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PAYX vs. VRSK: Paychex vs. Verisk Analytics Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
Profile ItemPAYXVRSK
NamePaychex Inc.Verisk Analytics, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHuman Resource & Employment ServicesResearch & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization41.67 billion USD26.25 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 26, 1983October 7, 2009
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PAYX
VRSK
GSPC
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK), 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 Verisk Analytics (VRSK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
Total Return (1Y)7.76%-4.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.26%-4.19%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.96%-0.60%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PAYX
VRSK
GSPC
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK), 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 Verisk Analytics (VRSK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.84%36.08%
Beta (5Y)0.790.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.95%-50.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.88M1.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PAYX and VRSK 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 Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.11-0.25
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.16-0.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Paychex (PAYX) earns 47.06% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Verisk Analytics (VRSK) has no ROE this period.

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%

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

--

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
VRSK
--
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): VRSK does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; PAYX is benchmarked against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 27.35% and Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 27.68% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

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%

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

27.68%

VRSK
27.68%
Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 45.16% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Paychex (PAYX) at 38.50% also operates in the top quartile.

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%

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

45.16%

VRSK
45.16%
Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
ROE (TTM)47.06%--
ROA (TTM)10.19%16.56%
Net Margin (TTM)27.35%27.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.50%45.16%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.39%70.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 6.77% and Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at -3.43% 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. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
Revenue Growth (YoY)16.88%6.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.15%7.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)6.77%-3.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.38%2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Paychex (PAYX) at 1.28 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VRSK.

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

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.07

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
VRSK
1.07
Min
0.45
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Paychex (PAYX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25 against its industry range, while Verisk Analytics (VRSK) reports no figure this period.

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

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

--

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
VRSK
--
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): VRSK does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; PAYX is benchmarked against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.281.07
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.25--
Net Debt / EBITDA1.202.65

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Paychex (PAYX) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 0.92% 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%

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.92%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
VRSK
0.92%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 29.55% 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%

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

29.55%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
VRSK
29.55%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.80%0.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)90.08%29.55%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Paychex (PAYX) at 23.23 and Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 31.00 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

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.00

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
VRSK
31.00
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Paychex (PAYX) at 6.31 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 8.26 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.26

VRSK
8.26
Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Verisk Analytics (VRSK) reports a negative P/B ratio of -23.56, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Paychex (PAYX) reports 11.25, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

VRSK

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

-23.56

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
VRSK
-23.56
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Paychex (PAYX) vs. Verisk Analytics (VRSK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Paychex (PAYX) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK)
MetricPAYXVRSK
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.2331.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.318.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.25-23.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.53%3.57%