ADP vs. CTAS: Automatic Data Processing vs. Cintas Stock Comparison
How do Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS) 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 Cintas (CTAS) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but ADP is classified in Professional Services while CTAS is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.
| Profile Item | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Automatic Data Processing Inc. | Cintas Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Human Resource & Employment Services | Diversified Support Services |
| Market Capitalization | 89.52 billion USD | 68.06 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | August 19, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -25.37% | -22.96% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.40% | 20.89% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.83 | 0.94 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.99M | 2.16M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 71.21% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cintas (CTAS) at 41.30% also sits in the top quartile.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
71.21%
- ADP
- 71.21%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
41.30%
- Max
- 53.04%
- CTAS
- 41.30%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.12% and Cintas (CTAS) at 17.57% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
20.12%
- Max
- 26.63%
- ADP
- 20.12%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
17.57%
- Max
- 26.63%
- CTAS
- 17.57%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 30.18% and Cintas (CTAS) at 23.22% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
30.18%
- Max
- 38.33%
- ADP
- 30.18%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
23.22%
- Max
- 38.33%
- CTAS
- 23.22%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 71.21% | 41.30% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.95% | 15.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.12% | 17.57% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 30.18% | 23.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.50% | 50.36% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.07% | 7.75% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.61% | 9.60% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.67% | 16.17% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.55% | 14.74% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Cintas (CTAS) at 1.98 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.04 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADP.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.04
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- ADP
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.45
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.98
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- CTAS
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.69 and Cintas (CTAS) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.69
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- ADP
- 0.69
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.61
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- CTAS
- 0.61
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 1.98 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.69 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.18 | 0.94 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.88% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Cintas (CTAS) at 1.03% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ADP the richer one.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.88%
- Max
- 4.01%
- ADP
- 2.88%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.03%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- CTAS
- 1.03%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Cintas (CTAS) at 36.71% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
60.45%
- Max
- 90.59%
- ADP
- 60.45%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
36.71%
- Max
- 90.59%
- CTAS
- 36.71%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 1.03% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.45% | 36.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.87 and Cintas (CTAS) at 35.81 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
20.87
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- Median
- 20.98
- ADP
- 20.87
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
35.81
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- CTAS
- 35.81
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.14 and Cintas (CTAS) at 6.17 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
4.14
- Max
- 6.61
- ADP
- 4.14
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
6.17
- Max
- 6.61
- CTAS
- 6.17
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 14.13 and Cintas (CTAS) at 14.21 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
14.13
- ADP
- 14.13
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
14.21
- CTAS
- 14.21
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADP | CTAS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.87 | 35.81 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.14 | 6.17 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.13 | 14.21 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.31% | 2.22% |