PAYX vs WDAY

Comparison between Paychex Inc (PAYX, Company) and Workday Inc - Class A (WDAY, Company).

Both PAYX and WDAY are from the Technology sector.

5-Year PerformancePAYX has outperformed WDAY, delivering a return of +1.4% compared to -11.6%

PAYX vs WDAY - Performance Comparison

Log

Key Characteristics

Financial metrics and valuation ratios

Metric	PAYX(COMPANY)	WDAY(COMPANY)
Market Cap	$33B	$33B
Max Drawdown	65.77%	63.38%
Sharpe Ratio	-1.75	-1.53
5Y Beta	0.52	0.86
Industry	Software - Application	Software - Application
P/E Ratio	20.06	47.08
Forward P/E	15.41	12.09
PEG Ratio	1.77	1.80
Dividend Yield	4.69%	N/A
5Y Dividends CAGR	16.40%	N/A
5Y EPS CAGR	9.22%	N/A
Debt to Equity	123.43%	38.27%
Free Cash Flow Yield	6.38%	8.54%
P/S Ratio	8.25	3.21
P/B Ratio	8.26	4.24

Market Cap

Winner

PAYX

$33B

WDAY

$33B

Max Drawdown

PAYX

65.77%

Winner

WDAY

63.38%

Sharpe Ratio

PAYX

-1.75

Winner

WDAY

-1.53

5Y Beta

Winner

PAYX

0.52

WDAY

0.86

Industry

PAYX

Software - Application

WDAY

Software - Application

P/E Ratio

Winner

PAYX

20.06

WDAY

47.08

Forward P/E

PAYX

15.41

Winner

WDAY

12.09

PEG Ratio

Winner

PAYX

1.77

WDAY

1.80

Dividend Yield

PAYX

4.69%

WDAY

N/A

5Y Dividends CAGR

PAYX

16.40%

WDAY

N/A

5Y EPS CAGR

PAYX

9.22%

WDAY

N/A

Debt to Equity

PAYX

123.43%

Winner

WDAY

38.27%

Free Cash Flow Yield

PAYX

6.38%

Winner

WDAY

8.54%

P/S Ratio

PAYX

8.25

Winner

WDAY

3.21

P/B Ratio

PAYX

8.26

Winner

WDAY

4.24

PAYX vs WDAY - Historical Returns

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Period	PAYX	WDAY
1 month	+4.49%	+7.27%
3 months	-4.24%	-17.29%
6 months	-15.22%	-43.23%
1 year	-35.74%	-50.45%
5 years(CAGR)	+1.43%	-11.59%
10 years(CAGR)	+9.27%	+6.17%
Max(CAGR)	+7.89%	+7.37%

PAYX

+4.49%

Winner

WDAY

+7.27%

Winner

PAYX

-4.24%

WDAY

-17.29%

Winner

PAYX

-15.22%

WDAY

-43.23%

Winner

PAYX

-35.74%

WDAY

-50.45%

5Y(CAGR)

Winner

PAYX

+1.43%

WDAY

-11.59%

10Y(CAGR)

Winner

PAYX

+9.27%

WDAY

+6.17%

Max(CAGR)

Winner

PAYX

+7.89%

WDAY

+7.37%

PAYX vs WDAY - Annual Returns (1999 - 2026)

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Year	PAYX	WDAY
2026	-12.60%	-37.88%
2025	-16.46%	-14.72%
2024	+22.56%	-3.82%
2023	+5.97%	+63.01%
2022	-11.91%	-36.55%
2021	+54.86%	+19.77%
2020	+13.16%	+43.08%
2019	+34.71%	+2.95%
2018	+0.03%	+54.43%
2017	+15.11%	+48.79%
2016	+22.09%	-15.01%
2015	+18.22%	-0.91%
2014	+6.02%	-0.20%
2013	+45.43%	+57.17%
2012	+8.55%	+11.93%
2011	-0.08%	N/A
2010	+4.76%	N/A
2009	+19.07%	N/A
2008	-21.95%	N/A
2007	-5.50%	N/A
2006	+4.23%	N/A
2005	+16.02%	N/A
2004	-6.15%	N/A
2003	+30.53%	N/A
2002	-18.22%	N/A
2001	-22.93%	N/A
2000	+83.60%	N/A
1999	+0.93%	N/A

PAYX vs WDAY Drawdown Comparison

The maximum drawdown for PAYX was -64.85%, occurring on Aug 12, 2002. Recovery took 3246 trading sessions.

The maximum drawdown for WDAY was -63.38%, occurring on Apr 10, 2026. This drawdown has not yet recovered.

The current PAYX drawdown is -39.57%. The current WDAY drawdown is -58.39%.

Rank	PAYX	WDAY
#1	-64.85% Nov 21, 2000 - Oct 21, 2013	-63.38% Feb 26, 2024 - Apr 10, 2026
#2	-44.94% Jun 6, 2025 - Apr 10, 2026	-57.65% Feb 27, 2014 - Nov 24, 2017
#3	-44.15% Feb 20, 2020 - Nov 6, 2020	-55.92% Nov 17, 2021 - Feb 9, 2024
#4	-23.41% Apr 6, 2022 - Sep 3, 2024	-49.23% Jul 11, 2019 - Aug 28, 2020
#5	-19.75% Apr 25, 2000 - Jun 1, 2000	-23.00% Sep 4, 2018 - Nov 30, 2018
#6	-18.77% Dec 29, 2021 - Mar 30, 2022	-21.37% Feb 12, 2021 - Oct 25, 2021
#7	-17.39% Sep 21, 2018 - Feb 8, 2019	-17.81% Aug 28, 2020 - Dec 22, 2020
#8	-15.45% Mar 20, 2015 - Oct 22, 2015	-16.84% Nov 24, 2017 - Jan 23, 2018
#9	-14.81% Nov 20, 2015 - Mar 17, 2016	-15.35% Mar 12, 2018 - Aug 15, 2018
#10	-14.66% Aug 7, 2000 - Sep 22, 2000	-15.30% Dec 6, 2018 - Jan 18, 2019
#11	-14.57% Dec 3, 1999 - Jan 14, 2000	-15.20% Oct 17, 2012 - Dec 20, 2012
#12	-14.19% Dec 18, 2017 - Jun 12, 2018	-14.63% Dec 22, 2020 - Feb 2, 2021
#13	-12.42% Jan 20, 2000 - Feb 14, 2000	-13.14% Sep 19, 2013 - Dec 31, 2013
#14	-12.28% Mar 15, 2017 - Oct 3, 2017	-12.17% May 14, 2013 - Jul 30, 2013
#15	-12.19% Jun 21, 2000 - Jul 12, 2000	-10.73% Jan 28, 2013 - Mar 1, 2013