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ZYBERNO
Stock Report
Updated Aug 28, 2026

AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC. (ADP)

Technology • NASDAQ

$284.68
Automatic Data Processing Inc. is an American multinational provider of cloud-based human resources management, payroll processing, and professional employer organization services. Operating through Employer Services and PEO segments, the company offers payroll processing, benefits administration, HR management, compliance, retirement services, talent management, and insurance services. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey, ADP processes payroll for more than 40 million workers globally and has approximately 67,000 employees worldwide, generating fiscal 2025 revenues of $20.6 billion.

Professional Investment Analysis

ZYBERNO SCORE →
Is it a great business? Is it getting better?
75.0/100
GREAT BUSINESS
AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC. (ADP) scores 75/100 — exceptional capital returns and consistent cash generation across all measurement periods.
📊 How is the Zyberno Score calculated? +
VALUATION SIGNAL
MARGIN OF SAFETY
Is this stock cheap or expensive relative to what the business has historically generated for owners?
+19.8%
Undervalued
Is the market underestimating or overestimating what this business is capable of going forward?
-16.2%
Market Overestimates
↑ UNDER
+50%
Brina Gap
-50%
↓ OVER
← OVERVALUED
-100%
Margin of Safety
UNDERVALUED →
+100%
UNDERESTIMATED
GROWTH
DOUBLE
DISCOUNT
EXPENSIVE
HYPE
VALUE
TRAP
0,0
MoS +19.8%  ·  Gap -16.2%

Two independent signals. One tells you if the stock is cheap relative to what the business has historically generated for owners — the Margin of Safety. The other tells you if the market is underestimating what the business is capable of going forward — the Brina Gap.

They are calculated from completely different data sources and answer completely different questions. The Margin of Safety reads the past. The Brina Gap reads the present economics and compares them against what the current stock price is assuming about the future.

When both point in the same direction simultaneously — DOUBLE DISCOUNT — the probability of genuine mispricing is high. The market is wrong on two independent dimensions at once, which is rare and significant.

The most dangerous scenario is not an overvalued stock — those are easy to avoid. It is a VALUE TRAP: a stock that appears cheap historically but where the market is already pricing in stronger growth than the business fundamentals support. Without the Brina Gap signal this looks identical to a genuine opportunity. The matrix separates them instantly.

The Brina Gap is the more powerful of the two signals. Most investors and analytical tools focus on valuation alone — whether a stock is cheap relative to earnings. Far fewer systematically compare what the business economics structurally support against what the stock price is actually assuming. That gap between fundamental growth potential and market expectations is where the most reliable mispricings live, and where this matrix earns its value.

Use this as your first filter. A stock in DOUBLE DISCOUNT territory is worth investigating. Everything else requires either more caution or a specific reason to act.

VALUE TRAP SIGNAL
AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC. (ADP) appears cheap historically (Margin of Safety +19.8%) but the Brina Gap (-16.2%) shows the market already prices in stronger growth than fundamentals support. Verify before acting.
🎯 Expected Annual Return →
22.4%
Margin of Safety convergence — your return if the market re-prices to intrinsic value (5-yr annualised)
-25.2%
Brina Gap convergence — your return if the market corrects the growth mispricing the Gap measures
-0.8%
Yield + growth — what the business alone earns you, even if the market never re-rates
💰 How is Margin of Safety calculated? +
📈 How is Brina Gap calculated? +

Critical Financial Health Indicators

Return on Equity (Profitability):EXCELLENT (70.2%)
Debt-to-Equity (Solvency Risk):AVERAGE (0.90x)
Operating Margin (Operational Efficiency):EXCELLENT (26.1%)
Return on Capital (Capital Efficiency):EXCELLENT (64.9%)
📊 Valuation Trilogy
Three interconnected metrics for complete valuation analysis
💎
Intrinsic Value
DCF Fair Value
$354.98
🛡️
Margin of Safety
Valuation Gap
19.8%
🎯
Expected Return
Projected Annual
22.4%
Click any metric for full methodology and detailed analysis
Zyberno's Verdict

According to Zyberno, AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC. (ADP) shows a Value Trap signal — GREAT BUSINESS (75/100) with an apparent Margin of Safety of +19.8%, but a Brina Gap of -16.2% reveals the current price still assumes faster growth than the business can deliver.

According to Zyberno's DCF model, AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC. (ADP) trades at $284.68 against an estimated intrinsic value per share of $354.98 — a +19.8% Margin of Safety based on Owner Earnings of $5.24B TTM, projected at 17.1% growth for 10 years with a 2.5% terminal growth rate. The Brina Gap of -16.2% weakens the case: based on the company's ROIC (64.9%) and reinvestment rate (-8.2%), the business can fundamentally grow at -5.3% — but the current enterprise value implies the market expects 10.9%. This places ADP in the Value Trap quadrant of the Brina Matrix — a value-trap signal where the apparent discount is undermined by overpriced growth expectations. Zyberno's model translates this into a 5-year expected return of 22.4% annually.

