Core Insights - Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) reported fiscal first-quarter results with revenues of $5.18 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $5.14 billion, marking a 7% year-over-year increase [1][2] - The company’s adjusted EPS was $2.49, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.44 [2] - ADP's Employer Services and PEO segments both saw a 7% revenue increase, with Employer Services at $3.49 billion and PEO Services at $1.69 billion [2] Financial Performance - Adjusted EBIT rose 7% to $1.3 billion, maintaining an adjusted EBIT margin of 25.5% [3] - Net earnings increased by 6% year-over-year to $1.01 billion [3] - As of September 30, ADP held $7.94 billion in cash and equivalents [3] Strategic Developments - ADP acquired Pequity, a compensation management software company, although financial terms were not disclosed [3] - The integration of Pequity's platform aims to enhance ADP's compensation management capabilities through AI-driven insights and budgeting tools [4] Management Commentary - CEO Maria Black highlighted record client satisfaction and high retention rates, alongside the expansion of AI in products and operations [5] - CFO Peter Hadley noted that first-quarter revenue and margins exceeded expectations due to strong new business bookings and client retention [5] Future Outlook - ADP maintained its revenue growth outlook for FY26 at 5%-6%, equating to $21.6 billion-$21.8 billion, aligning with the analyst consensus estimate of $21.8 billion [5] - The adjusted diluted EPS growth forecast is set at 8%-10%, or $10.81-$11.01, compared to the analyst consensus estimate of $10.92 [5] Stock Performance - ADP's stock price decreased by 5.19% to $265.12 following the earnings report [6]

