PAYX vs. RTO: Paychex vs. Rentokil Initial Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Paychex (PAYX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO) 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but PAYX is classified in Professional Services while RTO is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.

Paychex (PAYX) trades as ordinary local shares, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Profile Item	PAYX	RTO
Name	Paychex Inc.	Rentokil Initial plc American Depositary Shares (each representing five Ordinary Shares)
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
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	11.87 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	August 26, 1983	November 18, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYX

RTO

GSPC

Paychex (PAYX) vs. Rentokil Initial (RTO), 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
Total Return (1Y)	7.76%	-10.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	4.26%	-1.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.96%	-8.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAYX

RTO

GSPC

Paychex (PAYX) vs. Rentokil Initial (RTO), 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.84%	33.85%
Beta (5Y)	0.79	0.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-44.95%	-50.93%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.88M	1.74M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PAYX and RTO 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.11	-0.42
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.16	-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 5.97% 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%

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.97%

Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.43%
Median: 14.11%
RTO: 5.97%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 27.35% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 6.70% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

6.70%

Max: 23.28%
Q3: 11.35%
RTO: 6.70%
Median: 5.65%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 12.79%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.79%

Max: 38.50%
Q3: 18.84%
RTO: 12.79%
Median: 10.40%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
ROE (TTM)	47.06%	5.97%
ROA (TTM)	10.19%	4.00%
Net Margin (TTM)	27.35%	6.70%
Operating Margin (TTM)	38.50%	12.79%
Gross Margin (TTM)	74.39%	14.01%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 4.40% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.

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

EPS Growth

Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 21.70% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for RTO.

Paychex (PAYX) vs. Rentokil Initial (RTO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	16.88%	4.40%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.15%	15.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)	6.77%	21.70%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	10.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.06 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RTO.

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

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.06

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.55
Q1: 1.09
RTO: 1.06
Min: 0.45

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 and Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.11 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

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.11

Max: 2.37
Q3: 1.25
RTO: 1.11
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Paychex (PAYX) vs. Rentokil Initial (RTO): 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.28	1.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.25	1.11
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.20	2.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 0.53% 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%

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.53%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
Median: 0.60%
RTO: 0.53%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Paychex (PAYX) vs. Rentokil Initial (RTO): 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 Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 97.56% 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%

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

97.56%

Max: 99.58%
RTO: 97.56%
Q3: 41.99%
Median: 17.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.80%	0.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	90.08%	97.56%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 37.48 sits in the richer quartile — RTO 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

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

37.48

Max: 49.47
RTO: 37.48
Q3: 33.76
Median: 24.16
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 1.66 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Paychex (PAYX) at 6.31 sits in the pricier quartile — PAYX costs more per dollar of sales.

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

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.66

Max: 7.17
Q3: 3.35
RTO: 1.66
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Rentokil Initial (RTO) at 2.16 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Paychex (PAYX) at 11.25 carries an above-peer premium to book — PAYX is pricier on assets.

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

RTO

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.16

Max: 11.25
Q3: 6.08
Median: 2.92
RTO: 2.16
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Rentokil Initial (RTO)
Metric	PAYX	RTO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.23	37.48
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.31	1.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.25	2.16
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.53%	8.85%