Over the trailing twelve months, ADP generated $5.24B in Owner Earnings. Capital was deployed as follows: $620.10M returned via share buybacks, $2.63B paid as dividends, $196.60M invested in capital expenditures. Reinvestment rate: -8.2%. Owner Earnings have grown at 17.1% annually over the trailing five years using log-linear regression.

DIVISION I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A. Market Valuation

Market Price & Capitalization (2)

Current Price:284.68
Market Cap:$114.53B

Valuation Multiples (4)

P/E Ratio:
26.02x
📊 Click to view full ADP P/E analysis →
P/B Ratio:18.99x
P/S Ratio:5.22x
Peg Ratio:2.70x

Enterprise Metrics (3)

Enterprise Value:$115.36B
Ev Ebitda Ratio:18.26x
Pfcf Ratio:21.84x

Price Action & Momentum (3)

12-1 Momentum:
-16.9% (19th pctile)
📈 Click to view full ADP Momentum analysis →
Momentum Percentile:19 / 100
% of 52-Week High:92.5%
B. Profitability Assessment

Return Metrics (7)

ROE:
70.2%
📊 Click to view full ADP ROE analysis →
ROA:6.6%
Roic:
64.9%
📊 Click to view full ADP ROIC analysis →
Reinvestment Rate:-8.2%
Fundamental Growth Rate (g):-5.3%
Market-Implied Growth Rate:10.9%
Brina Gap:
-16.2%
☷ Click to view full ADP Brina Gap analysis →

Margin Analysis (3)

Operating Margin Ttm:26.1%
Net Margin Ttm:20.1%
Ebitda Margin:28.8%

TTM Performance (3)

Gross Margin Ttm:46.4%
Operating Margin Ttm:26.1%
Net Margin Ttm:20.1%

Yield Metrics (3)

Earnings Yield:$3.84
Owner Earnings Yield:$4.58
Dividend Yield:2.3%
C. Log-Linear Regression Growth Trends

Earnings Surprise (SUE) (3)

Earnings Surprise (SUE):
-0.37
📊 Click to view full ADP Earnings Surprise analysis →
EPS Surprise vs Expected:-1.1%
Latest Earnings Filed:2026-08-05

Revenue Growth (Linear) (1)

Revenue Growth Rate (Linear):7.1%

Earnings Growth (Linear) (1)

Net Income Growth Rate (Linear):8.8%

Cash Flow Growth (Linear) (2)

Free Cash Flow Growth Rate (Linear):17.1%
Operating Cash Flow Growth Rate (Linear):16.1%

Operating Growth (Linear) (1)

Operating Income Growth Rate (Linear):8.9%
D. Financial Stability

Liquidity Ratios (3)

Current Ratio:1.05x
Quick Ratio:1.05x
Cash Ratio:0.08x

Leverage Analysis (3)

Debt To Equity Ttm:0.90x
Debt-to-Equity Ratio:0.90x
Debt To Ebitda:0.80x

Coverage Ratios (2)

Interest Coverage Ratio:12.48x
Times Interest Earned:12.48

Capital Structure (4)

Working Capital:2,536,200,000.00
Cash And Cash Equivalents:4,230,100,000.00
Long Term Debt:$4.96B
Net Debt:$837.60M
DIVISION II: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANALYSIS
A. Income Statement Analysis

Revenue Components (2)

Revenue TTM: $21.95B
Linear Growth: 7.1%
📊 Click to view full ADP Revenue analysis & methodology →
Cost Of Revenue Ttm:$11.76B

Profitability Breakdown (2)

Gross profit TTM: $10.19B
Linear Growth: 8.6%
📊 Click to view full ADP Gross Profit analysis & methodology →
Operating income TTM: $5.73B
Linear Growth: 8.9%
📊 Click to view full ADP Operating Income analysis & methodology →

Bottom Line Performance (3)

Net income TTM: $4.41B
Linear Growth: 8.8%
📊 Click to view full ADP Net Income analysis & methodology →
Income Before Tax:$5.73B
Ebitda Ttm:6,316,200,000.00

Operating Expenses (5)

Operating Expenses:16,627,700,000.00
R And D Expense:1,028,800,000.00
Sga Expense:4,408,200,000.00
Income Tax Expense:$1.32B
Interest Expense:459,300,000.00

Expense Ratios (3)

R And D To Revenue Percentage:18.8%
Sga To Revenue Percentage:80.5%
Ebitda Margin:28.8%
B. Balance Sheet Analysis

Asset Composition (5)

Total Assets:$63.19B
Current Assets:$52.56B
Ppe Net:641,300,000.00
Goodwill:3,284,400,000.00
Intangible Assets:$1.65B

Liability Structure (4)

Total Liabilities:57,162,100,000.00
Current Liabilities:50,024,900,000.00
Long Term Debt:$4.96B
Short Term Debt:$103.60M

Equity & Capital (3)

