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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 Capitalization80.19 billion USD39.82 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)-8.59%-18.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.50%0.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.45%3.16%

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)22.68%26.79%
Beta (5Y)0.920.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.68%-44.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.22M3.34M

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)-0.56-0.86
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.80-1.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Cintas (CTAS) earns 40.71% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Paychex (PAYX) has no ROE this period.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

40.71%

Max
53.04%
CTAS
40.71%
Q3
25.65%
Median
13.99%
Q1
2.99%
Min
-28.46%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

--

Max
53.04%
Q3
25.65%
Median
13.99%
Q1
2.99%
Min
-28.46%
PAYX
--
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Paychex (PAYX): PAYX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CTAS is benchmarked against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Cintas (CTAS) at 17.75% and Paychex (PAYX) at 26.63% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.75%

Max
26.63%
CTAS
17.75%
Q3
11.56%
Median
6.26%
Q1
1.30%
Min
-13.15%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

26.63%

PAYX
26.63%
Max
26.63%
Q3
11.56%
Median
6.26%
Q1
1.30%
Min
-13.15%
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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 23.65% and Paychex (PAYX) at 38.33% 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

23.65%

Max
38.33%
CTAS
23.65%
Q3
17.67%
Median
9.37%
Q1
3.13%
Min
-4.52%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

38.33%

PAYX
38.33%
Max
38.33%
Q3
17.67%
Median
9.37%
Q1
3.13%
Min
-4.52%
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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)40.71%--
ROA (TTM)16.10%--
Net Margin (TTM)17.75%26.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.65%38.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)50.67%67.20%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Paychex (PAYX) reports revenue growth of 16.88%, ranked against its industry; Cintas (CTAS) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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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)--16.88%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)--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 1.43 and Paychex (PAYX) at 1.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.43

Max
3.17
Q3
2.01
Median
1.48
CTAS
1.43
Q1
1.13
Min
0.45

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.15

Max
3.17
Q3
2.01
Median
1.48
PAYX
1.15
Q1
1.13
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 0.53 and Paychex (PAYX) at 1.24 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.53

Max
2.61
Q3
1.39
Median
0.94
CTAS
0.53
Q1
0.40
Min
0.01

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.24

Max
2.61
Q3
1.39
PAYX
1.24
Median
0.94
Q1
0.40
Min
0.01
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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)1.431.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.531.24
Net Debt / EBITDA0.772.17

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cintas (CTAS) reports a yield of 0.89%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.89%

Max
3.77%
Q3
1.82%
CTAS
0.89%
Median
0.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.00%

Max
3.77%
Q3
1.82%
Median
0.44%
PAYX
0.00%
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)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 36.66% and Paychex (PAYX) at 90.59% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.66%

Max
90.59%
CTAS
36.66%
Q3
36.56%
Median
16.11%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

90.59%

PAYX
90.59%
Max
90.59%
Q3
36.56%
Median
16.11%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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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)0.89%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.66%90.59%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 23.57 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 41.15 sits in the richer quartile — CTAS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

41.15

Max
67.06
CTAS
41.15
Q3
38.84
Median
23.07
Q1
16.03
Min
4.96

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.57

Max
67.06
Q3
38.84
PAYX
23.57
Median
23.07
Q1
16.03
Min
4.96
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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: Cintas (CTAS) at 7.12 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Paychex (PAYX) at 10.04 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.12

Max
7.33
CTAS
7.12
Q3
3.42
Median
1.37
Q1
0.74
Min
0.13

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

10.04

PAYX
10.04
Max
7.33
Q3
3.42
Median
1.37
Q1
0.74
Min
0.13
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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 10.66 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Cintas (CTAS) at 15.60 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.60

CTAS
15.60
Max
10.74
Q3
5.92
Median
3.25
Q1
1.95
Min
-2.86

PAYX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

10.66

Max
10.74
PAYX
10.66
Q3
5.92
Median
3.25
Q1
1.95
Min
-2.86
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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)41.1523.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.1210.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.6010.66
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.83%--