Automatic Data Processing Inc vs Appian Corp — how do they compare? Automatic Data Processing Inc trades at $272 (market cap $108.72B), while Appian Corp trades at $35.5 (market cap $2.55B). The key difference: Automatic Data Processing Inc is far larger — about 42.6× Appian Corp's market cap, and Automatic Data Processing Inc pays a 2.48% dividend while Appian Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ADP | APPN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $108.72B | $2.55B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $309.03 | $45.64 |
52-Week Low | $188.79 | $18.72 |
Enterprise Value | $109.76B | $2.68B |
Dividend Yield | 2.48% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ADP trades at $271.32, down 0.8% for the day, with strong technical momentum showing bullish moving averages and key support at $269. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, 20.11% net margins, and 72.24% ROE. Recent Q4 2026 results showed 7% revenue growth and 17% EPS growth, driving positive analyst sentiment despite elevated valuation multiples.
Outlook remains positive with a $280.50 consensus price target offering 3.4% upside potential. Key opportunities include margin expansion and dividend stability, while risks center on high valuation sensitivity and labor market volatility affecting ADP's payroll processing business. The stock presents a quality growth opportunity with disciplined risk management required.
Appian (APPN) surged 13.91% to $34.64 following strong Q2 2026 earnings that exceeded expectations, with cloud subscription revenue growing 23% year-over-year. The stock trades near its pivot point of $34 with bullish technical signals from moving averages, though RSI levels suggest potential overbought conditions. Revenue growth has accelerated from $617M in 2024 to $727M in 2025, with the company achieving its first profitable year with $1.23M net income after several years of losses.
Appian demonstrates improving fundamentals with consistent revenue growth and recent profitability, though negative equity and high debt levels present risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 31.58% buy ratings but a consensus price target of $32.50 below current levels. The AI-driven workflow platform shows strong enterprise adoption, but investors should weigh growth potential against valuation concerns and competitive pressures in the low-code automation space.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
ADP is a provider of payroll and human capital management solutions servicing the full scope of businesses from micro to global enterprises. ADP was established in 1949 and serves over 990,000 clients primarily in the United States. ADP's employer services segment offers payroll, HCM solutions, HR outsourcing, insurance and retirement services. The smaller but faster-growing PEO segment provides HR outsourcing solutions to small and midsize businesses through a co-employment model.
Read more on ADP →Appian Corp provides a low-code software development platform as a service that enables organizations to rapidly develop powerful and unique applications. With its platform, organizations can rapidly and easily design, build and implement powerful, enterprise-grade custom applications through intuitive, visual interface with little or no coding required. The company's customers use applications built on its low-code platform to launch new business lines, automate vital employee workflows, manage complex trading platforms, accelerate drug development and build procurement systems. The group generates a majority of its revenue from the domestic market. It serves various industries such as education.
Read more on APPN →