Equity:$6.03B
Retained Earnings:$26.97B
Common Stock:1,000,000,000.00

Working Capital Items (3)

Accounts Receivable:3,521,100,000.00
Inventory:0.00
Accounts Payable:3,218,500,000.00

Special Items (2)

Contract Liabilities:525,600,000.00
Stock Based Compensation:59,700,000.00
C. Cash Flow Analysis

Operating Activities (2)

Operating cash flow TTM: $5.44B
Linear Growth: 16.1%
Free cash flow TTM: $5.24B
Linear Growth: 17.1%
📊 Click to view full ADP Free Cash Flow analysis & methodology →

Investment Activities (2)

Investing Cash Flow:-$958.00M
Capital Expenditures Ttm:196,600,000.00

Financing Activities (3)

Financing Cash Flow:-$2.42B
Dividends Paid Ttm:2,626,300,000.00
Stock Repurchase:620,100,000.00

Capital Transactions (3)

Common Stock Issuance:0.00
Long Term Debt Issuance:$985.70M
Long Term Debt Repayments:$1.10M

Non-Cash Items (1)

Depreciation Amortization Ttm:585,900,000.00
DIVISION III: OPERATIONAL METRICS
A. Per Share Analysis

Earnings Per Share (3)

EPS (Basic TTM):10.97
Eps diluted TTM: $10.94
Linear Growth: 9.9%
📊 Click to view full ADP EPS analysis & methodology →
Earnings Per Share Ttm:$10.97

Revenue & Cash Per Share (3)

Sales Per Share Ttm:54.55
Operating Cash Flow Per Share:$13.53
Fcf Per Share Ttm:13.04

Book Value & Capital (2)

Book Value Per Share:$14.99
Cash Per Share:10.51

Dividend Policy (1)

Dividend Payout Ratio:62.97x
B. Operational Efficiency

Asset Utilization (2)

Asset Turnover Ttm:0.33x
Working Capital Turnover Ttm:8.65x

Receivables Management (2)

Receivables Turnover Ttm:6.23x
Days Sales Outstanding Ttm:58.56

Inventory Management (2)

Inventory Turnover Ttm:-999.00x
Days Inventory Outstanding Ttm:-999.00

Payables & Cash Cycle (2)

Days Payable Outstanding:99.89
Cash Conversion Cycle:-1,040.33
C. Quality & Risk Metrics

Financial Quality Scores (2)

Financial Strength Score:40.00
Quality Score:85.00

Market Metrics (2)

Beta:0.00x
Volatility Category:unknown
DIVISION IV: INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
A. Value Investment Framework

Owner Earnings Analysis (3)

Owner earnings TTM: $5.24B
Linear Growth: 17.1%
📊 Click to view full ADP Owner Earnings analysis & methodology →
Owner Earnings Per Share:$13.04
Owner Earnings Yield:$4.58

Growth Assessment (1)

Owner Earnings Growth Rate:$17.08

Damodaran Growth Analysis (4)

Reinvestment Rate:-8.2%
Fundamental Growth Rate (g):-5.3%
Market-Implied Growth Rate:10.9%
Brina Gap:
-16.2%
☷ Click to view full ADP Brina Gap analysis →

Intrinsic Value Models (1)

Intrinsic Value:
$142.81B
📊 Click to view full ADP DCF valuation →

Margin of Safety (1)

Margin Of Safety:
19.8%
📊 Click to view full ADP valuation analysis →

Return Scenarios (2)

Theoretical 5-Year Return:
22.4%
📊 Click to view full ADP expected return analysis →
Forward Expected Return (Yield + Growth):
-0.8%
📊 Click to view full ADP expected return analysis →

Investment Assessment (1)

Buffett Assessment:Good margin of safety
B. Log-Linear Regression Growth Analysis

Growth Rates (Log-Linear Regression) (3)

Revenue Growth Rate (Linear):7.1%
Net Income Growth Rate (Linear):8.8%
Operating Income Growth Rate (Linear):8.9%

Cash Flow Growth Rates (2)

Free Cash Flow Growth Rate (Linear):17.1%
Operating Cash Flow Growth Rate (Linear):16.1%

Other Growth Rates (3)

Gross Profit Growth Rate (Linear):8.6%
Book Value Growth Rate (Linear):21.4%
Owner Earnings Growth Rate:$17.08
C. Company Profile & Context

Corporate Information (6)

Symbol:ADP
Company Name:AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC.
Sector:Technology
Industry:Data Services
Exchange:NASDAQ
Country:United States

Market Classification (3)

Market Cap Category:N/A
Price Category:premium
Volume Category:N/A

Share Structure (3)

Shares Outstanding:402.30M
Shares Outstanding Basic:402.30M
Shares Outstanding Diluted:403.30M

Data Processing Info (3)

Processing Version:v3.0
Last Updated:2026-08-28 09:26:08 UTC
Data Timestamp:2026-08-28T09:26:08.959577
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