PAYC vs. FOUR

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

PAYC (Paycom Software, Inc.) and FOUR (Shift4 Payments, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Technology sector — PAYC in Software - Application, FOUR in Software - Infrastructure. Over the past 5 years, PAYC returned -19.08%/yr vs -17.17%/yr for FOUR. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

PAYC vs. FOUR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) and Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PAYC achieves a -21.59% return, which is significantly higher than FOUR's -38.59% return.

PAYC

• 1D: 0.49%
• 1M: -9.57%
• YTD: -21.59%
• 6M: -21.72%
• 1Y: -46.15%
• 3Y*: -25.36%
• 5Y*: -19.08%
• 10Y*: 12.05%

FOUR

• 1D: 0.26%
• 1M: -10.57%
• YTD: -38.59%
• 6M: -40.31%
• 1Y: -58.66%
• 3Y*: -14.44%
• 5Y*: -17.17%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PAYC vs. FOUR - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
PAYC Paycom Software, Inc.	-21.59%	-21.70%	-0.04%	-33.06%	-25.26%	-8.19%	49.17%
FOUR Shift4 Payments, Inc.	-38.59%	-39.32%	39.60%	32.92%	-3.45%	-23.17%	127.79%

Correlation

The correlation between PAYC and FOUR is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.30
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.34
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.47
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 5, 2020	0.46

The correlation between PAYC and FOUR shifts across timeframes, from 0.30 (1 year) to 0.47 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

Market Cap PAYC : $6.36B FOUR : $2.85B
EPS PAYC : $8.58 FOUR : $1.07
PE Ratio PAYC : 14.49 FOUR : 36.04
PEG Ratio PAYC : 0.54 FOUR : 1.46
PS Ratio PAYC : 3.25 FOUR : 0.93
PB Ratio PAYC : 7.84 FOUR : 4.39
Total Revenue (TTM) PAYC : $2.09B FOUR : $3.33B
Gross Profit (TTM) PAYC : $1.70B FOUR : $1.17B
EBITDA (TTM) PAYC : $803.80M FOUR : $503.40M

Return for Risk

PAYC vs. FOUR — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PAYC

PAYC Risk / Return Rank: 5
PAYC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2
PAYC Sortino Ratio Rank: 4
PAYC Omega Ratio Rank: 5
PAYC Calmar Ratio Rank: 7
PAYC Martin Ratio Rank: 9

FOUR

FOUR Risk / Return Rank: 6
FOUR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4
FOUR Sortino Ratio Rank: 4
FOUR Omega Ratio Rank: 5
FOUR Calmar Ratio Rank: 8
FOUR Martin Ratio Rank: 9

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

PAYC vs. FOUR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) and Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	PAYC	FOUR	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-1.22	-1.06	-0.16
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.86	-1.75	-0.11
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.78	0.78	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.89	-0.88	-0.01
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.38	-1.40	+0.02

PAYC vs. FOUR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PAYC Sharpe Ratio is -1.22, which is comparable to the FOUR Sharpe Ratio of -1.06. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PAYC and FOUR, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

PAYC vs. FOUR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PAYC drawdown since its inception was -78.99%, which is greater than FOUR's maximum drawdown of -71.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PAYC and FOUR.

Drawdown Indicators

	PAYC	FOUR	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-78.99%	-71.65%	-7.34%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-52.12%	-66.64%	+14.52%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-68.70%	-71.65%	+2.95%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-78.99%	-71.65%	-7.34%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-78.99%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-76.96%	-69.23%	-7.73%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-27.31%	-31.83%	+4.52%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	33.42%	41.78%	-8.36%

Volatility

PAYC vs. FOUR - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) is 12.71%, while Shift4 Payments, Inc. (FOUR) has a volatility of 18.21%. This indicates that PAYC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FOUR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PAYC	FOUR	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	12.71%	18.21%	-5.50%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	30.42%	47.87%	-17.45%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	37.98%	55.46%	-17.48%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	44.52%	56.52%	-12.00%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	44.52%	57.54%	-13.02%

Dividends

PAYC vs. FOUR - Dividend Comparison

PAYC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.21%, while FOUR has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
FOUR Shift4 Payments, Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
PAYC Paycom Software, Inc.	1.21%	0.94%	0.73%	0.54%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PAYC and FOUR in my portfolio?

PAYC and FOUR have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PAYC or FOUR?

FOUR has higher volatility (18.21%) compared to PAYC (12.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PAYC dropped -78.99% vs FOUR's -71.65%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

FOUR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-1.06 vs -1.22), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.