Automatic Data Processing 10-Q 2023-09-30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2023

OR

For the Transition Period From to

Commission File Number 1-5397

AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (973) 974-5000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ý No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the

Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ý

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of October 31, 2023 was 411,304,782.

Table of Contents

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Statements of Consolidated Earnings

(In millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

(A) Professional Employer Organization (“PEO”) revenues are net of direct pass-through costs, primarily consisting of payroll wages and payroll taxes of $15,994.6 million and $15,534.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

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(Tabular dollars are presented in millions, except per share amounts)

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document and other written or oral statements made from time to time by Automatic Data Processing, Inc., its subsidiaries and variable interest entity (“ADP” or the “Company”) may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical in nature and which may be identified by the use of words like “expects,” “assumes,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “we believe,” “could”, "is designed to" and other words of similar meaning, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements or that could contribute to such difference include: ADP's success in obtaining and retaining clients, and selling additional services to clients; the pricing of products and services; the success of our new solutions; our ability to respond successfully to changes in technology, including artificial intelligence; compliance with existing or new legislation or regulations; changes in, or interpretations of, existing legislation or regulations; overall market, political and economic conditions, including interest rate and foreign currency trends and inflation; competitive conditions; our ability to maintain our current credit ratings and the impact on our funding costs and profitability; security or cyber breaches, fraudulent acts, and system interruptions and failures; employment and wage levels; availability of skilled associates; the impact of new acquisitions and divestitures; the adequacy, effectiveness and success of our business transformation initiatives and the impact of any uncertainties related to major natural disasters or catastrophic events; and supply-chain disruptions. ADP disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. These risks and uncertainties, along with the risk factors discussed under “Item 1A. - Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 (“fiscal 2023”), and in other written or oral statements made from time to time by ADP, should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking statements contained herein.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to our U.S. GAAP results, we use adjusted results and other non-GAAP metrics to evaluate our operating performance in the absence of certain items and for planning and forecasting of future periods. Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBIT margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted effective tax rate and organic constant currency are all non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the accompanying financial tables in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for a discussion of why ADP believes these measures are important and for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable GAAP financial measures.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

We are a leading global provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (“HCM”) technology solutions to employers around the world. Our HCM solutions, which include both software and outsourcing services, are designed to help our clients manage their workforce through a dynamic business and regulatory landscape and the changing world of work. We continuously seek to enhance our leading HCM solutions to further support our clients. We see tremendous opportunity ahead as we focus on our three key Strategic Priorities: Leading with Best-in-Class HCM technology, Providing Unmatched Expertise and Outsourcing Solutions, and Leveraging our Global Scale for the Benefit of our Clients. Executing on our Strategic Priorities will be critical to enabling our growth in the years ahead.

Highlights from the three months ended September 30, 2023 include:

• Revenue growth of 7% to $4,512.4 million; 7% organic constant currency

• Earnings before income taxes margin expansion of 30 bps, and adjusted EBIT margin expansion of 10 bps

• Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") growth of 11% to $2.08, and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 12% to $2.08

• Cash returned via shareholder friendly actions of $0.8B, including $0.5B of dividends and $0.3B share repurchases

• Acquisition of Sora, an intelligent workflow automation and data integration tool

During the first quarter we made meaningful progress in pursuit of our key Strategic Priorities. We took actions to lead with Best-in-Class HCM Technology by embedding generative AI (gen AI) features into our products, including the integration of gen AI into Roll to further enhance its conversational user interface, as well as the launch of ADP Assist, our embedded smart support AI designed to help make HR work easier, smarter and ultimately, more human. We continued to provide Unmatched Expertise and Outsourcing Solutions with the launch of Agent Assist, which embeds gen AI in the flow of work for ADP implementation and service associates to increase their agility and expertise in order to help them deliver a better client experience. And we continued to Leverage our Global Scale to Benefit our Clients by acquiring the payroll business of BTR, our long-time partner in Sweden, and by launching Roll in Ireland to expand our SMB business outside of the U.S.

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we delivered solid revenue growth of 7%, 7% organic constant currency. Our pays per control metric, which represents the number of employees on ADP clients' payrolls in the United States when measured on a same-store-sales basis for a subset of clients ranging from small to large businesses, grew 2% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. PEO average worksite employees increased 2% for the three months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022.

We have a strong business model, generating significant cash flows with low capital intensity, and offer a suite of products that provide critical support to our clients’ HCM functions. We generate sufficient free cash flow to satisfy our cash dividend and our modest debt obligations, which enables us to absorb the impact of downturns and remain steadfast in our re-investments, longer term strategy, and commitments to shareholder friendly actions. We are committed to building upon our past successes by investing in our business through enhancements in research and development and by driving meaningful transformation in the way we operate. Our financial condition remains solid at September 30, 2023 and we remain well positioned to support our clients and our associates.

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS

Total Revenues

For the three months ended September 30, respectively:

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The information called for by this item is provided under the caption “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” under Item 2 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “evaluation”). Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2023 in ensuring that (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (ii) such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Except as noted below, all other items are either inapplicable or would result in negative responses and, therefore, have been omitted.

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various claims and litigation. While the outcome of any litigation is inherently unpredictable, the Company believes it has valid defenses with respect to the legal matters pending against it and the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

With respect to the disclosure of administrative or judicial proceedings arising under any Federal, State, or local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or that are primarily for the purpose of protecting the environment, the Company has determined that the following threshold is reasonably designed to result in disclosure of any such proceeding that is material to its business or financial condition: any proceeding when the potential monetary sanctions exceed $1 million.

There have been no material changes in our risk factors disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

(1) During the three months ended September 30, 2023, pursuant to the terms of our restricted stock program, the Company purchased 366,229 shares at the then-market value of the shares to satisfy certain tax withholding requirements for employees upon the vesting of their restricted shares.

(2) The Company received the Board of Directors' approval to repurchase shares of the Company's common stock as follows:

There is no expiration date for the common stock repurchase authorization.

During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023, our executive officers adopted the following trading arrangements that are intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5–1(c).

(1) Securities reported in this column reflect options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance-based stock units (“PSUs”) and shares of common stock, as appropriate. In the case of RSUs, quantities included in this column reflect the full amount of RSUs as reported in an officer’s respective plan and do not reflect the impact of tax withholding which will not be determined until the RSUs vest. In the case of PSUs (which have a three-year performance period), quantities included in this column reflect the application of the actual performance factor for tranches where performance has been certified, application at target for tranches where performance is not yet complete, and inclusion of accrued dividend equivalents through the date of adoption of the trading arrangement. The PSU amounts do not reflect the impact of tax withholding which will not be determined until the PSUs vest. In addition, securities reported in this column include securities subject to limit orders and such orders may not fill if limit order conditions are not met.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.