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ADP·Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

$271.09
-1.08 (-0.40%)
Market Closed (Overnight)$271.45+0.36 (+0.13%)
High
$272.28
Open
$271.61
Market Cap
107.75B
52W High
$294.46
Low
$268.99
P. Close
$271.09
P/E
24.41
52W Low
$188.16
Fwd P/E
20.24
DailyIQ Est.
$286.56
Inst. Ownership
44.3%
Short Interest
2.72%
Days to Cover
5.1
Technical Score (1D)
45
NEUTRAL
News Sentiment
50
MIXED
The most recent ADP National Employment Report Pulse, released just over an hour ago, shows private employers adding an average of 16,250 jobs per week for the week ending August 29, 2026, marking a second consecutive week of hiring growth. This uptick in private-sector hiring suggests that labor demand remains robust, which could support upward pressure on wage growth and consumer spending in the near term. Because the figure is preliminary and based on a four‑week moving average, it may be revised as additional data is incorporated, so traders should be prepared for a potential adjustment in the next pulse. The continued hiring momentum also reinforces the narrative that the labor market is still tight, which could influence expectations for future monetary policy tightening. Investors should monitor the next ADP pulse scheduled for September 22, 2026, to gauge whether the hiring trend persists or shows signs of slowing. Watch for any revisions to the current estimate that could shift the market’s view on the pace of economic expansion. Pay attention to how the preliminary data aligns with the monthly NER release, as divergences could signal changes in employer hiring behavior. Finally, keep an eye on corporate earnings reports from major employers, as stronger hiring numbers may translate into higher revenue forecasts for companies with significant payroll costs.
Earnings Summary
ADP is a global provider of cloud‑based human capital management solutions, operating through Employer Services and Professional Employer Organization segments that deliver HR outsourcing and technology platforms to businesses worldwide. The company sits at the intersection of technology and workforce services, serving a broad spectrum of enterprises from small firms to large enterprises. In the most recent quarter, Q1 2025, ADP reported earnings per share of $3.06 versus an estimate of $2.973, and revenue of $5.553 billion, up from $5.048 billion in Q4 2024; this represents a 10.2% revenue increase and a 3.3% EPS lift, continuing a pattern of beating consensus in the last four quarters. The following quarter, Q2 2025, saw EPS of $2.26 against an estimate of $2.2265 and revenue of $5.127 billion, a modest 0.9% revenue rise and a 1.5% EPS beat, indicating a slight deceleration in growth momentum compared to the prior period. Historically, ADP has maintained a steady YoY revenue growth trajectory, with each quarter’s earnings exceeding analyst expectations, though the pace of revenue expansion has moderated in the most recent cycle. Recent news highlights a robust private‑sector hiring pulse and rising wage growth, which reinforce the narrative of a tight labor market that could support continued demand for ADP’s payroll and HR services; additionally, the company’s $1.70 per‑share dividend declaration signals a commitment to shareholder returns without altering operating guidance. Investors should watch for the next quarterly earnings release to assess whether the hiring momentum translates into higher subscription uptake and whether the company’s cost structure remains under control, as these factors will be key to sustaining the current earnings beat pattern.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$2.05$2.43$2.80$3.17$3.54Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q3'26Q4'26Q4'25
QtrEstActual+/−
Q4'25$2.56 - -
Q4'26$2.60$2.64+1.6%
Q3'26$3.30$3.37+2.3%
Q3'25$2.44$2.49+1.9%
Q2'25$2.23$2.26+1.5%
Q1'25$2.97$3.06+2.9%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$5.0B$5.3B$5.5B$5.8B$6.1BQ1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q3'26Q4'26Q4'25
QtrEstActual+/−
Q4'25$5.3B - -
Q4'26$5.5B$5.5B-0.3%
Q3'26$5.8B$5.9B+1.6%
Q3'25 - $5.2B -
Q2'25 - $5.1B -
Q1'25 - $5.6B -

Market Data

ADP Stock Snapshot

HOLD45/100
$271.45+$0.36 (0.1%)
Market cap
107.75B
P/E ratio
24.4
Day range
$268.99 – $272.28
News sentiment
50/100 · Neutral
Analyst target
$287.60 (+5.9%)
Consensus
Hold · 23 analysts
52-week range+44.3% off low · -7.8% from high
$188.16$294.46
Price $271.45 DailyIQ Est. $286.56

This is a pause rather than a turn for ADP - the signals are mixed by construction. The stock is liquid enough that positioning changes get absorbed without distorting the trend.

