Compare Stocks › ADP vs MS
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
ADP
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
$214.21
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$190.17
Rewards
ADP
- ★Automatic Data Processing, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Automatic Data Processing, Inc. scores 93/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 19.9% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
MS
- ★Gross margin of 87.4% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Morgan Stanley scores 80/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.11 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
Risks
ADP
- ⚠FCF yield of 5.5% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
- ⚠5 insider sales with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
MS
- ⚠High leverage (4.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.29 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠Insiders have sold $17.7M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →ADP
MS
Valuation
$4.75B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
5.55%
FCF Yield
N/A
20.00
Trailing P/E
17.21
17.66
Forward P/E
15.02
Quality & Moat
47.92%
ROIC
3.75%
64.25%
ROE
14.42%
48.50%
Gross Margin
87.39%
1.90
PEG Ratio
0.54
Balance Sheet Safety
0.69
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.18
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
3.17%
Dividend Yield
2.10%
ADP: 4Ties: 1MS: 4
ADPMS
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →ADP
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
MS
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →ADP
$1.02
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.76B
Δ Market Cap
+$4.87B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MS
$6.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$20.84B
Δ Market Cap
+$138.59B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →ADP
11.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 11.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $214.21
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $242.08
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MS
31.0% Margin of Safety
Price is 31.0% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $190.17
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $275.48
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →ADP
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $214?
+8.5%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +6.5%
The market implies +8.5% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.
Standard FCF implies +6.5%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →ADP
93/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
MS
80/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Margin Stability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →ADP
-3.03
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MS
-2.09
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →ADP
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 87.0%Retail & Other 12.8%
No. of Institutional Holders2,966
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MS
Insiders 24.3%Institutions 63.0%Retail & Other 12.8%
No. of Institutional Holders3,167
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →ADP
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $5,630
PETERSON DOUGLAS L
Director
$5,630
@ $156.39 · 2025-10-17
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →ADP
5
Sells (3M)
25
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $45.65M
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$106,287
@ $195.74 · 2026-04-14
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$113,188
@ $208.45 · 2026-03-16
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$115,349
@ $212.43 · 2026-02-17
MICHAUD BRIAN L.
Officer
$234,180
@ $234.18 · 2026-02-06
FOSKETT DAVID
Officer
$63,042
@ $237.00 · 2026-02-05
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$142,423
@ $262.29 · 2026-01-13
KWON DAVID
Officer
$213,429
@ $264.80 · 2026-01-12
KWON DAVID
Officer
$234,000
@ $260.00 · 2026-01-06
BLACK MARIA
Chief Executive Officer
$183,880
@ $257.17 · 2026-01-05
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$1.21M
@ $295.26 · 2025-09-12
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$177,249
@ $296.90 · 2025-09-10
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$12.95M
@ $295.05 · 2025-09-10
BONARTI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.60M
@ $298.43 · 2025-09-09
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$3.58M
@ $297.12 · 2025-09-05
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$7.00M
@ $299.31 · 2025-09-04
DESILVA JOSEPH
Officer
$1.37M
@ $296.57 · 2025-09-03
FOSKETT DAVID
Officer
$407,191
@ $296.57 · 2025-09-03
MCGUIRE DONALD
Officer
$4.03M
@ $296.57 · 2025-09-03
BLACK MARIA
Chief Executive Officer
$7.04M
@ $298.32 · 2025-09-03
DESILVA JOSEPH
Officer
$599,359
@ $301.64 · 2025-09-02
FOSKETT DAVID
Officer
$314,079
@ $301.13 · 2025-09-02
BLACK MARIA
Chief Executive Officer
$2.32M
@ $299.93 · 2025-09-02
MICHAUD BRIAN L.
Officer
$63,485
@ $308.18 · 2025-07-01
DESILVA JOSEPH
Officer
$424,064
@ $307.07 · 2025-06-13
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$147,179
@ $311.82 · 2025-05-12
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$140,121
@ $293.14 · 2025-04-10
MICHAUD BRIAN L.
