Autodesk Stock Analyst Ratings and Opinions: What Wall Street Thinks About ADSK
Investors often look to analysts for insights into a stock’s potential future performance. For Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) — a leading provider of design and engineering software — analyst ratings and price targets help gauge market expectations, confidence in growth drivers, and evaluations of the company’s strategic direction.
In this article, we’ll explore:
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The current consensus on Autodesk stock
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Recent analyst upgrades, holds, and opinions
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Price targets and implied upside
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What analysts see as key risks and catalysts
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How analyst views have evolved over time
Let’s dive in.
📊 Current Analyst Consensus: “Buy” with Upside
According to recent Wall Street data, Autodesk has a strong “Buy” consensus rating from analysts covering the stock. StockAnalysis+1
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Consensus Rating: Buy
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Number of Analysts: ~25–30 covering ADSK
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Buy Ratings: Majority of analysts rate ADSK as Buy
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Hold Ratings: A smaller portion rate it Hold
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Sell Ratings: No Sell ratings reported in the latest data PriceTargets
This consensus reflects broad confidence among institutional analysts that Autodesk’s performance and growth profile justify a bullish positioning relative to the broader market.
💰 Price Targets: What Analysts Expect
Analysts also set 12‑month price targets that imply upside relative to current trading levels.
Here’s a snapshot of recent targets:
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Average/Consensus Price Target: ~$364–$370 per share (implying ~21%–23% upside) StockAnalysis+1
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Lowest Target: Around $280 (more conservative view) Benzinga
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Highest Target: Currently as high as $460 from Arete Research — a sizable potential ~50%+ upside from recent price levels. MarketBeat
Most analysts — including firms like Macquarie, Baird, Barclays, and Bank of America — maintain their Buy ratings and have moderately bullish price targets in the high $300s. StockAnalysis+1
📈 Analyst Rankings and Recent Actions
Wall Street ratings are dynamic — analysts update views when new information becomes available. Here are some key recent moves:
🔹 Upgrades & Maintained Buys
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Macquarie reiterated its Buy rating and boosted its price target into the $380–$400 range. StockAnalysis
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Baird maintained an Outperform/Buy rating and raised its target modestly to ~$367, signaling confidence in Autodesk’s execution. GuruFocus
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HSBC upgraded ADSK to Buy after previously rating it Hold — a sign of improving confidence among some analysts. Reddit
🔹 Holds and Caution
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A few analysts — such as those at BMO Capital — maintain Hold or Neutral ratings with lower implied upside, typically reflecting concerns about valuation or short‑term macro risks. StockAnalysis
In general, Buy or Outperform ratings significantly outweigh Hold ratings, and no analysts are currently issuing Sell ratings — a bullish structural signal. PriceTargets
🧠 Why Analysts Like Autodesk
Analysts cite several reasons for their bullish views:
✔ Strong Recurring Revenue & SaaS Transition
Autodesk’s move from perpetual licenses to cloud subscriptions has made its revenue more predictable and recurring — a trait highly prized in technology valuations. StockAnalysis
✔ Improving Cloud Adoption & Product Innovation
Under guidance and execution in cloud‑based tools like Construction Cloud and AI‑enhanced design products, analysts see long‑term growth drivers that can support expanding market share. Benzinga
✔ Margin Expansion Potential
Some analysts — like those at Morgan Stanley — highlight margin expansion and free cash flow growth as catalysts that could improve long‑term profitability and shareholder returns. TipRanks
✔ Strategic Position in Key Markets
Autodesk’s dominance in architecture, engineering, construction, and industrial design gives it a defensible niche relative to many general software peers — analysts often emphasize this competitive moat. StockAnalysis
📉 Analyst Concerns & Risks Acknowledged
Even among Buy ratings, analysts sometimes point to risks or cautionary factors:
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Valuation Premium: Some analysts view Autodesk’s current valuation as rich compared to growth rates, especially if macro conditions slow. PriceTargets
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Macro Sensitivity: Like all enterprise software companies, Autodesk’s business can be affected by broader economic cycles and corporate IT budgets — a factor analysts watch closely. Benzinga
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Restructuring Uncertainty: Wall Street pays attention to large structural changes — such as workforce reductions or strategic shifts aimed at improving margins — which can signal both opportunity and execution risk. Barron’s
These factors help explain why some analysts prefer Hold rather than Buy, even while acknowledging Autodesk’s long‑term positioning.
