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.
| Profile Item | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Automatic Data Processing Inc. | Waste Connections Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | Canada |
| 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 | 89.52 billion USD | 42.35 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | May 22, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -25.37% | -10.19% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.40% | 22.51% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.83 | 0.49 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.99M | 1.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 71.21% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Waste Connections (WCN) at 13.12%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
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%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
13.12%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- WCN
- 13.12%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
Net 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%
- ADP
- 20.12%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
10.97%
- Max
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- WCN
- 10.97%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 30.18% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 18.75% 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%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 38.33%
- WCN
- 18.75%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 71.21% | 13.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.95% | 5.47% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.12% | 10.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 30.18% | 18.75% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.50% | 42.50% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.07% | 6.14% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.61% | 9.49% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.67% | 74.48% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.55% | 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 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
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.69
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- WCN
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.69 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 1.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.17
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- WCN
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 0.69 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.69 | 1.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.18 | 3.04 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.88% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.80% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, ADP the richer one.
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%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.80%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- WCN
- 0.80%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Waste Connections (WCN) at 32.44% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 60.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
32.44%
- Max
- 90.59%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- WCN
- 32.44%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 0.80% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.45% | 32.44% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.87 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 40.66 sits in the richer quartile — WCN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
40.66
- Max
- 67.48
- WCN
- 40.66
- Q3
- 35.82
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.14 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.41 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
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
4.41
- Max
- 6.61
- WCN
- 4.41
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Waste Connections (WCN) at 5.17 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 14.13 prices above its benchmark range — ADP looks rich relative to book.
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
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.17
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- WCN
- 5.17
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADP | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.87 | 40.66 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.14 | 4.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.13 | 5.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.31% | 2.50% |