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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.

Company profile comparison for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
Profile ItemADPCTAS
NameAutomatic Data Processing Inc.Cintas Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesDiversified Support Services
Market Capitalization108.44 billion USD79.84 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980August 19, 1983
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADP
CTAS
GSPC
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
Total Return (1Y)-7.01%-8.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)5.15%18.42%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.20%16.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADP
CTAS
GSPC
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.90%23.22%
Beta (5Y)0.810.91
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.78%-27.68%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.66M2.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADP and CTAS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.41-0.55
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.61-0.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 72.24% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cintas (CTAS) at 40.71% also sits in the top quartile.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

72.24%

ADP
72.24%
Max
46.24%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

40.71%

Max
46.24%
CTAS
40.71%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.11% and Cintas (CTAS) at 17.75% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.11%

Max
23.27%
ADP
20.11%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.75%

Max
23.27%
CTAS
17.75%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 23.46% and Cintas (CTAS) at 23.69% 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

23.46%

Max
37.53%
ADP
23.46%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.69%

Max
37.53%
CTAS
23.69%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
ROE (TTM)72.24%40.71%
ROA (TTM)6.25%16.10%
Net Margin (TTM)20.11%17.75%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.46%23.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.65%50.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 6.74% and Cintas (CTAS) at 8.94% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Cintas (CTAS) reports EPS growth of 11.59%, ranked against its industry; Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.74%8.94%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.81%8.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)--11.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--14.77%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cintas (CTAS) at 1.43 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.05 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADP.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.05

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
ADP
1.05
Min
0.45

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.43

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
CTAS
1.43
Q1
1.14
Min
0.45
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.91 and Cintas (CTAS) at 0.53 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.91

Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
Median
0.94
ADP
0.91
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.53

Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
Median
0.94
CTAS
0.53
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.051.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.910.53
Net Debt / EBITDA0.200.81

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.40% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Cintas (CTAS) at 0.90% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ADP the richer one.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.40%

Max
4.53%
ADP
2.40%
Q3
1.84%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.90%

Max
4.53%
Q3
1.84%
CTAS
0.90%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cintas (CTAS) at 36.66% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.69% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

60.69%

Max
90.59%
ADP
60.69%
Q3
37.26%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.66%

Max
90.59%
Q3
37.26%
CTAS
36.66%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.40%0.90%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)60.69%36.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 24.93 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 40.64 sits in the richer quartile — CTAS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.93

Max
49.50
Q3
31.36
ADP
24.93
Median
23.50
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

40.64

Max
49.50
CTAS
40.64
Q3
31.36
Median
23.50
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.94 and Cintas (CTAS) at 7.09 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

4.94

Max
7.09
ADP
4.94
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.09

CTAS
7.09
Max
7.09
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 18.00 and Cintas (CTAS) at 15.53 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.00

ADP
18.00
Max
12.24
Q3
5.90
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.53

CTAS
15.53
Max
12.24
Q3
5.90
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricADPCTAS
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.9340.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.947.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)18.0015.53
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.84%1.83%