Autodesk (ADSK): analysis in plain words
Is Autodesk cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Autodesk (ADSK) is listed on the Nasdaq and we classify it in software and cloud. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Autodesk according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Autodesk (ADSK) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $270.09 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 35.0x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +16.1% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 21.1% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | Net cash (more cash than debt) | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $56.4 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Autodesk figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any ADSK figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Autodesk makes money
Autodesk sells subscriptions to design software such as AutoCAD, Revit for architects and engineers, Fusion for manufacturing and Maya for film and games. It breaks out revenue by product family: Architecture, Engineering and Construction is the largest, followed by AutoCAD, Manufacturing, and Media and Entertainment, across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Over the last 12 months, Autodesk brought in revenue of $7.8 billion. For every 100 it sells, Autodesk keeps 92.5 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 29.2 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 14,300 full-time employees, that is about $545,000 of revenue per employee.
Autodesk against its sector
To know whether a Autodesk figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Autodesk with the median of the 19 software and cloud companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Autodesk | software and cloud median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 35.0x | 29.0x (19) |
| Revenue growth | +16.1% | +20.5% (25) |
| Net margin | 21.1% | 16.0% (25) |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% (25) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | -0.2x | 0.1x (23) |
In short, against the typical software and cloud company, Autodesk trades on a higher P/E, grows more slowly and earns a wider margin. By size, Autodesk ranks number 18 of 22 software and cloud companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Autodesk
These are the strengths in the Autodesk figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Analysts expect Autodesk earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 19.0x, below the current 35.0x.
- Autodesk earns 53.9% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- Its net margin over the last 12 months is 21.1% (sector median: 16.0%): Autodesk turns a large share of its sales into profit.
The main risk for Autodesk
The Autodesk figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: a competitor or AI making what it sells cheaper and forcing price cuts.
Frequently asked questions about Autodesk
Is it a good time to buy Autodesk stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Autodesk, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Autodesk stock trades at $270.09, 16% below its 52-week high ($320.00) and 46% above its low ($185.50). Its P/E is 35.0x against a software and cloud median of 29.0x, and 19.0x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Autodesk, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Autodesk pay a dividend?
No. As of November 4, 2026, Autodesk does not pay a dividend: what it earns stays in the company to grow, invest or, where it does so, buy back shares. Anyone buying Autodesk today is counting on the share price rising, not on income.
Is Autodesk stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Autodesk trades at 35.0x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the software and cloud median (29.0x). Including its debt, Autodesk is valued at 22.9x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Autodesk expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Autodesk's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Autodesk with Synopsys, Cadence and Workday, which are also in software and cloud. As of November 4, 2026, Synopsys is worth $88.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 81.8; Cadence is worth $90.4 billion and trades on a P/E of 65.5; Workday is worth $48.6 billion and trades on a P/E of 41.1. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Autodesk below.
Autodesk competitors
- Synopsys (SNPS) analysis · Autodesk vs Synopsys comparison
- Cadence (CDNS) analysis · Autodesk vs Cadence comparison
- Workday (WDAY) analysis · Autodesk vs Workday comparison
To understand Autodesk better
- Economic Moats Explained: From Warren Buffett to AI
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Autodesk: software and cloud stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full ADSK analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Autodesk, not investment advice.