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CTAS vs. PAYX: Cintas vs. Paychex Stock Comparison

How do Cintas (CTAS) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
Profile ItemCTASPAYX
NameCintas CorporationPaychex 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 USD41.67 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 19, 1983August 26, 1983
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CTAS
PAYX
GSPC
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Cintas (CTAS) 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
Total Return (1Y)21.43%7.76%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.18%4.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.37%1.96%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.96%30.84%
Beta (5Y)0.850.79
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.68%-44.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.91M2.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CTAS 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.720.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.060.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 41.38% and Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% 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%

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%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 27.35% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Cintas (CTAS) at 17.82% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

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%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 24.10% and Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% 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%

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%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
ROE (TTM)41.38%47.06%
ROA (TTM)16.66%10.19%
Net Margin (TTM)17.82%27.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.10%38.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)50.99%74.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Cintas (CTAS) at 8.94% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.

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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 11.59% 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.

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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.94%16.88%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.51%9.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)11.59%6.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.77%4.38%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 1.45 and Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

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
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 0.52 and Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 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

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
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Cintas (CTAS) 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.451.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.521.25
Net Debt / EBITDA0.761.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Cintas (CTAS) at 0.83% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PAYX the richer one.

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%

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%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cintas (CTAS) at 36.88% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Paychex (PAYX) at 90.08% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

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%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.83%3.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.88%90.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 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

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
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Paychex (PAYX) at 6.31 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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Paychex (PAYX) at 11.25 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Cintas (CTAS) at 17.07 prices even higher, above its industry 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

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
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Paychex (PAYX)
MetricCTASPAYX
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.8623.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.646.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)17.0711.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.98%4.53%