Company Overview - Automatic Data Processing (ADP) provides payroll and HR services to over 1.1 million clients globally, including corporations, government entities, and small businesses [4] - The company has demonstrated strong client retention with a rate of 92.1%, close to its all-time high of 92.2% [1] Financial Performance - In the last quarter, ADP reported a 9.8% increase in earnings and a 7.5% rise in revenues [1] - Over the past decade, ADP has returned $30 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, while nearly tripling its dividend [2] - Revenue has nearly doubled from $10.9 billion to $20.6 billion over the last 10 fiscal years [3] Investment Appeal - ADP is recognized as a "Dividend King" with 50 consecutive years of dividend increases, indicating a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders [2] - The company’s business model is characterized as stable and essential, making it less susceptible to market volatility [10] - The current price-to-earnings ratio of ADP is competitive compared to the S&P 500 average, suggesting it may be an attractive investment opportunity [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 7% revenue growth and a 7% adjusted EPS growth for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [5][16] - Employer Services segment revenue increased by 7% on a reported basis and 5% on an organic constant currency basis [16] - Client funds interest revenue increased more than anticipated, leading to an increase in the full-year forecast for client funds interest revenue by $10 million to a range of $1.30 billion to $1.32 billion [17][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Employer Services new business bookings showed solid growth, resulting in record sales volume for a first quarter [5] - PEO revenue growth of 7% exceeded expectations, driven by growth in zero margin pass-throughs and higher wages [7][18] - Employer Services pays per control growth rounded down to 0% for the first quarter, reflecting client caution around adding headcount [6][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Overall client satisfaction score reached a new all-time high for a first quarter, indicating improvements across business units [6] - The company experienced specific strength in ADP Lyric HCM, with new business bookings exceeding expectations [9][10] - International market performance was described as "lumpy," with a solid pipeline but some softness in the first quarter [68] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leading with best-in-class HCM technology, including the scaling of Embedded Payroll Solutions for small businesses [8][11] - Continued investment in AI initiatives aims to enhance operational efficiency and client engagement [12][14] - The acquisition of Pequity is expected to broaden the company's capabilities in compensation management, aligning with its strategic priorities [10][62] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the relatively stable HCM demand backdrop and maintained full-year growth guidance of 4%-7% for Employer Services [16][24] - The company anticipates a slight decline in Employer Services retention but remains optimistic about achieving its growth targets [16][18] - Management highlighted the importance of ongoing investments in technology and client services to drive future growth [14][19] Other Important Information - The company announced the acquisition of Pequity, which is expected to enhance its compensation management offerings [10][62] - The company was recognized as a leader in multi-country payroll solutions, underscoring its global capabilities [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on deal cycles and time to close - Management indicated that the demand backdrop remains stable, with no significant changes observed in deal cycles during Q1 [24] Question: Confidence in Employer Services guidance amid slight downticks - Management expressed confidence in the guidance, noting that movements in pays per control and retention are relatively small and offsetting [26][28] Question: Surprising areas of new bookings growth - Management highlighted strong growth in small business services, particularly in retirement services and HR outsourcing [32] Question: Performance of PEO enrollment period - Management reported the highest participation rates in four years, indicating strong demand for health benefits among targeted industries [57] Question: Insights on the recent acquisition - Management emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition for enhancing compensation management capabilities, although its financial impact is currently minimal [62][64] Question: Differences between U.S. and international markets - Management described international performance as "lumpy," with solid execution expected to drive growth in the future [68] Question: Impact of recent layoffs in the market - Management stated that recent layoffs are not expected to significantly impact guidance, as hiring levels remain static [99]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 7% revenue growth and a 7% adjusted EPS growth for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [5][16] - Employer Services segment revenue increased by 7% on a reported basis and 5% on an organic constant currency basis [16] - Client funds interest revenue increased more than anticipated, leading to an increase in the full-year forecast by $10 million to a range of $1.30 to $1.32 billion [17][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Employer Services new business bookings showed solid growth, resulting in record sales volume for a first quarter [5] - PEO revenue growth of 7% exceeded expectations, driven by growth in zero margin pass-throughs and higher wages [7][18] - Employer Services pays per control growth rounded down to 0% for the first quarter, reflecting client caution around adding headcount [6][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Overall client satisfaction score reached a new all-time high for a first quarter, indicating improvements across business units [6] - The company experienced specific strength in ADP® Lyric HCM, with new business bookings exceeding expectations [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leading with best-in-class HCM technology, including scaling embedded payroll solutions for small businesses [7][8] - The acquisition of Pequity aims to enhance capabilities in compensation management, supporting complex planning needs for clients [11][62] - The company continues to advance AI initiatives to improve operational efficiency and client engagement [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management described the HCM demand backdrop as relatively stable, with no significant changes observed in deal cycles [24][25] - The company maintains its full-year growth guidance for Employer Services at 4% to 7% and PEO revenue growth at 5% to 7% [16][18] - Management expressed confidence in achieving strategic goals and delivering strong financial results despite slight declines in retention rates [15][19] Other Important Information - The company announced the acquisition of Pequity, which is expected to enhance its compensation management offerings [11][62] - The company was recognized as a leader in multi-country payroll solutions by industry analysts [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on deal cycles and time to close - Management indicated that the HCM demand backdrop remains stable, with no meaningful changes in deal cycles observed in Q1 [24][25] Question: Confidence in Employer Services guidance amid slight downticks - Management expressed confidence in the guidance, noting that movements are relatively small and offsetting each other [26][28] Question: Surprising areas of new bookings growth - Management highlighted growth in small business services, particularly in retirement services and HR outsourcing [32] Question: Performance of PEO during enrollment period - Management reported the highest participation rates in four years, indicating strong demand for health benefits among targeted industries [57][58] Question: Insights on international market performance - Management described the international market as "lumpy," with solid execution expected to drive growth in the future [68] Question: Impact of processing days on revenue growth - Management noted a modest impact of around $10 million due to one less processing day compared to the previous year [85][89]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 7% revenue growth and a 7% adjusted EPS growth for Q1 2026 [4][14] - Employer Services segment revenue increased by 7% on a reported basis and 5% on an organic constant currency basis [14][15] - Client funds interest revenue increased more than anticipated, leading to an increase in the full-year forecast by $10 million to a range of $1.30 to $1.32 billion [16][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Employer Services new business bookings showed solid growth, resulting in record sales volume for a first quarter [4][5] - PEO revenue growth of 7% exceeded expectations, driven by growth in zero margin pass-throughs and higher wages [5][17] - Employer Services pays per control growth rounded down to 0% for the first quarter, reflecting client caution in adding headcount [5][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Overall client satisfaction score reached a new all-time high for a first quarter, indicating improvements across business units [5] - The company experienced specific strength in ADP® Lyric HCM, with new business bookings exceeding expectations [8][9] - International markets showed a bit of softness in Q1, attributed to the lumpy nature of large, complex deals [87] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leading with best-in-class HCM technology, including the deployment of ADP Workforce Now® NextGen [7][10] - The acquisition of Pequody aims to enhance capabilities in compensation management, supporting complex planning needs [10][78] - AI initiatives are being advanced to improve client engagement and operational efficiency, with a focus on generative AI [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management described the HCM demand backdrop as relatively stable, with no significant changes observed in deal cycles [23][24] - The company maintains its full-year growth guidance for Employer Services at 4% to 7% and PEO revenue growth at 5% to 7% [15][17] - Management expressed confidence in achieving the fiscal 2026 consolidated revenue outlook of 5% to 6% growth [18] Other Important Information - The company announced the acquisition of Pequody, which will broaden its capabilities in compensation management [10][78] - The company is committed to expanding its global capabilities, having recently gone live with its first GlobalView client in Costa Rica [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on deal cycles and time to close - Management indicated that the HCM demand backdrop remains stable, with no meaningful changes in deal cycles observed in Q1 [23][24] Question: Confidence in Employer Services guidance amid slight downticks - Management expressed confidence in the guidance, noting that movements are relatively small and offsetting each other [25][27] Question: Surprising areas of new bookings growth - Management highlighted growth in small business services, particularly in retirement services and insurance, as well as continued interest in ADP® Lyric HCM [34] Question: Performance of the PEO and participation rates - Management reported the highest participation rates in four years during the recent enrollment period, indicating strong demand for health benefits [71] Question: Impact of recent layoffs in the market - Management stated that the hiring situation is static, with reduced layoff levels, and these factors are contemplated in their guidance [120]

