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.
| Profile Item | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Automatic Data Processing Inc. | Relx PLC Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| 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 | 89.52 billion USD | 55.43 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | October 6, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -25.37% | -40.26% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.40% | 30.99% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.83 | 0.74 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.99M | 2.63M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 71.21% and RELX (RELX) at 70.51% 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
71.21%
- ADP
- 71.21%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
70.51%
- RELX
- 70.51%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.12% and RELX (RELX) at 21.53% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
20.12%
- Max
- 26.63%
- ADP
- 20.12%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
21.53%
- Max
- 26.63%
- RELX
- 21.53%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 30.18% and RELX (RELX) at 31.41% 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
30.18%
- Max
- 38.33%
- ADP
- 30.18%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
31.41%
- Max
- 38.33%
- RELX
- 31.41%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 71.21% | 70.51% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.95% | 12.49% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.12% | 21.53% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 30.18% | 31.41% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.50% | 66.29% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.07% | 1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.61% | 3.89% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.67% | 8.63% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.55% | 9.76% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.04 and RELX (RELX) at 0.49 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
1.04
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- ADP
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.45
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.49
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- RELX
- 0.49
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.69 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 3.04 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.69
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- ADP
- 0.69
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.04
- RELX
- 3.04
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 0.49 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.69 | 3.04 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.18 | 2.23 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.88% and RELX (RELX) at 2.16% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.88%
- Max
- 4.01%
- ADP
- 2.88%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.16%
- Max
- 4.01%
- RELX
- 2.16%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.45% and RELX (RELX) at 57.42% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
60.45%
- Max
- 90.59%
- ADP
- 60.45%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
57.42%
- Max
- 90.59%
- RELX
- 57.42%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 2.16% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.45% | 57.42% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.87 and RELX (RELX) at 21.40 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
20.87
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- Median
- 20.98
- ADP
- 20.87
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
21.40
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- RELX
- 21.40
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.14 and RELX (RELX) at 5.78 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
4.14
- Max
- 6.61
- ADP
- 4.14
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.78
- Max
- 6.61
- RELX
- 5.78
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 14.13 and RELX (RELX) at 72.23 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
ADP
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
14.13
- ADP
- 14.13
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
RELX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
72.23
- RELX
- 72.23
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADP | RELX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.87 | 21.40 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.14 | 5.78 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.13 | 72.23 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.31% | 3.89% |