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ADP vs. GFL: Automatic Data Processing vs. GFL Environmental Stock Comparison

How do Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and GFL Environmental (GFL) 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 GFL Environmental (GFL) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but ADP is classified in Professional Services while GFL is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas GFL Environmental (GFL) listed on March 3, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and GFL Environmental (GFL)
Profile ItemADPGFL
NameAutomatic Data Processing Inc.GFL Environmental Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization119.75 billion USD16.72 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 3, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADP
GFL
GSPC
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL), 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 GFL Environmental (GFL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and GFL Environmental (GFL). 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 GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
Total Return (1Y)22.40%7.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)12.77%17.51%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.08%3.62%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADP
GFL
GSPC
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL), 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 GFL Environmental (GFL). 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 GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.04%29.80%
Beta (5Y)0.760.66
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.78%-42.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.16M3.45M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADP and GFL 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 GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.650.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.020.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

GFL Environmental (GFL) reports a negative ROE of -2.97%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Automatic Data Processing (ADP) reports 78.94%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

-2.97%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
GFL
-2.97%
Min
-20.15%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

GFL Environmental (GFL) reports a negative net margin of -4.28%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Automatic Data Processing (ADP) reports 20.33%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

-4.28%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
GFL
-4.28%
Min
-8.60%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.73% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of GFL Environmental (GFL) at 9.44%, 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%

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.44%

Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
GFL
9.44%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
ROE (TTM)78.94%-2.97%
ROA (TTM)6.32%1.11%
Net Margin (TTM)20.33%-4.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)26.73%9.44%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.83%19.78%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 6.74% and GFL Environmental (GFL) at 7.77% 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. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Automatic Data Processing (ADP) reports EPS growth of 9.62%, ranked against its industry; GFL Environmental (GFL) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.74%7.77%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.81%-0.72%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.62%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.04%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.03 and GFL Environmental (GFL) at 0.93 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.93

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
GFL
0.93
Min
0.45
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.10 and GFL Environmental (GFL) at 1.04 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.04

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
GFL
1.04
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): 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 GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.030.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.101.04
Net Debt / EBITDA0.356.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while GFL Environmental (GFL) at 0.14% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ADP the richer one.

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%

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.14%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
Median
0.60%
GFL
0.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GFL Environmental (GFL) at 19.07% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.28% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.07%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
GFL
19.07%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.21%0.14%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)60.28%19.07%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Automatic Data Processing (ADP) trades at 26.89 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while GFL Environmental (GFL) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

--

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
GFL
--
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): GFL does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ADP is benchmarked against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

GFL Environmental (GFL) at 2.25 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

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.25

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
GFL
2.25
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

GFL Environmental (GFL) at 2.42 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 23.57 prices above its benchmark range — ADP looks rich relative to book.

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

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.42

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
GFL
2.42
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. GFL Environmental (GFL): 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 GFL Environmental (GFL)
MetricADPGFL
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.89--
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.382.25
P/B Ratio (MRQ)23.572.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.40%1.55%