2.57 on a non-GAAP basis, representing 25 percent year-over-year growth.
  • Digital Media segment revenue was $2.34 billion, which represents 19 percent year-over-year growth. Creative revenue grew to $1.96 billion, representing 19 percent year-over-year growth. Document Cloud revenue was $375 million, representing 22 percent year-over-year growth.
  • Digital Media Annualized Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) increased $458 million quarter-over-quarter to $9.63 billion exiting the quarter, representing 24 percent year-over-year growth on a constant-currency basis. Creative ARR grew to $8.29 billion, and Document Cloud ARR grew to $1.34 billion.
  • Digital Experience segment revenue was $838 million. Digital Experience subscription revenue was $729 million, representing 7 percent year-over-year growth. Digital Experience subscription revenue, excluding Advertising Cloud revenue, grew 14 percent year-over-year.
  • GAAP operating income in the third quarter was $1.07 billion, and non-GAAP operating income was $1.40 billion. GAAP net income was $955 million, and non-GAAP net income was $1.25 billion.
  • Cash flows from operations were a record $1.44 billion.
  • Remaining Performance Obligation (“RPO”) exiting the quarter was $10.34 billion, representing 18 percent year-over-year growth.
  • Adobe repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares during the quarter.

A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP results is provided at the end of this press release and on Adobe’s website.

Executive Quotes

“Adobe delivered the best Q3 in our history in a challenging macroeconomic environment, demonstrating the global demand for our innovative solutions,” said Shantanu Narayen, president and CEO, Adobe. “We are confident that our leadership in the creative, document and customer experience management categories will drive continued momentum in 2020 and beyond.”

“Adobe drove outstanding performance in Q3, highlighted by growth in Creative Cloud and Document Cloud ARR, Digital Experience subscription revenue and record operating cash flows,” said John Murphy, executive vice president and CFO, Adobe. “The resilience of our recurring business model and a strong book of business is driving sustained long-term growth.”

Adobe Provides Fourth Quarter Financial Targets

Adobe today is providing fourth quarter financial targets, factoring current macroeconomic conditions, typical year-end seasonal strength and the strategic shift related to the company’s Advertising Cloud business.

The following table summarizes Adobe’s fourth quarter fiscal year 2020 targets.

Total revenue

~$3.35 billion

Digital Media segment revenue

~18 percent year-over-year growth

Digital media annualized recurring revenue (ARR)

~$540 million of net new ARR

Digital Experience segment revenue

~ Flat year-over-year

Digital Experience subscription revenue

~1 percent
year-over-year growth

~12 percent
year-over-year growth
(excluding Advertising Cloud)

Tax rate

GAAP: ~(90) percent

Non-GAAP: ~10 percent

Share count

~485 million shares

Earnings per share

GAAP: ~$4.29

Non-GAAP: ~$2.64

A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP targets is provided at the end of this press release.

Adobe to Webcast Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call

Adobe will webcast its third quarter fiscal year 2020 earnings conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time from its investor relations website: 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. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP earnings results and financial targets is also provided on the website.

Adobe Announces Fourth Quarter Earnings Call and Financial Analyst Meeting

Adobe will host its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2020 earnings conference call and financial analyst meeting online on Dec. 10, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. During the meeting, Adobe will provide an overview of its strategy and financial targets for fiscal year 2021.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those related to business momentum, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations, market trends, current macroeconomic conditions, customer success, revenue, operating margin, seasonality, annualized recurring revenue, non-operating other expense, tax rate on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, earnings per share on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, and share count, all of which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: failure to compete effectively, failure to develop, acquire, market and offer products and services that meet customer requirements, introduction of new technology, information security and privacy, potential interruptions or delays in hosted services provided by us or third parties, macroeconomic conditions and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, risks associated with cyber-attacks, complex sales cycles, risks related to the timing of revenue recognition from our subscription offerings, fluctuations in subscription renewal rates, failure to realize the anticipated benefits of past or future acquisitions, failure to effectively manage critical strategic third-party business relationships, changes in accounting principles and tax regulations, uncertainty in the financial markets and economic conditions in the countries where we operate, and other various risks associated with being a multinational corporation. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, please refer to Adobe’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year 2019 ended Nov. 29, 2019, and Adobe's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q issued in fiscal year 2020.

