ADP Raises Annual Revenue Forecast Due to Increased Payroll Service Demand

Reuters | January 28, 2026 at 01:46 PM UTC
Bullish 80% Confidence Unanimous Agreement
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Key Points

  • ADP raised its annual revenue growth forecast to 6%, up from the previous range of 5% to 6%
  • Second quarter revenue of $5.36 billion surpassed analyst estimates of $5.34 billion
  • U.S. pay-per-control metric increased 1% year-over-year, consistent with growth in the past three quarters, reflecting muted layoffs in the labor market

AI Summary

Summary

Key Developments:

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) raised its annual revenue forecast on January 28 and exceeded second-quarter profit expectations, driven by sustained demand for payroll and human resources services.

Financial Performance:

  • Q2 revenue reached $5.36 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $5.34 billion
  • Annual revenue growth forecast increased to approximately 6%, up from the previous range of 5-6%
  • Adjusted profit per share beat expectations (specific figures not provided in article)

Operational Metrics:

ADP's U.S. "pay-per-control" metric, which measures the number of employees on client payrolls, increased 1% year-over-year in Q2. This growth rate remained consistent with the previous three quarters, indicating steady labor market conditions.

Company Profile:

ADP ranks among the world's largest human resources management firms, offering comprehensive services including administrative support, payroll processing, and employee benefits assistance.

Market Context:

The results reflect a U.S. labor market characterized by muted layoff activity, though the article notes that hiring activity has slowed (sentence appears incomplete in original text). The steady demand for ADP's services suggests businesses continue investing in HR infrastructure despite mixed economic signals.

Implications:

ADP's performance serves as a positive indicator for the professional services sector and provides insight into broader employment trends. The company's ability to maintain growth and raise guidance demonstrates resilience in corporate spending on essential HR functions, even as hiring momentum moderates.

Model Analysis Breakdown

Model Sentiment Confidence
GPT-5-mini Bullish 80%
Claude 4.5 Haiku Bullish 75%
Gemini 2.5 Flash Bullish 85%
Consensus Bullish 80%