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PAYX vs. TTEK: Paychex vs. Tetra Tech Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Paychex (PAYX) and Tetra Tech (TTEK)
Profile ItemPAYXTTEK
NamePaychex Inc.Tetra Tech Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization41.67 billion USD10.32 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 26, 1983December 17, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYX
TTEK
GSPC
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK), 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 Tetra Tech (TTEK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
Total Return (1Y)7.76%29.45%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.26%11.17%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.96%3.89%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAYX
TTEK
GSPC
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK), 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 Tetra Tech (TTEK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.84%37.39%
Beta (5Y)0.790.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.95%-47.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.88M2.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAYX and TTEK 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 Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.110.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.161.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 47.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 24.30% 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%

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.30%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
TTEK
24.30%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): 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 Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 10.00% 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%

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

10.00%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
TTEK
10.00%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): 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 Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 14.25%, 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%

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

14.25%

Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
TTEK
14.25%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
ROE (TTM)47.06%24.30%
ROA (TTM)10.19%8.54%
Net Margin (TTM)27.35%10.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.50%14.25%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.39%21.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Paychex (PAYX) at 16.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 4.69% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PAYX.

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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% and Tetra Tech (TTEK) at -24.39% 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. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
Revenue Growth (YoY)16.88%4.69%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.15%15.81%
EPS Growth (YoY)6.77%-24.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%-1.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 and Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 1.18 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

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.18

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
TTEK
1.18
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 1.25 and Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 0.55 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

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.55

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
TTEK
0.55
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): 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 Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.281.18
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.250.55
Net Debt / EBITDA1.201.21

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 0.66% 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%

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.66%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
TTEK
0.66%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 16.08% 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%

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.08%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
TTEK
16.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.80%0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)90.08%16.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 and Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 24.27 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

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.27

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
TTEK
24.27
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 2.37 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

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.37

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
TTEK
2.37
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Tetra Tech (TTEK) at 5.57 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

TTEK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.57

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
TTEK
5.57
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Tetra Tech (TTEK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Tetra Tech (TTEK)
MetricPAYXTTEK
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.2324.27
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.312.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.255.57
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.53%3.84%