ADP vs. TRI: Automatic Data Processing vs. Thomson Reuters Stock Comparison

July 23, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Profile Item	ADP	TRI
Name	Automatic Data Processing Inc.	Thomson Reuters Corp.
Country/Region	United States	Canada
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	98.42 billion USD	39.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	June 12, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADP

TRI

GSPC

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI), 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Thomson Reuters (TRI). 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
Total Return (1Y)	-15.90%	-53.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	3.59%	-9.73%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.09%	-0.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADP

TRI

GSPC

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI), 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI). 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	26.02%	44.48%
Beta (5Y)	0.82	0.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-40.78%	-62.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.86M	2.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ADP and TRI 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.77	-1.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.10	-1.72

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 71.21% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 12.73%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

71.21%

ADP: 71.21%
Max: 53.04%
Q3: 25.65%
Median: 13.99%
Q1: 2.99%
Min: -28.46%

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.73%

Max: 53.04%
Q3: 25.65%
Median: 13.99%
TRI: 12.73%
Q1: 2.99%
Min: -28.46%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI): 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 20.12% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 19.93% 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: 11.56%
Median: 6.26%
Q1: 1.30%
Min: -13.15%

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.93%

Max: 26.63%
TRI: 19.93%
Q3: 11.56%
Median: 6.26%
Q1: 1.30%
Min: -13.15%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 30.18% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 30.33% 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: 17.67%
Median: 9.37%
Q1: 3.13%
Min: -4.52%

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.33%

Max: 38.33%
TRI: 30.33%
Q3: 17.67%
Median: 9.37%
Q1: 3.13%
Min: -4.52%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
ROE (TTM)	71.21%	12.73%
ROA (TTM)	5.95%	6.94%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.12%	19.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.18%	30.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.50%	39.46%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 7.07% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 3.00% 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. Thomson Reuters (TRI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 9.67% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Thomson Reuters (TRI) at -31.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.07%	3.00%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.61%	4.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.67%	-31.90%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.55%	3.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.04 and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 0.60 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: 2.01
Median: 1.48
Q1: 1.13
ADP: 1.04
Min: 0.45

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.60

Max: 3.17
Q3: 2.01
Median: 1.48
Q1: 1.13
TRI: 0.60
Min: 0.45

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 0.23 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.69 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.69

Max: 2.61
Q3: 1.39
Median: 0.94
ADP: 0.69
Q1: 0.40
Min: 0.01

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.23

Max: 2.61
Q3: 1.39
Median: 0.94
Q1: 0.40
TRI: 0.23
Min: 0.01

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI): 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.04	0.60
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.69	0.23
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.18	1.02

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.54% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 2.60% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.54%

Max: 3.77%
ADP: 2.54%
Q3: 1.82%
Median: 0.44%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.60%

Max: 3.77%
TRI: 2.60%
Q3: 1.82%
Median: 0.44%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.45% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 71.35% 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: 36.56%
Median: 16.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

71.35%

Max: 90.59%
TRI: 71.35%
Q3: 36.56%
Median: 16.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.54%	2.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	60.45%	71.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 23.81 and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 27.48 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

23.81

Max: 67.06
Q3: 38.84
ADP: 23.81
Median: 23.07
Q1: 16.03
Min: 4.96

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

27.48

Max: 67.06
Q3: 38.84
TRI: 27.48
Median: 23.07
Q1: 16.03
Min: 4.96

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI): 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 4.56 and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 5.17 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

4.56

Max: 7.33
ADP: 4.56
Q3: 3.42
Median: 1.37
Q1: 0.74
Min: 0.13

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.17

Max: 7.33
TRI: 5.17
Q3: 3.42
Median: 1.37
Q1: 0.74
Min: 0.13

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 3.35 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 15.53 prices above its benchmark range — ADP looks rich relative to book.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.53

ADP: 15.53
Max: 10.74
Q3: 5.92
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.95
Min: -2.86

TRI

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.35

Max: 10.74
Q3: 5.92
TRI: 3.35
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.95
Min: -2.86

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Thomson Reuters (TRI): 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI)
Metric	ADP	TRI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.81	27.48
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.56	5.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	15.53	3.35
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.83%	4.24%