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PAYC vs. ULS: Paycom Software vs. UL Stock Comparison

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

Paycom Software (PAYC) has been public since April 15, 2014, giving it a longer listed trading history, while UL (ULS) listed on April 12, 2024 and still has a shorter public-market record.

Company profile comparison for Paycom Software (PAYC) and UL (ULS)
Profile ItemPAYCULS
NamePaycom Software, Inc.UL Solutions Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
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 USD15.88 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 15, 2014April 12, 2024
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYC
ULS
GSPC
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS), 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 UL (ULS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
Total Return (1Y)49.84%-3.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)13.71%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-13.38%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)47.19%42.88%
Beta (5Y)0.750.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)-77.09%-38.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)702.61K879.46K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAYC and ULS 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 UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.97-0.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.66-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 42.22% and UL (ULS) at 36.51% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.51%

Max
47.06%
ULS
36.51%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): 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 UL (ULS) at 16.13% 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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.13%

Max
23.28%
ULS
16.13%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): 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 UL (ULS) at 19.81% 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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.81%

Max
38.50%
ULS
19.81%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
ROE (TTM)42.22%36.51%
ROA (TTM)8.98%11.46%
Net Margin (TTM)23.28%16.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.03%19.81%
Gross Margin (TTM)88.39%50.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 8.95% and UL (ULS) at 6.38% 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. UL (ULS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at -9.42% and UL (ULS) at -1.23% 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. UL (ULS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.95%6.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.27%6.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)-9.42%-1.23%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.63%2.98%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

UL (ULS) at 2.09 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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.09

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
ULS
2.09
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.16 and UL (ULS) at 0.54 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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.54

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
ULS
0.54
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): 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 UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.062.09
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.160.54
Net Debt / EBITDA0.75-0.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 0.60% and UL (ULS) at 0.74% 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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.74%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
ULS
0.74%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.34% and UL (ULS) at 22.42% 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%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

22.42%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
ULS
22.42%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.60%0.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)14.34%22.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 22.69 and UL (ULS) at 31.21 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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.21

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
ULS
31.21
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): 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 UL (ULS) at 4.98 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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.98

Max
7.17
ULS
4.98
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: UL (ULS) at 9.32 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.62 prices even higher, above its industry 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

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.32

Max
11.25
ULS
9.32
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Paycom Software (PAYC) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paycom Software (PAYC) and UL (ULS)
MetricPAYCULS
P/E Ratio (TTM)22.6931.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.884.98
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.629.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.69%2.94%