ADP vs. DAL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ADP and DAL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
ADP’s market capitalization of 125.51 billion USD is substantially larger than DAL’s 33.21 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
DAL carries a higher beta at 1.51, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ADP (beta: 0.80) exhibits greater stability.
| Symbol | ADP | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | Delta Air Lines, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Airlines, Airports & Air Services |
| CEO | Maria Black | Edward H. Bastian |
| Price | 309.2 USD | 50.86 USD |
| Market Cap | 125.51 billion USD | 33.21 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.80 | 1.51 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | March 17, 1980 | May 3, 2007 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ADP and DAL by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ADP
76.78%
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 76.78%
- Q3
- 46.63%
- Median
- 19.55%
- Q1
- 6.99%
- Min
- -1.64%
In the upper quartile for the Staffing & Employment Services industry, ADP’s Return on Equity of 76.78% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
DAL
25.79%
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 42.21%
- Q3
- 26.98%
- Median
- 13.01%
- Q1
- 0.37%
- Min
- -17.14%
DAL’s Return on Equity of 25.79% is on par with the norm for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
ADP
23.22%
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 23.22%
- Q3
- 18.16%
- Median
- 9.93%
- Q1
- 4.57%
- Min
- -1.94%
In the upper quartile for the Staffing & Employment Services industry, ADP’s Return on Invested Capital of 23.22% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
DAL
8.74%
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 17.34%
- Q3
- 13.78%
- Median
- 4.53%
- Q1
- 1.05%
- Min
- -13.54%
DAL’s Return on Invested Capital of 8.74% is in line with the norm for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
ADP
19.79%
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 30.46%
- Q3
- 17.07%
- Median
- 3.53%
- Q1
- 0.98%
- Min
- -4.15%
A Net Profit Margin of 19.79% places ADP in the upper quartile for the Staffing & Employment Services industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
DAL
5.91%
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 24.88%
- Q3
- 9.50%
- Median
- 3.91%
- Q1
- -1.02%
- Min
- -10.56%
DAL’s Net Profit Margin of 5.91% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
ADP
17.38%
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 19.92%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 4.95%
- Q1
- 2.59%
- Min
- -2.06%
An Operating Profit Margin of 17.38% places ADP in the upper quartile for the Staffing & Employment Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
DAL
9.61%
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 22.38%
- Q3
- 14.22%
- Median
- 9.66%
- Q1
- -0.09%
- Min
- -12.58%
DAL’s Operating Profit Margin of 9.61% is around the midpoint for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 76.78% | 25.79% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 7.08% | 4.73% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 23.22% | 8.74% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 19.79% | 5.91% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.38% | 9.61% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 47.09% | 24.96% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ADP
1.02
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 2.06
- Q3
- 2.01
- Median
- 1.65
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 1.02
ADP’s Current Ratio of 1.02 falls into the lower quartile for the Staffing & Employment Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
DAL
0.38
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 1.77
- Q3
- 1.68
- Median
- 0.77
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.32
DAL’s Current Ratio of 0.38 falls into the lower quartile for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ADP
0.73
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 0.73
- Q3
- 0.70
- Median
- 0.22
- Q1
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.02
ADP’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Staffing & Employment Services industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.73. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
DAL
1.44
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 3.85
- Q3
- 2.92
- Median
- 1.02
- Q1
- 0.43
- Min
- 0.04
DAL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.44 is typical for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ADP
7.90
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 7.90
- Q3
- 7.90
- Median
- 2.91
- Q1
- -0.32
- Min
- -1.17
ADP’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.90 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Staffing & Employment Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
DAL
8.26
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 8.60
- Q3
- 6.00
- Median
- 4.19
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -1.40
DAL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 8.26 is in the upper quartile for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.02 | 0.38 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.02 | 0.33 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.73 | 1.44 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.08 | 0.29 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 0.26 | 2.48 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.90 | 8.26 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ADP and DAL. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ADP
1.95%
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 5.58%
- Q3
- 3.50%
- Median
- 2.08%
- Q1
- 0.83%
- Min
- 0.00%
ADP’s Dividend Yield of 1.95% is consistent with its peers in the Staffing & Employment Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
DAL
1.18%
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 162.17%
- Q3
- 2.10%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
DAL’s Dividend Yield of 1.18% is consistent with its peers in the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ADP
58.73%
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 161.25%
- Q3
- 109.23%
- Median
- 58.73%
- Q1
- 15.69%
- Min
- 0.00%
ADP’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 58.73% is within the typical range for the Staffing & Employment Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
DAL
9.73%
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 106.87%
- Q3
- 15.62%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
DAL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 9.73% is within the typical range for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.95% | 1.18% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.73% | 9.73% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ADP
31.47
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 35.74
- Q3
- 30.98
- Median
- 20.51
- Q1
- 15.65
- Min
- 7.85
A P/E Ratio of 31.47 places ADP in the upper quartile for the Staffing & Employment Services industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
DAL
8.95
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 24.07
- Q3
- 18.40
- Median
- 12.44
- Q1
- 11.24
- Min
- 7.21
In the lower quartile for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry, DAL’s P/E Ratio of 8.95 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ADP
3.56
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 3.23
- Q3
- 1.89
- Median
- 1.18
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.39
ADP’s Forward PEG Ratio of 3.56 is exceptionally high for the Staffing & Employment Services industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
DAL
0.50
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 1.38
- Q3
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.61
- Q1
- 0.32
- Min
- 0.03
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ADP
6.21
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 3.70
- Q3
- 2.09
- Median
- 0.86
- Q1
- 0.59
- Min
- 0.09
With a P/S Ratio of 6.21, ADP trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Staffing & Employment Services industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
DAL
0.54
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 1.84
- Q3
- 1.69
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.45
- Min
- 0.14
DAL’s P/S Ratio of 0.54 aligns with the market consensus for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ADP
21.49
Staffing & Employment Services Industry
- Max
- 21.09
- Q3
- 12.56
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 1.96
- Min
- 0.33
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Staffing & Employment Services industry.
DAL
2.12
Airlines, Airports & Air Services Industry
- Max
- 12.86
- Q3
- 8.15
- Median
- 2.07
- Q1
- 1.50
- Min
- 0.62
DAL’s P/B Ratio of 2.12 is within the conventional range for the Airlines, Airports & Air Services industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 31.47 | 8.95 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 3.56 | 0.50 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 6.21 | 0.54 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 21.49 | 2.12 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 27.77 | 11.76 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 20.57 | 6.93 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 6.29 | 0.84 |