ADP vs. VLTO: Automatic Data Processing vs. Veralto Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Veralto (VLTO) 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 Veralto (VLTO) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but ADP is classified in Professional Services while VLTO is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas Veralto (VLTO) listed on October 4, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Veralto (VLTO)
Profile Item	ADP	VLTO
Name	Automatic Data Processing Inc.	Veralto Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Professional Services	Commercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-Industry	Human Resource & Employment Services	Environmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization	119.75 billion USD	28.47 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	October 4, 2023
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADP

VLTO

GSPC

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Veralto (VLTO), 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 Veralto (VLTO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Veralto (VLTO). 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 Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
Total Return (1Y)	22.40%	20.35%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	12.77%	19.78%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.08%	--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADP

VLTO

GSPC

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Veralto (VLTO), 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 Veralto (VLTO). 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 Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.04%	24.45%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	0.45
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-40.78%	-27.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.16M	1.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ADP and VLTO 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 Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.65	0.66
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.02	1.04

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 78.94% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Veralto (VLTO) at 32.96% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.96%

Max: 47.06%
VLTO: 32.96%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Veralto (VLTO): 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 20.33% and Veralto (VLTO) at 17.27% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.33%

Max: 23.28%
ADP: 20.33%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.27%

Max: 23.28%
VLTO: 17.27%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.73% and Veralto (VLTO) at 19.42% 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

26.73%

Max: 38.50%
ADP: 26.73%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.42%

Max: 38.50%
VLTO: 19.42%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
ROE (TTM)	78.94%	32.96%
ROA (TTM)	6.32%	9.96%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.33%	17.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)	26.73%	19.42%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.83%	59.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 6.74% and Veralto (VLTO) at 5.97% 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. Veralto (VLTO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 9.62% and Veralto (VLTO) at 12.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.74%	5.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.81%	4.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.62%	12.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.04%	3.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Veralto (VLTO) at 2.03 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

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.03

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
VLTO: 2.03
Median: 1.55
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.45

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.10 and Veralto (VLTO) at 0.97 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.97

Max: 2.37
Q3: 1.25
VLTO: 0.97
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Veralto (VLTO): 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 Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.03	2.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.10	0.97
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.35	0.99

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Veralto (VLTO) at 0.45% 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%

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.45%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
Median: 0.60%
VLTO: 0.45%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Veralto (VLTO) at 12.84% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.28% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.84%

Max: 99.58%
Q3: 41.99%
Median: 17.27%
VLTO: 12.84%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.21%	0.45%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	60.28%	12.84%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.89 and Veralto (VLTO) at 28.91 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

26.89

Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
ADP: 26.89
Median: 24.16
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

28.91

Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
VLTO: 28.91
Median: 24.16
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Veralto (VLTO): 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 5.38 and Veralto (VLTO) at 4.91 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

5.38

Max: 7.17
ADP: 5.38
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.91

Max: 7.17
VLTO: 4.91
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Veralto (VLTO) at 8.82 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 23.57 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

VLTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.82

Max: 11.25
VLTO: 8.82
Q3: 6.08
Median: 2.92
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Veralto (VLTO): 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 Veralto (VLTO)
Metric	ADP	VLTO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.89	28.91
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.38	4.91
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	23.57	8.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.40%	2.68%