Officer
$458,070
@ $305.38 · 2025-04-01
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$144,833
@ $306.20 · 2025-03-10
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$145,181
@ $308.24 · 2025-02-10
LEHBERGER JONATHAN S
Officer
$704,869
@ $303.30 · 2025-02-03
BONARTI MICHAEL A
Officer
$9.14M
@ $303.30 · 2025-02-03
MAGLIULO VIRGINIA
Officer
$1.02M
@ $285.50 · 2025-01-13
FOSKETT DAVID
Officer
$305,322
@ $286.15 · 2025-01-13
KWON DAVID
Officer
$382,127
@ $290.37 · 2025-01-06
MAGLIULO VIRGINIA
Officer
$597,095
@ $289.15 · 2025-01-06
FOSKETT DAVID
Officer
$290,443
@ $289.29 · 2025-01-06
AYALA JOHN C.
Officer
$3.12M
@ $290.73 · 2025-01-03
BLACK MARIA
Chief Executive Officer
$210,233
@ $291.59 · 2025-01-03
DESILVA JOSEPH
Officer
$1.91M
@ $293.83 · 2025-01-02
KWON DAVID
Officer
$571,793
@ $293.83 · 2025-01-02
LEHBERGER JONATHAN S
Officer
$728,405
@ $293.83 · 2025-01-02
MCGUIRE DONALD
Officer
$2.55M
@ $293.83 · 2025-01-02
MICHAUD BRIAN L.
Officer
$106,366
@ $293.83 · 2025-01-02
KUTAM SREENIVASA
Officer
$11.69M
@ $300.00 · 2024-11-06
DESILVA JOSEPH
Officer
$387,240
@ $280.00 · 2024-09-17
KWON DAVID
Officer
$28,000
@ $280.00 · 2024-09-17
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$12.17M
@ $277.27 · 2024-09-13
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$16.27M
@ $276.33 · 2024-09-11
BONARTI MICHAEL A
Officer
$1.04M
@ $269.70 · 2024-09-09
AYALA JOHN C.
Officer
$7.96M
@ $269.70 · 2024-09-09
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$2.48M
@ $269.45 · 2024-09-06
RODRIGUEZ CARLOS ANTONIO
Director
$4.87M
@ $272.82 · 2024-09-05
DESILVA JOSEPH
Officer
$1.16M
@ $276.00 · 2024-09-04
D'AMBROSIO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$132,204
@ $276.00 · 2024-09-04
MCGUIRE DONALD
Officer
$768,660
@ $276.00 · 2024-09-04
BLACK MARIA
Chief Executive Officer
$2.04M
@ $276.00 · 2024-09-04
DESILVA JOSEPH
Officer
$522,694
@ $274.38 · 2024-09-03
MCGUIRE DONALD
Officer
$872,254
@ $274.38 · 2024-09-03
BLACK MARIA
Chief Executive Officer
$5.25M
@ $274.38 · 2024-09-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MS
4
Sells (3M)
17
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $74.11M
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$2.12M
@ $190.75 · 2026-04-20
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$2.78M
@ $189.24 · 2026-04-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$3.04M
@ $188.22 · 2026-04-16
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$9.74M
@ $188.59 · 2026-04-16
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.44M
@ $183.45 · 2026-01-20
YESHAYA SHARON
Chief Financial Officer
$2.94M
@ $185.77 · 2026-01-20
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.55M
@ $182.08 · 2026-01-20
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$3.69M
@ $184.55 · 2026-01-20
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$5.57M
@ $183.62 · 2026-01-20
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 2025-05-02
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.12M
@ $111.65 · 2025-04-15
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.15M
@ $138.06 · 2025-01-22
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.78M
@ $136.20 · 2025-01-21
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$5.00M
@ $136.61 · 2025-01-21
AKRAM RAJA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.38M
@ $136.01 · 2025-01-21
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →ADP
😐Neutral(44/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MS
😏Greed(71/100)
"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →ADP
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (44)
MS
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (71)