Core Insights - The ADP employment data indicates a strong job growth in the U.S., with an average weekly increase of 14,250 jobs over the last four weeks, totaling approximately 57,000 jobs [1] - This job growth significantly exceeds the Dallas Fed's estimated breakeven point of 30,000 jobs per month, suggesting a robust labor market [1] - The strong ADP data may lead Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to adopt a more cautious stance regarding potential interest rate cuts in December, which could be perceived as a hawkish surprise affecting the market [1] - Federal Reserve's most dovish member, Waller, has previously supported rate cuts based on ADP data but emphasizes the need for caution [1]

Core Insights - Automatic Data Processing (ADP) reported quarterly earnings of $2.49 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.44 per share, and up from $2.33 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +2.05% [1][2] - The company achieved revenues of $5.18 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.95% and increasing from $4.83 billion year-over-year [2] - ADP has consistently surpassed consensus EPS and revenue estimates over the last four quarters [2] Earnings Outlook - The sustainability of ADP's stock price movement will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and future earnings expectations [3][4] - Current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.61 on revenues of $5.33 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $10.92 on revenues of $21.73 billion [7] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, to which ADP belongs, is currently ranked in the top 30% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact ADP's stock performance [5][6]

To ensure this doesn’t happen in the future, please enable Javascript and cookies in your browser.If you have an ad-blocker enabled you may be blocked from proceeding. Please disable your ad-blocker and refresh. ...

Financial Performance - Total revenues increased by 7% to $5.175 billion in Q1 Fiscal Year 2026[11], compared to $4.833 billion in Q1 Fiscal Year 2025[11] - Adjusted diluted EPS grew by 7% in Q1 Fiscal Year 2026[11] - Employer Services (ES) revenues increased by 7% to $3.491 billion in Q1 Fiscal Year 2026[15], compared to $3.261 billion in Q1 Fiscal Year 2025[15] - Professional Employer Organization (PEO) revenues increased by 7% to $1.688 billion in Q1 Fiscal Year 2026[24], compared to $1.575 billion in Q1 Fiscal Year 2025[24] Segment Highlights and Outlook - ES margin declined by 50 bps, primarily due to integration and acquisition-related expenses associated with WorkForce Software[16, 18] - The outlook for ES revenues is projected to grow by 5% to 6%[20] - The outlook for PEO revenues is projected to grow by 5% to 7%[28] - Average worksite employees (WSEs) in PEO increased by 2% to 754,000[29] Client Funds and Interest - Average client funds balances were $37.6 billion in Fiscal Year 2025[31] - Client Funds Interest Revenue is expected to be between $1.3 billion and $1.32 billion[31] - Net impact from Client Funds Extended Strategy is projected to be between $1.26 billion and $1.28 billion[31]

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Transaction will expand global compensation management offering to address the needs of the dynamic talent market ROSELAND, N.J., Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ADP® (Nasdaq: ADP), a global leader in HR and payroll solutions, today announced that it has acquired Pequity, an innovative compensation management software provider founded in 2019. This acquisition will broaden the tools ADP offers to support the complex compensation planning needs of its mid-size, enterpri ...