Seek Returns

ADP vs. RELX: Automatic Data Processing vs. RELX Stock Comparison

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

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) trades as ordinary local shares, while RELX (RELX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and RELX (RELX)
Profile ItemADPRELX
NameAutomatic Data Processing Inc.Relx PLC Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesResearch & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization108.44 billion USD60.03 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980October 6, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADP
RELX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and RELX (RELX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and RELX (RELX). 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 RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
Total Return (1Y)-7.01%-25.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)5.15%3.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.20%4.78%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADP
RELX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and RELX (RELX). 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 RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.90%33.09%
Beta (5Y)0.810.71
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.78%-49.91%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.66M2.74M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ADP and RELX 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 RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.41-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.61-1.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 72.24% and RELX (RELX) at 131.86% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

72.24%

ADP
72.24%
Max
46.24%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

131.86%

RELX
131.86%
Max
46.24%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.11% and RELX (RELX) at 23.27% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.11%

Max
23.27%
ADP
20.11%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.27%

RELX
23.27%
Max
23.27%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 23.46% and RELX (RELX) at 32.01% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.46%

Max
37.53%
ADP
23.46%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.01%

Max
37.53%
RELX
32.01%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
ROE (TTM)72.24%131.86%
ROA (TTM)6.25%13.12%
Net Margin (TTM)20.11%23.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.46%32.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.65%66.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 6.74% and RELX (RELX) at 1.65% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: RELX (RELX) reports EPS growth of 8.63%, ranked against its industry; Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.74%1.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.81%3.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)--8.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--9.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.05 and RELX (RELX) at 0.45 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

1.05

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
ADP
1.05
Min
0.45

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.45

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
RELX
0.45
Min
0.45
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.91 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 7.10 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.91

Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
Median
0.94
ADP
0.91
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.10

RELX
7.10
Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
Median
0.94
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): 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 RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.050.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.917.10
Net Debt / EBITDA0.202.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.40% and RELX (RELX) at 1.99% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.40%

Max
4.53%
ADP
2.40%
Q3
1.84%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.99%

Max
4.53%
RELX
1.99%
Q3
1.84%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.69% and RELX (RELX) at 53.45% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

60.69%

Max
90.59%
ADP
60.69%
Q3
37.26%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

53.45%

Max
90.59%
RELX
53.45%
Q3
37.26%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.40%1.99%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)60.69%53.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 24.93 and RELX (RELX) at 20.49 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.93

Max
49.50
Q3
31.36
ADP
24.93
Median
23.50
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.49

Max
49.50
Q3
31.36
Median
23.50
RELX
20.49
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.94 and RELX (RELX) at 6.18 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.94

Max
7.09
ADP
4.94
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

6.18

Max
7.09
RELX
6.18
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 18.00 and RELX (RELX) at 144.30 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.00

ADP
18.00
Max
12.24
Q3
5.90
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

144.30

RELX
144.30
Max
12.24
Q3
5.90
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66
Loading chart…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. RELX (RELX): 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 RELX (RELX)
MetricADPRELX
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.9320.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.946.18
P/B Ratio (MRQ)18.00144.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.84%3.72%