GOOGL vs. ADBE: Which AI-Driven Tech Stock is a Better Buy Now?

Core Viewpoint - Both Alphabet and Adobe are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their core offerings, with Alphabet focusing on search and cloud services, while Adobe enhances its creative products with AI capabilities [1][2]. AI Market Outlook - Global spending on AI-supporting technologies is projected to exceed $749 billion by 2028, with enterprises expected to contribute 67% of the $227 billion AI spending in 2025 [2]. Alphabet's AI Initiatives - Alphabet's AI integration in Search has seen significant growth, with Circle to Search available on 250 million devices and a 40% increase in usage during Q1 2025. Monthly visual searches have risen by 5 billion since October 2024, and AI Overview is utilized by over 1.5 billion people monthly [5][6]. - Google Cloud is becoming a preferred choice for enterprises deploying AI agents, supported by tools like the Agent Development Kit and Agent Designer [6]. Adobe's AI Developments - Adobe has expanded its AI portfolio with Adobe GenStudio and Firefly Services, aiding brands in marketing campaigns. The company has launched AI-powered features in Premiere Pro and After Effects, enhancing video and audio capabilities [9][10][11]. - Adobe's AI business was valued at over $125 million at the end of Q1 2025, representing a low single-digit percentage of total revenues of $4.23 billion, with expectations to double by the end of fiscal 2025 [12]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alphabet's 2025 earnings is $9.43 per share, reflecting an 8% increase over the past 30 days and a 17.29% rise from 2024 [13]. - Adobe's fiscal 2025 earnings estimate has slightly decreased to $20.36 per share, indicating a 10.53% growth over fiscal 2024 [14]. Performance Comparison - Both companies have consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Alphabet showing a higher average surprise of 14.64% compared to Adobe's 2.53% [15]. - In terms of valuation, Alphabet is trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 5.98X, lower than Adobe's 7.27X, indicating that Alphabet is relatively cheaper [16]. Conclusion - Despite regulatory challenges, Alphabet is experiencing strong growth in cloud and search services, bolstered by a dominant market position and over 270 million paid subscriptions [18]. - Adobe faces stiff competition in the AI space and struggles with monetization of its AI solutions, leading to a weaker outlook compared to Alphabet [18][19].