Autodesk (ADSK) vs Bentley Systems (BSY): Weighing Two Design Software Franchises
Key Takeaways
- Autodesk (ADSK) is the larger and faster-growing name, with trailing-twelve-month revenue near $7.8 billion and roughly 16% year-over-year top-line growth in its latest quarter.
- Bentley Systems (BSY) is a smaller, infrastructure-focused software vendor with revenue of about $1.6 billion and solid double-digit, but slower, growth.
- Relative performance has diverged sharply: ADSK has delivered a positive year-to-date return, while BSY has lagged the broader market over the past year.
- Both companies operate mission-critical design-software franchises, but ADSK spans architecture, construction, manufacturing, and media, whereas BSY is concentrated in infrastructure engineering.
- Valuation and risk profiles differ: BSY trades at a higher earnings multiple and carries heavier short interest, while ADSK commands a premium based on scale and momentum.
Setting the Stage for This Comparison
Autodesk, Inc. and Bentley Systems, Incorporated both provide software that supports the design, construction, and operation of physical assets, yet they serve distinct segments of that market. This comparison matters for investors evaluating two software names whose growth stories, valuations, and recent price action have moved in different directions despite working in related fields. From what I see, the contrast in their business models, recent momentum, and risk factors helps clarify their current positions. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how the stocks line up against peers in the space.
Autodesk’s Scale and Recent Results
Autodesk is best known for its AutoCAD product and supplies design and engineering tools across architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and media and entertainment. In the most recent quarter, ADSK posted revenue of roughly $2.05 billion, up about 16% from a year earlier, with adjusted earnings per share beating consensus estimates. Annual recurring revenue reached approximately $7.54 billion.
The stock has shown strength over the past year, aided by solid contributions from construction and manufacturing platforms such as Fusion and the MaintainX acquisition. Analyst views remain generally positive, though some caution remains around the shift to a new transaction model and a wave of enterprise renewals. The shares sit well below their 52-week high yet have recorded a positive year-to-date return. When I looked at the broader trend, Tickeron’s AI Trend Prediction Engine highlighted the steadier momentum here compared with some peers.
Bentley Systems’ Focused Approach
Bentley Systems offers infrastructure engineering software for roads, bridges, rail, water systems, utilities, and industrial facilities, with emphasis on digital twin technology that mirrors physical assets. Its latest quarter showed revenue of about $410.7 million, up roughly 12.8% year over year, with annual recurring revenue near $1.54 billion and a net revenue retention rate of approximately 109%.
Despite consistent recurring revenue growth and a modest dividend, BSY has trailed the broader market over the past year and sits lower year to date, well below its 52-week high. Recent notes include fresh analyst coverage, a new chief revenue officer appointment, and ongoing share repurchases. Higher short interest and an elevated earnings multiple have kept near-term sentiment mixed.
Side-by-Side View of the Two Names
The main difference comes down to breadth. Autodesk’s reach across construction, manufacturing, and media creates wider demand drivers and a substantially larger revenue base, while Bentley’s focus on infrastructure engineering delivers a more specialized position with strong ties to owner-operators and engineering firms. On growth, ADSK has outpaced BSY lately, though both maintain double-digit revenue increases.
Price action has also diverged. ADSK has risen over the past year and holds a positive year-to-date result, while BSY has declined over the same stretch. Valuation-wise, BSY carries a higher price-to-earnings multiple and greater short interest relative to its float, signaling more investor caution, whereas ADSK trades at a lower multiple on a bigger, more established platform. Key risks include Autodesk’s ongoing go-to-market changes and Bentley’s narrower market focus plus debt levels.
Where the Data Leans
Looking at trend consistency, revenue momentum, and relative positioning, the setup currently favors ADSK. Its positive year-to-date return, quicker recent top-line growth, broader diversification, and more favorable earnings multiple point to a steadier profile than BSY, whose underperformance, elevated short interest, and concentrated exposure add uncertainty. This remains a probabilistic view based on available data rather than a firm forecast, and either stock could shift with new developments.
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Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
Momentum Indicator for ADSK turns positive, indicating new upward trend
ADSK saw its Momentum Indicator move above the 0 level on October 05, 2026. This is an indication that the stock could be shifting in to a new upward move. Traders may want to consider buying the stock or buying call options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 83 similar instances where the indicator turned positive. In 64 of the 83 cases, the stock moved higher in the following days. The odds of a move higher are at 77%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The RSI Oscillator points to a transition from a downward trend to an upward trend -- in cases where ADSK's RSI Oscillator exited the oversold zone, 20 of 31 resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 65%.
The Stochastic Oscillator suggests the stock price trend may be in a reversal from a downward trend to an upward trend. 43 of 60 cases where ADSK's Stochastic Oscillator exited the oversold zone resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 72%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for ADSK just turned positive on October 05, 2026. Looking at past instances where ADSK's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 31 of 50 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 62%.
Following a +4.85% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where ADSK advanced for three days, in 214 of 333 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 64%.
ADSK may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options.
Bearish Trend Analysis
ADSK moved below its 50-day moving average on September 04, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
The 10-day moving average for ADSK crossed bearishly below the 50-day moving average on September 11, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted lower and could be considered a sell signal. In 13 of 18 past instances when the 10-day crossed below the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 72%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where ADSK declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 67%.
The Aroon Indicator for ADSK entered a downward trend on October 05, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 20 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 62 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating fairly steady price growth. ADSK’s price grows at a lower rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 75 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (12.804) is normal, around the industry mean (51.456). P/E Ratio (26.838) is within average values for comparable stocks, (82.636). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.797) is also within normal values, averaging (3.135). Dividend Yield (0.000) settles around the average of (0.011) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (6.024) is also within normal values, averaging (69.875).
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 96 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 100 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. ADSK’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 94, placing this stock worse than average.
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a developer of multimedia software products
Industry PackagedSoftware
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