Stocks analysis

ADP vs AEP Stock Comparison

Scores Breakdown

Metric ADP AEP
📈 Growth 26/30 12/30
💰 Profitability 18/20 14/20
🏦 Financial Health 12/20 14/20
💵 Valuation 14/20 15/20
⚠️ Risk (lower is better) 6/10 5/10
Overall Score 74/100 60/100

Side-by-Side Summaries

ADP Analysis AEP Analysis

📈 Growth & Financial Trajectory

Over the 8 quarters, revenues rose from about $4.77B (2024 Q4) to about $5.36B (2026 Q4). Net income progressed from roughly $0.83B to $1.06B, a 28% increase, signaling earnings leverage as the top line expanded. The quarterly path fluctuated—peaking near $5.55B in 2025 Q3/Q4 before settling in the $5.2–$5.36B range—yet the trend remains clearly positive. The Gross Margin held in the high-40s to mid-50s, while Operating Margin stayed in the low- to mid-20s, underpinning a solid profitability trajectory.

💰 Margins & Cash Flow

  • Gross Margin: roughly 46–56% across periods, with a peak around 56%.
  • Operating Margin: generally 20–24%, supporting meaningful operating leverage.
  • Net cash flow from operating activities was consistently positive in most quarters, while investing cash flow was mostly modestly negative and financing activity contributed steady liquidity.

🛡️ Balance Sheet & Liquidity

  • Current assets ($52B) vs current liabilities ($50B) yields a tight but adequate liquidity cushion.
  • Liabilities ($57B) exceed equity ($6B), indicating leverage, but assets and ongoing operating cash flows provide resilience. The balance sheet remains stable with a solid asset base.

⚠️ Key Drivers & Risks

  • Drivers: Recurring payroll/data-processing demand; large installed base and stable cash flows.
  • Risks: Valuation sensitivity to growth momentum; exposure to regulatory shifts or macro cycles.

📈 Growth & Financial Trajectory

Across the 8 quarters, Revenues rose from about $4.70B (2024 Q3) to $5.45B (2026 Q2), a ~16% gain, but with volatility (peak around $6.01B in 2025 Q3 and dips in several quarters). Net income ranged from about $0.92B (2024 Q3) to a high of about $1.29B (2025 Q2), ending near $0.75B in 2026 Q2. The trajectory shows modest top-line growth with mixed earnings momentum; the end result is below the initial earnings level despite higher revenue.

💰 Margins & Cash Flow

Operating margins have generally trended in the mid-20s percent across several quarters (roughly mid-20s in 2024 Q4 and 2025 Q3; about 23% in 2026 Q2). Cash flow from operations remained positive in most periods (roughly $1.2B–$1.9B), while investing activities were sizable and often negative, pressuring overall free cash flow. Net cash flow patterns reflect ongoing capital spending typical of a regulated utility.

🛡️ Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Total assets run around $110B–$122B with equity in the $27B–$33B range and long-term debt near $42B–$50B. Liabilities exceed current assets in several quarters, yielding weaker near-term liquidity (current ratio often below 1). Still, a large asset base and regulated cash flows provide resilience, with debt levels offset by steady rate recovery.

⚠️ Key Drivers & Risks

  • Drivers: Regulated utility demand and rate recovery leverage, ongoing energy transition investments.
  • Risks: Interest-rate/regulatory sensitivity and capital-intensity; earnings can remain volatile around quarterly shifts in demand and tax items.