Adobe; Jevons Paradox

The market narrative suggests AI tools (e.g., Midjourney, Canva) will cannibalize Adobe's core business, but the author argues this is wrong. The author cites Adobe's Q1 FY2026 earnings, which was a "record beat on every major metric," as evidence against the negative narrative. The author applies the Jevons Paradox, suggesting that as AI makes content creation cheaper and more efficient, the total volume of content created will explode. This explosion in content will increase, not decrease, the demand for professional-grade editing and management tools, which is Adobe's core strength. The market is mispricing Adobe based on a flawed understanding of AI's impact. The current negative sentiment and lower valuation present a compelling risk/reward opportunity for a long position, as the company's earnings power is likely to grow, not shrink. The primary risk is that the cannibalization thesis proves correct, and simpler, cheaper AI-native tools successfully displace Adobe's integrated professional suites, leading to seat license and revenue decline.