Autodesk develops design software for industries like architecture, engineering, and media.
As a global leader in CAD and 3D design tools, its core strength lies in its industry-standard platforms and subscription-based business model.
Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST
Based on the provided analysis, here is a comprehensive assessment of Autodesk (ADSK).
Technical Analysis ADSK is in a clear downtrend, having significantly underperformed the market with sharp recent declines. The stock appears technically oversold after a substantial drawdown, but the bearish momentum has not yet shown signs of reversal. A sustained recovery would require a break above key resistance levels.
Fundamental Analysis Fundamentally, ADSK is a strong company. It exhibits solid revenue growth and an exceptionally efficient, high-margin software business model. Its financial health is robust, characterized by a strong cash position and a highly favorable cash conversion cycle that boosts operational cash flow. The fundamentals support a high-quality, growing enterprise.
Valuation & Risk The primary concern is valuation. ADSK trades at a significant premium across all metrics, with a high PEG ratio indicating that its growth may already be fully priced in. This overvaluation is exacerbated by its high market beta, which makes the stock susceptible to amplified downside volatility, especially in a risk-averse market.
Buy Recommendation
While Autodesk operates an excellent business with strong fundamentals, its current investment appeal is tempered by a premium valuation and negative technical momentum. The stock's high price tag already reflects optimistic growth expectations, leaving little room for error. For investors with a long-term horizon, waiting for a more attractive entry point during market weakness or upon a confirmed technical reversal would be a more prudent strategy than buying at current levels.
*This is not investment advice, for reference only.*
Based on the comprehensive analysis provided, here is a 12-month outlook for Autodesk (ADSK):
The primary catalyst for a recovery will be a significant improvement in broader market sentiment, which could allow investors to重新focus on ADSK's high-quality fundamentals, including its robust revenue growth and best-in-class margins. The key risk remains its extreme sensitivity to market volatility due to its high beta; if macroeconomic concerns persist, the stock's premium valuation makes it vulnerable to further downside. In the absence of a specific analyst target, a prudent 12-month price range would be contingent on a successful technical reversal, with a potential upside toward the $300-$320 area if momentum recovers, while failure to hold support could see a retreat toward the $240-$250 zone. A decisive break above key resistance levels is needed to confirm a sustained bullish trend.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about ADSK's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $261.28, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, ADSK has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
ADSK has demonstrated significant underperformance with pronounced downside volatility over recent periods, reflecting bearish momentum relative to the broader market.
The stock has declined sharply over both one-month (-10.07%) and three-month (-12.79%) horizons, substantially underperforming the market by -16.16% over the latter period. Its high beta of 1.466 confirms the stock's amplified volatility has primarily manifested on the downside during this corrective phase.
Currently priced at $270.63, ADSK resides in the lower-middle portion of its 52-week range, approximately 18% above its low but 18% below its high. Given the steep recent decline and a one-year max drawdown of -23.29%, the stock appears oversold from a technical perspective, though it remains in a clear downtrend.
| Period | ADSK Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | -12.2% | +1.3% |
| 3m | -13.9% | +5.7% |
| 6m | -15.0% | +10.6% |
| 1y | -10.2% | +16.5% |
| ytd | -8.9% | +1.1% |
Revenue & Profitability: ADSK demonstrates solid revenue growth, increasing from $1.76 billion in Q2 to $1.85 billion in Q3. The company maintains exceptional profitability with a gross profit margin consistently above 92%, though the net income margin declined slightly to 18.5% in Q3 from 17.8% in the preceding quarter. This high-margin profile underscores the efficiency of its software-based business model.
Financial Health: The company exhibits moderate leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, while its strong cash position is evidenced by a cash ratio of 0.42. The negative cash conversion cycle of -208 days is highly favorable, indicating ADSK collects from customers long before paying its suppliers, which significantly enhances its operational cash flow generation.
Operational Efficiency: ADSK's operational efficiency is strong, reflected in a robust return on equity of 11.9%. While the asset turnover of 0.17 appears low, this is typical for high-margin software companies with significant intangible assets. The company's operational performance is further supported by healthy cash flow generation, with operating cash flow per share of $2.06.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardValuation Level: ADSK exhibits premium valuation multiples across all metrics, with a TTM PE of 53.03 and notably elevated ratios for PB (20.36) and PS (8.55). The forward PE of 46.78 remains high, while the exceptionally high EV/EBITDA of 138.15 and PEG ratio of 4.91 suggest the market is pricing in substantial future growth expectations. These metrics collectively indicate the stock is trading at a significant premium to intrinsic value, presenting substantial overvaluation concerns given the current growth profile.
Peer Comparison: Without specific industry average data available for comparison, a definitive peer assessment cannot be provided. However, the elevated multiples across all valuation metrics suggest ADSK likely trades at a premium to industry norms typical for software companies. Investors should seek current industry benchmark data to contextualize whether these premium valuations are justified by superior growth prospects or operational performance relative to peers.
Volatility Risk: ADSK's beta of 1.466 indicates it is significantly more volatile than the broader market, exposing it to amplified price swings. This elevated risk is confirmed by its substantial one-year maximum drawdown of -23.29%, highlighting the potential for considerable peak-to-trough declines during market stress.
Other Risks: While the absence of significant short interest suggests limited negative speculative pressure on the stock, its high beta inherently contributes to liquidity risk. The potential for sharp price movements can lead to wider bid-ask spreads, particularly during periods of market volatility, which may impact trade execution.
I maintain a neutral to cautiously bullish stance on ADSK. The stock appears oversold technically after a sharp decline, and its fundamentals are strong with high-margin revenue growth and exceptional cash flow generation. However, its premium valuation multiples require substantial future growth to justify the current price. It is suitable for long-term growth investors comfortable with volatility who believe in the company's AI initiatives and market position.
ADSK appears significantly overvalued based on current valuation metrics. The stock trades at premium multiples, including a PE of 53.03 and an exceptionally high PEG ratio of 4.91, which far exceeds the ideal level of 1.0-2.0 that suggests reasonable growth expectations. While ADSK demonstrates strong fundamentals with 92% gross margins and healthy revenue growth, the current valuation prices in substantial future growth that may be challenging to achieve. Compared to typical software industry norms, these elevated ratios indicate the stock is trading at a substantial premium to its intrinsic value.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding ADSK stock, ordered by importance:
1. Market/Volatility Risk: The stock's high beta of 1.466 makes it significantly more volatile than the market, exposing investors to amplified downside risk, as evidenced by recent sharp declines and a substantial maximum drawdown of -23.29%. 2. Strategic/Business Model Risk: Despite strong current profitability, the company's high dependence on perpetual license transitions and subscription models could face risks from market saturation, competitive pressures, or a slowdown in its core end-markets like architecture and engineering. 3. Financial/Economic Sensitivity Risk: ADSK's premium valuation and growth-dependent stock price are vulnerable to an economic downturn, which could cause its clients in construction, manufacturing, and media to reduce spending on its discretionary design software.
--- Disclaimer: This analysis is based solely on the information you provided and should not be considered financial advice.
Based on its strong fundamentals and industry position, my forecast for Autodesk (ADSK) through 2026 is positive. In a base case, I project a target price range of $350-$400, with a bull case of $450 or higher, driven by the ongoing adoption of its unified Autodesk Platform, expansion into high-growth verticals like manufacturing and AEC, and the strategic shift toward more predictable multi-year subscriptions. The primary assumptions are continued enterprise digital transformation spending and successful execution on its growth initiatives, though the forecast is inherently uncertain and contingent on broader macroeconomic conditions not impeding its premium valuation.