Automatic Data Processing (ADP) vs SAP (SAP)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has outperformed SAP (SAP) over the past year, losing 9.9% versus a loss of 23.3%. Over five years, SAP leads with a +43.9% price change compared with +24.0% for ADP. SAP is the larger company by market cap ($242.53 billion vs $104.61 billion), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Automatic Data Processing trades at a lower forward P/E (19.7x vs 21.7x for SAP). Automatic Data Processing offers the higher dividend yield (2.52% vs 1.19%). Automatic Data Processing converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 20.1% versus 17.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ADP | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $264.00 | $210.13 |
| Market cap | $104.61B | $242.53B |
| 1-day change | +0.63% | -0.16% |
| YTD return | +2.63% | -13.49% |
| 1-year return | -9.88% | -23.26% |
| 5-year return | +23.96% | +43.90% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 24.13 | 26.97 |
| Forward P/E | 19.70 | 21.69 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.94 | $7.79 |
| Dividend yield | 2.52% | 1.19% |
| Annual dividend | $6.64 | $2.50 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $21.95B | $28.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.74% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $4.41B | $4.83B |
| Gross margin | 46.42% | 69.95% |
| Operating margin | — | 20.79% |
| Net margin | 20.11% | 17.12% |
| 52-week high | $292.80 | $281.37 |
| 52-week low | $188.16 | $144.97 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.84% | -25.32% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +8.48% | +20.16% |
| Average volume | 2.25M | 2.59M |
| Shares outstanding | 396.25M | 1.15B |
| Employees | 67,000 | 112,019 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | EDP Services | Computer Software: Prepackaged Software |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- SAP is about 2.3 times larger than Automatic Data Processing by market value ($242.53B vs $104.61B).
- ADP has outperformed SAP by 13.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Automatic Data Processing offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.52% vs 1.19%).
About Automatic Data Processing
ADP stock →Automatic Data Processing, Inc. provides cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions worldwide.
Technology · EDP Services · 67,000 employees
About SAP
SAP stock →SAP SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides enterprise application and business solutions worldwide. It offers SAP Business AI; SAP S/4HANA that provides software capabilities for finance, risk and project management, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain and asset management, and research and development; SAP SuccessFactors solutions for human resources, including HR, time, payroll, talent and employee experience management, and analytics and planning; and spend management solutions that covers direct and indirect spend, travel and expense, and external workforce management.
Technology · Computer Software: Prepackaged Software · 112,019 employees
ADP vs SAP FAQ
Which is bigger, Automatic Data Processing or SAP?
SAP (SAP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $242.53B compared with $104.61B for Automatic Data Processing (ADP).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ADP or SAP?
ADP returned -9.88% over the past 12 months, compared with -23.26% for SAP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ADP or SAP?
ADP has the lower trailing P/E at 24.1, versus 27.0 for SAP. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Automatic Data Processing or SAP?
Automatic Data Processing has the higher yield at 2.52%, compared with 1.19% for SAP.
Are Automatic Data Processing and SAP in the same industry?
Both are in the Technology sector, but in different industries: EDP Services for Automatic Data Processing and Computer Software: Prepackaged Software for SAP.