PAYX vs. RSG: Paychex vs. Republic Services Stock Comparison
How do Paychex (PAYX) and Republic Services (RSG) 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 Republic Services (RSG) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but PAYX is classified in Professional Services while RSG is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.
| Profile Item | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Paychex Inc. | Republic Services 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 | 41.67 billion USD | 75.20 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 26, 1983 | July 1, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.76% | 21.53% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 4.26% | 17.78% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 1.96% | 14.57% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.84% | 20.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.79 | 0.32 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.95% | -22.54% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.88M | 1.45M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.11 | 0.85 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.16 | 1.37 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Republic Services (RSG) at 18.48% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PAYX.
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%
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
18.48%
- Max
- 47.06%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- RSG
- 18.48%
- Median
- 14.11%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
Paychex (PAYX) at 27.35% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Republic Services (RSG) at 12.92% 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%
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
12.92%
- Max
- 23.28%
- RSG
- 12.92%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% and Republic Services (RSG) at 20.29% 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%
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
20.29%
- Max
- 38.50%
- RSG
- 20.29%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 47.06% | 18.48% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.19% | 6.26% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 27.35% | 12.92% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 38.50% | 20.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 74.39% | 43.02% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Republic Services (RSG) at 3.49% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.
EPS Growth
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% and Republic Services (RSG) at 5.55% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 16.88% | 3.49% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.15% | 7.08% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 6.77% | 5.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.38% | 13.46% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Republic Services (RSG) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RSG.
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
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.75
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- RSG
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 and Republic Services (RSG) at 1.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.17
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- RSG
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.28 | 0.75 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.25 | 1.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.20 | 2.64 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Republic Services (RSG) at 1.02% 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%
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.02%
- Max
- 4.33%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- RSG
- 1.02%
- Median
- 0.60%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Republic Services (RSG) at 35.25% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Paychex (PAYX) at 90.08% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
35.25%
- Max
- 99.58%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- RSG
- 35.25%
- Median
- 17.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.80% | 1.02% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 90.08% | 35.25% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Republic Services (RSG) at 34.19 sits in the richer quartile — RSG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
34.19
- Max
- 49.47
- RSG
- 34.19
- Q3
- 33.76
- Median
- 24.16
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 6.31 and Republic Services (RSG) at 4.36 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
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
4.36
- Max
- 7.17
- RSG
- 4.36
- Q3
- 3.35
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 11.25 and Republic Services (RSG) at 6.15 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
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
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
6.15
- Max
- 11.25
- RSG
- 6.15
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | RSG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.23 | 34.19 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.31 | 4.36 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.25 | 6.15 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.53% | 2.57% |