Airbnb (ABNB) vs Paychex (PAYX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Airbnb (ABNB) has outperformed Paychex (PAYX) over the past year, gaining 36.0% versus a loss of 20.1%. Over five years, ABNB leads with a -5.1% price change compared with -12.3% for PAYX. Airbnb is the larger company by market cap ($97.74 billion vs $37.19 billion), about 2.6 times the size, while Paychex is growing revenue faster (+16.9% vs +10.3%).
On valuation, Paychex trades at a lower forward P/E (16.4x vs 26.4x for Airbnb). Paychex pays a dividend yielding 4.35%, while Airbnb does not currently pay one. Paychex converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 27.0% versus 20.5%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ABNB | PAYX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $163.23 | $104.46 |
| Market cap | $97.74B | $37.19B |
| 1-day change | +1.62% | +2.87% |
| YTD return | +20.27% | -9.48% |
| 1-year return | +36.04% | -20.05% |
| 5-year return | -5.05% | -12.33% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 37.18 | 20.73 |
| Forward P/E | 26.38 | 16.35 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.39 | $5.04 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 4.35% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $4.54 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.24B | $6.51B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.26% | +16.88% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.51B | $1.76B |
| Gross margin | 82.96% | 74.29% |
| Operating margin | 20.78% | 38.55% |
| Net margin | 20.51% | 27.03% |
| 52-week high | $193.45 | $129.24 |
| 52-week low | $110.81 | $85.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.62% | -19.17% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.47% | +9.07% |
| Average volume | 4.72M | 3.00M |
| Shares outstanding | 419.53M | 355.98M |
| Employees | 8,200 | 17,600 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Diversified Commercial Services | Diversified Commercial Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Airbnb is about 2.6 times larger than Paychex by market value ($97.74B vs $37.19B).
- ABNB has outperformed PAYX by 56.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Airbnb trades at a higher earnings multiple (37.2x vs 20.7x trailing P/E).
- Paychex offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.35% vs 0.00%).
- Paychex is more profitable, keeping 27.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 20.5 cents for Airbnb.
- Paychex grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.88% vs +10.26%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Airbnb in Consumer Discretionary and Paychex in Industrials.
About Airbnb
ABNB stock →Airbnb, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates a platform for stays, experiences, and services worldwide. The company's marketplace connects hosts and guests online or through mobile devices to book spaces, experiences, and services.
Consumer Discretionary · Diversified Commercial Services · 8,200 employees
About Paychex
PAYX stock →Paychex, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides human capital management solutions (HCM) for human resources, payroll processing, employee benefits, and insurance services for small to medium-sized businesses in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, and Israel. It offers technology and advisory solutions; and payroll tax administration services.
Industrials · Diversified Commercial Services · 17,600 employees
ABNB vs PAYX FAQ
Which is bigger, Airbnb or Paychex?
Airbnb (ABNB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $97.74B compared with $37.19B for Paychex (PAYX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ABNB or PAYX?
ABNB returned +36.04% over the past 12 months, compared with -20.05% for PAYX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ABNB or PAYX?
PAYX has the lower trailing P/E at 20.7, versus 37.2 for ABNB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Airbnb or Paychex?
Paychex pays a dividend yielding 4.35%, while Airbnb does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Airbnb and Paychex in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Diversified Commercial Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.