Automatic Data Processing Inc.
(
ADP
) reported second quarter 2012 earnings of 68 cents per share, in
line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings per share
increased 9.7% year over year on the back of strong revenue
growth.
Revenue
Revenues increased 7.4% year over year to $2.58 billion and was
in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Organic growth was 6.0%
in the quarter. The better-than-expected result was driven by
strong new business sales, improving client retention and
incremental revenue from recent acquisitions.
Employer Services revenue increased 7.0% year over year (5.0%
organically) to $1.83 billion. The number of employees on clients'
payrolls in the United States grew 2.8% in the quarter on a
same-store-sales basis.
PEO Services revenue spiked 15.5% year over year to $413.8
million in the second quarter. Dealer Services revenue climbed 6.9%
year over year to $412.6 million.
Interest on funds held for clients declined 9% year over year to
$117.9 million, due to a decline of 50 bps in the average interest
yield to 3.0%, partially offset by a 6.0% increase in average
client funds balances to $15.6 billion.
Operating Performance
Total expenses in the reported quarter increased 7.5% year over
year to $2.10 billion, due to higher operating expenses (up 11.4%
year over year) and selling, general & administrative expense
(up 1.3% year over year).
The company reported pre-tax earnings of $513.7 million, up 6.0%
on year-over-year basis. However, pre-tax margin declined 20 basis
points (bps) year over year to 19.9% in the reported quarter.
Employer Services' pre-tax margin declined 120 bps on a
year-over-year basis. PEO Services pre-tax margin improved 20 bps,
while Dealer Services pre-tax margin enhanced 220 bps year over
year in the reported quarter.
Net income increased 7.6% year over year to $333.8 million. Net
margin, however, remained flat at 12.9% in the quarter.
Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2011, cash and cash equivalents (including
short-term marketable securities) were $1.36 billion, compared with
$1.27 billion as of September 30, 2011. Long-term debt decreased to
$25.5 million at the end of second quarter from $26.0 million in
the prior quarter. ADP purchased 6.3 million shares for $305.0
million during the reported quarter.
Guidance
For fiscal 2012, ADP expects total revenue to increase in the
range of 7.0%-9.0%. EPS is expected to increase 8%-9% over the
year-ago earnings per share of $2.52. The Zacks Consensus Estimate
for fiscal 2012 is pegged at $2.74 per share.
Employer Services is expected to grow approximately 7% and
pre-tax margins to expand 30 bps. The company expects pays per
control to increase approximately 2.5% (prior outlook 2.0%) for
fiscal 2012.
PEO Services revenue is forecasted to improve 17.0%. Pre-tax
margin is expected to grow slightly on a year-over-year basis. For
fiscal 2012, ADP expects Dealer Services revenue to increase in the
9.0%-10.0% range (prior forecast 8%-9%) with a pre-tax margin
expansion of at least 50 bps.
The company expects interest on funds held for clients to
decline $45.0 million-$55.0 million or 8%-10% from $540.1 million
in fiscal 2011. However, the company expects 6%-7% increase in the
average client fund balances.
Our Recommendation
We believe that ADP will continue to outperform the broader
market based on strong new business sales, diversified product
portfolio, improving customer retention, accretive acquisitions,
strong balance sheet and shareholder-friendly programs (aggressive
share buybacks, dividend) over the long term.
However, increasing competition from
Paychex Inc. (
PAYX
)
and
Insperity Inc. (
NSP
)
and a gloomy macro outlook in North America and Europe are major
headwinds in the near term. Additionally, higher unemployment rates
and low interest rates remain concerns for the company's payroll
processing business.
We have a Neutral recommendation on ADP over the long term.
Currently, ADP has a Zacks #4 Rank, which implies a Sell rating on
a short-term basis.
AUTOMATIC DATA (
ADP
): Free Stock Analysis Report
INSPERITY INC (
NSP
): Free Stock Analysis Report
PAYCHEX INC (
PAYX
): Free Stock Analysis Report
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