📊 Historical Analyst Changes Over Time
Looking at the evolution of ratings provides context for how Wall Street’s perspective has shifted:
📅 Upgrades Over 2025
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Analysts like DA Davidson upgraded Autodesk from Neutral to Buy, citing improved product execution and cloud growth potential. Reddit
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Oppenheimer and others raised price targets following better‑than‑expected earnings and guidance revisions. Reddit
📅 Earlier 2024–2025 Views
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Even during periods of uncertainty — like when activist investors weighed in on operational efficiency — analysts generally maintained Buy/Outperform stances, viewing strategies like cost discipline as potential net positives. Reuters
Over time, the ratings mix has reflected a steady bullish bias with incremental improvements to targets as the company reports consistent performance beats.
💡 What Top Analysts Are Saying
Here’s a breakdown of quoted or summarized analyst opinions from recent research:
📌 Macquarie Capital
Maintains a strong Buy rating with an optimistic view on both near‑ and longer‑term growth, reflected in one of the higher price targets on the street. StockAnalysis
📌 Baird
Continues to rate Autodesk as Outperform/Buy with slightly raised price targets, suggesting confidence in profitability and execution. GuruFocus
📌 Barclays
Affirms a Buy view with robust price target assumptions, likely tied to expectations of recurring revenue expansion and market positioning. StockAnalysis
📌 Citigroup
Maintains a Buy rating but has adjusted price targets as analysts refine views based on macro and product performance. GuruFocus
📌 BMO Capital
A Hold stance typically reflects caution about short‑term macro pressure or valuation, even while recognizing Autodesk’s long‑term growth story. StockAnalysis
These diverse views help illustrate the nuances of analyst sentiment — most are positive, but the degree of conviction varies by firm and methodology.
📊 Consensus Price Target Range & Upside Potential
Across analysts, the spread between low and high price targets reflects differing views of risk and reward:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Low Target | ~$280 per share Benzinga |
| Consensus/Average Target | ~$364–$370 StockAnalysis+1 |
| High Target | ~$460 (Arete Research) MarketBeat |
| Implied Upside | ~20–50%+ depending on scenario StockAnalysis+1 |
This range shows analysts generally expect moderate to substantial upside, with most price targets above the current trading price — a hallmark of a Buy bias.
📌 Why Ratings Matter for Investors
Analyst ratings and price targets can influence investor behavior in several ways:
🧠 Benchmarking Sentiment
A consensus Buy offers reassurance that professionals who model revenue, margins, and macro trends broadly view the stock as outperforming.
📈 Price Target Guidance
Price targets provide a quantified projection of where analysts believe the stock could trade in the next 12 months, useful for planning entry and exit strategies.
📊 Understanding Divergence
When some analysts are cautious (Hold) while others are aggressive (High Buy targets), it highlights areas of uncertainty or differing assumptions — valuable context for investors.
🎯 What Analysts Are Watching Next
Looking ahead, analysts will likely focus on:
🔎 Earnings Performance vs Expectations
Continued beats or misses relative to consensus estimates can quickly influence ratings.
📈 Recurring Revenue & Margin Trends
Measures like billings, subscription growth, and margin expansion are key indicators analysts use in models.
🤖 AI & Product Innovation
Analysts often cite AI integration and construction/cloud workflows as catalysts for renewed growth — essential qualitative drivers beyond pure numbers. Benzinga
🧠 Conclusion: Autodesk Stock Analyst Ratings and Opinions
In summary:
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Wall Street consensus on Autodesk stock is strongly positive, with Buy ratings outweighing Hold and No Sell ratings currently noted. PriceTargets
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Typical analyst price targets imply solid upside versus current price levels, reflecting confidence in Autodesk’s execution and cloud‑shift strategy. StockAnalysis
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Analysts weigh both fundamental growth prospects and macro/model risks, leading to a range of price targets from conservative to highly optimistic. MarketBeat
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Many major firms maintain or raise forecasts after strong earnings beats, margin expansion guidance, and product innovation news. GuruFocus
For investors evaluating Autodesk, understanding analyst ratings and opinions offers both directional insight and a sense of what Wall Street expects — helping shape more informed investment decisions.
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