Activists target ADP and its spinoff

Article Excerpt

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) spun off its brokerage-services business in April 2007 as Broadridge Financial (New York symbol BR). The new stock went sideways for a few years, but has now more than tripled since the spinoff. On September 30, 2014, ADP completed another spinoff: its car-dealer software business (CDK Global). Investors received one CDK share for every three of their ADP shares. That spinoff has also worked out well: While ADP is up nearly 90%, CDK has jumped over 150%. We like the prospects for both companies and believe each stock is poised for further gains. Activist attention also highlights their potential. AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INC. $138 (Nasdaq symbol ADP; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 440.5 million; Market cap: $60.8 billion; Dividend yield: 2.0%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.adp.com) is one of the world’s largest outsourcing human resources firms. It has over 700,000 clients in 110 countries. The U.S. accounts for 85% of its revenue. ADP began operating in 1949 as Automatic Payrolls…