Behaviour On Record

What ADP's own history says about today's numbers

Realized volatility (21d)
22.1% 66th pct
Below its peak
-17.0%
vs 200-day average
+14.0%
Up days (1y)
48%

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is currently running 22.1% annualised volatility over the last 21 sessions. Measured against ADP's own 13 years of daily returns rather than a market-wide average, that is the 66th percentile a little above its own norm, against a typical reading of 18.3%. The distinction matters because a number that looks calm for one stock is turbulent for another, and the absolute figure on its own tells you neither.

ADP is trading -17.0% below its running peak. Across 12 full years on file, its median worst-drawdown-in-a-year was -15.6%, and the deepest was -39.8% in 2020. The current drawdown is already deeper than this stock's typical annual low point, which puts it in the part of its range where past recoveries began — and where past declines also continued.

Price sits +14.0% from its 200-day moving average. Against every other day in its history, that gap ranks at the 87th percentile a wider gap than this stock usually carries. Over the past year ADP closed higher on 48% of sessions, and it is currently 4 sessions into a falling streak.

On September specifically: over 13 years of records, ADP finished the month higher 5 of 13 times, with a median return of -2.7% and an average of -1.4%. Its strongest month historically has been November at +5.8% on average, its weakest September at -1.4%. Seasonality is a weak signal on its own — a decade is a small sample and regimes change — but it is a real distribution rather than a rule of thumb.

Overnight risk is measurable too: ADP has opened more than 2% away from the prior close in 96 of 3,266 sessions (2.9% of the time), with the largest gaps running +10.4% and -10.3%. For anyone holding through an event, that rate is a better guide to overnight exposure than the intraday range.

Across the last 3 dated reports on file, ADP moved an average of 1.8% in the session after earnings, closing higher 0 of those 3 times, with a median move of -1.9% and a largest of -3.0%.

All figures computed from 3,267 daily closes between 2013-09-20 and 2026-09-18, split-adjusted, recomputed daily. Percentiles are against ADP's own 13-year history, not a peer group or index.

Sector Rotation

Is money rotating into or out of ADP's sector?

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. sits in the Technology sector, currently ranked 1st of 11 GICS sectors by relative-strength rotation score (leading). Within its narrower Software industry group, ADP ranks 3rd of 15 tracked industries, leading.

Sector rank
#1 of 11
Sector state
Leading
Sector rotation score
90
Industry rank
#3 of 15

Options Market

What is the options market pricing for ADP?

CallsPuts

For Automatic Data Processing, Inc.'s nearest expiry (2026-09-25, 6 days out), open interest is roughly balanced between puts and calls (put/call ratio of 0.98), with at-the-money implied volatility around 48.6%. The options market is pricing roughly a ±5.0% move by that expiry — a range of about $247.92–$274.28.

Put/call ratio (2026-09-25)
0.98
ATM implied volatility
48.6%
Total open interest
884
Expected move by 2026-09-25
±5.0% ($247.92–$274.28)

Analyst Rating Changes

Are analysts turning bullish or bearish on ADP?

Cantor Fitzgerald most recently reiterated its rating on Automatic Data Processing, Inc. to Overweight on Aug 5, 2026 with a price target of $310. Over the last 90 days, coverage has run 0 upgrades against 0 downgrades, a net mixed lean.

Latest action
Cantor FitzgeraldOverweight
90-day upgrades
0
90-day downgrades
0
Net rating momentum
0
DateFirmActionRatingPrice target
Aug 5, 2026Cantor FitzgeraldReiteratedOverweight$310
Aug 3, 2026Cantor FitzgeraldMaintainedOverweight$295 → $310
Jul 30, 2026CitigroupMaintainedNeutral$230 → $287
Jul 30, 2026Morgan StanleyMaintainedEqual-Weight$240 → $286
Jul 30, 2026StifelMaintainedHold$260 → $285
Jul 30, 2026Wells FargoMaintainedEqual-Weight$248 → $283
Jul 30, 2026GuggenheimMaintainedBuy$270 → $300
Jul 22, 2026UBSMaintainedNeutral$260 → $270
Jul 22, 2026Cantor FitzgeraldMaintainedOverweight$244 → $295
Jul 21, 2026GuggenheimReiteratedBuy$270
Jul 9, 2026Wells FargoMaintainedEqual-Weight$214 → $248
Jul 8, 2026StifelMaintainedHold$240 → $260

ADP Competitive Positioning

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) is tracked alongside these names in Software - Application on DailyIQ — ranked by market cap, with today's move alongside.