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ADP vs. WCN: Automatic Data Processing vs. Waste Connections Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Waste Connections (WCN)
Profile ItemADPWCN
NameAutomatic Data Processing Inc.Waste Connections Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesCanada
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization108.44 billion USD41.83 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980May 22, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADP
WCN
GSPC
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN), 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 Waste Connections (WCN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Waste Connections (WCN). 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 Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
Total Return (1Y)-7.01%-9.40%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)5.15%6.33%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.20%6.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADP
WCN
GSPC
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN), 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 Waste Connections (WCN). 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 Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.90%22.71%
Beta (5Y)0.810.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.78%-24.90%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.66M1.56M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADP and WCN 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 Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.41-0.59
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.61-0.84

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 72.24% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Waste Connections (WCN) at 13.03%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

13.03%

Max
46.24%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
WCN
13.03%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.11% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Waste Connections (WCN) at 10.86%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

10.86%

Max
23.27%
WCN
10.86%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): 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 Waste Connections (WCN) at 19.70% 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%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.70%

Max
37.53%
WCN
19.70%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
ROE (TTM)72.24%13.03%
ROA (TTM)6.25%5.49%
Net Margin (TTM)20.11%10.86%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.46%19.70%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.65%42.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 6.74% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 6.14% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Waste Connections (WCN) reports EPS growth of 74.48%, ranked against its industry; Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.74%6.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.81%9.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)--74.48%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--8.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.05 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.66 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

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.66

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
WCN
0.66
Min
0.45
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.91 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 1.22 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.22

Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
WCN
1.22
Median
0.94
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): 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 Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.050.66
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.911.22
Net Debt / EBITDA0.203.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.40% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.82% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ADP the richer one.

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%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.82%

Max
4.53%
Q3
1.84%
WCN
0.82%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 32.97% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.69% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.97%

Max
90.59%
Q3
37.26%
WCN
32.97%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.40%0.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)60.69%32.97%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 24.93 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 40.17 sits in the richer quartile — WCN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

40.17

Max
49.50
WCN
40.17
Q3
31.36
Median
23.50
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): 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 Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.28 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

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.28

Max
7.09
WCN
4.28
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 5.16 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 18.00 prices above its benchmark range — ADP looks rich relative to book.

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

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.16

Max
12.24
Q3
5.90
WCN
5.16
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66
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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): 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 Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricADPWCN
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.9340.17
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.944.28
P/B Ratio (MRQ)18.005.16
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.84%2.51%