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BAH vs. PAYC: Booz Allen Hamilton vs. Paycom Software Stock Comparison

How do Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though BAH is classified under Research & Consulting Services while PAYC falls under Human Resource & Employment Services.

Company profile comparison for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
Profile ItemBAHPAYC
NameBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation Class A Common StockPaycom Software, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryResearch & Consulting ServicesHuman Resource & Employment Services
Market Capitalization10.16 billion USD10.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 18, 2010April 15, 2014
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAH
PAYC
GSPC
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
Total Return (1Y)2.63%49.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-9.38%13.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.84%-13.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BAH
PAYC
GSPC
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.02%47.19%
Beta (5Y)0.290.75
Max Drawdown (5Y)-66.59%-77.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.79M702.61K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAH and PAYC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.040.97
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.061.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 70.00% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Paycom Software (PAYC) at 42.22% also sits in the top quartile.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

70.00%

BAH
70.00%
Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

42.22%

Max
47.06%
PAYC
42.22%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 23.28% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 7.14%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.14%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
BAH
7.14%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.28%

PAYC
23.28%
Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 38.03% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 8.82%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.82%

Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
BAH
8.82%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

38.03%

Max
38.50%
PAYC
38.03%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
ROE (TTM)70.00%42.22%
ROA (TTM)8.48%8.98%
Net Margin (TTM)7.14%23.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.82%38.03%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.58%88.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 8.95% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at -6.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at -4.83% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at -9.42% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.37%8.95%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.60%14.27%
EPS Growth (YoY)-4.83%-9.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)50.35%18.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 1.44 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.06 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAYC.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.44

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
BAH
1.44
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.06

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
PAYC
1.06
Min
0.45
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.16 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 3.78 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.78

BAH
3.78
Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.16

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
PAYC
1.16
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.441.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.781.16
Net Debt / EBITDA3.560.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 2.60% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 0.60% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BAH the richer one.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.60%

Max
4.33%
BAH
2.60%
Q3
1.80%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.60%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
Median
0.60%
PAYC
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 36.02% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.34% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.02%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
BAH
36.02%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

14.34%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
PAYC
14.34%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.60%0.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.02%14.34%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 13.25 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 22.69 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for BAH, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

13.25

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
BAH
13.25
Min
1.89

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

22.69

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
PAYC
22.69
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 0.93 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 4.88 sits in the pricier quartile — PAYC costs more per dollar of sales.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.93

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
BAH
0.93
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.88

Max
7.17
PAYC
4.88
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 8.17 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.62 prices even higher, above its industry range.

BAH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.17

Max
11.25
BAH
8.17
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78

PAYC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

14.62

PAYC
14.62
Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricBAHPAYC
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.2522.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.934.88
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.1714.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.76%5.69%