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PAYX vs. RELX: Paychex vs. RELX Stock Comparison

How do Paychex (PAYX) 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

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

Paychex (PAYX) 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 Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
Profile ItemPAYXRELX
NamePaychex 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 Capitalization41.67 billion USD69.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 26, 1983October 6, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYX
RELX
GSPC
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Paychex (PAYX) 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 Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
Total Return (1Y)7.76%-2.86%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.26%5.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.96%7.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.84%35.19%
Beta (5Y)0.790.68
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.95%-49.91%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.88M2.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAYX 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 Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.11-0.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.16-0.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but RELX (RELX) at 131.86% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 27.35% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and RELX (RELX) at 23.27% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% 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.

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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
ROE (TTM)47.06%131.86%
ROA (TTM)10.19%13.12%
Net Margin (TTM)27.35%23.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.50%32.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.39%66.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while RELX (RELX) at 1.65% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.

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

EPS Growth

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% 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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Paychex (PAYX) vs. RELX (RELX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
Revenue Growth (YoY)16.88%1.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.15%3.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)6.77%8.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%9.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while RELX (RELX) at 0.45 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RELX.

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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 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.

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

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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Paychex (PAYX) 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 Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.280.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.257.10
Net Debt / EBITDA1.202.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while RELX (RELX) at 1.66% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PAYX the richer one.

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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 90.08% and RELX (RELX) at 53.59% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.80%1.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)90.08%53.59%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 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.

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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 6.31 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.

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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Paychex (PAYX) at 11.25 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and RELX (RELX) at 169.44 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and RELX (RELX)
MetricPAYXRELX
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.2324.05
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.317.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.25169.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.53%3.20%