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EFX vs. PAYC: Equifax vs. Paycom Software Stock Comparison

How do Equifax (EFX) 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

Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though EFX is classified under Research & Consulting Services while PAYC falls under Human Resource & Employment Services.

Company profile comparison for Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
Profile ItemEFXPAYC
NameEquifax Inc.Paycom Software, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryResearch & Consulting ServicesHuman Resource & Employment Services
Market Capitalization22.27 billion USD10.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980April 15, 2014
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EFX
PAYC
GSPC
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Equifax (EFX) 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 Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
Total Return (1Y)-7.77%49.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.72%13.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-7.34%-13.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.48%47.19%
Beta (5Y)1.250.75
Max Drawdown (5Y)-54.43%-77.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.67M702.61K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EFX 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 Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.290.97
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.411.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 42.22% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Equifax (EFX) at 15.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PAYC.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.44%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
EFX
15.44%
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 23.28% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Equifax (EFX) at 11.27%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.27%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
EFX
11.27%
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 20.99% 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.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.99%

Max
38.50%
EFX
20.99%
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
ROE (TTM)15.44%42.22%
ROA (TTM)6.67%8.98%
Net Margin (TTM)11.27%23.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.99%38.03%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.18%88.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Equifax (EFX) at 6.92% 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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Equifax (EFX) at 9.92% 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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.92%8.95%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.85%14.27%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.92%-9.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.99%18.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 1.09 and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.06 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.09

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
EFX
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 1.13 and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.16 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.13

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
EFX
1.13
Median
0.88
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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Equifax (EFX) 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 Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.091.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.131.16
Net Debt / EBITDA2.470.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 1.12% and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 0.60% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.12%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
EFX
1.12%
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 35.28% 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.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

35.28%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
EFX
35.28%
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.12%0.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)35.28%14.34%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 30.68 and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 22.69 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.68

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
EFX
30.68
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 3.38 and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 4.88 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.38

Max
7.17
EFX
3.38
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Equifax (EFX) at 4.96 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.62 prices above its benchmark range — PAYC looks rich relative to book.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.96

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
EFX
4.96
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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Paycom Software (PAYC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Paycom Software (PAYC)
MetricEFXPAYC
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.6822.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.384.88
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.9614.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.24%5.69%