J vs. PAYX: Jacobs vs. Paychex Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Jacobs (J) 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

Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though J is classified under Research & Consulting Services while PAYX falls under Human Resource & Employment Services.

Company profile comparison for Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Profile Item	J	PAYX
Name	Jacobs Solutions Inc.	Paychex Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Professional Services	Professional Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Research & Consulting Services	Human Resource & Employment Services
Market Capitalization	17.43 billion USD	41.67 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	August 26, 1983
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYX

GSPC

Jacobs (J) 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 Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
Total Return (1Y)	3.06%	7.76%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	13.63%	4.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.41%	1.96%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAYX

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	34.18%	30.84%
Beta (5Y)	0.68	0.79
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-34.44%	-44.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)	878.62K	2.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

J 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 Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.04	0.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.05	0.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Jacobs (J) at 8.00% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PAYX.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.00%

Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
J: 8.00%
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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 27.35% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Jacobs (J) at 2.38% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.38%

Max: 23.28%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
J: 2.38%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 7.39%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.39%

Max: 38.50%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
J: 7.39%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
ROE (TTM)	8.00%	47.06%
ROA (TTM)	4.55%	10.19%
Net Margin (TTM)	2.38%	27.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.39%	38.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.07%	74.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Jacobs (J) at 4.60% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.

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

EPS Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Jacobs (J) at -62.34% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.60%	16.88%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.13%	9.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-62.34%	6.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-21.82%	4.38%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Jacobs (J) at 1.29 and Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.29

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.55
J: 1.29
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Jacobs (J) at 1.25 uses more debt funding than most peers.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.25

Max: 2.37
J: 1.25
Q3: 1.25
Median: 0.88
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

Jacobs (J) 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 Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.29	1.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.25	1.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.72	1.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Jacobs (J) at 0.92% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PAYX the richer one.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.92%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
J: 0.92%
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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Jacobs (J) at 45.18% and Paychex (PAYX) at 90.08% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

45.18%

Max: 99.58%
J: 45.18%
Q3: 41.99%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.92%	3.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.18%	90.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Jacobs (J) at 49.47 sits in the richer quartile — J needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

49.47

J: 49.47
Max: 49.47
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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Jacobs (J) at 1.23 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Paychex (PAYX) at 6.31 sits in the pricier quartile — PAYX costs more per dollar of sales.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.23

Max: 7.17
Q3: 3.35
Median: 1.33
J: 1.23
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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Jacobs (J) at 5.34 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Paychex (PAYX) at 11.25 carries an above-peer premium to book — PAYX is pricier on assets.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.34

Max: 11.25
Q3: 6.08
J: 5.34
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Jacobs (J) and Paychex (PAYX)
Metric	J	PAYX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	49.47	23.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.23	6.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.34	11.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.71%	4.53%