Seek Returns

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS)

This page compares Automatic Data Processing (ADP) with Cintas (CTAS) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

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.

SymbolADPCTAS
Company 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 Capitalization88.12 billion USD68.90 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqGSNasdaqGS
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980August 19, 1983
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

ADP
CTAS
Loading price history…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolADPCTAS
5-Day Price Return1.33%5.50%
13-Week Price Return2.15%-9.79%
26-Week Price Return-15.61%-5.80%
52-Week Price Return-32.09%-20.98%
Month-to-Date Return1.20%-0.11%
Year-to-Date Return-16.62%-7.21%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.89M2.10M
3-Month Avg. Volume3.43M2.14M
3-Month Volatility31.55%23.62%
Beta0.850.96

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) leads with Return on Equity (TTM) of 68.69%, above its industry benchmark range, while Cintas (CTAS) at 41.47% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

68.69%

Max
54.05%
Q3
26.87%
Median
15.19%
Q1
6.71%
Min
-22.10%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

41.47%

Max
54.05%
Q3
26.87%
Median
15.19%
Q1
6.71%
Min
-22.10%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.12% and Cintas (CTAS) at 17.57% rank in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into net income more strongly than typical competitors.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.12%

Max
25.84%
Q3
12.89%
Median
6.88%
Q1
2.10%
Min
-5.98%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.57%

Max
25.84%
Q3
12.89%
Median
6.88%
Q1
2.10%
Min
-5.98%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.51% and Cintas (CTAS) at 22.95% rank in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into operating income more strongly than typical competitors.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

26.51%

Max
36.49%
Q3
17.91%
Median
10.47%
Q1
5.48%
Min
-1.64%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

22.95%

Max
36.49%
Q3
17.91%
Median
10.47%
Q1
5.48%
Min
-1.64%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolADPCTAS
Return on Equity (TTM)68.69%41.47%
Return on Assets (TTM)6.77%19.36%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)20.12%17.57%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)26.51%22.95%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)46.39%50.36%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cintas (CTAS) at 1.98 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry 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
2.00
Median
1.48
Q1
1.11
Min
0.49

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.98

Max
3.17
Q3
2.00
Median
1.48
Q1
1.11
Min
0.49
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.63 and Cintas (CTAS) at 0.55 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.63

Max
2.37
Q3
1.49
Median
0.97
Q1
0.44
Min
0.00

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.55

Max
2.37
Q3
1.49
Median
0.97
Q1
0.44
Min
0.00
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) leads with Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) of 39.45, above its industry benchmark range, while Cintas (CTAS) at 24.70 also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

39.45

Max
25.54
Q3
13.26
Median
4.81
Q1
2.35
Min
-8.06

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.70

Max
25.54
Q3
13.26
Median
4.81
Q1
2.35
Min
-8.06
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolADPCTAS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.041.98
Quick Ratio (MRQ)1.041.69
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.630.55
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)39.4524.70

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolADPCTAS
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)6.95%8.90%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)6.92%8.71%
3-Year Revenue CAGR7.61%9.60%
5-Year Revenue CAGR7.10%7.85%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolADPCTAS
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)10.45%9.92%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)9.83%9.96%
3-Year EPS CAGR12.54%14.69%
5-Year EPS CAGR11.86%16.63%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.88% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Cintas (CTAS) at 0.97%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.88%

Max
5.26%
Q3
2.51%
Median
1.12%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.97%

Max
5.26%
Q3
2.51%
Median
1.12%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cintas (CTAS) at 35.04% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 59.12% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

59.12%

Max
94.97%
Q3
38.60%
Median
25.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

35.04%

Max
94.97%
Q3
38.60%
Median
25.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolADPCTAS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.88%0.97%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.12%35.04%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.51 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Cintas (CTAS) at 36.05 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — CTAS carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.51

Max
61.41
Q3
34.75
Median
20.62
Q1
14.48
Min
4.70

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.05

Max
61.41
Q3
34.75
Median
20.62
Q1
14.48
Min
4.70
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.13 and Cintas (CTAS) at 6.33 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating higher trailing revenue multiples than typical peers.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.13

Max
7.24
Q3
3.68
Median
1.59
Q1
0.66
Min
0.07

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

6.33

Max
7.24
Q3
3.68
Median
1.59
Q1
0.66
Min
0.07
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 12.88 sits in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), but Cintas (CTAS) at 16.84 is higher still, above its industry benchmark range — both carry elevated book-value multiples relative to peers, with CTAS higher.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.88

Max
12.88
Q3
7.12
Median
3.40
Q1
2.20
Min
0.30

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.84

Max
12.88
Q3
7.12
Median
3.40
Q1
2.20
Min
0.30
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolADPCTAS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)20.5136.05
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)4.136.33
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)12.8816.84
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)18.4139.03