PAYX vs. RKLB: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at PAYX and RKLB, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | PAYX | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Paychex, Inc. | Rocket Lab Corporation |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 49.89 billion USD | 22.78 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NasdaqCM |
| Listing Date | August 26, 1983 | November 24, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of PAYX and RKLB by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | PAYX | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -0.37% | 15.40% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -11.32% | 82.88% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -7.69% | 82.11% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 8.30% | 590.35% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -4.04% | 2.83% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -1.23% | 85.39% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 2.15M | 19.77M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 2.13M | 20.77M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 26.36% | 74.57% |
| Beta | 0.95 | 2.20 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
PAYX
41.38%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 52.17%
- Q3
- 30.06%
- Median
- 22.21%
- Q1
- 11.67%
- Min
- -13.44%
In the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry, PAYX’s Return on Equity of 41.38% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
RKLB
-48.14%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 43.89%
- Q3
- 22.42%
- Median
- 12.50%
- Q1
- 5.21%
- Min
- -6.24%
RKLB has a negative Return on Equity of -48.14%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
PAYX
29.74%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 26.06%
- Q3
- 13.34%
- Median
- 7.88%
- Q1
- 3.50%
- Min
- -2.93%
PAYX’s Net Profit Margin of 29.74% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
RKLB
-45.87%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 14.54%
- Q3
- 8.08%
- Median
- 6.17%
- Q1
- 2.49%
- Min
- -1.63%
RKLB has a negative Net Profit Margin of -45.87%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
PAYX
39.01%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 35.84%
- Q3
- 19.38%
- Median
- 12.54%
- Q1
- 7.36%
- Min
- -5.21%
PAYX’s Operating Profit Margin of 39.01% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.
RKLB
-44.08%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 16.63%
- Q3
- 10.38%
- Median
- 8.29%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- 0.95%
RKLB has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -44.08%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | PAYX | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 41.38% | -48.14% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 13.58% | -17.98% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 29.74% | -45.87% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 39.01% | -44.08% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 90.67% | 29.04% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
PAYX
1.28
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.45
- Q3
- 1.65
- Median
- 1.26
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.47
PAYX’s Current Ratio of 1.28 aligns with the median group of the Professional Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
RKLB
2.67
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 3.09
- Q3
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.02
RKLB’s Current Ratio of 2.67 is in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
PAYX
1.20
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.44
- Median
- 0.91
- Q1
- 0.49
- Min
- 0.00
PAYX’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.20 is typical for the Professional Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
RKLB
0.63
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 1.70
- Q3
- 1.04
- Median
- 0.68
- Q1
- 0.41
- Min
- 0.00
RKLB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.63 is typical for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
PAYX
55.47
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 39.67
- Q3
- 20.05
- Median
- 11.07
- Q1
- 5.36
- Min
- -2.22
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 55.47, PAYX demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Professional Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
RKLB
-45.87
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 36.57
- Q3
- 19.90
- Median
- 7.04
- Q1
- 2.40
- Min
- -7.63
RKLB has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -45.87. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | PAYX | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.28 | 2.67 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.22 | 2.21 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.20 | 0.63 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 55.47 | -45.87 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
PAYX
2.88%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 5.28%
- Q3
- 2.51%
- Median
- 1.63%
- Q1
- 0.62%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.88%, PAYX offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Professional Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
RKLB
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 2.03%
- Q3
- 1.22%
- Median
- 0.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RKLB currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
PAYX
87.40%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 109.23%
- Q3
- 64.39%
- Median
- 47.00%
- Q1
- 20.35%
- Min
- 0.00%
PAYX’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 87.40% is in the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
RKLB
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 83.87%
- Q3
- 49.90%
- Median
- 16.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RKLB has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | PAYX | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 87.40% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
PAYX
30.36
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 49.59
- Q3
- 36.59
- Median
- 28.13
- Q1
- 18.55
- Min
- 10.07
PAYX’s P/E Ratio of 30.36 is within the middle range for the Professional Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
RKLB
--
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 65.97
- Q3
- 54.11
- Median
- 34.53
- Q1
- 23.66
- Min
- 0.00
P/E Ratio data for RKLB is currently unavailable.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
PAYX
9.03
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 9.54
- Q3
- 5.11
- Median
- 2.10
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.11
PAYX’s P/S Ratio of 9.03 is in the upper echelon for the Professional Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
RKLB
38.93
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 8.07
- Q3
- 4.49
- Median
- 2.42
- Q1
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.00
With a P/S Ratio of 38.93, RKLB trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Aerospace & Defense industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
PAYX
13.75
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 13.75
- Q3
- 8.87
- Median
- 4.35
- Q1
- 2.43
- Min
- 0.54
PAYX’s P/B Ratio of 13.75 is in the upper tier for the Professional Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
RKLB
23.97
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 13.67
- Q3
- 7.92
- Median
- 4.65
- Q1
- 2.68
- Min
- 0.82
At 23.97, RKLB’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | PAYX | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 30.36 | -- |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 9.03 | 38.93 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 13.75 | 23.97 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 29.96 | -- |