Fundamental analysis · SEC EDGAR · TTM through 31/03/2026

Fundamental analysis of Automatic Data Processing Inc

ADP · Nasdaq · Technology

Fundamental quality

ATTRACTIVE

85

out of 100

Automatic Data Processing Inc fits the profile of a quality compounder: it pairs high return on capital (ROE 68.4%) with wide margins (net margin 20.1%) and a business that keeps growing (7.1% a year). On fundamental quality it scores 85 out of 100, profiling it as a company with solid fundamentals. Its weakest area is its growth (revenue +7.1%/yr). Whether it's cheap or expensive depends on the current price, which you can compute in the tool.

What the company does

ADP is the largest payroll and human-resources company in the U.S. It processes the wages of millions of workers on behalf of employers. It's a sticky service: once a company entrusts it with payroll, it rarely switches.

What will shape its future

  • Employment and wages: the more workers and higher salaries it handles, the more it earns.
  • Interest rates, because it earns by investing payroll money while it's in transit.
  • Its very high client retention, which gives it highly recurring, predictable revenue.

Breakdown by area

I.Growth
58

EPS growth: 11.6% · Revenue growth: 7.1%

II.Profitability
91

Net margin: 20.1% · ROE: 68.4% · ROIC: 66.1%

III.Financial health
95

Net debt/EBITDA: 0.11x · FCF: 24.5%

Source: SEC EDGAR · TTM through 31/03/2026

The score includes +4 for dividend strength: 51 consecutive years of increases. Keeping that streak demands growing cash generation and balance-sheet discipline.

The score combines growth, profitability and financial strength. Here its financial strength weighs in its favor, while its growth drags it down the most.

Versus its sector

Percentile against the other 101 Technology companies in our coverage: how far it beats them on each metric (100 = best in sector).

Net marginbeats 62%
ROEbeats 90%
Growthbeats 28%
Cash generationbeats 58%
Less debtbeats 67%

Computed from the daily dataset scores. A high percentile places the company among the best in its sector on that metric; it is not a buy recommendation.

Key concepts

What do these metrics mean? Fundamental analysis · What is the P/E · What is EPS · What is ROE · Net & gross margin · Free cash flow

Automatic Data Processing Inc strengths

  • Outstanding return on equity (ROE of 68.4%): it puts shareholder capital to good use.
  • Excellent free-cash-flow generation (FCF margin of 24.5%): profit turns into real cash.
  • High net margin (20.1%): the business is clearly profitable.
  • Revenue rising without interruption since 2020.

Automatic Data Processing Inc risks and weaknesses

  • Its net debt has grown over the period.

Automatic Data Processing Inc historical evolution

YearRevenueNet incomeFree cash flowNet debt
202014,5902,4672,85496
202115,0052,5992,915411
202216,4982,9492,9251,552
202318,0123,4124,001907
202419,2033,7523,94979
202520,5614,0804,771628

Between 2020 and 2025, revenue went from $14,590M to $20,561M (+41%) and net income went from $2,467M to $4,080M (+65%). Meanwhile, its margins have widened (from 17% to 20%).

Annual figures in millions of U.S. dollars ($M) per SEC filings. Net debt is total debt minus cash.

Latest results

Versus the same period a year earlier

Figures for the nine months ended March 31, 2026, versus the nine months ended March 31, 2025 (SEC filings):

  • Revenue+6.7%
  • Net income+8.4%

Automatic comparison between the two most recent periods filed with the SEC. One quarter doesn't make a trend: read it alongside the historical evolution above.

Dividend

$6.02

per share, yearly

58.8% of earnings

Payout

51 straight years raising it

Growth

The dividend yield depends on today's price. Compute it in the analyzer → · See all dividend-paying stocks →

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Is Automatic Data Processing Inc cheap or expensive?

That depends on the current price. Look it up, enter it in the tool and get the full valuation verdict (P/E against its sector).

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Frequently asked questions

Is Automatic Data Processing Inc a good company to invest in?

In terms of business quality, Automatic Data Processing Inc scores 85 out of 100 in our analysis, placing it as a company of high fundamental quality. That said, this isn't a recommendation: whether it's a good investment also depends on its current price and your goals.

Is Automatic Data Processing Inc a profitable company?

Very. Automatic Data Processing Inc shows a net margin of 20.1% and an ROE of 68.4%, typical of a highly profitable business.

Does Automatic Data Processing Inc have a lot of debt?

Not particularly. Its net debt is 0.11 times its EBITDA, a low level.

Is Automatic Data Processing Inc growing?

Its revenue has grown 7.1% annualized in recent years and its earnings per share 11.6%, and without interruption since 2020.

Does Automatic Data Processing Inc generate cash?

Yes. It converts about 24.5% of its revenue into free cash flow, and has done so positively year after year.

The thresholds are general and the system doesn't judge qualitative factors. See the full methodology and use this analysis as a first filter, never as a final decision.

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