Stocks analysis

ADP vs AFL Stock Comparison

Scores Breakdown

Metric ADP AFL
📈 Growth 22/30 6/30
💰 Profitability 18/20 10/20
🏦 Financial Health 9/20 18/20
💵 Valuation 14/20 14/20
⚠️ Risk (lower is better) 6/10 6/10
Overall Score 67/100 52/100

Side-by-Side Summaries

ADP Analysis AFL Analysis

📈 Growth & Financial Trajectory

Across eight quarters, ADP's revenue hovered around $5.25B–$5.56B, finishing at about $5.359B in the latest quarter, a modest gain from the start. Net income rose from roughly $956.3M to $1.062B, an ~11% increase. There was a mid-period dip in 2025 Q4, but the longer trajectory remains stable-to-up with solid profitability.

💰 Margins & Cash Flow

  • Gross Margin fluctuated roughly 45%–52%, averaging around the mid-40s to high-40s.
  • Operating Margin consistently around 23% in recent quarters.
  • Net Margin near 19–20%.
  • Operating cash flow remains solid around $1.0–$1.4B per quarter; net cash flow is affected by financing activity in some periods, with a large financing inflow in the latest quarter.

🛡️ Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Total assets generally in the mid-to-high $50B range; liabilities near $50–$60B and equity around $4–$6B, yielding a modest liquidity buffer as current assets roughly equal current liabilities. Leverage is elevated but cash generation is steady.

⚠️ Key Drivers & Risks

  • Drivers: Recurring payroll/data processing services; broad client base and scale advantages.
  • Risks: Regulatory/macro shifts and reliance on financing activity in some periods, creating sensitivity to funding costs and leverage.

📈 Growth & Financial Trajectory

The eight quarterly results show a mixed growth path. Start: revenues of $5.138B in 2024 Q2 and end: $4.346B in 2026 Q1, a decline of about 15%. Net income moved from $1.755B in 2024 Q2 to $1.019B in 2026 Q1, down roughly 42%. Notable quarter-to-quarter swings include a robust Q4 2024 and steady early-2025 quarters, but the overall trend is inconsistent, with revenue occasionally bouncing on seasonal/one-offs while earnings remain volatile. Operating income remained strong in several periods (around $3.0–$3.4B on mid-single to low-double-digit revenue), suggesting earnings power when volume picks up, but not a clear, sustained growth trajectory.

💰 Margins & Cash Flow

Margins vary meaningfully by quarter; reported operating income margins range widely, reflecting unusual items and mix. Net cash from operating activities was solid in several quarters (e.g., $589M in 2025 Q1 and $968M in 2026 Q1) but softer in others (e.g., $315M in 2025 Q4). Investing and financing activities can create negative free cash flow in some periods, yielding an uneven cash flow signal despite positive operating cash in many quarters.

🛡️ Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Assets typically sit around $116–$122B, with Liabilities in the $86–$93B range and Equity near $26–$30B, indicating reasonable leverage and strong liquidity. The structure supports resilience across varying earnings seasons, though reported items occasionally show anomalies in current liabilities.

⚠️ Key Drivers & Risks

  • Drivers: Interest-rate environment; demand for life/health insurance and annuities.
  • Risks: Earnings volatility from taxes and one-offs; potential margin compression and inconsistent free cash flow.