PAYX vs. ACN
PAYX (Paychex, Inc.) and ACN (Accenture plc) are both stocks. PAYX operates in Staffing & Employment Services (Industrials), while ACN operates in Information Technology Services (Technology). Over the past 10 years, PAYX returned 9.48%/yr vs 3.73%/yr for ACN. A 0.50 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
PAYX vs. ACN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PAYX achieves a 1.03% return, which is significantly higher than ACN's -47.00% return. Over the past 10 years, PAYX has outperformed ACN with an annualized return of 9.48%, while ACN has yielded a comparatively lower 3.73% annualized return.
PAYX
- 1D
- 2.98%
- 1M
- 10.06%
- 6M
- 0.58%
- YTD
- 1.03%
- 1Y
- -19.53%
- 3Y*
- 0.39%
- 5Y*
- 2.77%
- 10Y*
- 9.48%
ACN
- 1D
- 2.43%
- 1M
- -17.67%
- 6M
- -49.39%
- YTD
- -47.00%
- 1Y
- -49.08%
- 3Y*
- -22.30%
- 5Y*
- -13.49%
- 10Y*
- 3.73%
PAYX vs. ACN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PAYX Paychex, Inc. | 1.03% | -17.49% | 21.31% | 6.21% | -13.16% | 50.16% | 13.25% | 34.53% | -1.08% | 15.41% |
ACN Accenture plc | -47.00% | -22.14% | 1.86% | 33.60% | -34.75% | 60.67% | 26.04% | 51.21% | -6.23% | 33.34% |
Correlation
The correlation between PAYX and ACN is 0.60, 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 | 0.60 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.49 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 19, 2001 | 0.50 |
The correlation between PAYX and ACN shifts across timeframes, from 0.49 (3 years) to 0.60 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
PAYX:
$39.38B
ACN:
$84.77B
PAYX:
$4.88
ACN:
$12.55
PAYX:
22.68
ACN:
11.04
PAYX:
3.62
ACN:
1.50
PAYX:
6.13
ACN:
1.18
PAYX:
10.62
ACN:
2.67
PAYX:
$6.51B
ACN:
$73.10B
PAYX:
$4.84B
ACN:
$23.37B
PAYX:
$2.90B
ACN:
$12.30B
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Return for Risk
PAYX vs. ACN — Risk / Return Rank
PAYX
ACN
PAYX vs. ACN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) and Accenture plc (ACN). 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.
| PAYX | ACN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.82 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.89 | 0.77 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.48 | -0.87 | +0.39 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.74 | -1.90 | +1.15 |
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Drawdowns
PAYX vs. ACN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PAYX drawdown since its inception was -64.85%, roughly equal to the maximum ACN drawdown of -67.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PAYX and ACN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PAYX | ACN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -64.85% | -67.78% | +2.93% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -41.01% | -56.51% | +15.50% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -44.95% | -67.78% | +22.83% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -44.95% | -67.78% | +22.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.95% | -67.78% | +22.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -27.84% | -63.70% | +35.86% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.99% | -13.05% | -4.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 26.27% | 25.89% | +0.38% |
Volatility
PAYX vs. ACN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) is 9.52%, while Accenture plc (ACN) has a volatility of 24.14%. This indicates that PAYX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ACN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PAYX | ACN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.52% | 24.14% | -14.62% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.97% | 37.31% | -15.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.42% | 41.27% | -14.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.06% | 30.25% | -6.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.32% | 27.70% | -2.38% |
Dividends
PAYX vs. ACN - Dividend Comparison
PAYX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.00%, less than ACN's 4.71% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACN Accenture plc | 4.71% | 2.26% | 1.52% | 1.33% | 1.51% | 0.87% | 1.26% | 1.07% | 1.98% | 1.66% | 1.97% | 2.03% |
PAYX Paychex, Inc. | 4.00% | 3.76% | 2.73% | 2.90% | 2.62% | 1.90% | 2.66% | 2.85% | 3.35% | 2.82% | 2.89% | 3.03% |
Financials
PAYX vs. ACN - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Paychex, Inc. and Accenture plc. 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
PAYX vs. ACN - Profitability Comparison
PAYX - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Paychex, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.19B and revenue of 1.61B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 74.0%.
ACN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Accenture plc reported a gross profit of 6.13B and revenue of 18.72B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 32.8%.
PAYX - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Paychex, Inc. reported an operating income of 604.70M and revenue of 1.61B, resulting in an operating margin of 37.7%.
ACN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Accenture plc reported an operating income of 3.18B and revenue of 18.72B, resulting in an operating margin of 17.0%.
PAYX - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Paychex, Inc. reported a net income of 420.60M and revenue of 1.61B, resulting in a net margin of 26.2%.
ACN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Accenture plc reported a net income of 2.34B and revenue of 18.72B, resulting in a net margin of 12.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
PAYX and ACN have a correlation of 0.60, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ACN has higher volatility (24.14%) compared to PAYX (9.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PAYX dropped -64.85% vs ACN's -67.78%.
PAYX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.74 vs -1.19), 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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