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PAYC vs. RELX: Paycom Software vs. RELX Stock Comparison

How do Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX) 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

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

Paycom Software (PAYC) trades as ordinary local shares, while RELX (RELX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
Profile ItemPAYCRELX
NamePaycom Software, Inc.RELX PLC American Depositary Receipt
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesResearch & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization10.69 billion USD69.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 15, 2014October 6, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYC
RELX
GSPC
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX), 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 Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
Total Return (1Y)49.84%-2.86%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)13.71%5.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-13.38%7.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)47.19%35.19%
Beta (5Y)0.750.68
Max Drawdown (5Y)-77.09%-49.91%
Avg. Volume (3M)702.61K2.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAYC and RELX 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 Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.97-0.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.66-0.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but RELX (RELX) at 131.86% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Paycom Software (PAYC) at 42.22% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

131.86%

RELX
131.86%
Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 23.28% and RELX (RELX) at 23.27% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.27%

Max
23.28%
RELX
23.27%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 38.03% and RELX (RELX) at 32.01% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.01%

Max
38.50%
RELX
32.01%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
ROE (TTM)42.22%131.86%
ROA (TTM)8.98%13.12%
Net Margin (TTM)23.28%23.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.03%32.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)88.39%66.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 8.95% and RELX (RELX) at 1.65% 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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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at -9.42% and RELX (RELX) at 8.63% 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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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.95%1.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.27%3.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)-9.42%8.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.63%9.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.06 and RELX (RELX) at 0.45 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.45

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
RELX
0.45
Min
0.45
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.16 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while RELX (RELX) at 7.10 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

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

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.10

RELX
7.10
Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.060.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.167.10
Net Debt / EBITDA0.752.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 0.60% and RELX (RELX) at 1.66% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.66%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
RELX
1.66%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.34% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while RELX (RELX) at 53.59% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

53.59%

Max
99.58%
RELX
53.59%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.60%1.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)14.34%53.59%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 22.69 and RELX (RELX) at 24.05 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.05

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
RELX
24.05
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 4.88 and RELX (RELX) at 7.17 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.17

RELX
7.17
Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.62 and RELX (RELX) at 169.44 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

RELX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

169.44

RELX
169.44
Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYCRELX
P/E Ratio (TTM)22.6924.05
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.887.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.62169.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.69%3.20%