As the Q3 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the design software industry, including Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) and its peers.

The demand for rich, interactive 2D, 3D, VR and AR experiences is growing, and while the ubiquitous metaverse might still be more of a buzzword than a real thing, what is real is the demand for the tools to create these experiences, whether they are games, 3D tours or interactive movies.

The 7 design software stocks we track reported a strong Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 4.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.5% below.

While some design software stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.4% since the latest earnings results.

Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK)

Starting with AutoCAD in the 1980s and evolving into a comprehensive design ecosystem, Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) provides software solutions for architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and entertainment industries to design, simulate, and visualize projects.

Autodesk reported revenues of $1.85 billion, up 18% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.4%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

"We're defining the AI revolution for design and make, empowering customers with new task, workflow and system automations, and capturing shared value through subscription, consumption, and outcomes-based business models that blend human and machine capabilities," said Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk president and CEO.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 10.9% since reporting and currently trades at $262.54.

Is now the time to buy Autodesk? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Unity (NYSE: U)

Powering over half of the world's mobile games and expanding into industries from automotive to architecture, Unity (NYSE: U) provides software tools and services that allow developers to create, run, and monetize interactive 2D and 3D content across multiple platforms.

Unity reported revenues of $470.6 million, up 5.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.6%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ billings estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 22.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $44.06.

Is now the time to buy Unity? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB)

Known for its iconic "D" logo that appears before countless movies and TV shows, Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) designs and licenses audio and video technologies that enhance entertainment experiences in movies, TV shows, music, and other media.

Dolby Laboratories reported revenues of $307 million, flat year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly and EPS guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

Dolby Laboratories delivered the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 2.5% since the results and currently trades at $63.40.

Read our full analysis of Dolby Laboratories’s results here.

Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE)

Originally named after Adobe Creek that ran behind co-founder John Warnock's house, Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) develops software products used for digital content creation, document management, and marketing solutions across desktop, mobile, and cloud platforms.

Adobe reported revenues of $6.19 billion, up 10.5% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged EPS guidance for next quarter beating analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ billings estimates.

The stock is down 11.3% since reporting and currently trades at $304.24.

Read our full, actionable report on Adobe here, it’s free.

PTC (NASDAQ: PTC)

Originally known as Parametric Technology Corporation until its 2013 rebranding, PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) provides software that helps manufacturers design, develop, and service physical products through digital solutions for CAD, PLM, ALM, and SLM.

PTC reported revenues of $893.8 million, up 42.7% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 18.7%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ billings estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

PTC achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth, but had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 12.1% since reporting and currently trades at $166.93.

Read our full, actionable report on PTC here, it’s free.

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