Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: Can I get your recommendation on Automatic Data Processing? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Automatic Data Processing, $77.16, symbol ADP on New York (Shares outstanding: 481.8 million; Market cap: $37.2 billion; www.adp.com), is one of the world’s largest providers of business outsourcing services. ADP has about 620,000 customers in over 125 countries. It gets 68% of its revenue from its Employer Services unit, which manages payroll and taxes; the Professional Employer Organization unit (17% of revenue) provides human resources services to smaller firms; and the Services unit (15%) handles accounting, inventory management and leasing for car and truck dealerships. It also orders replacement parts. The company continues to report improving results. In the three months ended December 31, 2013, its revenue rose 8.6%, to $3.0 billion from $2.7 billion a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings gained 7.1%, to $377.0 million from $352.0 million. Earnings per share rose at a faster pace of 8.2%, to $0.79 from $0.73, on fewer shares outstanding. The company is doing a good job of hanging on to existing clients and attracting…