PCTY vs. ^SP500TR

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

PCTY (Paylocity Holding Corporation) is a stock, while ^SP500TR (S&P 500 Total Return) is an index. Over the past 10 years, PCTY returned 11.26%/yr vs 15.58%/yr for ^SP500TR. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

PCTY vs. ^SP500TR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) and S&P 500 Total Return (^SP500TR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PCTY achieves a -26.12% return, which is significantly lower than ^SP500TR's 11.36% return. Over the past 10 years, PCTY has underperformed ^SP500TR with an annualized return of 11.26%, while ^SP500TR has yielded a comparatively higher 15.58% annualized return.

PCTY

• 1D: -0.14%
• 1M: 4.62%
• YTD: -26.12%
• 6M: -22.99%
• 1Y: -42.12%
• 3Y*: -15.49%
• 5Y*: -7.52%
• 10Y*: 11.26%

^SP500TR

• 1D: 0.42%
• 1M: 4.61%
• YTD: 11.36%
• 6M: 11.27%
• 1Y: 28.58%
• 3Y*: 22.72%
• 5Y*: 14.02%
• 10Y*: 15.58%

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

PCTY vs. ^SP500TR - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PCTY Paylocity Holding Corporation	-26.12%	-23.55%	21.00%	-15.14%	-17.74%	14.69%	70.43%	100.66%	27.67%	57.15%
^SP500TR S&P 500 Total Return	11.36%	17.88%	25.02%	26.29%	-18.11%	28.71%	18.40%	31.49%	-4.38%	21.83%

Correlation

The correlation between PCTY and ^SP500TR is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.19
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.37
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.52
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.52
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 20, 2014	0.49

Over the past year, the correlation between PCTY and ^SP500TR has dropped to 0.19 - well below their long-term average of 0.49, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

PCTY vs. ^SP500TR — Risk / Return Rank

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

PCTY

PCTY Risk / Return Rank: 6
PCTY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3
PCTY Sortino Ratio Rank: 4
PCTY Omega Ratio Rank: 6
PCTY Calmar Ratio Rank: 10
PCTY Martin Ratio Rank: 8

^SP500TR

^SP500TR Risk / Return Rank: 84
^SP500TR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 83
^SP500TR Sortino Ratio Rank: 85
^SP500TR Omega Ratio Rank: 83
^SP500TR Calmar Ratio Rank: 80
^SP500TR Martin Ratio Rank: 90

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.

PCTY vs. ^SP500TR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) and S&P 500 Total Return (^SP500TR). 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.

	PCTY	^SP500TR	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-1.13	2.42	-3.55
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.70	3.30	-5.00
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.80	1.44	-0.64
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.83	3.23	-4.06
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.42	15.09	-16.52
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PCTY vs. ^SP500TR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PCTY Sharpe Ratio is -1.13, which is lower than the ^SP500TR Sharpe Ratio of 2.42. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PCTY and ^SP500TR, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PCTY	^SP500TR	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-1.13	2.42	-3.55
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.19	0.83	-1.02
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.27	0.87	-0.60
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.31	0.65	-0.33

Drawdowns

PCTY vs. ^SP500TR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PCTY drawdown since its inception was -68.90%, which is greater than ^SP500TR's maximum drawdown of -55.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PCTY and ^SP500TR.

Drawdown Indicators

	PCTY	^SP500TR	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-68.90%	-55.25%	-13.65%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-51.05%	-8.89%	-42.16%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-58.08%	-18.75%	-39.33%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-68.90%	-24.49%	-44.41%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-68.90%	-33.79%	-35.11%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-63.15%	-0.32%	-62.83%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-22.62%	-8.16%	-14.46%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	29.75%	1.90%	+27.85%

Volatility

PCTY vs. ^SP500TR - Volatility Comparison

Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) has a higher volatility of 15.20% compared to S&P 500 Total Return (^SP500TR) at 2.87%. This indicates that PCTY's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ^SP500TR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PCTY	^SP500TR	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	15.20%	2.87%	+12.33%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	31.81%	9.00%	+22.81%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	37.41%	11.88%	+25.53%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	40.69%	16.90%	+23.79%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	41.77%	18.06%	+23.71%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PCTY and ^SP500TR in my portfolio?

PCTY and ^SP500TR have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PCTY or ^SP500TR?

PCTY has higher volatility (15.20%) compared to ^SP500TR (2.87%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PCTY dropped -68.90% vs ^SP500TR's -55.25%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

^SP500TR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.42 vs -1.13), 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.