ADP vs. LECO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ADP and LECO, 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 LECO’s 12.07 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
LECO carries a higher beta at 1.21, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ADP (beta: 0.80) exhibits greater stability.
| Symbol | ADP | LECO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories |
| CEO | Maria Black | Steven B. Hedlund |
| Price | 309.2 USD | 216.28 USD |
| Market Cap | 125.51 billion USD | 12.07 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.80 | 1.21 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | March 17, 1980 | April 7, 1994 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ADP and LECO 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.
LECO
34.68%
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 34.68%
- Q3
- 20.63%
- Median
- 10.07%
- Q1
- 7.35%
- Min
- 1.56%
In the upper quartile for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry, LECO’s Return on Equity of 34.68% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
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.
LECO
18.96%
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 18.96%
- Q3
- 14.59%
- Median
- 7.53%
- Q1
- 6.50%
- Min
- 2.74%
In the upper quartile for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry, LECO’s Return on Invested Capital of 18.96% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
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.
LECO
11.44%
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 21.42%
- Q3
- 12.34%
- Median
- 8.01%
- Q1
- 4.68%
- Min
- 1.24%
LECO’s Net Profit Margin of 11.44% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories 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.
LECO
16.61%
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 27.46%
- Q3
- 18.11%
- Median
- 11.96%
- Q1
- 8.53%
- Min
- 6.01%
LECO’s Operating Profit Margin of 16.61% is around the midpoint for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | LECO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 76.78% | 34.68% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 7.08% | 12.72% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 23.22% | 18.96% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 19.79% | 11.44% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.38% | 16.61% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 47.09% | 36.45% |
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.
LECO
1.78
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 4.14
- Q3
- 3.17
- Median
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- 1.10
LECO’s Current Ratio of 1.78 falls into the lower quartile for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories 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.
LECO
0.94
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 0.94
- Q3
- 0.78
- Median
- 0.72
- Q1
- 0.31
- Min
- 0.05
LECO’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.94. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
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.
LECO
14.51
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 14.51
- Q3
- 10.02
- Median
- 6.60
- Q1
- 5.24
- Min
- 1.53
LECO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 14.51 is in the upper quartile for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | LECO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.02 | 1.78 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.02 | 1.19 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.73 | 0.94 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.08 | 0.35 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 0.26 | 1.17 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.90 | 14.51 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ADP and LECO. 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.
LECO
1.37%
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 4.85%
- Q3
- 2.87%
- Median
- 2.00%
- Q1
- 1.05%
- Min
- 0.00%
LECO’s Dividend Yield of 1.37% is consistent with its peers in the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories 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.
LECO
35.53%
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 138.27%
- Q3
- 47.32%
- Median
- 36.66%
- Q1
- 23.90%
- Min
- 0.00%
LECO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 35.53% is within the typical range for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | LECO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.95% | 1.37% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.73% | 35.53% |
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.
LECO
26.41
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 48.52
- Q3
- 33.58
- Median
- 21.58
- Q1
- 16.21
- Min
- 15.65
LECO’s P/E Ratio of 26.41 is within the middle range for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
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.
LECO
4.33
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 5.86
- Q3
- 4.35
- Median
- 3.53
- Q1
- 1.63
- Min
- 0.87
LECO’s Forward PEG Ratio of 4.33 is within the middle range of its peers in the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
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.
LECO
3.00
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 3.03
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.93
- Min
- 0.69
LECO’s P/S Ratio of 3.00 aligns with the market consensus for the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories 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.
LECO
9.09
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories Industry
- Max
- 4.75
- Q3
- 4.14
- Median
- 2.35
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 1.16
At 9.09, LECO’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ADP | LECO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 31.47 | 26.41 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 3.56 | 4.33 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 6.21 | 3.00 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 21.49 | 9.09 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 27.77 | 22.61 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 20.57 | 17.50 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 6.29 | 3.21 |