PAYX vs. DBX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) and Dropbox, Inc. (DBX).

Performance

PAYX vs. DBX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) and Dropbox, Inc. (DBX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

PAYX vs. DBX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
PAYX Paychex, Inc.	-17.03%	-17.49%	21.31%	6.21%	-13.16%	50.16%	13.25%	34.53%	8.30%
DBX Dropbox, Inc.	-18.27%	-7.46%	1.90%	31.72%	-8.80%	10.59%	23.90%	-12.33%	-28.27%

Fundamentals

Market Cap PAYX : $33.22B DBX : $5.78B
EPS PAYX : $4.53 DBX : $1.92
PE Ratio PAYX : 20.35 DBX : 11.86
PEG Ratio PAYX : 1.80 DBX : 0.46
PS Ratio PAYX : 5.26 DBX : 2.39
Total Revenue (TTM) PAYX : $6.33B DBX : $2.52B
Gross Profit (TTM) PAYX : $4.68B DBX : $2.02B
EBITDA (TTM) PAYX : $2.09B DBX : $828.20M

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PAYX achieves a -17.03% return, which is significantly higher than DBX's -18.27% return.

PAYX

• 1D: -1.07%
• 1M: -1.63%
• YTD: -17.03%
• 6M: -25.86%
• 1Y: -38.18%
• 3Y*: -4.04%
• 5Y*: 1.51%
• 10Y*: 8.70%

DBX

• 1D: 0.71%
• 1M: -9.08%
• YTD: -18.27%
• 6M: -24.79%
• 1Y: -14.94%
• 3Y*: 1.67%
• 5Y*: -3.67%
• 10Y*: —

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

Return for Risk

PAYX vs. DBX — Risk / Return Rank

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

PAYX

PAYX Risk / Return Rank: 5
PAYX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 0
PAYX Sortino Ratio Rank: 2
PAYX Omega Ratio Rank: 3
PAYX Calmar Ratio Rank: 11
PAYX Martin Ratio Rank: 8

DBX

DBX Risk / Return Rank: 20
DBX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 18
DBX Sortino Ratio Rank: 18
DBX Omega Ratio Rank: 19
DBX Calmar Ratio Rank: 27
DBX Martin Ratio Rank: 19

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.

PAYX vs. DBX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) and Dropbox, Inc. (DBX). 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.

	PAYX	DBX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	-1.47	-0.53	-0.93
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	-2.09	-0.62	-1.47
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.73	0.93	-0.19
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.84	-0.46	-0.38
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	-1.57	-1.19	-0.38
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PAYX vs. DBX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PAYX Sharpe Ratio is -1.47, which is lower than the DBX Sharpe Ratio of -0.53. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PAYX and DBX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PAYX	DBX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-1.47	-0.53	-0.93
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.07	-0.11	+0.18
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.35	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.54	-0.07	+0.61

Correlation

The correlation between PAYX and DBX is 0.36, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

PAYX vs. DBX - Dividend Comparison

PAYX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.69%, while DBX has not paid dividends to shareholders.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PAYX Paychex, Inc.	4.69%	3.76%	2.73%	2.90%	2.62%	1.90%	2.66%	2.85%	3.35%	2.82%	2.89%	3.03%
DBX Dropbox, Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

PAYX vs. DBX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PAYX drawdown since its inception was -64.85%, roughly equal to the maximum DBX drawdown of -62.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PAYX and DBX.

Drawdown Indicators

	PAYX	DBX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-64.85%	-62.64%	-2.21%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-43.78%	-31.15%	-12.63%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-43.78%	-41.52%	-2.26%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-44.15%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-40.74%	-45.90%	+5.16%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-17.84%	-40.53%	+22.69%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	23.48%	12.17%	+11.31%

Volatility

PAYX vs. DBX - Volatility Comparison

Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) and Dropbox, Inc. (DBX) have volatilities of 8.91% and 9.33%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PAYX	DBX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.91%	9.33%	-0.42%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.49%	20.84%	-2.35%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	26.23%	28.25%	-2.02%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.32%	32.11%	-8.79%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.97%	38.51%	-13.54%

Financials

PAYX vs. DBX - Profitability Comparison

The chart below illustrates the profitability comparison between Paychex, Inc. and Dropbox, Inc. over time, highlighting three key metrics: Gross Profit Margin, Operating Margin, and Net Profit Margin.

PAYX - Gross Margin

Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Paychex, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.38B and revenue of 1.81B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 76.2%.

DBX - Gross Margin

Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Dropbox, Inc. reported a gross profit of 504.10M and revenue of 636.20M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 79.2%.

PAYX - Operating Margin

Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Paychex, Inc. reported an operating income of 792.00M and revenue of 1.81B, resulting in an operating margin of 43.8%.

DBX - Operating Margin

Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Dropbox, Inc. reported an operating income of 156.10M and revenue of 636.20M, resulting in an operating margin of 24.5%.

PAYX - Net Margin

Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Paychex, Inc. reported a net income of 560.30M and revenue of 1.81B, resulting in a net margin of 31.0%.

DBX - Net Margin

Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Dropbox, Inc. reported a net income of 108.70M and revenue of 636.20M, resulting in a net margin of 17.1%.