PAYX vs. TRI: Paychex vs. Thomson Reuters Stock Comparison
How do Paychex (PAYX) and Thomson Reuters (TRI) 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 Thomson Reuters (TRI) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though PAYX is classified under Human Resource & Employment Services while TRI falls under Research & Consulting Services.
| Profile Item | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Paychex Inc. | Thomson Reuters Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Professional Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Human Resource & Employment Services | Research & Consulting Services |
| Market Capitalization | 43.33 billion USD | 45.78 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 26, 1983 | June 12, 2002 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -7.46% | -38.39% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 3.27% | -4.25% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 4.58% | -0.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.92% | 48.84% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.84 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.95% | -62.87% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.08M | 2.04M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.41 | -0.87 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.59 | -1.21 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Thomson Reuters (TRI) earns 14.17% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Paychex (PAYX) has no ROE this period.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
--
- Max
- 46.24%
- Q3
- 24.59%
- Median
- 14.07%
- Q1
- 1.35%
- Min
- -31.64%
- PAYX
- --
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
14.17%
- Max
- 46.24%
- Q3
- 24.59%
- TRI
- 14.17%
- Median
- 14.07%
- Q1
- 1.35%
- Min
- -31.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Paychex (PAYX) at 26.63% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 21.22% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
26.63%
- PAYX
- 26.63%
- Max
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 11.10%
- Median
- 5.53%
- Q1
- 0.74%
- Min
- -13.84%
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
21.22%
- Max
- 26.63%
- TRI
- 21.22%
- Q3
- 11.10%
- Median
- 5.53%
- Q1
- 0.74%
- Min
- -13.84%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 38.33% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 28.30% 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
38.33%
- PAYX
- 38.33%
- Max
- 38.33%
- Q3
- 18.61%
- Median
- 10.05%
- Q1
- 4.72%
- Min
- -12.00%
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
28.30%
- Max
- 38.33%
- TRI
- 28.30%
- Q3
- 18.61%
- Median
- 10.05%
- Q1
- 4.72%
- Min
- -12.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 14.17% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 7.44% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 26.63% | 21.22% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 38.33% | 28.30% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 67.20% | 39.66% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 3.00% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.
EPS Growth
Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Thomson Reuters (TRI) at -31.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 16.88% | 3.00% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.15% | 4.10% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 6.77% | -31.90% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.38% | 3.68% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Paychex (PAYX) at 1.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 0.51 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for TRI.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.15
- Max
- 3.11
- Q3
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.49
- PAYX
- 1.15
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.45
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.51
- Max
- 3.11
- Q3
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.49
- Q1
- 1.15
- TRI
- 0.51
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 0.29 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Paychex (PAYX) at 1.24 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.24
- Max
- 2.35
- Q3
- 1.26
- PAYX
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.29
- Max
- 2.35
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.30
- TRI
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.15 | 0.51 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.24 | 0.29 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.17 | 1.10 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Paychex (PAYX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Thomson Reuters (TRI) reports a yield of 2.27%, ranking against industry peers normally.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 4.22%
- Q3
- 1.88%
- Median
- 0.54%
- PAYX
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.27%
- Max
- 4.22%
- TRI
- 2.27%
- Q3
- 1.88%
- Median
- 0.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 90.59% and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 66.61% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
90.59%
- PAYX
- 90.59%
- Max
- 90.59%
- Q3
- 37.26%
- Median
- 15.78%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
66.61%
- Max
- 90.59%
- TRI
- 66.61%
- Q3
- 37.26%
- Median
- 15.78%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 90.59% | 66.61% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Paychex (PAYX) at 24.89 and Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 27.88 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
24.89
- Max
- 48.00
- Q3
- 30.15
- PAYX
- 24.89
- Median
- 23.05
- Q1
- 15.26
- Min
- 6.84
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
27.88
- Max
- 48.00
- Q3
- 30.15
- TRI
- 27.88
- Median
- 23.05
- Q1
- 15.26
- Min
- 6.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 5.85 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Paychex (PAYX) at 10.92 prices even higher, above its industry range.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
10.92
- PAYX
- 10.92
- Max
- 6.97
- Q3
- 3.29
- Median
- 1.39
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.14
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.85
- Max
- 6.97
- TRI
- 5.85
- Q3
- 3.29
- Median
- 1.39
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Thomson Reuters (TRI) at 4.12 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Paychex (PAYX) at 11.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — PAYX is pricier on assets.
PAYX
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
11.59
- Max
- 11.69
- PAYX
- 11.59
- Q3
- 5.66
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.62
- Min
- -4.18
TRI
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
4.12
- Max
- 11.69
- Q3
- 5.66
- TRI
- 4.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.62
- Min
- -4.18
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PAYX | TRI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.89 | 27.88 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 10.92 | 5.85 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.59 | 4.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | 4.61% |