PAYX vs. TRU: Paychex vs. TransUnion Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU) 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 TransUnion (TRU) both belong to the Professional Services industry, though PAYX is classified under Human Resource & Employment Services while TRU falls under Research & Consulting Services.

Company profile comparison for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU)
Profile Item	PAYX	TRU
Name	Paychex Inc.	TransUnion
Country/Region	United States	United States
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	41.67 billion USD	15.48 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	August 26, 1983	June 25, 2015
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYX

TRU

GSPC

Paychex (PAYX) vs. TransUnion (TRU), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
Total Return (1Y)	7.76%	3.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	4.26%	16.74%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.96%	-5.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAYX

TRU

GSPC

Paychex (PAYX) vs. TransUnion (TRU), 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.84%	42.86%
Beta (5Y)	0.79	1.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-44.95%	-63.37%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.88M	2.74M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PAYX and TRU 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 TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.11	-0.01
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.16	-0.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while TransUnion (TRU) at 16.96% 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%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.96%

Max: 47.06%
Q3: 25.43%
TRU: 16.96%
Median: 14.11%
Q1: 3.92%
Min: -20.15%

Paychex (PAYX) vs. TransUnion (TRU): 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 TransUnion (TRU) at 15.83% 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%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.83%

Max: 23.28%
TRU: 15.83%
Q3: 11.35%
Median: 5.65%
Q1: 0.87%
Min: -8.60%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% and TransUnion (TRU) at 20.36% 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%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.36%

Max: 38.50%
TRU: 20.36%
Q3: 18.84%
Median: 10.40%
Q1: 5.59%
Min: -12.00%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
ROE (TTM)	47.06%	16.96%
ROA (TTM)	10.19%	5.25%
Net Margin (TTM)	27.35%	15.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)	38.50%	20.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)	74.39%	58.82%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while TransUnion (TRU) at 9.38% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.

Paychex (PAYX) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

TransUnion (TRU) at 60.00% 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 TRU.

Paychex (PAYX) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
Revenue Growth (YoY)	16.88%	9.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.15%	7.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)	6.77%	60.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.38%	18.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 and TransUnion (TRU) at 2.03 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.03

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.14
TRU: 2.03
Median: 1.55
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.45

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 and TransUnion (TRU) at 1.10 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

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.10

Max: 2.37
Q3: 1.25
TRU: 1.10
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Paychex (PAYX) vs. TransUnion (TRU): 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 TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.28	2.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.25	1.10
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.20	2.90

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while TransUnion (TRU) at 0.62% 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%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.62%

Max: 4.33%
Q3: 1.80%
TRU: 0.62%
Median: 0.60%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Paychex (PAYX) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 11.92% 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%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.92%

Max: 99.58%
Q3: 41.99%
Median: 17.27%
TRU: 11.92%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -17.94%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.80%	0.62%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	90.08%	11.92%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 and TransUnion (TRU) at 19.75 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

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.75

Max: 49.47
Q3: 33.76
Median: 24.16
TRU: 19.75
Q1: 16.01
Min: 1.89

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 3.07 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

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.07

Max: 7.17
Q3: 3.35
TRU: 3.07
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.11

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

TransUnion (TRU) at 3.19 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

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.19

Max: 11.25
Q3: 6.08
TRU: 3.19
Median: 2.92
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.78

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and TransUnion (TRU)
Metric	PAYX	TRU
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.23	19.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.31	3.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.25	3.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.53%	5.91%