PAYC vs. TRU: Paycom Software vs. TransUnion Stock Comparison
How do Paycom Software (PAYC) and TransUnion (TRU) 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 TransUnion (TRU) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though PAYC is classified under Human Resource & Employment Services while TRU falls under Research & Consulting Services.
| Profile Item | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Paycom Software, Inc. | TransUnion |
| 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 | Human Resource & Employment Services | Research & Consulting Services |
| Market Capitalization | 10.69 billion USD | 15.48 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2014 | June 25, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 49.84% | 3.77% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.71% | 16.74% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -13.38% | -5.77% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.19% | 42.86% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.75 | 1.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -77.09% | -63.37% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 702.61K | 2.74M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.97 | -0.01 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.66 | -0.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Paycom Software (PAYC) at 42.22% sits in the top ROE quartile, while TransUnion (TRU) at 16.96% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PAYC.
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%
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
16.96%
- Max
- 47.06%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- TRU
- 16.96%
- Median
- 14.11%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 23.28% and TransUnion (TRU) at 15.83% 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%
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
15.83%
- Max
- 23.28%
- TRU
- 15.83%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 38.03% and TransUnion (TRU) at 20.36% 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%
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
20.36%
- Max
- 38.50%
- TRU
- 20.36%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 42.22% | 16.96% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.98% | 5.25% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.28% | 15.83% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 38.03% | 20.36% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.39% | 58.82% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 8.95% and TransUnion (TRU) at 9.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
TransUnion (TRU) at 60.00% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at -9.42% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for TRU.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.95% | 9.38% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.27% | 7.25% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -9.42% | 60.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.63% | 18.34% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
TransUnion (TRU) at 2.03 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.06 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAYC.
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
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.03
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- TRU
- 2.03
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.16 and TransUnion (TRU) at 1.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.10
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- TRU
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.06 | 2.03 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.16 | 1.10 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.75 | 2.90 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 0.60% and TransUnion (TRU) at 0.62% 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%
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.62%
- Max
- 4.33%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- TRU
- 0.62%
- Median
- 0.60%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.34% and TransUnion (TRU) at 11.92% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
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%
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
11.92%
- Max
- 99.58%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- Median
- 17.27%
- TRU
- 11.92%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.60% | 0.62% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 14.34% | 11.92% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 22.69 and TransUnion (TRU) at 19.75 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
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
19.75
- Max
- 49.47
- Q3
- 33.76
- Median
- 24.16
- TRU
- 19.75
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)
TransUnion (TRU) at 3.07 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 4.88 sits in the pricier quartile — PAYC costs more per dollar of sales.
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
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.07
- Max
- 7.17
- Q3
- 3.35
- TRU
- 3.07
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
TransUnion (TRU) at 3.19 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.
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
TRU
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.19
- Max
- 11.25
- Q3
- 6.08
- TRU
- 3.19
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | TRU |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.69 | 19.75 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.88 | 3.07 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.62 | 3.19 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.69% | 5.91% |