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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN)

This page compares Automatic Data Processing (ADP) with Waste Connections (WCN) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

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.

SymbolADPWCN
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 Capitalization92.41 billion USD40.04 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980May 22, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 21.37 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Waste Connections (WCN) at 38.43 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — WCN carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

21.37

Max
61.59
Q3
37.73
Median
21.70
Q1
14.64
Min
5.06

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

38.43

Max
61.59
Q3
37.73
Median
21.70
Q1
14.64
Min
5.06
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.28 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.17 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) quartile of their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.28

Max
6.53
Q3
3.23
Median
1.28
Q1
0.65
Min
0.08

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.17

Max
6.53
Q3
3.23
Median
1.28
Q1
0.65
Min
0.08
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.89 sits near its industry’s typical Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 14.58 prices above its benchmark range — ADP looks rich relative to book.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

14.58

Max
8.95
Q3
6.08
Median
2.89
Q1
1.90
Min
-4.28

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.89

Max
8.95
Q3
6.08
Median
2.89
Q1
1.90
Min
-4.28
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolADPWCN
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)21.3738.43
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)4.284.17
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)14.584.89
Free Cash Flow Yield5.14%2.64%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) posts Return on Equity (TTM) of 71.21%, above its industry benchmark range, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 13.12% sits closer to the industry mid-range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

71.21%

Max
53.04%
Q3
25.65%
Median
13.99%
Q1
2.65%
Min
-26.88%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

13.12%

Max
53.04%
Q3
25.65%
Median
13.99%
Q1
2.65%
Min
-26.88%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.12% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Waste Connections (WCN) at 10.97%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.12%

Max
26.63%
Q3
11.56%
Median
6.26%
Q1
1.18%
Min
-13.34%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

10.97%

Max
26.63%
Q3
11.56%
Median
6.26%
Q1
1.18%
Min
-13.34%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 30.18% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 18.75% squeeze more operating profit from each sales dollar than most peers, ranking in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile of their industries.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.18%

Max
37.53%
Q3
17.67%
Median
9.37%
Q1
3.13%
Min
-4.52%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.75%

Max
37.53%
Q3
17.67%
Median
9.37%
Q1
3.13%
Min
-4.52%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolADPWCN
Return on Equity (TTM)71.21%13.12%
Return on Assets (TTM)5.95%5.47%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)20.12%10.97%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)30.18%18.75%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)48.50%42.50%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolADPWCN
1-Year Revenue Growth7.07%6.14%
3-Year Revenue CAGR7.61%9.49%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolADPWCN
1-Year EPS Growth9.67%74.48%
3-Year EPS CAGR12.55%8.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.04 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.69 run Current Ratio (MRQ) 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
1.51
Q1
1.13
Min
0.45

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.69

Max
3.17
Q3
2.01
Median
1.51
Q1
1.13
Min
0.45
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.69 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 1.17 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.69

Max
2.61
Q3
1.39
Median
0.94
Q1
0.45
Min
0.01

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.17

Max
2.61
Q3
1.39
Median
0.94
Q1
0.45
Min
0.01
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolADPWCN
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.040.69
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.691.17
Net Debt / EBITDA0.183.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.94% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.89%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.94%

Max
5.28%
Q3
2.29%
Median
0.97%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.89%

Max
5.28%
Q3
2.29%
Median
0.97%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 32.44% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.45% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

60.45%

Max
79.70%
Q3
36.60%
Median
16.11%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.44%

Max
79.70%
Q3
36.60%
Median
16.11%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolADPWCN
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.94%0.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)60.45%32.44%

Performance & Risk

ADP
WCN
Loading price history…
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolADPWCN
1-Year Return-28.14%-18.71%
1-Year Volatility24.27%21.56%
Beta0.820.50
3-Month Avg. Volume3.26M1.54M