Automatic Data Processing, Inc. provides cloud-based human capital management solutions worldwide. It operates in two segments, Employer Services and Professional Employer Organization (PEO). The Employer Services segment offers strategic, cloud-based platforms, and human resources (HR) outsourcing solutions. Its offerings include payroll, benefits administration, talent management, HR management, workforce management, insurance, retirement, and compliance services. The PEO Services segment provides HR outsourcing solutions to small and mid-sized businesses through a co-employment model. This segment offers benefits package, protection and compliance, talent engagement, comprehensive outsourcing, and recruitment process outsourcing services. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Automatic Data Processing from $212.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Monday, May 2nd. Wolfe Research cut their price objective on shares of Automatic Data Processing from $235.00 to $210.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 20th. Cowen upped their target price on Automatic Data Processing from $225.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 28th. Mizuho upped their price objective on Automatic Data Processing from $250.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, August 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Automatic Data Processing from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Automatic Data Processing has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $233.73.
Automatic Data Processing Stock Up 2.6 %
NASDAQ:ADP traded up $6.55 during trading on Friday, hitting $256.78. 1,258,391 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,529,644. Automatic Data Processing has a 12 month low of $192.26 and a 12 month high of $257.16. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $221.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $217.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The company has a market capitalization of $106.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.63, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.84.
Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ:ADP - Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 27th. The business services provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $4.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.05 billion. Automatic Data Processing had a return on equity of 66.25% and a net margin of 17.87%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.20 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Automatic Data Processing will post 8.04 EPS for the current year.
Automatic Data Processing Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, October 1st. Investors of record on Friday, September 9th will be given a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 8th. Automatic Data Processing's dividend payout ratio is currently 59.34%.
Insider Activity at Automatic Data Processing
In other news, VP Donald Weinstein sold 10,150 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $2,537,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 41,035 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,258,750. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Automatic Data Processing news, VP Donald Weinstein sold 10,150 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $2,537,500.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 41,035 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $10,258,750. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Augusto J. Blanchard sold 567 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.64, for a total transaction of $119,432.88. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 4,238 shares in the company, valued at approximately $892,692.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.34% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.