ADP vs. ^GSPC
ADP (Automatic Data Processing, Inc.) is a stock, while ^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index. Over the past 10 years, ADP returned 11.90%/yr vs 13.88%/yr for ^GSPC. A 0.58 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
ADP vs. ^GSPC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ADP achieves a -15.25% return, which is significantly lower than ^GSPC's 9.16% return. Over the past 10 years, ADP has underperformed ^GSPC with an annualized return of 11.90%, while ^GSPC has yielded a comparatively higher 13.88% annualized return.
ADP
- 1D
- -1.74%
- 1M
- -4.03%
- YTD
- -15.25%
- 6M
- -16.06%
- 1Y
- -27.98%
- 3Y*
- 2.50%
- 5Y*
- 4.17%
- 10Y*
- 11.90%
^GSPC
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
ADP vs. ^GSPC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADP Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | -15.25% | -10.18% | 28.41% | -0.25% | -1.29% | 42.60% | 5.86% | 32.71% | 14.25% | 16.54% |
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 9.16% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between ADP and ^GSPC is 0.14, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 6, 1983 | 0.58 |
Over the past year, the correlation between ADP and ^GSPC has dropped to 0.14 - well below their long-term average of 0.58, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
ADP vs. ^GSPC — Risk / Return Rank
ADP
^GSPC
ADP vs. ^GSPC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ADP | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -4.41 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.81 | 1.37 | -0.56 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.74 | 2.78 | -3.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.35 | 12.44 | -13.79 |
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Drawdowns
ADP vs. ^GSPC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ADP drawdown since its inception was -59.51%, roughly equal to the maximum ^GSPC drawdown of -56.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ADP and ^GSPC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ADP | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.51% | -56.78% | -2.73% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -38.16% | -9.10% | -29.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -40.78% | -18.90% | -21.88% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -40.78% | -25.43% | -15.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.78% | -33.92% | -6.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -32.17% | -1.80% | -30.37% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.60% | -10.71% | -1.89% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 20.77% | 2.03% | +18.74% |
Volatility
ADP vs. ^GSPC - Volatility Comparison
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) has a higher volatility of 8.36% compared to S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) at 4.67%. This indicates that ADP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ^GSPC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ADP | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.36% | 4.67% | +3.69% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.46% | 9.84% | +10.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.44% | 12.50% | +11.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.07% | 16.99% | +5.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.51% | 18.11% | +6.40% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ADP and ^GSPC have a correlation of 0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ADP has higher volatility (8.36%) compared to ^GSPC (4.67%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ADP dropped -59.51% vs ^GSPC's -56.78%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.03 vs -1.15), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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