The financial information set forth in this press release 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 quarter ended Aug. 28, 2020, which Adobe expects to file in Sept. 2020. Adobe assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.

About Adobe

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

©2020 Adobe. All rights reserved. Adobe, Creative 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

 

Nine Months Ended

 

August 28, 2020

 

August 30, 2019

 

August 28, 2020

 

August 30, 2019

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscription

$

3,000

 

 

$

2,547

 

 

$

8,699

 

 

$

7,308

 

Product

 

109

 

 

 

157

 

 

 

380

 

 

 

480

 

Services and support

 

116

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

365

 

 

 

391

 

Total revenue

 

3,225

 

 

 

2,834

 

 

 

9,444

 

 

 

8,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscription

 

328

 

 

 

304

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

888

 

Product

 

10

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

31

 

Services and support

 

89

 

 

 

103

 

 

 

268

 

 

 

302

 

Total cost of revenue

 

427

 

 

 

416

 

 

 

1,294

 

 

 

1,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

2,798

 

 

 

2,418

 

 

 

8,150

 

 

 

6,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

566

 

 

 

490

 

 

 

1,630

 

 

 

1,430

 

Sales and marketing

 

892

 

 

 

812

 

 

 

2,650

 

 

 

2,443

 

General and administrative

 

230

 

 

 

219

 

 

 

725

 

 

 

654

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

41

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

123

 

 

 

133

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,729

 

 

 

1,564

 

 

 

5,128

 

 

 

4,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

1,069

 

 

 

854

 

 

 

3,022

 

 

 

2,298

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(28

)

 

 

(40

)

 

 

(89

)

 

 

(121

)

Investment gains (losses), net

 

10

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

47

 

Other income (expense), net

 

9

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

24

 

Total non-operating income (expense), net

 

(9

)

 

 

(19

)

 

 

(43

)

 

 

(50

)

Income before income taxes

 

1,060

 

 

 

835

 

 

 

2,979

 

 

 

2,248

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

105

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

(31

)

 

 

148

 

Net income

$

955

 

 

$

793

 

 

$

3,010

 

 

$

2,100

 

Basic net income per share

$

1.99

 

 

$

1.63

 

 

$

6.25

 

 

$

4.31

 

Shares used to compute basic net income per share

 

480

 

 

 

486

 

 

 

481

 

 

 

487

 

Diluted net income per share

$

1.97

 

 

$

1.61

 

 

$

6.20

 

 

$

4.26

 

Shares used to compute diluted net income per share

 

485

 

 

 

491

 

 

 

486

 

 

 

492

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In millions; unaudited)

 

August 28, 2020

 

November 29, 2019

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

3,767

 

 

$

2,650

 

Short-term investments

 

1,497

 

 

 

1,527

 

Trade receivables, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $34 and $10, respectively

 

1,318

 

 

 

1,535

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

805

 

 

 

783

 

Total current assets

 

7,387

 

 

 

6,495

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

1,467

 

 

 

1,293

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

 

507

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

10,739

 

 

 

10,691

 

Other intangibles, net

 

1,445

 

 

 

1,721

 

Deferred income taxes

 

219

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

650

 

 

 

562

 

Total assets

$

22,414

 

 

$

20,762

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Trade payables

$

229

 

 

$

209

 

Accrued expenses

 

1,317

 

 

 

1,399

 

Debt

 

 

 

 

3,149

 

Deferred revenue

 

3,317

 

 

 

3,378

 

Income taxes payable

 

177

 

 

 

56

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

90

 

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

5,130

 

 

 

8,191

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities:

 

 

 

Debt

 

4,116

 

 

 

989

 

Deferred revenue

 

131

 

 

 

123

 

Income taxes payable

 

507

 

 

 

616

 

Deferred income taxes

 

76

 

 

 

140

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

520

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

221

 

 

 

173

 

Total liabilities

 

10,701

 

 

 

10,232

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

Preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid-in-capital

 

7,195

 

 

 

6,504

 

Retained earnings

 

17,383

 

 

 

14,829

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(153

)

 

 

(188

)

Treasury stock, at cost

 

(12,712

)

 

 

(10,615

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

11,713

 

 

 

10,530

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

22,414

 

 

