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PAYX vs. SSNC: Paychex vs. SS&C Stock Comparison

How do Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC) 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 SS&C (SSNC) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though PAYX is classified under Human Resource & Employment Services while SSNC falls under Data Processing & Outsourced Services.

Company profile comparison for Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC)
Profile ItemPAYXSSNC
NamePaychex Inc.SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesData Processing & Outsourced Services
Market Capitalization41.67 billion USD18.24 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 26, 1983March 31, 2010
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYX
SSNC
GSPC
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC), 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 SS&C (SSNC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
Total Return (1Y)7.76%-5.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.26%16.20%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.96%1.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAYX
SSNC
GSPC
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC), 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 SS&C (SSNC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.84%29.18%
Beta (5Y)0.791.03
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.95%-44.33%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.88M1.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAYX and SSNC 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 SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.11-0.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.16-0.47

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while SS&C (SSNC) at 12.42% 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%

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.42%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
SSNC
12.42%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): 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 SS&C (SSNC) at 12.76% 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%

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.76%

Max
23.28%
SSNC
12.76%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% and SS&C (SSNC) at 24.22% 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%

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.22%

Max
38.50%
SSNC
24.22%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
ROE (TTM)47.06%12.42%
ROA (TTM)10.19%4.99%
Net Margin (TTM)27.35%12.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.50%24.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.39%48.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while SS&C (SSNC) at 6.63% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.

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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% and SS&C (SSNC) at 5.00% 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. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
Revenue Growth (YoY)16.88%6.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.15%5.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)6.77%5.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%8.30%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while SS&C (SSNC) at 0.78 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for SSNC.

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

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.78

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
SSNC
0.78
Min
0.45
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 and SS&C (SSNC) at 1.13 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

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.13

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
SSNC
1.13
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): 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 SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.280.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.251.13
Net Debt / EBITDA1.203.28

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while SS&C (SSNC) at 1.42% 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%

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.42%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
SSNC
1.42%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

SS&C (SSNC) at 31.12% 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%

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.12%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
SSNC
31.12%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.80%1.42%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)90.08%31.12%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 and SS&C (SSNC) at 22.39 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

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

22.39

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
SSNC
22.39
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

SS&C (SSNC) at 2.73 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

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.73

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
SSNC
2.73
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

SS&C (SSNC) at 2.72 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

SSNC

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.72

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
SSNC
2.72
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. SS&C (SSNC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and SS&C (SSNC)
MetricPAYXSSNC
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.2322.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.312.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.252.72
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.53%7.85%