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CR vs. PAYX: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

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Here’s a clear look at CR and PAYX, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

SymbolCRPAYX
Company NameCrane CompanyPaychex, Inc.
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS IndustryMachineryProfessional Services
Market Capitalization11.42 billion USD49.93 billion USD
ExchangeNYSENasdaqGS
Listing DateMarch 29, 2023August 26, 1983
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of CR and PAYX by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

CR vs. PAYX: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCRPAYX
5-Day Price Return1.94%-1.36%
13-Week Price Return13.17%-8.62%
26-Week Price Return14.85%-7.60%
52-Week Price Return36.82%12.01%
Month-to-Date Return1.37%-3.96%
Year-to-Date Return30.77%-1.15%
10-Day Avg. Volume0.21M2.45M
3-Month Avg. Volume0.31M2.24M
3-Month Volatility22.03%26.33%
Beta1.240.95

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

CR

20.52%

Machinery Industry

Max
34.68%
Q3
19.06%
Median
13.13%
Q1
8.53%
Min
-4.87%

In the upper quartile for the Machinery industry, CR’s Return on Equity of 20.52% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

PAYX

41.38%

Professional Services Industry

Max
52.17%
Q3
30.06%
Median
22.21%
Q1
11.67%
Min
-13.44%

In the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry, PAYX’s Return on Equity of 41.38% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

CR

15.46%

Machinery Industry

Max
19.74%
Q3
11.24%
Median
8.13%
Q1
5.38%
Min
-1.11%

A Net Profit Margin of 15.46% places CR in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

PAYX

29.74%

Professional Services Industry

Max
26.06%
Q3
13.34%
Median
7.88%
Q1
3.50%
Min
-2.93%

PAYX’s Net Profit Margin of 29.74% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

CR

16.42%

Machinery Industry

Max
26.63%
Q3
16.15%
Median
11.27%
Q1
7.72%
Min
-4.91%

An Operating Profit Margin of 16.42% places CR in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

PAYX

39.01%

Professional Services Industry

Max
35.84%
Q3
19.38%
Median
12.54%
Q1
7.36%
Min
-5.21%

PAYX’s Operating Profit Margin of 39.01% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCRPAYX
Return on Equity (TTM)20.52%41.38%
Return on Assets (TTM)13.49%13.58%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)15.46%29.74%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)16.42%39.01%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)39.69%90.67%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CR

2.93

Machinery Industry

Max
3.83
Q3
2.32
Median
1.72
Q1
1.28
Min
0.78

CR’s Current Ratio of 2.93 is in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.

PAYX

1.28

Professional Services Industry

Max
2.45
Q3
1.65
Median
1.26
Q1
1.10
Min
0.47

PAYX’s Current Ratio of 1.28 aligns with the median group of the Professional Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

CR

0.03

Machinery Industry

Max
1.49
Q3
0.75
Median
0.44
Q1
0.26
Min
0.00

Falling into the lower quartile for the Machinery industry, CR’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.03 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

PAYX

1.20

Professional Services Industry

Max
2.63
Q3
1.44
Median
0.91
Q1
0.49
Min
0.00

PAYX’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.20 is typical for the Professional Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

CR

16.60

Machinery Industry

Max
67.55
Q3
33.79
Median
13.87
Q1
7.97
Min
-1.43

CR’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 16.60 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Machinery industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

PAYX

55.47

Professional Services Industry

Max
39.67
Q3
20.05
Median
11.07
Q1
5.36
Min
-2.22

With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 55.47, PAYX demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCRPAYX
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.931.28
Quick Ratio (MRQ)1.981.22
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.031.20
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)16.6055.47

Growth

Revenue Growth

CR vs. PAYX: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

CR vs. PAYX: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CR

0.44%

Machinery Industry

Max
5.32%
Q3
2.84%
Median
1.87%
Q1
1.09%
Min
0.00%

CR’s Dividend Yield of 0.44% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

PAYX

2.98%

Professional Services Industry

Max
5.28%
Q3
2.51%
Median
1.63%
Q1
0.62%
Min
0.00%

With a Dividend Yield of 2.98%, PAYX offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Professional Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CR

14.18%

Machinery Industry

Max
202.17%
Q3
98.65%
Median
55.54%
Q1
29.03%
Min
0.00%

CR’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 14.18% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

PAYX

87.40%

Professional Services Industry

Max
109.23%
Q3
64.39%
Median
47.00%
Q1
20.35%
Min
0.00%

PAYX’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 87.40% is in the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCRPAYX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.44%2.98%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)14.18%87.40%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

CR

32.46

Machinery Industry

Max
53.66
Q3
31.29
Median
22.00
Q1
16.18
Min
7.00

A P/E Ratio of 32.46 places CR in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

PAYX

29.34

Professional Services Industry

Max
49.59
Q3
36.59
Median
28.13
Q1
18.55
Min
10.07

PAYX’s P/E Ratio of 29.34 is within the middle range for the Professional Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

CR

5.02

Machinery Industry

Max
5.04
Q3
2.72
Median
1.67
Q1
1.04
Min
0.24

CR’s P/S Ratio of 5.02 is in the upper echelon for the Machinery industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

PAYX

8.73

Professional Services Industry

Max
9.54
Q3
5.11
Median
2.10
Q1
0.75
Min
0.11

PAYX’s P/S Ratio of 8.73 is in the upper echelon for the Professional Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

CR

5.79

Machinery Industry

Max
7.23
Q3
3.90
Median
2.52
Q1
1.47
Min
0.49

CR’s P/B Ratio of 5.79 is in the upper tier for the Machinery industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

PAYX

13.75

Professional Services Industry

Max
13.75
Q3
8.87
Median
4.35
Q1
2.43
Min
0.54

PAYX’s P/B Ratio of 13.75 is in the upper tier for the Professional Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

CR vs. PAYX: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Machinery and Professional Services industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCRPAYX
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)32.4629.34
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)5.028.73
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)5.7913.75
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)32.0528.96