PAYC vs. NOW
PAYC (Paycom Software, Inc.) and NOW (ServiceNow, Inc) are both stocks. Both operate in the Software - Application industry within the Technology sector. Over the past 10 years, PAYC returned 12.05%/yr vs 21.17%/yr for NOW. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
PAYC vs. NOW - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PAYC achieves a -21.59% return, which is significantly higher than NOW's -37.37% return. Over the past 10 years, PAYC has underperformed NOW with an annualized return of 12.05%, while NOW has yielded a comparatively higher 21.17% annualized 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%
NOW
- 1D
- 3.15%
- 1M
- -6.06%
- YTD
- -37.37%
- 6M
- -37.85%
- 1Y
- -51.07%
- 3Y*
- -4.05%
- 5Y*
- -2.77%
- 10Y*
- 21.17%
PAYC vs. NOW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PAYC Paycom Software, Inc. | -21.59% | -21.70% | -0.04% | -33.06% | -25.26% | -8.19% | 70.82% | 116.22% | 52.43% | 76.59% |
NOW ServiceNow, Inc | -37.37% | -27.75% | 50.05% | 81.96% | -40.18% | 17.93% | 94.97% | 58.56% | 36.55% | 75.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between PAYC and NOW is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 15, 2014 | 0.56 |
The correlation between PAYC and NOW shifts across timeframes, from 0.45 (3 years) to 0.61 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
PAYC:
$6.36B
NOW:
$99.78B
PAYC:
$8.58
NOW:
$1.68
PAYC:
14.49
NOW:
57.11
PAYC:
0.54
NOW:
0.48
PAYC:
3.25
NOW:
7.19
PAYC:
7.84
NOW:
7.35
PAYC:
$2.09B
NOW:
$13.96B
PAYC:
$1.70B
NOW:
$10.69B
PAYC:
$803.80M
NOW:
$2.80B
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Return for Risk
PAYC vs. NOW — Risk / Return Rank
PAYC
NOW
PAYC vs. NOW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) and ServiceNow, Inc (NOW). 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 | NOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.78 | 0.81 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.89 | -0.85 | -0.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.38 | -1.46 | +0.08 |
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Drawdowns
PAYC vs. NOW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PAYC drawdown since its inception was -78.99%, which is greater than NOW's maximum drawdown of -64.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PAYC and NOW.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PAYC | NOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -78.99% | -64.54% | -14.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -52.12% | -60.28% | +8.16% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -68.70% | -64.54% | -4.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -78.99% | -64.54% | -14.45% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -78.99% | -64.54% | -14.45% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -76.96% | -59.01% | -17.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.31% | -13.86% | -13.45% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 33.42% | 35.00% | -1.58% |
Volatility
PAYC vs. NOW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) is 12.71%, while ServiceNow, Inc (NOW) has a volatility of 24.41%. This indicates that PAYC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NOW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PAYC | NOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 12.71% | 24.41% | -11.70% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 30.42% | 45.96% | -15.54% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 37.98% | 50.58% | -12.60% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 44.52% | 43.55% | +0.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 44.52% | 40.86% | +3.66% |
Dividends
PAYC vs. NOW - Dividend Comparison
PAYC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.21%, while NOW has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NOW ServiceNow, Inc | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PAYC Paycom Software, Inc. | 1.21% | 0.94% | 0.73% | 0.54% |
Financials
PAYC vs. NOW - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Paycom Software, Inc. and ServiceNow, Inc. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
PAYC vs. NOW - Profitability Comparison
PAYC - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Paycom Software, Inc. reported a gross profit of 484.60M and revenue of 571.90M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 84.7%.
NOW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, ServiceNow, Inc reported a gross profit of 2.83B and revenue of 3.77B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 75.1%.
PAYC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Paycom Software, Inc. reported an operating income of 210.20M and revenue of 571.90M, resulting in an operating margin of 36.8%.
NOW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, ServiceNow, Inc reported an operating income of 503.00M and revenue of 3.77B, resulting in an operating margin of 13.3%.
PAYC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Paycom Software, Inc. reported a net income of 155.70M and revenue of 571.90M, resulting in a net margin of 27.2%.
NOW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, ServiceNow, Inc reported a net income of 469.00M and revenue of 3.77B, resulting in a net margin of 12.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
PAYC and NOW have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NOW has higher volatility (24.41%) compared to PAYC (12.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PAYC dropped -78.99% vs NOW's -64.54%.
NOW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-1.01 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.
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