BAH vs. PAYX: Booz Allen Hamilton vs. Paychex Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paychex (PAYX)
Profile Item	BAH	PAYX
Name	Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation Class A Common Stock	Paychex Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Professional Services	Professional Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Research & Consulting Services	Human Resource & Employment Services
Market Capitalization	10.16 billion USD	41.67 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 18, 2010	August 26, 1983
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAH

PAYX

GSPC

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX), 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 Paychex (PAYX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paychex (PAYX). 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 Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
Total Return (1Y)	2.63%	7.76%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-9.38%	4.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.84%	1.96%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BAH

PAYX

GSPC

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX), 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 Paychex (PAYX). 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 Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	42.02%	30.84%
Beta (5Y)	0.29	0.79
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-66.59%	-44.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.79M	2.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BAH and PAYX 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 Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.04	0.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.06	0.16

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; Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% 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%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

47.06%

PAYX: 47.06%
Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 27.35% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 7.14% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

27.35%

PAYX: 27.35%
Max: 23.28%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% 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%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

38.50%

PAYX: 38.50%
Max: 38.50%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
ROE (TTM)	70.00%	47.06%
ROA (TTM)	8.48%	10.19%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.14%	27.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)	8.82%	38.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.58%	74.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at -6.37% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at -4.83% and Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-6.37%	16.88%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.60%	9.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-4.83%	6.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	50.35%	4.38%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 1.44 and Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.28

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.55
PAYX: 1.28
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.45

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 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

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.25

Max: 2.37
Q3: 1.25
PAYX: 1.25
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): 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 Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.44	1.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	3.78	1.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.56	1.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 2.60% and Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.80%

Max: 4.33%
PAYX: 3.80%
Q3: 1.80%
Median: 0.60%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 36.02% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Paychex (PAYX) at 90.08% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

90.08%

Max: 99.58%
PAYX: 90.08%
Q3: 41.99%
Median: 17.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.60%	3.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	36.02%	90.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 13.25 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 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

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.23

Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
Median: 24.16
PAYX: 23.23
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): 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 Paychex (PAYX) at 6.31 sits in the pricier quartile — PAYX 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

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

6.31

Max: 7.17
PAYX: 6.31
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) at 8.17 and Paychex (PAYX) at 11.25 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.25

PAYX: 11.25
Max: 11.25
Q3: 6.08
Median: 2.92
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) vs. Paychex (PAYX): 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 Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	BAH	PAYX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	13.25	23.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.93	6.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.17	11.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.76%	4.53%