ADP vs NOW: Automatic Data Processing and ServiceNow compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- ServiceNow is the larger company, worth $169.9B, about 1.5 times Automatic Data Processing.
- ServiceNow grew revenue faster over the last year (+24.0% vs +6.8%).
- Automatic Data Processing keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (24.2% vs 11.4%).
- On earnings, Automatic Data Processing is the cheaper stock (26.0x vs 98.1x).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | ADP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $111.3B | $169.9B |
| Share price | $270.88 | $140.86 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $21.9B | $13.3B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | — | $4.6B |
| Revenue growth, last year | +6.8% | +24.0% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +7.4% | +22.5% |
| Operating margin | 24.2% | 11.4% |
| Net margin | 20.1% | 11.3% |
| Return on equity | 73.2% | 13.3% |
| P/E (trailing) | 26.0x | 98.1x |
| Price / free cash flow | 23.3x | 37.1x |
| EV / EBITDA | 16.5x | 48.0x |
| FCF growth the price implies | — | 13.1% |
| Dividend yield | 2.4% | — |
| Debt / equity | 9.48x | 1.53x |
| Fundamental grade | C | D |
| Superinvestors holding it | 5 | 8 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 10 | 10 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Automatic Data Processing
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $16.5B | — | 22.6% |
| 2023 | $18.0B | — | 23.6% |
| 2024 | $19.2B | — | 23.9% |
| 2025 | $20.6B | — | 24.1% |
| 2026 | $21.9B | — | 24.2% |
ServiceNow
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $5.9B | $1.8B | 4.4% |
| 2022 | $7.2B | $2.2B | 4.9% |
| 2023 | $9.0B | $2.7B | 8.5% |
| 2024 | $11.0B | $3.4B | 12.4% |
| 2025 | $13.3B | $4.6B | 13.7% |
Where the revenue comes from
Automatic Data Processing · by segments, 2026
Employer Services$14.8B68%
PEO Services$7.1B32%
ServiceNow · by products, 2025
License and Service$12.9B97%
Professional services and other$395M3%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open ADP in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Automatic Data Processing or ServiceNow?
ServiceNow (NOW), at $169.9B against $111.3B.
Is ADP or NOW cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Automatic Data Processing (26.0x) is cheaper than ServiceNow (98.1x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, ADP or NOW?
ServiceNow: revenue grew +24.0% over the last year, against +6.8%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.