Everyone Thinks AI Will Destroy Adobe's Business. Here's Why It Could Flourish Instead.

Core Insights - The S&P 500 has increased by 68% since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November 2022, primarily driven by gains in big tech stocks, while companies like McDonald's and Starbucks have also benefited from AI-driven productivity expectations [1] - Adobe has faced significant challenges, with its shares down 21% due to fears that AI content-creation technologies may render its services obsolete [2] - Despite the negative sentiment, Adobe reported record revenue of $19.41 billion for the fiscal year following ChatGPT's debut, with a 17% year-over-year earnings growth [5] Financial Performance - Adobe's revenue and net income have shown consistent growth over the past few fiscal years, with revenue increasing from $17.61 billion in 2022 to $23.77 billion in 2025, representing an 11% year-over-year growth in 2025 [6][7] - Net income rose from $4.76 billion in 2022 to $7.13 billion in 2025, indicating strong financial health despite market challenges [6][7] - Earnings per share (EPS) increased from $10.10 in 2022 to $16.70 in 2025, reflecting the company's ability to enhance shareholder value [7] Market Sentiment - There is a rising short interest in Adobe's stock, reaching an eight-year high, indicating growing pessimism among investors [4] - The media has raised concerns about Adobe's future, with some questioning whether it is a "falling knife" [3] - Despite bearish sentiment, there are arguments suggesting that the current market outlook may overlook Adobe's strong fundamentals and growth potential [4]