$

20,762

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In millions; unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

 

August 28, 2020

 

August 30, 2019

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

Net income

$

955

 

 

$

793

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

 

191

 

 

 

195

 

Stock-based compensation

 

232

 

 

 

196

 

Unrealized investment (gains) losses, net

 

(9

)

 

 

(3

)

Other non-cash adjustments

 

25

 

 

 

9

 

Changes in deferred revenue

 

(12

)

 

 

122

 

Changes in other operating assets and liabilities

 

54

 

 

 

(389

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

1,436

 

 

 

923

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

Purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments, net

 

(191

)

 

 

(40

)

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(126

)

 

 

(89

)

Purchases and sales of long-term investments, intangibles and other assets, net

 

2

 

 

 

(36

)

Net cash used for investing activities

 

(315

)

 

 

(165

)

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

Purchases of treasury stock

 

(500

)

 

 

(750

)

Proceeds from treasury stock reissuances, net of taxes paid related to net share
settlement of equity awards

 

103

 

 

 

123

 

Other financing activities, net

 

(17

)

 

 

3

 

Net cash used for financing activities

 

(414

)

 

 

(624

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

16

 

 

 

(8

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

723

 

 

 

126

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

3,044

 

 

 

2,083

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

3,767

 

 

$

2,209

 

Non-GAAP Results

(In millions, except per share data)

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

 

Three Months Ended

 

August 28, 2020

 

August 30, 2019

 

May 29, 2020

Operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP operating income

$

1,069

 

 

$

854

 

 

$

1,016

 

Stock-based and deferred compensation expense

 

244

 

 

 

199

 

 

 

227

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

90

 

 

 

100

 

 

 

92

 

Non-GAAP operating income

$

1,403

 

 

$

1,153

 

 

$

1,335

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP net income

$

955

 

 

$

793

 

 

$

1,100

 

Stock-based and deferred compensation expense

 

244

 

 

 

199

 

 

 

227

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

90

 

 

 

100

 

 

 

92

 

Investment (gains) losses, net

 

(10

)

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

Income tax adjustments

 

(33

)

 

 

(82

)

 

 

(232

)

Non-GAAP net income

$

1,246

 

 

$

1,006

 

 

$

1,187

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP diluted net income per share

$

1.97

 

 

$

1.61

 

 

$

2.27

 

Stock-based and deferred compensation expense

 

0.50

 

 

 

0.41

 

 

 

0.47

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

0.19

 

 

 

0.20

 

 

 

0.19

 

Investment (gains) losses, net

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.01

)

 

 

 

Income tax adjustments

 

(0.07

)

 

 

(0.16

)

 

 

(0.48

)

Non-GAAP diluted net income per share

$

2.57

 

 

$

2.05

 

 

$

2.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used in computing diluted net income per share

 

485

 

 

 

491

 

 

 

485

 

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Targets

(Shares in millions)

The following tables show Adobe's fourth quarter fiscal year 2020 financial targets reconciled to the non-GAAP financial targets included in this release.

 

Fourth Quarter
Fiscal 2020

Diluted net income per share:

 

 

 

GAAP diluted net income per share

$

4.29

 

Stock-based and deferred compensation expense

 

0.50

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

0.17

 

Income tax adjustments

 

(2.32

)

Non-GAAP diluted net income per share

$

2.64

 

 

 

Shares used to compute diluted net income per share

 

485

 

 

 

Fourth Quarter
Fiscal 2020

Effective income tax rate:

 

 

 

GAAP effective income tax rate

 

(90.0

)%

Trading structure change

 

100.0

 

Income tax adjustments

 

1.0

 

Stock-based and deferred compensation expense

 

(0.9

)

Amortization of intangibles

 

(0.1

)

Non-GAAP effective income tax rate

 

10.0

%

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 our 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, restructuring and other charges, amortization of intangibles, investment gains and losses, the related tax impact of all of these items, income tax adjustments, 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.

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact
Jonathan Vaas
Adobe
ir@adobe.com

Public Relations Contact
Lea Anna Cardwell
Adobe
cardwell@adobe.com

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact
Jonathan Vaas
Adobe
ir@adobe.com

Public Relations Contact
Lea Anna Cardwell
Adobe
cardwell@adobe.com