ADP vs. J: Automatic Data Processing vs. Jacobs Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Jacobs (J) 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 Jacobs (J) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though ADP is classified under Human Resource & Employment Services while J falls under Research & Consulting Services.

Company profile comparison for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Jacobs (J)
Profile Item	ADP	J
Name	Automatic Data Processing Inc.	Jacobs Solutions Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Professional Services	Professional Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Human Resource & Employment Services	Research & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization	119.75 billion USD	17.43 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADP

GSPC

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J), 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 Jacobs (J). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Jacobs (J). 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 Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
Total Return (1Y)	22.40%	3.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	12.77%	13.63%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.08%	6.41%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADP

GSPC

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J), 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 Jacobs (J). 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 Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.04%	34.18%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	0.68
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-40.78%	-34.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.16M	878.62K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ADP and J 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 Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.65	-0.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.02	-0.05

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 78.94% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Jacobs (J) at 8.00%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.00%

Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
J: 8.00%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.33% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 2.38%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.38%

Max: 23.28%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
J: 2.38%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): 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 Jacobs (J) at 7.39%, 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%

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.39%

Max: 38.50%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
J: 7.39%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
ROE (TTM)	78.94%	8.00%
ROA (TTM)	6.32%	4.55%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.33%	2.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)	26.73%	7.39%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.83%	22.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 6.74% and Jacobs (J) at 4.60% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 9.62% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Jacobs (J) at -62.34% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.74%	4.60%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.81%	7.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.62%	-62.34%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.04%	-21.82%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Jacobs (J) at 1.29 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.03 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADP.

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

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.29

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.55
J: 1.29
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.45

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.10 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Jacobs (J) at 1.25 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.25

Max: 2.37
J: 1.25
Q3: 1.25
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): 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 Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.03	1.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.10	1.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.35	2.72

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Jacobs (J) at 0.92% 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%

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.92%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
J: 0.92%
Median: 0.60%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.28% and Jacobs (J) at 45.18% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

45.18%

Max: 99.58%
J: 45.18%
Q3: 41.99%
Median: 17.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.21%	0.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	60.28%	45.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.89 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Jacobs (J) at 49.47 sits in the richer quartile — J needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

49.47

J: 49.47
Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
Median: 24.16
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Jacobs (J) at 1.23 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

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.23

Max: 7.17
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
J: 1.23
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Jacobs (J) at 5.34 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

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.34

Max: 11.25
Q3: 6.08
J: 5.34
Median: 2.92
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Jacobs (J): 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 Jacobs (J)
Metric	ADP	J
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.89	49.47
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.38	1.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	23.57	5.34
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.40%	3.71%