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Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM)

This page compares Automatic Data Processing (ADP) with Waste Management (WM) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

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

SymbolADPWM
Company NameAutomatic Data Processing, Inc.Waste Management, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization88.12 billion USD89.29 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqGSNYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980June 22, 1988
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolADPWM
5-Day Price Return1.33%2.33%
13-Week Price Return2.15%-5.03%
26-Week Price Return-15.61%11.10%
52-Week Price Return-32.09%-3.11%
Month-to-Date Return1.20%-4.22%
Year-to-Date Return-16.62%1.37%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.89M2.21M
3-Month Avg. Volume3.43M2.20M
3-Month Volatility31.55%21.06%
Beta0.850.49

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) leads with Return on Equity (TTM) of 68.69%, above its industry benchmark range, while Waste Management (WM) at 28.86% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

68.69%

Max
54.05%
Q3
26.87%
Median
15.19%
Q1
6.71%
Min
-22.10%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

28.86%

Max
54.05%
Q3
26.87%
Median
15.19%
Q1
6.71%
Min
-22.10%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): 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% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 10.99%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.12%

Max
25.84%
Q3
12.89%
Median
6.88%
Q1
2.10%
Min
-5.98%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

10.99%

Max
25.84%
Q3
12.89%
Median
6.88%
Q1
2.10%
Min
-5.98%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 26.51% ranks in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 17.35%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

26.51%

Max
36.49%
Q3
17.91%
Median
10.47%
Q1
5.48%
Min
-1.64%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.35%

Max
36.49%
Q3
17.91%
Median
10.47%
Q1
5.48%
Min
-1.64%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolADPWM
Return on Equity (TTM)68.69%28.86%
Return on Assets (TTM)6.77%6.11%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)20.12%10.99%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)26.51%17.35%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)46.39%40.74%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 1.04 and Waste Management (WM) at 0.93 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
2.00
Median
1.48
Q1
1.11
Min
0.49

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.93

Max
3.17
Q3
2.00
Median
1.48
Q1
1.11
Min
0.49
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 0.63 carries Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) around its industry mid-range, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.28 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.63

Max
2.37
Q3
1.49
Median
0.97
Q1
0.44
Min
0.00

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.28

Max
2.37
Q3
1.49
Median
0.97
Q1
0.44
Min
0.00
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) posts Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) of 39.45, above its industry benchmark range, while Waste Management (WM) at 4.80 sits closer to the industry mid-range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

39.45

Max
25.54
Q3
13.26
Median
4.81
Q1
2.35
Min
-8.06

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.80

Max
25.54
Q3
13.26
Median
4.81
Q1
2.35
Min
-8.06
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolADPWM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.040.93
Quick Ratio (MRQ)1.040.89
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.632.28
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)39.454.80

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolADPWM
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)6.95%3.47%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)6.92%10.87%
3-Year Revenue CAGR7.61%8.56%
5-Year Revenue CAGR7.10%10.62%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolADPWM
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)10.45%13.36%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)9.83%4.21%
3-Year EPS CAGR12.54%7.50%
5-Year EPS CAGR11.86%13.74%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 2.88% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 1.55%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.88%

Max
5.26%
Q3
2.51%
Median
1.12%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.55%

Max
5.26%
Q3
2.51%
Median
1.12%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 59.12% and Waste Management (WM) at 49.50% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

59.12%

Max
94.97%
Q3
38.60%
Median
25.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

49.50%

Max
94.97%
Q3
38.60%
Median
25.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolADPWM
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.88%1.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.12%49.50%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 20.51 and Waste Management (WM) at 32.01 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.51

Max
61.41
Q3
34.75
Median
20.62
Q1
14.48
Min
4.70

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.01

Max
61.41
Q3
34.75
Median
20.62
Q1
14.48
Min
4.70
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 3.52 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 4.13 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — ADP carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.13

Max
7.24
Q3
3.68
Median
1.59
Q1
0.66
Min
0.07

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.52

Max
7.24
Q3
3.68
Median
1.59
Q1
0.66
Min
0.07
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both Automatic Data Processing (ADP) at 12.88 and Waste Management (WM) at 9.24 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) among industry peers, indicating higher book-value multiples than typical peers.

ADP

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.88

Max
12.88
Q3
7.12
Median
3.40
Q1
2.20
Min
0.30

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.24

Max
12.88
Q3
7.12
Median
3.40
Q1
2.20
Min
0.30
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolADPWM
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)20.5132.01
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)4.133.52
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)12.889.24
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)18.4127.19