PAYC vs. WM: Paycom Software vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison
How do Paycom Software (PAYC) and Waste Management (WM) 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 Waste Management (WM) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but PAYC is classified in Professional Services while WM is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.
| Profile Item | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Paycom Software, Inc. | Waste Management Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Human Resource & Employment Services | Environmental & Facilities Services |
| Market Capitalization | 10.69 billion USD | 93.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2014 | June 22, 1988 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 49.84% | 19.43% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.71% | 13.45% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -13.38% | 9.97% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.19% | 21.31% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.75 | 0.37 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -77.09% | -18.14% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 702.61K | 2.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.97 | 0.71 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.66 | 1.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 42.22% and Waste Management (WM) at 31.68% 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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
31.68%
- Max
- 47.06%
- WM
- 31.68%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- 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 Waste Management (WM) at 11.78% 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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
11.78%
- Max
- 23.28%
- WM
- 11.78%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 38.03% and Waste Management (WM) at 19.08% 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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
19.08%
- Max
- 38.50%
- WM
- 19.08%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 42.22% | 31.68% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.98% | 6.69% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.28% | 11.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 38.03% | 19.08% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.39% | 40.39% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Waste Management (WM) at 14.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Paycom Software (PAYC) at 8.95% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WM.
EPS Growth
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at -9.42% and Waste Management (WM) at -1.62% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.95% | 14.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.27% | 8.56% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -9.42% | -1.62% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.63% | 7.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.06 and Waste Management (WM) at 0.82 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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.82
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- WM
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Paycom Software (PAYC) at 1.16 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.37 uses more debt funding than most peers.
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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.37
- WM
- 2.37
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.06 | 0.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.16 | 2.37 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.75 | 2.94 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 0.60% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.52% 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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.52%
- Max
- 4.33%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- WM
- 1.52%
- Median
- 0.60%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Paycom Software (PAYC) at 14.34% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Waste Management (WM) at 48.03% 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%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
48.03%
- Max
- 99.58%
- WM
- 48.03%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- Median
- 17.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.60% | 1.52% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 14.34% | 48.03% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 22.69 and Waste Management (WM) at 31.01 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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
31.01
- Max
- 49.47
- Q3
- 33.76
- WM
- 31.01
- Median
- 24.16
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Paycom Software (PAYC) at 4.88 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.60 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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.60
- Max
- 7.17
- WM
- 3.60
- Q3
- 3.35
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Waste Management (WM) at 9.52 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
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
9.52
- Max
- 11.25
- WM
- 9.52
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PAYC | WM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.69 | 31.01 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.88 | 3.60 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.62 | 9.52 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.69% | 2.64% |