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CTAS vs. PAYC: Cintas vs. Paycom Software Stock Comparison

How do Cintas (CTAS) 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

Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but CTAS is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies while PAYC is classified in Professional Services.

Company profile comparison for Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
Profile ItemCTASPAYC
NameCintas CorporationPaycom Software, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryCommercial Services & SuppliesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified Support ServicesHuman Resource & Employment Services
Market Capitalization88.29 billion USD10.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 19, 1983April 15, 2014
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CTAS
PAYC
GSPC
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Cintas (CTAS) 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
Total Return (1Y)21.43%49.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.18%13.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.37%-13.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CTAS
PAYC
GSPC
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Cintas (CTAS) 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.96%47.19%
Beta (5Y)0.850.75
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.68%-77.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.91M702.61K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CTAS 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.720.97
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.061.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 41.38% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 42.22% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

41.38%

Max
47.06%
CTAS
41.38%
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Cintas (CTAS) at 17.82% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 23.28% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.82%

Max
23.28%
CTAS
17.82%
Q3
11.35%
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 24.10% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 38.03% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.10%

Max
38.50%
CTAS
24.10%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
ROE (TTM)41.38%42.22%
ROA (TTM)16.66%8.98%
Net Margin (TTM)17.82%23.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.10%38.03%
Gross Margin (TTM)50.99%88.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 8.94% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 8.95% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 11.59% 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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.94%8.95%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.51%14.27%
EPS Growth (YoY)11.59%-9.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.77%18.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cintas (CTAS) at 1.45 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.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.45

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
CTAS
1.45
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 0.52 and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.16 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.52

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
CTAS
0.52
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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Cintas (CTAS) 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.451.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.521.16
Net Debt / EBITDA0.760.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 0.83% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 0.60% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.83%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
CTAS
0.83%
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 36.88% 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.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.88%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
CTAS
36.88%
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.83%0.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.88%14.34%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 22.69 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 43.86 sits in the richer quartile — CTAS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

43.86

Max
49.47
CTAS
43.86
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Paycom Software (PAYC) at 4.88 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Cintas (CTAS) at 7.64 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.64

CTAS
7.64
Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Cintas (CTAS) at 17.07 and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.62 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.07

CTAS
17.07
Max
11.25
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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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricCTASPAYC
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.8622.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.644.88
P/B Ratio (MRQ)17.0714.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.98%5.69%