ADP vs. BR: Automatic Data Processing vs. Broadridge Financial Stock Comparison
How do Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Broadridge Financial (BR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Broadridge Financial (BR) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though ADP is classified under Human Resource & Employment Services while BR falls under Data Processing & Outsourced Services.
| Profile Item | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Automatic Data Processing Inc. | Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Professional Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Human Resource & Employment Services | Data Processing & Outsourced Services |
| Market Capitalization | 119.75 billion USD | 21.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | March 22, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 22.40% | -11.66% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.77% | 4.69% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.08% | 3.28% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.04% | 30.13% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.76 | 0.86 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.78% | -48.21% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.16M | 1.03M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.65 | -0.53 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.02 | -0.74 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 78.94% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Broadridge Financial (BR) at 40.15% also sits in the top quartile.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
78.94%
- ADP
- 78.94%
- Max
- 47.06%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- Median
- 14.11%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
40.15%
- Max
- 47.06%
- BR
- 40.15%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- Median
- 14.11%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.33% and Broadridge Financial (BR) at 13.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
20.33%
- Max
- 23.28%
- ADP
- 20.33%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
13.95%
- Max
- 23.28%
- BR
- 13.95%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.73% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Broadridge Financial (BR) at 10.40%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
26.73%
- Max
- 38.50%
- ADP
- 26.73%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
10.40%
- Max
- 38.50%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- BR
- 10.40%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 78.94% | 40.15% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.32% | 9.50% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.33% | 13.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 26.73% | 10.40% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.83% | 31.52% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 6.74% and Broadridge Financial (BR) at 8.53% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Broadridge Financial (BR) at 35.21% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 9.62% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for BR.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.74% | 8.53% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.81% | 7.25% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.62% | 35.21% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.04% | 21.90% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Broadridge Financial (BR) at 1.22 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.03 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADP.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.03
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- ADP
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.45
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.22
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.55
- BR
- 1.22
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.10 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Broadridge Financial (BR) at 1.39 uses more debt funding than most peers.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.10
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- ADP
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.39
- Max
- 2.37
- BR
- 1.39
- Q3
- 1.25
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.03 | 1.22 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.10 | 1.39 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.35 | 1.87 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.21% and Broadridge Financial (BR) at 2.07% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.21%
- Max
- 4.33%
- ADP
- 2.21%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- Median
- 0.60%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.07%
- Max
- 4.33%
- BR
- 2.07%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- Median
- 0.60%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.28% and Broadridge Financial (BR) at 44.46% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
60.28%
- Max
- 99.58%
- ADP
- 60.28%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- Median
- 17.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
44.46%
- Max
- 99.58%
- BR
- 44.46%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- Median
- 17.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.21% | 2.07% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.28% | 44.46% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.89 and Broadridge Financial (BR) at 21.09 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
26.89
- Max
- 49.47
- Q3
- 33.76
- ADP
- 26.89
- Median
- 24.16
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
21.09
- Max
- 49.47
- Q3
- 33.76
- Median
- 24.16
- BR
- 21.09
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Broadridge Financial (BR) at 2.85 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 5.38 sits in the pricier quartile — ADP costs more per dollar of sales.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.38
- Max
- 7.17
- ADP
- 5.38
- Q3
- 3.35
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.85
- Max
- 7.17
- Q3
- 3.35
- BR
- 2.85
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Broadridge Financial (BR) at 8.22 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 23.57 prices even higher, above its industry range.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
23.57
- ADP
- 23.57
- Max
- 11.25
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
BR
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
8.22
- Max
- 11.25
- BR
- 8.22
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADP | BR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.89 | 21.09 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.38 | 2.85 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 23.57 | 8.22 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.40% | 6.25% |